Santa Monica, Message (Dec. 6, 2016) – It was announced today that one of MMA’s hottest prospects, Markaasaa Ruud (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 Friday this at "Bellator 168: Sakara vs. Beltran," on Dec. 10 from the Mandela Forum in Florence and will air LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 4pm ET/PT.
Marka kaliya 26 sano jir ah, 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) iyo sidoo kale Haaruun Pico iyo 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, Message., where he now trains at Dethrone Basecamp with other Bellator MMA fighters like Josh Koscheck iyo 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 galay wareeggii koowaad.
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, lugu daro John Salter (12-3), Yamauchi ilaa (31-9) iyo 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) iyo 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) ka dhanka ah Victorio Lermano (30-7), a welterweight contest pairing Luca Novello (22-4-2) la Karim Ghajji (96-13-1), iyo Kevin Ross(31-9) la kulmi doona Alessio Arduini (26-14-2) in dagaalka ah oo khafiifa. "Bellator kickboxing: Florence” airs Friday, Dec. 16 at 11:15 pm ET, immediately following "Bellator 169: King Mo vs. Ishii.”
Buuxi "Bellator 168: Sakara vs. Beltran” Card:
Light Fight Feature feerka: Alessio Sakara (18-11, 2 NC) vs. Joey Beltran (17-13, 1 NC)
Light Fight Feature feerka: 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 ilaa (31-9) vs. Mircea Valeriu (12-3)
Middleweight Feature Fight: Markaasaa Ruud (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)
Fight Feature Welterweight: Luca Novello (22-4-2) vs. Karim Ghajji (96-13-1)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Kevin Ross (31-9) vs. Alessio Arduini (26-14-2)