Raug Monica, California (Dec. 6, 2016) – It was announced today that one of MMA’s hottest prospects, Thiab Ruth (1-0), will waste no time continuing to build his resume, as he fights Emanuele Palombi (5-2) for his second fight in as many months. The bout takes place no hnub Friday ntawm "Bellator 168: Sakara vs. Beltran," rau Dec. 10 from the Mandela Forum in Florence and will air LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 4pm ET/PT.
Tsuas 26 xyoo, Ruth is looking to pave the way for the other members of “The New Breed," a group of highly accomplished wrestlers who have all signed to fight under the Bellator MMA banner including: Joey Davis (1-0), Tyrell Fortune (1-0), Jarod Trice (1-0) raws li zoo raws li Aaron Pico thiab Romero Cotton – the last of which have yet to make their highly anticipated professional debuts. Before he was a three-time National Champion and four-time All-American wrestler at Penn State University, Ruth attended the world-renown Blair Academy in Susquehanna Township, PA, where he was the top-ranked recruit in the nation for his weight class. Having achieved great success at every stage of competition throughout his life, Ruth aspires to have the Bellator middleweight gold around his waist before long. After making the move across the country to Fresno, California., where he now trains at Dethrone Basecamp with other Bellator MMA fighters like Josh Koscheck thiab Chris Honeycutt, Ruth made his professional MMA debut just last month on Nov. 4, when he finished Dustin Collins-Miles with strikes at 3:19 mus rau hauv tus thawj puag ncig.
Ruth now faces Rome’s Palombi, a seven-fight veteran with five victories including three KO’s and one submission. Ruth, who is taking the fight on less than a week’s notice, must quickly learn how to tune out a hometown crowd, who will certainly be heavily in favor of the Italian fighter.
The evening is highlighted by a main event featuring Italy’s most renowned mixed martial artist Alessio Sakara (18-11, 2 NC), who will duke it out with Joey “The Mexicutioner” Beltran (17-13, 1 NC) in a light heavyweight main event. Other Bellator MMA competitors will also be in action, kuj muaj John Salter (12-3), Yamauchi li (31-9) thiab Philipe Lins(10-1).
The Bellator Kickboxing brand will also be on display in Italy with a card that features a female flyweight rematch between Denise Kielholtz (45-3) thiab Gloria Peritore (11-1-1), but this time, a world title will be on the line. "Bellator kickboxing: Florence” will also include a lightweight clash between Giorgio Petrosyan (82-2-2, 1 NC) and British kickboxing champion Jordan Watson (48-11-2), a middleweight matchup pitting Joe Schilling (19-9) tiv thaiv Victorio Lermano (30-7), a welterweight contest pairing Luca Novello (22-4-2) nrog Karim Ghajji (96-13-1), thiab Kevin Ross(31-9) yuav ua tau raws li Alessio Arduini (26-14-2) nyob rau hauv ib tug sib sib ntaus. "Bellator kickboxing: Florence” airs Friday, Dec. 16 ntawm 11:15 pm ET, immediately following "Bellator 169: King Mo vs. Ishii.”
Sau kom tiav "Bellator 168: Sakara vs. Beltran” Card:
Teeb Heavyweight Feature sib ntaus: Alessio Sakara (18-11, 2 NC) vs. Joey Beltran (17-13, 1 NC)
Teeb Heavyweight Feature sib ntaus: Philipe Lins (10-1) vs. Kleber Raimundo Silva (12-7)
Middleweight Feature Fight: John Salter (12-3) vs. Claudio Annicchiarico (1-4)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Yamauchi li (31-9) vs. Mircea Valeriu (12-3)
Middleweight Feature Fight: Thiab Ruth (1-0) vs. Emanuele Palombi (5-2)
Complete “Bellator Kickboxing: Florence” Card:
Lightweight Feature Fight: Giorgio Petrosyan (82-2-2, 1 NC) vs. Jordan Watson (48-11-2)
Flyweight World Title: Denise Kielholtz (45-3) vs. Gloria Peritore (11-1-1)
Middleweight Feature Fight: Joe Schilling (19-9) vs. Victorio Lermano (30-7)
Welterweight Feature sib ntaus: Luca Novello (22-4-2) vs. Karim Ghajji (96-13-1)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Kevin Ross (31-9) vs. Alessio Arduini (26-14-2)