BELLATOR 244 AIRS LIVE ON PARAMOUNT NETWORK AND DAZN AT 10 P.M. ET FROM MOHEGAN SUN ARENA
OKUNINGI, FORMER TITLEHOLDER JULIA BUDD RETURNS TO ACTION AGAINST JESSY MIELE IN THE CO-MAIN EVENT
I-LOS ANGELES– On Friday, August 21, Bellator’s “FightSphere” atMohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. will host a light heavyweight world title main event bout featuring two-division Bellator champRyan Bader(27-5, 1 NC) defending his 205-pound championship against Russia’sVadim Nemkov (11-2).
The evening’s co-main event sees fomer world championJulia Budd(13-3) take on Connecticut’sJessy Miele (9-3) in a featherweight clash.
Bellator 244: Bader vs. Nemkovairs live onI-Paramount Network futhiI-DAZN Friday, August 21 at 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT. Preliminary action will stream onBellator MMA’s YouTube channel. Additional bouts will be announced in the coming days.
A winner of seven out of eight contests at both heavyweight and light heavyweight, Bellator’s double champ Ryan Bader will make his first light heavyweight title defense since defeating “King Mo” Lawal, Mat Mitrione futhiFedor Emelianenkoen route to winning Bellator’s 2018 Heavyweight World Grand Prix and becoming world heavyweight champ. Fighting out of Chandler, Ariz., the former two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler out of Arizona State University began his professional career by winning season eight ofThe Ultimate Fighter. “Darth” continued his path of dominance by collecting victories over some of the 205-pound division’s top talent, including career wins overPhil Davis(x2), Linton Vassell, “Rampage” Jackson, Rashad Evans, Rafael “Feijão” Cavalcante and Ovince Saint Preux. Iningi muva, Bader fought heavyweightCheick Kongoto a no contest following an accidental eye poke.
The 28-year-old Russian powerhouse Vadim Nemkov, who is undefeated over his last six fights and a perfect 4-0 in Bellator since signing in 2017, will enter his first-ever title shot in MMA fresh off a submission win against former middleweight world championRafael Carvalho. With that victory, Nemkov has defeated some of the best athletes Bellator has to offer, including three former champions consecutively in Carvalho, Phil Davis futhiLiam McGeary. A three-time Russian national sambo champion, Nemkov trains alongside the legendary Fedor Emelianenko in Stary Oskol, Russia for the standout Team Fedor.
Former Bellator featherweight world champion Julia Budd has won 11 of her last 12 imikhawulo, including seven victories since signing with Bellator in 2015. After defeating Dutch legend Marloes Coenen for the inaugural Bellator women’s featherweight world title atBellator 174, the Gibson MMA-product and Port Moody, British Columbia native has gone on to collect victories over top contendersOlga Rubin, Arlene Blencowe futhiTalita Nogueira. With seven of her 13 career victories coming by way of knockout or submission, “The Jewel” will look to jump back into title contention with a statement win on August 21.
With an impressive career mark of 9-3, Jessy Miele will look to parlay her most recent win over former Bellator title contenderTalita Nogueirawhen she competes atBellator 244.Hailing from Waterbury, Conn. the 35-year-old is currently in the midst of a four-fight unbeaten streak and was slated to compete againstLeslie Smith atBellator 241before it was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic. Ukulwa ngokomsebenzi kusukela 2014, and competing against the likes of Nogueira and Charmaine Tweet along the way, “The Widowmaker” will undoubtedly face the stiffest test of her nearly six year-career when she meets Budd on August. 21.
KubuyekeziweBellator 244: Bader vs. NemkovIKhadi Main:
Paramount Network and DAZN
10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT
Light Heavyweight World Title Bout: Ryan Bader (27-5, 1 NC) vs.Vadim Nemkov(11-2)
Featherweight Co-Main Event: Julia Budd(13-3) vs.Jessy Miele(9-3)
Heavyweight Feature Bout: Roy Nelson(23-19) vs.Valentin Moldavsky(9-1)
Updated Preliminary Card:
Bellator MMA’s YouTube Channel
Middleweight Preliminary Bout: John Salter(17-4) vs.Andrew Kapel(15-6)
Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Adam Piccolot(12-3) vs.Sidney Outlaw(14-4)
Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Erik Perez(19-7) vs.Joshua Hill(19-3)
Featherweight Preliminary Bout:Lucas Brennan (2-0) vs.Will Smith (3-1)
Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Vladimir Tokov(7-0) vs.Chris Gonzalez(4-0)
BATTLE FOR VACANT BELLATOR MMA MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE AIRS LIVE ON PARAMOUNT NETWORK AND DAZN AT 10 P.M. ET/9 P.M. CT
Tickets go on sale this Friday, Feb. 14
I-LOS ANGELES– A middleweight superfight for the vacant 185-pound title, pitting former divisional championGegard Mousasi (46-7-2) against current Bellator welterweight titleholderDouglas Lima (32-7),has been added to Bellator’s exciting return to SAP Center at San Jose on Saturday, May 9 – LIVE on Paramount Network and DAZN at 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT.
The event is anchored by a previously announced heavyweight world title bout, featuring two-division Bellator champRyan Bader(27-5, 1 NC) defending his 205-pound title against Russia’sVadim Nemkov (11-2).
Bellator: Bader vs. Nemkov airs live on Paramount Network and DAZN on Saturday, May 9 at 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT. Preliminary action will stream on DAZN, Bellator.com and globally on the Bellator Mobile App. Tickets can be purchased at the LexisNexis Risk Solutions Ticket Office at SAP Center, through Ticketmaster and Bellator.com.
The Bellator middleweight title was recently relinquished byRafael Lovato Jr.due to ongoing medical complications.
Fighting out of Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands, Mousasi has cemented legendary status within the sport, having won titles with multiple promotions across a 55-fight career. Iningi muva, Mousasi defeatedLyoto Machida nge isinqumo uqhekeko, clearing his path to a shot at a second Bellator middleweight title run. With victories in his storied career against Machida, Rory MacDonald, Chris Weidman, Rafael Carvalho, Vitor Belfort, Jacare Souza, Dan Henderson and Mark Hunt, a victory over Douglas Lima will add to his already-impressive resume.
Looking to join the ranks ofRyan Bader futhi Patricio “Pitbull”as two-division champions, Lima moves up 15-pounds to try his hand against Mousasi. Since making his promotional debut in 2011, “The Phenom” has earned 14 ngokunqoba, including a trio of world titles and 10 finishes, making the American Top Team-product one of the most dominant fighters in the 170-pound division. With 26 of yakhe 32 career victories coming by way of knockout or submission, including consecutive dominant finishes overAndrey Koreshkov futhi Michael “Venom” Page”in the first two rounds of the World Grand Prix tournament, Lima most recently capped of his 2019 with a win over Rory MacDonald to regain the welterweight world title.
TICKETS ON SALE FEB. 14 FOR CARD SET INSIDE SAP CENTER AT SAN JOSE
I-LOS ANGELES– On Saturday, May 9, SAP Center at San Jose will host Bellator with an event headlined by a light heavyweight world championship bout featuring two-division Bellator championRyan Bader(27-5, 1 NC) defending his 205-pound title against Russia’sVadim Nemkov (11-2).
Bellator San Jose: Bader vs. Nemkov airs on Paramount Network and DAZN on Saturday, May 9 at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Preliminary action will stream on DAZN, Bellator.com and globally on the Bellator Mobile App. izikhathi zokudakwa engeziwe uzobe umemezele emasontweni ezayo.
Amathikithi for Bellator San Jose: Bader vs. Nemkov are available early through an exclusive Bellator Nation pre-sale beginning Wednesday, Feb. 12 through Thursday, Feb. 13. Tickets will go on sale to the general public Friday, Feb. 14. Tickets can be purchased at the LexisNexis Risk Solutions Ticket Office at SAP Center, through Ticketmaster and Bellator.com.
A winner of seven out of his last eight fights at both heavyweight and light heavyweight, Bellator’s two-division champion Ryan Bader will make his first light heavyweight title defense since defeating"INkosi Mo" Lawal, Mat Mitrione futhi Fedor Emelianenko en route to winning Bellator’s 2018 Heavyweight World Grand Prix and becoming world heavyweight champ. Fighting out of Chandler, Ariz., the former two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler from Arizona State University began his professional career by winning season eight ofThe Ultimate Fighter. “Darth” continued his path of dominance by collecting victories over some of the 205-pound division’s top talent, including wins over former world champions“Rampage” Jackson, Rashad Evans, Phil Davis (x2) and Rafael “Feijão” Cavalcante, as well as Ovince Saint Preux and Vinny Magalhães, before signing with Bellator in 2017.
Vadim Nemkov, who is undefeated over his last six fights and a perfect 4-0 in Bellator since signing in 2017, will come into his first-ever title shot in MMA fresh off a submission win against former middleweight championRafael Carvalho. With the ukunqoba, Nemkov has unequivocally defeated some of the best athletes Bellator has to offer, including three former champions in Carvalho, Phil Davis futhi Liam McGeary. A three-time Russian national sambo champion, Nemkov trains alongside Fedor Emelianenko in Stary Oskol, Russia.
Kubuyekeziwe Bellator San Jose: Bader vs. Nemkov IKhadi Main:
DAZN/Paramount Network
10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Light Heavyweight World Title Bout:Ryan Bader (27-5, 1 NC) vs. Vadim Nemkov (11-2)
I-LOS ANGELES– The full slate of bouts for Bellator’s return to the “Fabulous” Forum in Inglewood, Calif. on uJan. 26 has been completed with a five-fight main card and 11 preliminary contests.
The main event of the card will feature the Finals of the Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix, where the greatest heavyweight of all-timeFedor Emelianenko (38-5, 1 NC) faces current light heavyweight champRyan Bader (26-5) for the Bellator world heavyweight title. The co-main event will feature the highly touted prospectAaron Pico (4-1) against the always-toughHenry Corrales (16-3) at featherweight.
Ngaphezu kwalokho, professional wrestling superstarJake Hagerbegins his MMA career againstJ.W. Kiser (1-1) at wesibhakela, Juan Archuleta (21-1) tikwele off withRicky Bandejas (11-1) in a battle of surging bantamweights andAdel Altamimi(7-5), a coach with Jay Glazer’s Merging Vets and Players program, will make his Bellator debut againstBrandon McMahan (5-6) in the main card opener. The prelims forBellator 214: Fedor vs. Baderwill feature the anticipated MMA debut of jiu-jitsu aceA.J. Agazarm (0-0) ngokumeleneJesse Roberts(0-0), as well as the Bellator debut of 2016 Greco-Roman Word team memberChris Gonzalez(1-0) ukuthatha onHenry Mendez(0-1) and Lyoto Machida-training partner, Weber Almeida (1-0), ezibhekeneOdan Chinchilla(1-0) at bantamweight.
Amathikithi forBellator 214: Fedor vs. Baderare on sale now and can be purchased at the Forum box office, as well as Bellator.com and Ticketmaster.com. The event will be broadcast live and free on Paramount Network at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT and will be simulcast live on DAZN. Preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and globally on the Bellator Mobile App.
CompleteBellator: Fedor vs. BaderFight Card:
Heavyweight World Grand Prix Finals Main Event: Fedor Emelianenko(38-5, 1 NC) vs.Ryan Bader(26-5)
GEGARD MOUSASI DEFENDS BELLATOR MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST UNBEATEN RAFAEL LOVATO JR.
I-LOS ANGELES– The co-main event of Bellator’s return to the “Fabulous” Forum in Inglewood, Calif. on uJan. 26 will see reigning middleweight championGegard Mousasi (45-6-2) defend his title against undefeated Brazilian jiu-jitsu black beltRafael Lovato Jr. (9-0).
The main event of the card will feature the Finals of the Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix, where the greatest heavyweight of all-timeFedor Emelianenko (38-5, 1 NC) faces current light heavyweight champRyan Bader (26-5) for the Bellator world heavyweight title. A recently added featherweight bout will pit super-prospectAaron Pico (4-1) against the always-toughHenry Corrales (16-3). Additional bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.
Amathikithi for Bellator 214: Fedor vs. Baderare on sale now and can be purchased at the Forum box office, as well as Bellator.com and Ticketmaster.com. The event will be broadcast live and free on Paramount Network at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT and will be simulcast live on DAZN. Preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and globally on the Bellator Mobile App.
Fighting out of Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands, Gegard Mousasi will be looking to follow-up his decisive TKO victory overRory MacDonald at Bellator 206in what will be his second title defense since becoming champion earlier this year. “The Dreamcatcher” is currently in the midst of an impressive eight-fight win streak that dates back to 2016. The 33-year-old judo black belt has dominated the stacked middleweight class since signing with Bellator in 2017, collecting three victories in as many bouts, including a pair of knockouts againstRafael Carvalho and MacDonald in both of his world title fights. The former Strikeforce champion, who debuted in impressive fashion againstAlexander Shlemenko,now looks to extend his current win streak and defend the middleweight belt for the second time in just five months.
Rafael Lovato Jr. will be making his sixth appearance for Bellator, a bout where not only will the 35-year-old’s unblemished mark of 9-0 be on the line, but also a world championship belt. Since signing with the Viacom-owned promotion in 2017, the Oklahoma City-based fighter has tallied five wins and four finishes, three of which came in the opening round, including his most recent submission win over top middleweight contenderJohn Salter at Bellator 205. A fourth-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the former Legacy FC middleweight champ will finally have his shot at Bellator gold when he takes on current 185-pound champion Mousasi in the co-main event of Bellator’s return to Los Angeles on Jan. 26.
Kubuyekeziwe Bellator: Fedor vs. BaderFight Card:
Heavyweight World Grand Prix Final Main Event: Fedor Emelianenko(38-5, 1NC) vs. Ryan Bader (26-5)
Middleweight World Title Bout: Gegard Mousasi (45-6-2) vs. Rafael Lovato Jr. (9-0)
Featherweight Feature Bout: Aaron Pico (4-1) vs. Henry Corrales (16-3)
Updated Preliminary Card:
Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Mike Segura (9-6) vs. Richard Leroy (7-1)
Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Jorge Juarez (3-0) vs. David Pacheco (Pro Debut)
BELLATOR HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD GRAND PRIX FINALS SET FOR JAN. 26 AT THE FORUM IN INGLEWOOD, Calif.
TICKETS FOR BELLATOR: FEDOR VS. BADER ON SALE THIS FRIDAY, OCT. 19
I-LOS ANGELES– The Finals of the Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix will see the greatest heavyweight of all timeFedor Emelianenko (38-5, 1 NC) meet current light heavyweight champRyan Bader (26-5) for the Bellator world heavyweight title. The dream matchup takes place on Saturday, January 26 at the “Fabulous” Forum in Inglewood, Calif.
Amathikithi for Bellator: Fedor vs. Badergo on sale to the general public starting Friday, Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. PT and can be purchased at the Forum box office, as well as Bellator.com and Ticketmaster.com. A special Bellator Nation presale will take place Wednesday, Oct. 17 and Thursday, Oct. 18. The event will be broadcast live and free on Paramount Network at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT and will be simulcast live on DAZN. Preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and globally on the Bellator Mobile App. Additional bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.
Fighting out of Stary Oskol, Belgorod Oblast, Russia, Fedor Emelianenko enters the Heavyweight World Grand Prix Finals on the heels of consecutive first-round knockouts overEnku- Sonnen futhi Frank Mir in the tourney’s semifinals and opening round, ngokulandelana. A former PRIDE FC Heavyweight Champion and PRIDE 2004 Heavyweight World Grand Prix Champion, “The Last Emperor” is now one win away from claiming Bellator gold. Often referred to as “The GOAT” by fans around the world, his career resume stands as one of the most impressive in the history of the sport with victories over AntônioRodrigo Nogueira, Mirko Cro Cop, Mark Hunt, Mark Coleman and Andrei Arlovski, sibala ezimbalwa. With 29 career victories ending via finish, the punching power and world-class Sambo of the stoic Russian could result in yet another accolade in his illustrious career.
Attempting to become a simultaneous two-division titleholder, Ryan Bader’s path to the rare achievement is nearly complete. In his quest to earn the moniker of “Champ-Champ” and cement his status in the pound-for-pound standings, the Reno, Nev.-native KO’d “King Mo”Lawal in 15 seconds and later dominatedMat Mitrione in the Semifinals of the Heavyweight World Grand Prix. Fighting out of Gilbert, Ariz., the former two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler from Arizona State University began his professional career with a 12-fight unbeaten streak and by winning season eight ofThe Ultimate Fighter. “Darth” continued his path of dominance by collecting victories over some of the 205-pound division’s top talent, including wins over former world champions“Rampage” Jackson, Rashad Evans, Phil Davis and Rafael “Feijão” Cavalcante, as well as Ovince Saint Preux, Vinny Magalhães andLinton Vassell.
Kubuyekeziwe Bellator: Fedor vs. BaderFight Card:
Heavyweight World Grand Prix Finals Main Event: Fedor Emelianenko(38-5, 1 NC) vs. Ryan Bader (26-5)
