LOS ANGELES –BELLATOR MMA has confirmed the full fight card forBELLATOR MMA 274: Gracie vs. Storleyhnub Saturday no, FEB. 19, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. SHOWTIME will televise the phenomenal main card live at9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Additionally, nine thrilling preliminary fights will stream live three hours earlier on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV beginning at6 p.m. ET/3p.m. PT.
Nyob rau hauv cov kev tshwm sim lub ntsiab ntawm lub hmo, Tsis yog. 4-rankedNeiman Gracie(11-2) will strap on the BELLATOR gloves for the 12thconsecutive time when he takes on former four-time collegiate All-American wrestler and No. 5-rankedLogan Storley(12-1) in a five-round clash of top-5 welterweights. Nyob rau hauv tus nqi featured bout, former BELLATOR Welterweight Champion and No. 9-rankedAndrey Koreshkov (24-4) will return to action and open his 2002 campaign against Alliance MMA product and owner of seven first-round finishesChance Rencountre(16-4) of Pawhuska, Okla.
The updated and complete listing of bouts can be found below.
BELLATOR’S NO. 4-RANKED WELTERWEIGHT NEIMAN GRACIETO TAKE ON NO. 5 LOGAN STORLEY IN AN INTERNATIONAL BATTLE OF TOP-10 CONTENDERS IN MAIN EVENT OFBELLATOR MMA 274 RAU HNUB SATURDAY, FEB. 19, LIVE ON SHOWTIME
FORMER BELLATOR CHAMPION ANDREY KORESHKOV FACES FELLOW RUSSIAN STAR MUKHAMED BERKHAMOV IN CO-HEADLINER WHEN BELLATOR RETURNS TO MOHEGAN SUN ARENA IN UNCASVILLE, CONN., WITH AN ACTION-PACKED NIGHT OF FIGHTS
LOS ANGELES –Fresh off an 87-second destruction of Mark Lemminger in the co-main event ofBELLATOR MMA 266, Tsis yog. 4-rankedNeiman Gracie(11-2) will strap on the BELLATOR gloves for the 12thconsecutive time when he takes on once-beaten and No. 5-rankedLogan Storley(12-1) in a clash of top-10 170-pounders atBELLATOR MMA 274: Gracie vs. Storley Rau hnub Saturday, FEB. 19.
In the co-featured bout inside Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., former BELLATOR Welterweight Champion and No. 8-rankedAndrey Koreshkov (24-4) will return to action and open his 2022 campaign againstMukhamed Berkhamov(15-1), a winner of his last seven contests. The main card will also see undefeatedKeri Taylor Melendez (5-0) compete at flyweight against former title challenger and No. 6-rankedVeta Arteaga (6-4) and a pair of heavyweights who find themselves tied at No. 8 in the official rankings will open the main card, when undefeated prospectDavion Franklin (4-0) fightsSaid Sowma (8-2).
SHOWTIME will televise theBELLATOR MMA 274: Gracie vs. Storleymain card live at9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.Additionally, the thrilling preliminary fights will stream live on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV beginning at6 p.m. ET/3p.m. PT.
Daim pib musBELLATOR MMA 274: Gracie vs. Storleywill go on sale Friday, Jan. 7 at bothTicketmaster.com thiabBellator.com, with a special presale taking place Thursday, Jan. 6.
Five preliminary contests are also official forBELLATOR MMA 274,three lightweight bouts, the first pitting 44-fight veteranGeorgi Karakhanyan(31-12-1) against Northern California’sAdam Piccolotti(12-4), a battle between two of the best nicknames in MMA, Mandel “Rat Garbage” Nallo (8-1, 1 NC) thiabNick “Nyquil” Browne(12-1), as well asCorey Samuels (3-2), who won in ten seconds in his BELLATOR debut, returning to face undefeatedJustin Montalvo(4-0).
The final two preliminary contests will seeIsaiah Hokit (0-1) will move down to featherweight in his second BELLATOR outing, when he takes onAlbert Birckhead (0-1) in his promotional debut. Lastly, top-flight bantamweight prospectJaylon Bates (4-0) welcomesChris Disonell (6-4) back to BELLATOR for the first time since 2019.
Originating from the exalted Brazilian jiu-jitsu family, Gracie scored his first professional TKO when he backed his opponent against the fence and unleashed a barrage of unanswered punches to Lemminger’s head, forcing referee Jason Herzog to stop the contest at 1:27 of the opening round on Sept. 18, 2021, in San Jose, Calif.
The great grandson of Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu founder Carlos Gracie, nephew of MMA icon Royce Gracie, and cousin to Renzo Gracie, Neiman Gracie opened his outstanding MMA career by recording nine consecutive wins of then-undefeated opponents, including eight by submission.
A native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the 33-year-old BELLATOR veteran currently holds a 9-2 promotional record. While others his age were learning to speak their native language, Gracie began jiu-jitsu training at age four. Fast forward to 18 years later when the multi-faceted fighter earned the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu black belt at 22. Additionally, the Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and Kings MMA fighter captured the 2011 U.S National Jiu-Jitsu title, 2008 Pan-American Jiu-Jitsu crown, thiab 2007 American National Jiu-Jitsu championship during an illustrious amateur career.
Hailing from Webster, S.D., the hard-hitting Storley commenced his pro vocation with six consecutive knockouts, including five in the initial stanza, en route to 11 straight triumphs overall. Furthermore, “The Storm” will make his ninth consecutive BELLATOR appearance where he currently holds a magnificent 7-1 record.
Like his counterpart on Feb. 19, Storley began wresting at a young age, albeit one year later at age five. Additionally, the Sanford MMA product and former folkstyle wrestler completed a fabled amateur career as a four-time NCAA Division-I champion at the University of Minnesota, as well as a six-time South Dakota High School Activities Association titlist.
The 29-year-old Storley, who holds academic degrees in both business and marketing, thrilled his hometown crowd in his last turn by earning a split-decision victory over Dante Schiro in the co-featured bout ofBELLATOR MMA 265in Sioux Falls, S.D.
BELLATOR MMA 274: GRACIE VS. STORLEYMAIN CARD:
Hnub vas xaum, FEB. 19 – live onSHOWTIME
9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
Welterweight Main Event: #4-Neiman Gracie (11-2) vs. #5-Logan Storley (12-1)
#3-Phil Davis (23-6) defeatedYoel Romero(13-6) via unanimous decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-26)
Phil Davis had this to say following his win over Yoel Romero: “Six years ago, I was making my Bellator debut right here in San Jose, and I absolutely forgot – it’s one of my biggest mistakes ever – I forgot to encourage one of my best friends, training partners, roommates at Penn State. He was in the hospital with cancer and I forgot to encourage him. He ended up losing his battle with cancer. Now, I want to rectify that moment by just saying that my mom and dad, who are tremendous and are everything that I wish a mom and dad could be, are just wonderful. Last September, two weeks before my fight with Lyoto Machida, my mom calls me and tells me she has malignant breast cancer, so she had to go and get that taken care of. Exactly three days later my father told me he had aggressive prostate cancer. Then two weeks later I had to go and fight The Dragon. I really had to dig deep in a number of ways and I just want to say to my Mom and Dad – by God’s grace they’re still here, my mother’s in the crowd, my father’s at home staring at the tv crying – I love you guys and I cannot do this without you. You guys are amazing.”
#4-Neiman Gracie (11-2) defeatedMark Lemminger (12-4) via TKO (punches) tom 1:27 of round one
Neiman Gracie made it clear who he wants next: “I don’t need to take people down to win fights anymore. I can do it all, but if I take you down, oh boy. I saw he was putting his head down so I come up with the uppercut. If you keep the fight standing, it’s the hospital. If you go to the ground, it’s the cemetery. There’s a couple guys I want to fight. I want to fight MVP. I’ve been calling this guy out forever and the fight never happens. They always have another excuse. I want my rematch with Jason Jackson… and I want Mr. Yaroslav Amosov,, I have the worst game for him and I believe I’ll be the one to give him his first loss.”
DeAnna Bennett after her unanimous decision win: “I can’t describe to you how I’m feeling right now. This place means everything to me. I’m born and raised in the bay area… I’m so glad to be her fighting in this cage for Bellator with all of these fans here. My dad, he’s with me here…He always knew I was gonna fight here and get my hand raised in this building. I wanted that first round finish so bad, but Alejandra, she’s so tough, so tough. You can’t have a good fight with just one person. Both fighters have to be great fighters to put on a good show so half this victory belongs to her for coming into the cage and being a good opponent and being willing to put everything out there just like I did. I felt better in the standup than I did on the ground… honestly a lot of that has been working with my coach here Brian Wright (sp?) Here at Killer Bee. I owe this resurgence in my career to him because he’s really helped me become the fighter, become well-rounded. I’ve had a lot of coaches in the past who’ve been like, “if you don’t get a takedown, you’re not gonna win a fight” well, boom, looks like I just won a fight.“
Following the win, Saul Rogers had this to say: “It felt amazing. I’ve been killing myself too long trying to cut down to 145 and now that I’ve moved up, I feel stronger, I feel more dominant. I’m always good at guillotines but tonight, none of those guillotines were even close – I wasn’t in danger. But the knee, he hit me with one clean and then the second got through not as clean and I just tried staying protected. But you as you seen in the fight, I had a big smile on my face. I love that sh*t, you know what I mean? I feel miles better. In other fights, after maybe around two and a half minutes, my hands gassing and I had nothing to carry on then. I controlled him for three rounds and I still feel good to go. Any of these fighters that are on the cusp and are still killing themselves, take it from me, move up, be healthier, be happier, have a longer career. It’s much better.”
Ben Parrish(5-1) defeated#8-Christian Edwards(5-1) via KO (punches) tom 0:38 of round one
Ben Parrish after his shocking knockout of Christian Edwards: “It feels good to shut a lot of people up, man that’s all I will say. I told my boss, Casey, back home, I’ll knock him out with a left hook. What’d I say? Don’t get it twisted, everybody’ll find an excuse to throw salt on me – hey, that’s not luck, that’s preparation, baby. If I can’t do it with six months of training, beat him, nobody was gonna beat him.” Preliminary Card: Alex Polizzi (9-1) defeated #7-Grant Neal(6-1) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Anthony Adams (9-2) defeatedKhalid Murtazaliev(15-3) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Bobby Seronio III (1-0) defeatedSocrates Hernandez (0-1) via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-26, 29-26) Abraham Vaesau (6-3, 1 NC) defeatedAlbert Gonzales (2-3) via KO (punches) tom 2:17 of round one Shane Keefe (2-0) defeatedRhalan Gracie (0-3) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Edwin De Los Santos (1-0) defeatedJon Adams (0-2-1) via TKO (strikes) tom 3:29 of round one Jesse Delgado (1-0) defeatedJoshua Dillon (1-2) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
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 tes hauj lwm Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc., owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL™and FLIX®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI ciaj uas muag thiab qhov nws distributes kev ua si thiab cov txheej xwm lom ze rau exhibition rau subscribers tus puav pay-per-view txog SHOWTIME PPV®. Xav paub ntau ntxiv, mus tom www.SHO.com.
LOS ANGELES –A pair of elite mixed martial artists meet in the main event ofBELLATOR MMA 266next Saturday, Sept. 18 inside the SAP Center at San Jose when former 205-pound champion and No. 3 rankedPhil Davis (22-6) welcomes MMA superstarYoel Romero(13-5) to the BELLATOR promotion. The main card ofBELLATOR MMA 266: Davis vs. Romeroairs live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT.
tsis tas li ntawd, the evening features a welterweight co-main event pitting No. 4 rankedNeiman Gracie (10-2) againstMark Lemminger (12-3) and a women’s flyweight contest between former title challenger #5-Alejandra Lara(9-4) thiab DeAnna Bennett(10-7-1).
Two additional main card fights have been added with a lightweight fight featuringGeorgi Karakhanyan(31-11-1, 1 NC) versusSaul Rogers (14-4) and a light heavyweight tilt between No. 10 rankedChristian Edwards(4-0) againstBen Parrish(4-1) kicking off the action.
Nine action-packed preliminary fights will stream live on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV beginning at 7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT. Complete bout listing available below.
Updated schedule of BELLATOR events 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, Zog ntawm Guj kuj Fri. Nov. 5 // BELLATOR 270: Gallagher vs. Mix // 3Arena // Dublin, Ireland
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BELLATOR MMA 266: Davis vs. RomeroMain Card: Hnub vas xaum, September 18 – live onSHOWTIME 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT
Light Heavyweight Main Event: #3-Phil Davis (22-6) vs. Yoel Romero(13-5) Welterweight Bout: #4-Neiman Gracie (10-2) vs. Mark Lemminger (12-3) Flyweight Bout: #5-Alejandra Lara(9-4) vs. DeAnna Bennett(10-7-1) Lightweight Bout: Georgi Karakhanyan(31-11-1, 1 NC) vs. Saul Rogers (14-4) Light Heavyweight Bout: #10-Christian Edwards(4-0) vs. Ben Parrish(4-1)
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 tes hauj lwm 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 Inc. cov, a wholly owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®. Yog tam sim no muaj nyob rau subscribers ntawm cable SHOWTIME, 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 atShowtime.com. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®. Xav paub ntau ntxiv, mus tom www.SHO.com.
Chris Gonzalez (6-0) defeatedRoger Huerta (24-13-1) via submission (strikes) tom 3:01 of round three
Jose Augusto (17-1) defeatedJonathan Wilson (9-3) via submission (head and arm choke) tom 4:58 of round one
Roman Faraldo (5-0) defeatedTrevor Gudde (2-2) via TKO 1:30 of round one
Jordan Newman (3-0) defeatedBranko Busick (2-2) via TKO (strikes) tom 2:30 of round two
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THE FINALS OF THE BELLATOR MMA FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD GRAND PRIX – CHAMPION PATRICIO “PITBULL” VS. #1-RANKED AJ MCKEE
Quotes:
Patricio “Pitbull:”“I am ready to fight AJ McKee right now, please just tell SHOWTIME, I will get in the cage and we can take care of this tomorrow.”
“I want to be the first man to defeat McKee, he has been opening his mouth about me for a very long time, this will be the biggest fight in BELLATOR history.”
AJ McKee: “Patricio Pitbull has been the man. Nothing against him. He’s got great accolades. I already said I’m going to be the champ-champ. For me, it’s the new era. He said my time is over. My time has just begun. We’ll see.
“It’s a fight the fans have wanted for the longest. On top of that, he’s underrated. He’s an outstanding champ. His accolades, his credentials, his record is phenomenal. But at the end of the day, nobody has a win over me. Nobody has a belt with my name on it and nobody is going to get a belt with my name on it.”
Bellator 246: Archuleta vs. MixMain Card: Juan Archuleta(25-2) defeatedPatchy Mix(13-1) via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) Neiman Gracie(10-1) defeatedJon Fitch(32-8-2, 1 NC) via submission (heel hook) tom 4:47 of round two Liz Carmouche (14-7) defeatedDeAnna Bennett(10-7-1) via submission (rear-naked choke) tom 3:17 of round three Keoni Diggs(9-0) defeatedDerek Campos(20-11) via technical submission (rear-naked choke) tom 4:59 of round three
Preliminary Card: Daniel Madrid(18-6) defeatedPat Casey(6-3) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27) Ty Gwerder(5-1) defeatedTuco Tokkos(4-2) via TKO at 1:05 of round three Davion Franklin (2-0) defeatedRas Hylton(6-5) via technical decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
FULL FIGHT CARD ANNOUNCED FOR MADISON SQUARE GARDEN IN NYC THIS FRIDAY – AIRING EXCLUSIVELY ON DAZN
NEW YORK –The line-up for the highly anticipatedBellator 222: MacDonald vs. Gracieeventhas been completed with two title fights and 18 electric bouts in total filling out Bellator’s return to Madison Square Garden this Friday, Rau hli ntuj 14 – only onDAZN. The star-studded card is headlined by a double main event that will see a Welterweight World Grand Prix semi-final matchup between current Bellator welterweight world championRory MacDonald (20-5-1) defending his title against the unbeaten Renzo Gracie-trained Brazilian jiu-jitsu black beltNeiman Gracie (9-0), as well as two of the sport’s biggest names inLyoto Machida (25-8) thiab Chael Sonnen (31-16-1) finally meeting after years of parallel careers in the MMA world.
The main card ofBellator 222 will stream live exclusively onDAZN tom 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, while preliminary action begins at 6:30 p.m. EST/3:30 p.m. PST and will also stream onDAZNor globally on the Bellator Mobile App.
The DAZN-streamed main card also featuresDarrion Caldwell (13-2) defending his Bellator bantamweight world title against Rizin Fighting Federation’s bantamweight championKyoji Horiguchi (27-2) in a true “champion vs. champion” matchup, following a Horiguchi submission victory when the two met in Rizin’s ring this past December in Japan, as well as a 175-pound catchweight contest between polarizing grappling aceDillon Danis (1-0) and Max Humphrey (3-2). Additionally, fans will see an intriguing featherweight bout featuring former Bellator 135-pound championEduardo Dantas (21-6) making the leap to 145-pounds in an attempt to handJuan Archuleta (21-1) the first loss of his Bellator career, thaum lub Ricky Bandejas (11-2) welcomes unbeatenPatrick Mix (10-0) at bantamweight.
Preliminary action forBellator 222 is also must-see andfeatures many of Bellator’s rising stars. Those who tune in will see bouts highlighted byAaron Pico (4-2) versusAdam Borics (12-0) at 145-pounds, as well as a second inter-promotional contest pittingRenaof Rizin (8-2) againstLindsay VanZandt (5-1) in a 112-pound catchweight fight. Bellator 222will also see the return of “The Heat” to MSG, when world champion boxerHeather Hardy (2-1) facesTaylor Turner (3-5) at flyweight. Familiar faces inMike Kimbel (2-1), Robson Gracie Jr. (1-0) thiab Haim Gozali (10-6) will all also compete, while formerThe Ultimate FighterparticipantPhil Hawes (4-2) will make his promotional debut. Lastly, it was recently announced that undefeated Taekwondo MasterValerie Loureda (1-0) will make her sophomore appearance when she welcomesLarkyn Dasch (0-1) to the Bellator cage on Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
Bellator 222 Main Card:
Welterweight World Grand Prix Semifinal Title Bout: Rory MacDonald(20-5-1) vs. Neiman Gracie (9-0)
Brent Primus Defends Lightweight Title Against Michael Chandler in Long-Awaited Main Event Rematch to Kick Off Honolulu Doubleheader
LOS ANGELES –To honor the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, Bellator MMA has partnered with the USO to present a special live event free for the troops, along with their friends and families, on December 14.
“Having worked with the Army Combatives Program to evaluate and update their combat readiness, I have long respected the military and their courage,” said Royce Gracie, MMA Legend and Bellator Ambassador. “When I found out we were doing an event in Hawaii, knowing the large military population there, I knew we had to show our support and appreciation through MMA.”
Bellator President Scott Coker is proud of this new relationship with USO and is eager to show his support to the brave service men and women.
“The USO is a historic military support organization – not just in entertainment but in connecting them back to the things they love and fight for,” said Coker. “It made perfect sense for Bellator to establish a relationship with the USO and provide a unique opportunity to Hawaii’s military population. We appreciate their service to the nation, and we hope this is just the first of many opportunities for us to work together.”
Emanating from the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, this unique show will be headlined by a title fight featuring current lightweight champBrett Primus(8-0) against two-time former titlistMichael Chandler(18-4), while heavyweight iconFrank Mir(18-12) meetsJavy Ayala(10-7)in a heavyweight clash.
Bellator and USO Present: Salute the Troopswill air on Paramount Network on Friday, Hlis ntuj nqeg 14 tom 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT and will be simulcast on CMT. The event will also stream LIVE on DAZN, while preliminary bouts will stream onBellator.comand globally on theBellator Mobile App. Additional bouts will be announced in coming weeks.
Reigning champ Brent Primus puts both his title and undefeated streak on the line in a highly anticipated rematch for the Bellator lightweight title. After upsetting Chandler last year, the Eugene, Ore.-native has since battled injuries that have delayed his return to the cage. Now, he looks to silence the critics and prove that he is the rightful and deserving 155-pound champion. One of the most-decorated fighters in Bellator history, Michael Chandler has plans to reclaim the championship and become a three-time titleholder. “Iron” has defeated a who’s who among the division’s elite, includingBenson
Henderson, Patricky Pitbull(x2), Goiti Yamauchiand Eddie Alvarez. The former University of Missouri wrestler, who now calls Nashville home, has earned his way back to No. 1-contender status with his sights set on leaving Hawaii with the belt.
Former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir returns to the Bellator cage following his exciting back-and-forth battle withFedor Emelianenkolast spring. With career wins overRoy Nelson, Antonio “Big Nog” Nogueira (x2), Brock Lesnar and Mirko Cro Cop, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt looks for another impressive victory to add to his illustrious career. After shocking the world when he KO’dSergei Kharitonov, Javy Ayala become an overnight sensation to MMA fans. Known to fans as “Eye Candy,” the heavyweight has also impressively defeated Eric Prindle and Raphael Butler. Fighting out of Porterville, Calif., Ayala returns hoping to yet again shock the world and defeat one of the greatest heavyweights in MMA history.
This unforgettable night will be part of an historic weekend culminating with the previously announcedBellator Hawaii Rau hnub Saturday, Hlis ntuj nqeg 15, airing exclusively on DAZN. This highly-anticipated fight card includes Bellator women’s flyweight champIlima-Lei Macfarlanedefending her title againstValérieLétourneau, Lyoto Machidamaking his Bellator debut against former champRafael Carvalho, Neiman Gracienoj Ed Ruthin an opening round matchup in the Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix and much more.
Bellator and the USO will also partner for a week of special events in Hawaii leading up to the big weekend of exciting fights on December 14 thiab 15. More details to come soon.
UpdatedBellator and USO Present: Salute the TroopsFight Card:
Lightweight World Title Main Event:Brent Primus (8-0) vs. Michael Chandler (18-4)
Heavyweight Main Card Bout: Frank Mir(18-12) vs. Javy Ayala(10-7)
BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU WORLD CHAMP MEETS KYLE WALKER IN MAIN CARD BOUT AT ALLSTATE ARENA
LOS ANGELES– Renowned Brazilian jiu-jitsu aceDillon Danis (0-0) will make his highly anticipated mixed martial arts debut againstKyle Walker(2-4) at Bellator’s return to Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill. rau Hnub vas xaum, Tim 28forBellator 198: Fedor vs. Mir.
Bellator 198, headlined by a first-round Heavyweight World Grand Prix bout betweenFedor Emelianenko(36-5, 1 NC) thiab Frank Mir (18-11), will be broadcast live and free on Paramount Network at9 p.m. LI/8 p.m. I, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and globally on the Bellator Mobile App. Tickets for the event are on sale now and are available at the Allstate Arena box office and Ticketmaster.
Under the tutelage of Marcelo Garcia at Alliance in New York, Danis began competing at an elite level on the jiu-jitsu circuit not long after emerging on the scene. Danis would win the IBJJF World Championship in Gi and No-Gi in 2014 as a brown belt, with those victories earning him his black belt in 2015. The very next year, Danis would return to the IBJJF tournament and take home the Pan American No-Gi Championship. Garnering the attention of fans along the way, Conor McGregor also took notice, enlisting the services of the New Jersey native to help him train for his 2016 rematch with Nate Diaz. Always one to challenge himself, Danis signed an exclusive multi-fight contract with Bellator in 2017 and has already settled in for training camp at the famed SBG Ireland.
Fighting out of Herrin, Ill., Kyle Walker will enter the Bellator cage for the first time atBellator 198, where he will likely play the role of underdog to the BJJ kingpin. Walker made his pro debut in 2013, racking up wins in two of his first three matchups within the calendar year. After taking some time away from the sport, Walker stepped back inside the cage competing for some of the best regional promotions, including a return to Shamrock FC.
CompleteBellator 198 Main Card:
Heavyweight Grand Prix First Round: Fedor Emelianenko(36-5, 1 NC) vs. Frank Mir (18-11)
Featherweight Co-Main Event: Emmanuel Sanchez(16-3) vs. Sam Sicilia(16-8)
Middleweight Main Card Bout: John Salter(15-3) vs. Rafael Lovato Jr. (7-0)
Welterweight Main Card Bout: Neiman Gracie(7-0) vs. Javier Torres(10-3)
175-Pound Catchweight Main Card Bout: Dillon Danis(Pro Debut) vs. Kyle Walker(2-4)
Preliminary Card:
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: R’Mandel Cameron (4-3) vs. P.J. Cajigas (6-6)
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Dan Stittgen(12-5) vs. MarkStoddard (15-9)
150-Pound Catchweight Feature Bout: Eric Wisely(27-9-1) vs. Morgan Sickinger (20-10)
Middleweight Preliminary Bout:Matt Paul(2-2) vs. Brian Booth(4-3)
Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Joey Diehl(11-9) vs. Nate Williams(27-17)
Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Tom Shoaff(8-3) vs. Mike Budnik(13-4)
*Card subject to change
Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.
