Completa Fight Night foto qui / Event Highlights Here

ANAHEIM, Calif. (Agosto 26, 2016) - Benson Henderson (24-6) earned his first victory since joining the Bellator MMA fray at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., Venerdì notte. A faulty kick by Patricio "Pitbull" Freire (25-4) led to a leg injury, forcing him to forfeit the loss two minutes and 26 secondi nel secondo turno.

After making the jump up to Bellator MMA’s 170-pound division, Henderson returned to where he was dominant in the UFC as a lightweight. Dopo la vittoria, Henderson received word of his next opponent; Bellator MMA’s current Lightweight Champion, Michael Chandler. The two are scheduled to tangle November 19 in the main event of the recently announced “Bellator MMA in San Jose.”

‘Fight of the Year Candidate Ends in Unanimous Decision Victory for Anderson

It took all three rounds to determine a winner in the evening’s co-main event, ma alla fine, Derek Anderson (14-2) emerged victorious with a unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 due volte) conquistare Si Awad (19-8). “The Barbaric” continues his recent trend of extending fights through the final round, as the win marks his third consecutive fight to go to the judges’ scorecards. The San Diego native has now recorded five wins under the direction of the Scott Coker-led promotion, including multiple victories over fellow lightweight Patricky "Pitbull" Freire, earning himself well-deserved respect among the division’s elite.

Karakhanyan’s “Insane” Knockout Puts Early end to Jenkins’ Night

Georgi Karakhanyan (25-6-1) necessaria solo 53 seconds to finish Bubba Jenkins (11-3), as the Russian featherweight took care of “The Highlight Kid” for the second time in two years. “Insane” came out firing, landing multiple blows that sent Jenkins to the mat with an early knockout, earning his 11^th win in his last 14 combattimenti. The loss is only the third of Jenkins’ young career and second of the first round variety, both of which Karakhanyan is now responsible for. The win is the fifth knockout of Karakhanyan’s career and is his third in the opening frame.

McKee Remains Undefeated With Impressive Guillotine Finish

In the opening contest at "Bellator 160: Henderson vs. Pitbull," A.J. “Mercenary” McKee (5-0) remained unbeaten with a guillotine choke submission 32 secondi nel secondo turno. By extending the fight past the opening frame, Walker was able to do what no other opponent has done, as each of McKee’s previous four wins had resulted in a first round finish. The win capped off an impressive night by Team Bodyshop, as McKee’s teammates Joey Davis (1-0) e Gabriel Green (4-0) also had their arms raised in the preliminary portion of the event. As one of Bellator MMA’s top young talents, the 21-year-old McKee was able to prove once again that he belongs among the division’s elite. Dopo la lotta, the Long Beach native called out Patricio “Pitbull," saying “It’s nothing personal, Voglio (Daniel) Straus."

Risultati preliminari di carte:

Jake Roberts (7-0) sconfitto Stephen Martinez (11-5) via TKO al 4:24 del primo round

Chinzo Machida (4-2) sconfitto Mario Navarro (4-5) via TKO al 2:57 del primo round

Jacob Rosales (4-2) sconfitto Mike Segura (4-4) tramite decisione unanime (30-27, 29-28 due volte)

Andy Murad (13-2) sconfitto Jonny Cisneros (9-5) tramite decisione unanime (29-28)

Gabriel Green (4-0) sconfitto Alex Trinidad (1-2) via TKO al 2:01 del secondo round

Joey Davis (1-0) sconfitto Keith Cutrone (1-1) tramite decisione unanime (30-27)

Steve Ramirez (5-1) sconfitto Ron Henderson (4-3) via TKO al 2:24 del primo round

David Duran (4-4) sconfitto Kyle Estrada (3-3) via split decision (29-28)

CODY WALKER STEPS UP ON SHORT NOTICE TO CHALLENGE UNDEFEATED A.J. MCKEE, WHILE GEORGI KARAKHANYAN-BUBBA JENKINS MOVED TO SPIKE-TELEVISED CARD

SANTA MONICA, CALIF (Agosto 16, 2016) – Just nine days before the highly anticipated "Bellator 160: Henderson vs. Pitbull” evento Agosto 26 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., injuries sustained by main card fighters Henry Corrales e Lena Ovchynnikova have shaken things up a bit. Imbattuto peso piuma A.J. McKee (4-0) ora affronterà Cody Walker (7-2), mentre Bubba Jenkins (11-2) e Georgi Karakhanyan (24-6-1) find themselves in a featherweight feature fight during the SPIKE-televised main card.

The fights join a main card that spotlights a super fight at 155-pounds between Benson Henderson (23-6) e Patricio "Pitbull" (25-3), as the two will duke it out for a shot at Michael Chandler’s championship belt. In aggiunta, an explosive lightweight contest pitting Si Awad (19-7) contro Derek Anderson (13-2) will serve as the evening’s co-main event.

In azione preliminare, welterweights Kevin “Baby Slice” Ferguson Jr. e Joey Davis will make their professional debuts, mentre Chinzo Machida (3-2) will compete for the first time under the Bellator MMA banner.

Tickets for the event start at $30 and can be purchased now on Ticketmaster and at Honda Center Box Office. Apertura delle porte alle 4:45 p.m. PT local time and the first preliminary bout – which streams live on Bellator.com e Il Mobile App Bellator — inizia a 5:00 p.m. PT.

After beginning his career 7-1 come un dilettante, the 21-year-old “Mercenary” has made a splash on the professional circuit, recording a perfect 4-0 mark through his first four bouts. McKee has fought under the Bellator MMA banner ever since he made his professional debut in 2015, finishing all of his contests in the opening frame, including three knockouts and a rear-naked choke submission. McKee’s most recent victory came at the expense of Italian Danilo Belluardo during the mixed martial arts portion of Bellator MMA’s first-ever event overseas, "Bellator 152: Freire vs. Souza.” The Long Beach, Calif. native will now take his flashy personality to the Honda Center, where he will have the chance to put his unique skill set on full display in front of his hometown fans.

Agreeing to take a professional mixed martial arts contest on short notice is no easy task, doing so against an undefeated fighter the caliber of McKee is even more daunting. But that’s exactly the scenario Walker finds himself in now ahead of il prossimo venerdì evento. A two-time competitor for Bellator, “The Crow” will look to move above .500 within the promotion when he enters the cage at Honda Center. The 28-year-old Texan has ended all seven of his professional victories via TKO or KO, including four in the first round.

A longtime veteran of Bellator MMA, Karakhanyan will look to get back on track after dropping two closely contested decision losses against Jenkins, who he handily defeated nearly two years ago via guillotine submission. Known to many mixed martial arts fans as “Insane,” the 31-year-old has finished 18 della sua 24 vince come un professionista, earning himself multiple titles in regional promotions along the way. Following multiple setbacks to his knee, the Russian fighter is finally healthy and now looks to climb the 145-pound ladder in a competitive division that he once sat atop as the No. 1 contendente.

Just a few years ago, Bubba Jenkins was widely regarded as the top MMA prospect in all of the sport, though the title became tainted following the aforementioned loss to Karakhanyan at “Bellator 132.” The former NCAA National Champion wrestler with Arizona State University now has three consecutive wins under his belt, and is looking for redemption. Heading into his 11th fight under the Scot Coker-led promotion, the 28-year-old “Highlight Kid” looks to put on a standout performance in Bellator’s incredibly deep featherweight division. Tune in Agosto 26 to see if the Corona, Calif., native can return the favor and finish Karakhanyan in front of his local supporters.

Completa "Bellator 160: Henderson vs. Pitbull” SPIKE-Televised Main Card:

Lightweight No. 1 Contender Main Event: Benson Henderson (23-6) vs. Patricio "Pitbull" Freire (25-3)

Co-Main Event leggero: Si Awad (19-7) vs. Derek Anderson (13-2)

Featherweight Feature Bout: A.J. McKee (4-0) vs. Cody Walker (7-2)

Featherweight Feature Bout: Bubba Jenkins (11-2) vs. Georgi Karakhanyan (24-6-1)

Bellator.com-Streamed Preliminary Card:

Piuma preliminare Bout: Chinzo Machida (3-2) vs. Mario Navarro (4-4)

Welter preliminare Bout: Joey Davis (Pro Debut) vs. Keith Cutrone (1-0)

Welter preliminare Bout: Kevin Ferguson Jr. (Pro Debut) vs. Jon Tomasian (Pro Debut)

Leggero incontro preliminare: Gabriel Green (2-0) vs. Alex Trinidad (1-0)

Pesi Mosca preliminare Bout: Steve Ramirez (4-1) vs. Ron Henderson (4-2)

Pesi Mosca preliminare Bout: Kyle Estrada (3-2) vs. David Duran (3-4)

Leggero incontro preliminare: Mike Segura (4-3) vs. Jacob Rosales (3-2)

Welter preliminare Bout: Jonny Cisneros (9-4) vs. Andy Murad (12-2)

Leggero incontro preliminare: Jake Roberts (6-0) vs. Stephen Martinez (11-4)