Tag Archives: phil davis

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

BLUE CHIP PROSPECTS ED RUTH & TYRELL FORTUNE SET FOR BELLATOR MMA DEBUTS AS TRIO OF PRELIMINARY BOUTS COMPLETE STACKED ‘BELLATOR 163’ CARD

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UNDEFEATED NEIMAN GRACIE CHALLENGES 30-FIGHT VETERAN RUDY BEARS IN CATCHWEIGHT BOUT

 

SANTA MONICA, CALIF (October 6, 2016) –Two of Bellator’s highly touted wrestling prospects Ed Ruth and Tyrell Fortune will make their eagerly anticipated mixed martial arts debuts against Mark Mangiardi (Debut) and Cody Miskell (Debut) during the stacked card of “Bellator 163: McGeary vs. Davis” on November 4 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

 

In addition, Neiman Gracie (4-0) will look to remain undefeated to begin his professional career in a catchweight bout against Rudy Bears (16-14). All three of these contests will air on the Bellator.com-streamed preliminary card beginning at 7:50 p.m. ET/5:50 p.m. CT.

 

The newly announced tilts complete a card headlined by a light heavyweight world title fight that pits champion Liam McGeary (11-0) against Phil Davis (16-3). In the co-main event, a welterweight showdown pitting Saad Awad (19-8) against Brennan Ward (13-4) will go down, while a heavyweight bout between Sergei Kharitonov (23-5) and Javy “Eye Candy” Ayala (9-5) will also be featured on the main card. Lastly, Paul Daley (38-14-2) and the always-exciting Derek Anderson (14-2) faceoff in a welterweight clash, while female featherweights Marloes Coenen (23-7) and Talita Nogueira (6-0) round out the live and free action on SPIKE.

 

Tickets for “Bellator 163: McGeary vs. Davis” are on sale now at Bellator.com, as well as the Mohegan Sun Box Office and Ticketmaster. The event can be seen live and free on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and the Bellator Mobile App.

 

When looking up the word “prospect” in the dictionary, there should be a photo of Ed Ruth placed next to the definition. The three-time national champion joined a plethora of blue-chip amateur wrestling prospects on the Bellator MMA roster last year and now will make his long-awaited debut at 185-pounds on Nov. 4. An attendee of the world-renown Blair Academy in Susquehanna Township, PA, where he was the top-ranked recruit in the nation for his weight class, Ruth elected to stay local and attend wrestling powerhouse Penn State University where he went on to add three National Championships and four All-American accolades to his trophy room while wrestling with the Nittany Lions. Now, Ruth’s chase for mixed martial arts gold begins –

 

Fighting out of Pennsylvania, Mark Mangiardi will have his hands full when he makes his professional debut against Ruth. With four amateur bouts already under his belt, the 28-year-old has tasted competition on the MMA scene unlike his Nov. 4 opponent. With his first sanctioned bout taking place in 2012, this will be the first bout outside of his home state of Pennsylvania.

 

Another one of Scott Coker’s high profile wrestling signings, Fortune attended high school at Lakeridge in Oregon, where he won state championships in nearly every national age-group in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. The accolades didn’t stop there, with Fortune accepting an offer to wrestle at Ohio State University, before ultimately settling in at the highly acclaimed Grand Canyon Universities program. Since graduating college, Fortune represented Team USA in Olympic style wrestling, where he also experienced success. Splitting time between wrestling training in Arizona alongside fellow “Bellator 163” competitor Ed Ruth and mixed martial arts training with the Blackzilians in Florida, Fortune has spent a great deal of time honing his striking talents and submission defense.

 

Miskell has competed in both heavyweight and super heavyweight contests during his seven-fight amateur stint, accruing a record of 5-2. Now, the Kentucky native – who’s finished each of victories – looks to parlay his success into a run under the bright lights of Bellator MMA’s heavyweight division. It’s safe to say that Miskell’s wrestling pedigree will be challenged early and often when he meets Fortune during the Bellator.com-streamed prelims.

 

The Gracie name is synonymous with the sport of mixed martial arts, and once again another Gracie will now take center stage for Bellator MMA. This time it is Royce Gracie’s cousin Neiman, who will compete for the third time under the promotion’s banner. After beginning his career with back-to-back submission victories, Gracie made his Bellator MMA debut at “Bellator 134,” where he defeated Bobby Flynn with a first round submission. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt followed up the win with a win over Roger Carroll, and now looks to remain undefeated when he enters the Mohegan Sun Arena for the second time of his budding MMA career.

 

A 37-year-old Missouri native, Bears began his combat sports training in high school. Fighting professionally since 2007, Bears has appeared eight times previously under the Bellator MMA banner and now returns to the promotion after his appearance against Michael Page at “Bellator 140: Koreshkov vs. Lima.”  Nicknamed “Bad News,” Bears has competed against MMA notables the likes of Zak Cummings, Paul Daley, Jason High, Ryan Jensen, Isaac Vallie-Flagg and Tyron Woodley, and the aforementioned “MVP.”

 

Complete “Bellator 163: McGeary vs. Davis” Main Card:

Light Heavyweight World Title Bout: Liam McGeary (11-0) vs. Phil Davis (16-3)

Welterweight Co-Main Event: Saad Awad (19-8) vs. Brennan Ward (13-4)

Welterweight Feature Bout: Paul Daley (38-14-2) vs. Derek Anderson (14-2)

Heavyweight Feature Bout: Sergei Kharitonov (23-5) vs. Javy Ayala (9-5)

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Marloes Coenen (23-7) vs. Talita Nogueira (6-0)

 

Complete Preliminary Card:

Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Ed Ruth (Debut) vs. Mark Mangiardi (Debut)

Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Tyrell Forune (Debut) vs. Cody Miskell (Debut)

Catchweight Preliminary Bout: Neiman Gracie (4-0) vs. Rudy Bears (16-14)

Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Josh Diekmann (15-7, 1 NC) vs. Tyler King (11-4)

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Blair Tugman (8-6) vs. Walter Smith-Cotito (4-4, 1 NC)

Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Michael Zichelle (8-4) vs. Tim Caron (5-0)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Ilya Kotau (1-1) vs. Carlos Corriea (1-0)

Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Sarah Payant (1-3) vs. Hannah Regina (Debut)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Keenan Raymond (3-3) vs. Kastroit Xhema (Debut)

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Thomas English (6-6) vs. Christopher Foster (9-4)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: James Boran (6-0) vs. Vinicius De Jesus (4-1)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

PAUL DALEY RETURNS TO STATESIDE ACTION AGAINST DEREK ANDERSON AT ‘BELLATOR 163’ ON NOVEMBER 4

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SERGEI KHARITONOV SET FOR BELLATOR MMA HEAVYWEIGHT DEBUT AGAINST JAVY AYALA, LIVE & FREE ON SPIKE

SANTA MONICA, CALIF (October 3, 2016) – A welterweight showdown pitting Paul “Semtex” Daley (38-14-2) against Derek “The Barbaric” Anderson (14-2) as well as a heavyweight bout featuring Sergei Kharitonov (23-5) against Javy “Eye Candy” Ayala (9-5) complete the SPIKE-televised main card of “Bellator 163: McGeary vs. Davis” on November 4 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

The addition of the two bouts round out a main card chalk full of action, highlighted by a light heavyweight world title main event pitting current champion Liam McGeary (11-0) against Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis (16-3). In addition, Saad Awad (19-8) and hometown favorite Brennan Ward (13-4) square-off in a welterweight bash live and free on SPIKE, along with female featherweights Marloes Coenen (23-7) and Talita Nogueira (6-0). Tickets for“Bellator 163: McGeary vs. Davis” are on sale now at Bellator.com, as well as the Mohegan Sun Box Office and Ticketmaster. The event can be seen live and free on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and the Bellator Mobile App.

With 54 career fights under his belt, the 33-year-old Daley has seen it all. “Semtex,” a former member of the British Army, made his professional debut in 2003, before competing under the direction of both Strikeforce and UFC. Now the Nottingham, England native seems to have found a home, as he will make his fifth appearance under the Bellator MMA banner, following three wins and a pair of knockout finishes in his first stint with the promotion. Daley has emerged victorious in nine of his last 11 contests, with eight of the nine wins coming by way of knockout. It should come as no surprise that the former Cage Rage Welterweight Champion has strung together a recent flurry of finishes, as 30 of his 38 career wins have come by way of finish. Daley hopes to continue along his path of dominance and further cement his name among the division’s elite when he and Anderson square off on November 4.

Fresh off of an entertaining unanimous decision victory over Saad Awad at “Bellator 160: Henderson vs. Pitbull,” Anderson hops back into the cage in search of his sixth win since joining the Viacom-owned promotion back in 2013. Prior to signing with Bellator MMA, “Barbaric” strung together an unblemished mark of 9-0, finishing all nine of his victims, including six in the first round. Now, the 26-year-old San Diego native will be jumping up in weight class to challenge Daley in the welterweight division for the first time in his professional career. The tall and lengthy Anderson will look to add to his current two-fight winning streak as he faces the British striking sensation in a marquee matchup at Bellator MMA’s latest tentpole offering.

After being forced to withdraw from his originally scheduled Bellator MMA debut earlier this year, the 36-year-old Kharitonov will once again prepare to take center stage for first time under the bright lights of Bellator MMA. A winner in 10 of his last 12 fights, including his last five outings, “The Paratrooper” enters the cage as a surefire contender for the vacant heavyweight belt. A veteran of PRIDE Fighting Championships, Strikeforce, and DREAM, the Moscow native prefers to take matters into his own hands rather than the judges, tallying 22 finishes over his 23 career wins, including stoppages in each of his last 10 victories. The multi-dimensional Kharitonov holds notable wins over former UFC Champions Fabricio Werdum and Andrei Arlovski, all while remaining on active duty with the Russian Airborne Troops.

Ayala, another heavyweight competitor capable of ending a fight in the blink of an eye, has finished his opponent in eight of his nine career wins. “Eye Candy” also has a knack for putting his challengers out of their misery early in the bout, recording seven of his eight finishes in the first round of action. A 6-fight veteran of Bellator MMA, the 28-year-old has recorded victories in four of his six contests since joining the Scott Coker-led promotion back in 2013. Ayala’s success in mixed martial arts runs in the family, as his cousin, Joe Soto, is a former Bellator MMA Champion. Be sure to tune in on November 4 as two of the top finishers in the highly competitive heavyweight division clash at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Complete “Bellator 163: McGeary vs. Davis” Main Card:

Light Heavyweight World Title Bout: Liam McGeary (11-0) vs. Phil Davis (16-3)

Welterweight Co-Main Event: Saad Awad (19-8) vs. Brennan Ward (13-4)

Welterweight Feature Bout: Paul Daley (38-14-2) vs. Derek Anderson (14-2)

Heavyweight Feature Bout: Sergei Kharitonov (23-5) vs. Javy Ayala (9-5)

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Marloes Coenen (23-7) vs. Talita Nogueira (6-0)

Preliminary Card:

Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Josh Diekmann (15-7, 1 NC) vs. Tyler King (11-4)

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Blair Tugman (8-6) vs. Walter Smith-Cotito (4-4, 1 NC)

Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Michael Zichelle (8-4) vs. Tim Caron (5-0)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Ilya Kotau (1-1) vs. Carlos Corriea (1-0)

Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Sarah Payant (1-3) vs. Hannah Regina (Debut)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Keenan Raymond (3-3) vs. Kastroit Xhema (Debut)

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Thomas English (6-6) vs. Christopher Foster (9-4)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: James Boran (6-0) vs. Vinicius De Jesus (4-1)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

LIAM MCGEARY SET TO DEFEND LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT GOLD IN MAIN EVENT CLASH WITH PHIL “MR. WONDERFUL” DAVIS AT MOHEGAN SUN ARENA IN CONNECTICUT ON NOVEMBER 4

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BRENNAN WARD vs. SAAD AWAD & MARLOES COENEN vs. TALITA NOGUEIRA ALSO SET FOR MAIN CARD ACTION

 

 

SANTA MONICA, CALIF (September 23, 2016) – A light heavyweight title fight pitting current belt-holder Liam McGeary (11-0) against Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis (16-3) will serve as the main event at “Bellator 163: McGeary vs. Davis” on November 4 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

 

The SPIKE-televised main card will also feature a welterweight battle between Saad Awad (19-8) and Connecticut’s own Brennan Ward (13-4), as well as a female featherweight contest pitting Marloes Coenen (23-7) against undefeated Brazilian Talita Nogueira (6-0).

 

Tickets for “Bellator 163: McGeary vs. Davis” are on sale now at Bellator.com, as well as the Mohegan Sun Box Office and Ticketmaster. The event can be seen live and free on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and the Bellator Mobile App.

 

Undefeated light heavyweight champion Liam McGeary returns to the same venue where he was crowned king in 2015. Now, the 33-year-old British striker will look to defend his title for the second time since winning the belt in a hard-fought victory over Emanuel Newton at “Bellator 134.” An eight-time veteran of Bellator MMA, McGeary has finished his opponent in 10 of his 11 career bouts, including eight first round wins – one coming against MMA legend Tito Ortiz. Standing at 6’6”, McGeary will have a noticeable height advantage over his opponent Davis when the two take center stage on November 4 inside Mohegan Sun Arena.

 

“Mr. Wonderful” returns to the Bellator MMA cage having won three consecutive contests and seven of his last nine. Hailing from Harrisburg, Penn., Davis has finished his opponent in eight of his 16 career wins, including five submission victories. A 13-fight veteran of the UFC, the 31-year-old Davis will likely not be fazed by the bright lights of what is quite possibly the biggest challenge of his illustrious career. The former NCAA National Champion wrestler will try to take this contest to the ground and display his impeccable grappling skillset against the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt.

 

With a dozen fights under the direction of the Scott Coker-led promotion, the Bellator MMA veteran Awad will enter the cage for the 28th time in his career and third of the calendar year. A native of San Bernardino, Calif., Awad’s 2016 campaign is highlighted by a spectacular first round finish of Brazilian standout  “Cyborg” Santos at “Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo,” as well as a “Fight of the Year” candidate against Derek Anderson at “Bellator 160: Henderson vs. Pitbull.” With eight first round knockout victories under his belt, five of which came in the opening minute of action, the 33-year-old “Assassin” will undoubtedly come out guns blazing at 170-pounds on November 4 in search of his 16th career finish.

 

It wouldn’t feel like a complete Bellator MMA card in Connecticut without New London’s own, “Irish” Ward. The 28-year-old former NCAA All-American lives just 10 miles from Mohegan Sun Arena, where he has emerged victorious four times, including three knockouts and one submission. A 12-fight veteran of Bellator MMA, Ward has recorded wins in four of his last five bouts dating back to 2015, highlighted by a pair of first round KO’s at Mohegan Sun Arena. With 12 of the welterweight’s 13 career victories coming by way of knockout and submission, look for Ward to attack early and often when he enters the cage in front of friends and family onNovember 4.

 

Dutch submission specialist Coenen will be making her fourth appearance under the Bellator MMA banner after making her promotional debut in 2014. The 35-year-old former Strikeforce competitor enters the cage having won four of her last six contests, including her first two bouts with the Scott Coker-led promotion. The 30-fight veteran nicknamed “Rumina” has finished her opponents in 20 of her 23 career wins, including a remarkable 17 submission victories.

 

The undefeated 30-year-old Nogueira will be making her Bellator MMA debut inside Mohegan Sun Arena onNovember 4. The fight will be her first since 2013, when the Brazilian grappler collected her sixth career win, fourth of the submission variety. Nogueira was originally slated to make her promotional debut in 2015, before a knee injury forced her to withdraw from of a scheduled bout with fellow featherweight Julia Budd at “Bellator 133.” Now, “Treta” will look to maintain her unblemished mark and put her name in title contention when she enters the cage in what will surely be the stiffest test of her flourishing career.

 

“Bellator 163: McGeary vs. Davis” Main Card:

Light Heavyweight World Title Bout: Liam McGeary (11-0) vs. Phil Davis (16-3)

Welterweight Feature Bout: Saad Awad (19-8) vs. Brennan Ward (13-4)

Featherweight Feature Bout: Marloes Coenen (23-7) vs. Talita Nogueira (6-0)

 

Preliminary Card:

Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Josh Diekmann (15-7, 1 NC) vs. Tyler King (11-4)

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Blair Tugman (8-6) vs. Walter Smith-Cotito (4-4, 1 NC)

Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Michael Zichelle (8-4) vs. Tim Caron (5-0)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Ilya Kotau (1-1) vs. Carlos Corriea (1-0)

Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Sarah Payant (1-3) vs. Hannah Regina (Debut)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

PHIL DAVIS REAFFIRMS HIMSELF AS LIAM MCGEARY’S NEXT CHALLENGER WITH WIN OVER KING MO

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Full Event Photos Here

San Jose, Calif. (May 14, 2016) — In the main event of Bellator MMA’s return home to San Jose, Phil Davis and King Mo showcased why their widely regarded as two of the top light heavyweights on the planet. In the end, it was Davis who emerged victorious, taking home a unanimous decision with scores of 29-28, 30-27, 30-27.

The first ten minutes of action were razor thin, with both men using their strengths to gain the upper hand. For Lawal, the American Top Team standout relied heavily upon his power punching, throwing overhand rights with frequency. Davis used his lower limbs, keeping Mo at distance with leg kicks and short jabs. The tides really began to shift in the final frame though, as Davis clipped his opponent with a shot that he parlayed into a single-leg takedown, nearly finishing the bout with a kimura.

After his hand was raised, Davis was joined inside the cage by current Bellator 205-pound kingpin Liam McGeary who will likely face Davis in “Mr. Wonderful’s” next action. The two traded words and passed the eye test when it comes to a future Bellator MMA main event matchup.

Welterweight Bloodbath Ends in TKO Victory for Saad Awad

In the co-main event of “Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo,” Saad Awad (19-7) provided one of the most entertaining performances of the night with a first round TKO win over “Cyborg” Santos (21-17). The knockout came just 4:31 into the bout, when Awad unleashed a flurry of hammer fists that left forced referee Jason Herzog to call a stop to the action. “Assassin” fought off a brutal toe hold earlier in the round and countered with relentless blows to the sides of Santos’ head, eventually opening a large cut that spilled blood onto the canvas. With victories in four of his last five bouts and now a victory at 170-pounds to boot, the options for Awad’s future with the promotion remain endless.

San Diego-Labiano Give it All in Swing Bout on SPIKE 

With two quick stoppages to start the card, Bellator aired a swing bout between Josh San Diego (7-1) and Jeremiah Labiano (9-5). A native of San Jose, “JSD” took full advantage of his opportunity on the big stage, and capped off the fight with a rapid flurry of attacks to end the final frame, earning himself a unanimous decision (29-28) victory over Labiano in front of a loud, hometown crowd. The win is “JSD’s” second with the promotion, both of which ended via unanimous decision.

Piccolotti Continues to Submit Opponents, Finishes Wood on Short Notice

In a highly emotional bout, Adam Piccolotti (8-0) thoroughly dominated Ray Wood (7-2) over the course of their lightweight bout, sealing the deal after 3:17 with a standing rear-naked choke submission. The win was Adam “Bomb’s” second first-round finish and the quickest of his budding career. With the victory, the Half Moon Bay, Calif. native remains undefeated and has solidified himself as one of the company’s brightest young prospects. Piccolotti was originally slated to fight Jordan Parsons before his death, which Bellator instated a memorial scholarship fund in his honor earlier on in the day.

Fialho Remains Unbeaten With Monstrous Hammer Fist Knockout

 

In the opening bout of the main card on SPIKE, Andre Fialho (7-0) finished Rick Reger (7-2) with a vicious hammer fist knockout 2:11 into the first frame. Fialho was the aggressor from the get-go, setting the tone early and often with heavy fists and quick combinations. The 22-year-old Portuguese star continues to climb the ranks in a stacked Bellator welterweight division, as he remains undefeated with six consecutive knockouts and back-to-back first round finishes since joining the Bellator fray. At the conclusion of the fight, Fialho took a moment to acknowledge the significance of his win, dedicating the victory to his friend who had recently passed away.

Preliminary Results:

James Chapman (1-0) defeated Sean Tucker (0-1) via TKO (punches) at 4:41 of round two

Anthony Taylor (1-1) defeated Victor Jones (0-2) via KO at 0:27 of round one

Danasabe Mohammed (4-0) defeated Martin Sano (4-2) via KO (punches) at 1:18 of round one

Josh Paiva (8-1) defeated Steven Gruber (5-2) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:14 of round two

Sam Spengler (9-5) defeated Doyle Childs (2-2) via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Joshua Hardwick (1-0) defeated Jorge Acosta (1-2) via submission (guillotine choke) at 1:21 of round one

Jamielene Nievara (4-1) defeated Stephanie Frausto (5-6) via TKO at 2:43 of round three

Mark Dickman (11-2) defeated Thomas Diagne (5-6-1) via TKO (punches) at 3:05 of round three

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

Two Main Card Fights Complete ‘Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo’ on May 14

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SAAD AWAD-‘CYBORG’ SANTOS & ADAM PICCOLOTTI-RAY WOOD ARE OFFICIAL

SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (May 5, 2016) – A welterweight matchup pitting “Cyborg” Santos (21-16) against Bellator MMA veteran Saad Awad (18-7) and a lightweight meeting featuring Adam Piccolotti (7-0) versus Ray Wood (6-1) have been added to the main card of “Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo,” which airs LIVE and FREE on SPIKE and takes place on May 14 at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.

These matchups join an electric main event between light heavyweight phenoms “King Mo” (19-4, 1 NC) and Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis (15-3, 1 NC). In addition, a heavyweight bout between Sergei Kharitonov (23-5) and Josh Appelt (12-5) will serve as the evening’s co-main event and undefeated Andre Fialho (6-0) will face Rick Reger (7-1) in a welterweight feature fight.

The contests make up the televised portion of “Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo,” which airs LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT while the preliminary card will stream live on Bellator.com and The Bellator Mobile App beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET. Tickets start at just $30 and are on sale now at Bellator.com, Ticketmaster, and the SAP Center Box Office.

After beginning his career with five consecutive victories, the 32-year-old Saad Awad has continued to put together an impressive resume, including significant wins over the likes of Joe Duarte, Sergio Rios, and most recently Rob Sinclair. A 10-time veteran of Bellator MMA, “Assassin” has three first-round knockout wins, two of which came in the first 45 seconds of the bout. In 2013, the California native handed Will Brooks the only loss of his career thus far, stopping hiim with a punch only 43-seconds into the fight.

“Cyborg” Santos has begun his 2016 campaign with a bang, recording victories in each of his first two bouts, including a crowd-silencing win over hometown favorite Brennan Ward in his Bellator MMA debut at “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson.” Of his 21 career wins, the 38-year-old welterweight has recorded 12 knockouts, 10 of which came in the opening frame of the bout. The heavy-handed Brazilian originally made four appearances under the Strikeforce banner from 2009 to 2011, before signing a multi-fight contract with Bellator MMA in March of 2016. “Cyborg” will look to add to his current winning streak when he challenges Saad Awad, who will be moving up in weight class to 170-pounds.

The 27-year-old Piccolotti has been flawless early in his young career, earning victories in all seven of his professional bouts, including three wins since joining the Bellator MMA team. A native of Northern California, he made his promotional debut against Andrew Ramm at “Bellator 133: Manhoef vs. Shlemenko,” with a unanimous decision win and then added to his admirable resume by finishing his 2015 campaign with a victory over Mario Soto at“Bellator 147: Thomson vs. Villaseca.” Making his 2016 debut, the submission specialist will have little time to prepare for his new opponent Ray Wood as the two look to square off on May 14 at the SAP Center.

Ray “All Business” Wood made a splash in his Bellator MMA debut, when he finished Chris Jones with a spinning-back fist that resulted in a first round knockout at “Bellator 151: Warren vs. Caldwell.” The 26-year-old Maine native has begun his professional career with a flashy 6-1 record, including four knockout victories and two first-round finishes. After beginning his career under the direction of regional promotions, Wood now has his eyes set on establishing himself among the top of Bellator’s always-competitive featherweight division. Watch the fight below.

Complete “Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo” Fight Card:

Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Main Event: Phil Davis (15-3, 1 NC) vs. Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (19-4, 1 NC)

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Sergei Kharitonov (23-5) vs. Josh Appelt (12-5)

Bellator MMA Lightweight Feature Bout: Adam Piccolotti (7-0) vs. Ray Wood (6-1)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Feature Bout: Saad Awad (18-7) vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (21-16)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Feature Bout: Andre Fialho (6-0) vs. Rick Reger (7-1)

 

Preliminary Card:

Bellator MMA (160 lb.) “VOW” Prelim Bout: Joshua Hardwick (Debut) vs. Jorge Acosta (1-1)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Prelim Bout: Victor Jones (0-1) vs. Anthony Taylor (0-1)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Prelim Bout: Danasabe Mohammed (3-0) vs. Martin Sano (4-1)

Bellator MMA Flyweight Prelim Bout: Josh Paiva (7-1) vs. Steven Gruber (5-1)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Prelim Bout: Sam Spengler (8-5) vs. Doyle Childs (2-1)

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Prelim Bout: Josh San Diego (6-1) vs. Jeremiah Labiano (9-4)

Bellator MMA (130 lb.) Catchweight Prelim Bout: Alvin Cacdac (16-12) vs. Darren Uyenoyama (10-5)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Prelim Bout: Thomas Diagne (5-5-1) vs. Mark Dickman (10-2)

Bellator MMA Strawweight Prelim Bout: Stephanie Frausto (5-5) vs. Jamielene Nievara (3-1)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Prelim Bout: Andres Alcantar (3-0) vs. Nick Pica (5-0)

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Prelim Bout: James Chapman (Debut) vs. Sean Tucker (Debut)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA

STARS FROM ALL WALKS OF MMA SET TO MEET FANS DURING BELLATOR MMA ‘FAN FEST’ AT SAN JOSE’S DAVE & BUSTER’S ONFRIDAY, MAY 13

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Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Champ Liam McGeary Joins “Stitch” Duran as Well as MMA Legends Royce Gracie, Randy Couture, Cung Le, Mark Coleman at the Bellator MMA Fan Fest Prior to Saturday’s “Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo” Event at SAP Center

 

Event is exclusively for Bellator Nation members – Join Bellator Nation now

 

 

WHAT:                   Bellator Fan Fest at Dave & Buster’s

Fans of all ages are invited to Dave and Buster’s in Milpitas, CA to meet and get autographs from some of the top names in all of mixed martial arts. Fans will also have the opportunity to win tickets and great prizes, as well as snap a photograph with the Bellator ring girls.

Fan Fest is exclusively for Bellator Nation Members only, becoming an official Bellator Nation Member is simple and FREE. Click here to register and RSVP to Fan Fest. If you are already a member of Bellator Nation you will receive an email invitation to RSVP.

 

WHERE:                 Dave & Buster’s

940 Great Mall Dr.

Milpitas, CA 95035

 

WHEN:                   Friday, May 13 at 8 p.m. PT

 

WHO:                     The first British World Champion in the history of MMA will always be Liam McGeary. At 6’6 the towering fighter has achieved notoriety around the world with his impressive skillset, which has seen him end fights with impressive knockout power as well as jiu-jitsu prowess. Currently undefeated at 11-0, the future is bright for the Bellator MMA Champion. Most recently, McGeary defeated Tito Ortiz in the main event of the groundbreaking “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1.”

 

The name Gracie is synonymous with MMA, and that is largely in part to Royce Gracie, the man who is considered to have invented the sport as we know it today.  The winner of the first several UFC events, Gracie would dismantle multiple opponents in a single night, many of which were much larger than him.  For many years there was no answer for the Gracie Jiu Jitsu technique that he brought into a fight.  Today, it’s hard to find an MMA fighter who hasn’t trained in the art of jiu jitsu. Most recently, Gracie defeated Ken Shamrock in the main event of the record-breaking “Bellator 149.”

One of the most recognizable MMA fighters of all time, Hall of Famer Randy Couture transitioned nicely into the entertainment world after his fighting career, starring in several television shows and movies, most notably the Expendables franchise and Dancing with the Stars. Inside the cage, Couture was a fearless underdog, often defeating men with great size advantages.  “The Natural” was a multi-time heavyweight and multi-time light heavyweight champion in the UFC.

                             

                                When watching any combat sports event, it’s odd not to see Jacob “Stitch” Duran as the professional cutman on duty. Recently, Bellator MMA was pleased to exclusively secure his services as cutman for the foreseeable future, after “Stitch” signed a multi-year contract with the Scott Coker-led promotion. “Stitch” is seen everywhere combat sports events take place, and played a vital role in the recent smash blockbuster, “Creed.”

 

If there is one legend in attendance who knows a thing or two about kickboxing and MMA, it’s Cung Le. Born in Vietnam, Le fought 17 times around the globe and never lost before making the leap from kickboxing to MMA, where he won the Strikeforce middleweight championship. From there, the San Jose, Calif. – based fighter would continue to expand his recognition past the world of combat sports, starring in multiple feature films. Le remained competitive into his 40’s, finishing Rich Franklin in what was unanimously considered the 2012 knockout of the year.

 

A legend in the heavyweight division, Mark Coleman was the UFC 10 and UFC 11 tournament champion, the promotion’s first Heavyweight Champion, and the Pride Fighting Championships 2000 Open Weight Grand Prix champion. The accolades don’t stop there; Coleman represented the United States at the 1992 Summer Olympics and won gold medals at the Pan American Championships in freestyle wrestling in 1990, 91 and 92.

FIGHT INFO:          “Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo” takes place on May 14, and airs LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT and features a light heavyweight main event of Phil Davis versus King Mo.

Tickets start at just $30 and are on sale now at Bellator.com, Ticketmaster, and the SAP Center Box Office.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

ADAM PICCOLOTTI-JORDAN PARSONS ADDED TO MAIN CARD OF ‘BELLATOR 154: DAVIS VS. KING MO’

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SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (April, 8) –Bellator MMA recently announced its next tentpole event; “Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo,” and with that comes a plethora of action-packed fights. The newest addition to an already electric main card is a lightweight bout pitting Adam Piccolotti (7-0) against Jordan “Pretty Boy” Parsons (11-2) at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on May 14 LIVE on SPIKE.

The matchup joins a main card that features a light heavyweight main event between “King Mo” (19-4, 1 NC) and Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis (15-3, 1 NC) to determine the No. 1 contender for Liam McGeary’s title. In the co-main event, San Jose’s own Josh Thomson (22-8, 1 NC) will meet longtime Bellator MMA lightweight standout “Iron” Michael Chandler (14-3), who’s fresh off a new long-term contract extension with the Scott Coker-led promotion.

In addition, the card’s preliminary card has been completed; with the announcement of 10 fights, which will stream live on Bellator.com and The Bellator Mobile App. The undercard is headlined by a “Veterans Operation Wellness” bout, pitting Maurice Slade of the U.S. Army Reserve against Jorge Acosta of the California Army Nat’l Guard.

“Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo” takes place on May 14, and airs live on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. Tickets are on sale now and start at just $30 on Bellator.com, as well as the SAP Center Box Office and Ticketmaster.

A native of Northern California, Piccolotti has been on a mission early in his young career, earning victories in all seven of his professional bouts, including three wins since joining the Bellator MMA team. The 27-year-old submission specialist made his promotional debut against Andrew Ramm at “Bellator 133: Manhoef vs. Shlemenko,” with a unanimous decision win and then added to his impressive resume by finishing his 2015 campaign on a high note, defeating Mario Soto at “Bellator 147: Thomson vs. Villaseca.”

Jordan Parsons will be challenging Piccolotti, having won four of his last five fights and two of his first three under the Bellator MMA banner. The 25-year-old was sidelined for over a year after suffering a torn meniscus during a knockout victory over Tim Bazer in his Bellator debut at “Bellator 117.” The Michigan native returned to action at “Bellator 137: Halsey vs. Grove” in May of 2015, taking down fellow prospect Julio Cesar Neves Jr., who entered the fight with an undefeated record of 30-0. “Pretty Boy” will look to duplicate that success when he enters the cage against Adam Piccolotti at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on May 14.

Updated “Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo” Fight Card:

Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Main Event: Phil Davis (15-3, 1 NC) vs. Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (19-4, 1 NC)

Bellator MMA Lightweight Co-Main Event: Michael Chandler (14-3) vs. Josh Thomson (22-8, 1 NC)

Bellator MMA Lightweight Feature Bout: Adam Piccolotti (7-0) vs. Jordan Parsons (11-2)

 

Preliminary Card:

Bellator MMA (160 lb.) “VOW” Preliminary Bout: Maurice Slade (US Army Reserve) vs. Jorge Acosta (California Army Nat’l Guard)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Victor Jones (0-1) vs. Anthony Taylor (0-1)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Danasabe Mohammed (3-0) vs. Martin Sano (4-1)

Bellator MMA Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Josh Paiva (7-1) vs. Steven Gruber (5-1)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Sam Spengler (8-5) vs. Doyle Childs (2-1)

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Josh San Diego (6-1) vs. Jeremiah Labiano (9-4)

Bellator MMA (130 lb.) Catchweight Preliminary Bout: Alvin Cacdac (16-12) vs. Darren Uyenoyama (10-5)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Thomas Diagne (5-5-1) vs. Mark Dickman (10-2)

Bellator MMA Strawweight Preliminary Bout: Stephanie Frausto (5-5) vs. Jamielene Nievara (3-1)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Brandon Hester (3-0) vs. Nick Pica (5-0)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA

BELLATOR MMA RETURNS HOME TO SAN JOSE, CALIF. ON MAY 14 WITH KING MO VS. PHIL DAVIS AND MICHAEL CHANDLER VS. JOSH THOMSON IN TOW

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HOUSTON, TEXAS (February, 19) – Bellator MMA is pleased to announce its next tentpole event, “Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo,” which will emanate from the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on May 14 and air LIVE on SPIKE.

 

A light heavyweight bout to determine the No. 1 contender for Liam McGeary’s (11-0) title will anchor the card, when Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal(19-4, 1 NC) meets Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis (15-3, 1 NC) in a contest that was supposed to decide the victor of the 205-pound tournament at“Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1.”

 

But that’s not all –

 

The evening’s co-main event will feature a fight that mixed martial arts fans and media members have yearned for since Josh Thomson (22-8, 1 NC) chose to sign with Bellator MMA last year. “The Real Punk” will meet longtime lightweight standout “Iron” Michael Chandler (14-3) who’s fresh off a new longterm contract extension with the Scott Coker-led promotion.

 

Tickets for this MMA supershow start at $30 and go on sale Friday, February 26 at 10 a.m. at Bellator.com, as well as SAP Center Box Office and Ticketmaster. Bellator Nation Presale offer will begin Wednesday February 24.

 

To reach this point, both Lawal and Davis had to dispatch of multiple opponents over the course of one night to win two separate tournaments. Lawal most recently was victorious in a light heavyweight tournament for Rizin FF in Japan, beating Brett McDermott, Teodoras Aukstuolis, and Jiri Prochazka, running his current winning streak to seven-fights.

 

For Davis, his Bellator MMA debut came in September, when he ran through both Emanuel Newton and Francis Carmont enroute to winning the tourney at “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1.” The 31-year-old Alliance MMA product was slated to face “King Mo” in the final of the bracket, but Lawal suffered a broken rib that forced the fight to be delayed.

 

Chandler and Thomson have seemingly been on a collision course since Thomson entered the Bellator MMA fray, mainly due to a barrage of questions to both men that revolved around the other and when/if they would eventually meet inside the cage.

 

After racking up two wins – both in San Jose – against Mike Bronzoulis and Pablo Villaseca, Thomson, a member of American Kickboxing Academy, has his sights set on a matchup with the 14-fight Bellator veteran.

 

A native of Missouri, “Iron Mike” has been riding a wave of momentum following emphatic victories against Derek Campos and Dave Rickels. The 29-year-old former lightweight kingpin has made it clear that he intends on fighting everyone on the Bellator MMA roster, which he hopes culminates in another run with championship gold wrapped around his waist.

 

“Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo” takes place on May 14, and airs live on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT — Don’t miss it.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

Rampage Coming Back to Bellator MMA

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Rampage-Jackson-Bellator

Following an amicable agreement to settle the litigation between the two parties, the always entertaining and exciting Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is returning to Bellator.

 

Bellator MMA is thrilled to have “Rampage,” one of the most recognizable fighters in the history of the sport, joining a very competitive light heavyweight division featuring champion Liam McGeary, Phil Davis, King Mo, Tito Ortiz, Emanuel Newton, Linton Vassell among others.

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.