Category Archives: kickboxing

Bellator, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

ALESSIO SAKARA-JOEY BELTRAN SET FOR ‘BELLATOR 168’ MAIN EVENT — TOMORROW, LIVE & FREE AT 4 PM ET/3 PM CT ON SPIKE

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Complete “Bellator 168” Weigh-In Photos / Full “Bellator 168” Weigh-In Video

FLORENCE, ITALY — (December 9, 2016) — Following weigh-ins on Friday morning from Grand Hotel Mediterraneo in the capital city of Tuscany, all 10 competitors fighting during the main card of “Bellator 168: Sakara vs. Beltran” are now ready to compete tomorrow night at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT, LIVE and FREE on SPIKE.

The mixed martial arts portion of action is headlined by a light heavyweight main event contest featuring Italy’s own Alessio Sakara (18-11, 2 NC), who will take on Joey Beltran (17-13, 1 NC). In addition, John Salter (12-3) meets Claudio Annicchiarico (1-4) in a middleweight bout, Philipe Lins (10-1) competes against Kleber Raimundo Silva (12-7), Goiti Yamauchi (20-3) returns to lightweight action against Valeriu Mircea (12-3), and Ed Ruth (1-0)looks to remain undefeated in 2016 on short notice against Emanuele Palombi (5-2)

See below for complete weights and photos from today’s weigh-in proceedings.

Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Joey Beltran (205.2) vs. Alessio Sakara (203.6)

Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Kleber Raimundo Silva (205.9) vs. Philipe Lins (205.8)

Middleweight Feature Fight: Claudio Annicchiarico (185.2) vs. John Salter (185.2)

Lightweight Feature Fight: Valeriu Mircea (154.5) vs. Goiti Yamauchi (156)

Catchweight Feature Fight: Ed Ruth (189.2) vs. Emanuele Palombi (187.2)

 

Bellator, kickboxing, Spike TV

“THE SOUL ASSASSIN” READY TO BRING KILLER INSTINCT BACK TO ITALY IN LIGHTWEIGHT KICKBOXING CLASH WITH ALESSIO ARDUINI DEC. 10 INSIDE THE MANDELA FORUM

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MIDDLEWEIGHT SHOWDOWN BETWEEN JOE SCHILLING-VICTORIO LERMANO AND WELTERWEIGHT MATCHUP PITTING LUCA NOVELLO AGAINST KARIM GHAJJI ALSO ADDED TO STACKED BELLATOR KICKBOXING CARD

 

SANTA MONICA, CALIF (October 18, 2016) – Bellator Kickboxing has added a trio of fantastic fights highlighted by a lightweight matchup between Kevin Ross (31-9) and Alessio Arduini (26-14-2). A Middleweight bout pitting Joe Schilling (19-9) against Victorio Lermano (30-7) and a welterweight contest pairing Karim Ghajji (96-13-1) with Luca Novello (22-4-2) have also been added to the action-packed “Bellator Kickboxing: Florence” card. The event marks the promotions second visit to Italy this year, as Bellator returns with another thrilling combo-event, featuring both Bellator MMA and Bellator Kickboxing brands on Dec. 10 from the Mandela Forum in Florence.

The MMA portion of the International event is headlined by a Middleweight World Title rematch between current champion Rafael Carvalho (13-1) and Melvin Manhoef (30-13-1, 2 NC). A light heavyweight fight pitting Alessio Sakara (18-11, 2 NC) against Joey Beltran (17-13, 1 NC) will also be featured on the “Bellator 168: Carvalho vs. Manhoef 2” main card.

 

Exact broadcast details for “Bellator Kickboxing: Florence” and“Bellator 168: Carvalho vs. Manhoef 2” will be revealed shortly.

 

The “Bellator Kickboxing: Florence” card also features a previously announced female flyweight rematch between Denise Kielholtz (45-3) and rival Gloria Peritore (11-1-1) as well as a lightweight bout pitting Italian superstar Giorgio Petrosyan (82-2-2, 1 NC) against Jordan Watson (48-11-2).

At 36 years old, “The Soul Assassin” has strung together one of the most accomplished kickboxing and muay Thai careers in the game, collecting belts in several promotions across multiple divisions. Ross has brought home six career championships, highlighted by the WBC Muay-Thai USA welterweight title, the WBC Muay-Thai International Super-lightweight title and the Lion Fight Super-lightweight title. During his 54-fight career, the Reading, Penn., native has collected notable wins over former champions Malaipet Sasiprapa, Kang En, and more. Ross hopes to add to his unblemished promotional mark, after recording back-to-back victories to begin his tenure with the Bellator Kickboxing brand. Fighting out of Dublin, Calif., Ross returns to Italy for the second time this year, having defeated Matteo Taccini at“Bellator Kickboxing: Torino” in April.

 

The 32-year-old Schilling has demonstrated his versatile skillset at the highest levels of competition by claiming multiple titles over his 10-year career, including two WBC Muay Thai World Championships, two WBC Muay Thai National Championships, and the MTAA Muay Thai Super-Middleweight National Championship. “Stitch ‘Em Up” continues to be one of the most aggressive fighters in the sport, collecting 11 of his 19 career wins via knockout. The multi-dimensional Schilling has also spent time competing in mixed martial arts, where he was awarded the 2014 Knockout of the Year for a ferocious second round blow that turned the lights out on Melvin Manhoef. Now, the 2013 Glory World Middleweight Tournament Champion Schilling returns to the ring in search of his first win under the newly-founded Bellator Kickboxing umbrella.

 

Fighting out of Meaux, France, the 10-time World Kickboxing Champion Ghajji will return to Italy after making his Bellator Kickboxing debut in Torino earlier this year. “Gadjetboy” became the first Bellator Kickboxing World Champion with a split decision victory over Mustapha Haida in the Inaugural Bellator Kickboxing Welterweight World Title fight at “Bellator 152.” Dating back to 2014, Ghajji has collected wins in nine of his previous 11 contests, including an eight-fight winning streak over a two-year stint. With 96 career wins under his belt, including 50 knockouts, the 110-fight kickboxing veteran will look to inch closer to the century mark as he prepares to challenge Italian hot shot Luca Novello.

Complete “Bellator Kickboxing: Florence” Card:

Lightweight Feature Fight: Giorgio Petrosyan (82-2-2, 1 NC) vs. Jordan Watson (48-11-2)

Flyweight World Title Fight: Denise Kielholtz (45-3) vs. Gloria Peritore (11-1-1)

Lightweight Feature Fight: Kevin Ross (31-9) vs. Alessio Arduini (26-14-2)

Middleweight Feature Fight: Joe Schilling (19-9) vs. Victorio Lermano (30-7)

Welterweight Feature Fight: Karim Ghajji (96-13-1) vs. Luca Novello (22-4-2)

 

Updated “Bellator 168: Carvalho vs. Manhoef 2” Card:

Middleweight World Title Bout: Rafael Carvalho (13-1) vs. Melvin Manhoef (30-13-1, 2 NC)

Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Alessio Sakara (18-11, 2 NC) vs. Joey Beltran (17-13, 1 NC)

Bellator, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP REMATCH BETWEEN RAFAEL CARVALHO AND MELVIN MANHOEF TO HEADLINE MMA PORTION OF ‘BELLATOR 168’

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ITALIAN KICKBOXING ICON GIORGIO PETROSYAN TAKES ON JORDAN WATSON IN BELLATOR KICKBOXING LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHT

 

 

SANTA MONICA, CALIF (October 7, 2016) – Bellator MMA is returning to Italy with another action-packed combo event on Dec. 10 from the Mandela Forum in Florence, featuring both Bellator MMA and Bellator Kickboxing brands. The Scott Coker-led promotion today announced the MMA portion’s main event, which will feature Rafael Carvalho (13-1) and Melvin Manhoef (30-13-1, 2 NC) in a rematch for Carvalho’s 185-pound championship. Meanwhile, “Bellator Kickboxing: Florence” has added a lightweight matchup between Italian superstar striker Giorgio Petrosyan (82-2-2, 1 NC) and British kickboxing champion Jordan Watson (48-11-2).

 

The mixed martial arts event will also boast Italy’s most popular and beloved mixed martial artist, Alessio Sakara (18-11, 2 NC), who takes on Mexican-American slugger Joey Beltran (17-13, 1 NC) in a light heavyweight matchup.

 

Exact broadcast details for “Bellator 168: Carvalho vs. Manhoef 2” and “Bellator Kickboxing: Florence” will be revealed shortly.

 

The Bellator Kickboxing card also features an anticipated female flyweight rematch between Dutch striking ace Denise Kielholtz (45-3) and the woman who defeated her this past June, Gloria Peritore (11-1-1) for the inaugural Bellator Kickboxing Flyweight World Championship. Additionally, other Bellator superstars Raymond Daniels, Kevin Ross and Joe Schilling are also likely to compete on the card against opponents to be named later.

 

If you ask both Carvalho and Manhoef, the two’s first meeting didn’t go as planned for either party. The main event of “Bellator 155” saw both men go toe-to-toe for 25 minutes before the three judges rendered a split decision in favor of the incumbent champion; a verdict that many deemed controversial. Now, nearly seven months after their first meeting, the pair of competitors will meet again.

 

Carvalho’s second-round body kick knockout of Brandon Halsey at “Bellator 144: Halsey vs. Carvalho” was the third biggest oddsmaker upset in 2015, and was the bout that earned the gold he wears around his waist today. The 30-year-old will be making his fifth appearance under the Bellator MMA banner and will look to extend his current winning streak to 14-bouts.

 

With a resume of knockouts as violent as Manhoef, it’s no surprise the Dutch competitor has earned the nickname of “No Mercy.” Known for his relentless striking style, the former K-1 and Strikeforce competitor finds himself once again in a position to lay claim to the Bellator 185-pound MMA title, and has even further incentive to leave the judges’ out of it.

 

Adoringly referred to by his fans as “The Doctor,” Petrosyan is one man you do not want an appointment with. The top-ranked Armenian-Italian striking ace will be making his debut with the budding Bellator Kickboxing Promotion when he squares off against Watson on 10 Dec. Training alongside his brother Armen, the 30-year-old southpaw put together an incredible 42-fight unbeaten streak, cultivating an extensive trophy case that includes multiple championship belts as well as “Kickboxer of the Year” accolades in both 2011 (BloodyElbow.com) and 2012 (LiverKick.com).

 

When you compete in the lightweight division in the world of kickboxing, aside from striving to earn the title, you’re also looking towards a fight with the No. 1 kickboxer in the world in Petrosyan. An ISKA World Champion and K-1 UK runner up, Watson will get that chance when he meets “The Doctor” at “Bellator Kickboxing: Florence.” It will be interesting to see what game plan the British striker implores when he meets his opponent — but if his nickname of ‘Quadzilla’ is any indication, the 28-year-old will utilize his kicks to keep the vicious striking of Petrosyan at bay. Training extensively around the world, Watson has also spent a good amount of time in the Muay Thai scene, accruing a knack for finishes (21) along the way. Victorious in his lone 2016 fight, Watson hopes to soar into 2017 with a win against arguably the greatest kick boxer in the world under his belt.

Updated “Bellator 168: Carvalho vs. Manhoef 2” Card:

Middleweight World Title Bout: Rafael Carvalho (13-1) vs. Melvin Manhoef (30-13-1, 2 NC)

Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Alessio Sakara (18-11, 2 NC) vs. Joey Beltran (17-13, 1 NC)

 

Updated “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)

Bellator, kickboxing, Spike TV

A NEW WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION IS CROWNED AT “BELLATOR KICKBOXING: BUDAPEST”

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RAYMOND DANIELS & DENISE KIELHOLTZ ALSO VICTORIOUS

Complete Event Photos Here

SANTA MONICA, CALIF (September 23, 2016) – Bellator Kickboxing returned to Spike TV on Friday night from Budapest, Hungary and by the conclusion of the evening, the promotion had crowned a new welterweight champion.

In the main event of “Bellator Kickboxing: Budapest,” Zoltan Laszak (11-2) defeated the immensely more experienced Karim Ghajji (96-13) via unanimous decision, taking away the belt that Ghajji had earned following his performance at “Bellator Kickboxing: Torino.” 

In addition to the welterweight world title bout, the always-exciting Raymond Daniels (12-3) returned to action against Zsolt Benedek (15-4) of Hungary. The man many fans refer to as “RD The Goat,” utilized his highlight-reel style of offense to defeat Benedek via unanimous decision in front of his fellow Hungarians, improving to 3-0 under the Bellator Kickboxing banner.

Following her controversial split decision defeat at “Bellator: Dynamite 2,” Denise Kielholtz (45-3) returned to form against Renata Lantos (5-5), taking home a unanimous decision victory. Following what was arguably the most important fight of Kielholz’s career, the talented Dutch kick boxer now sets her sights on a rematch with Gloria Peritore at the recently announced “Bellator Kickboxing: Florence”in December

Rounding out the main card action, the man that defeated Melvin Manhoef earlier this year, Alexandru Negrea (10-3), improved his record at the expense of Ali El Ameri (42-11-2), taking home the win on all three of the ringside judges’ scorecards.

Bellator, kickboxing, Spike TV

BELLATOR MMA & KICKBOXING TO HOLD ANOTHER SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL TAG-TEAM EVENT AT THE MANDELA FORUM IN FLORENCE, ITALY ON DEC. 10

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“BELLATOR 167” TO FEATURE ALESSIO SAKARA VS. JOEY BELTRAN

 

“BELLATOR KICKBOXING: FLORENCE” WILL SEE DENISE KIELHOLTZ VS. GLORIA PERITORE FOR INAGURAL FEMALE FLYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE

 

(Lto R: Denise Kielholtz, Armen Petrosyan, GiorgioPetrosyan, Florence Minister of Sport Andrea Vannucci, Bellator President Scott Coker, Gloria Peritore, Mustapha Haida, Oktagon President Carlo DiBlasi gather at PalazzoVecchio for a press conference to announce Dec. 10 event at Mandela Forum.)

 

SANTA MONICA, CALIF (September 21, 2016) – Within days of “Bellator Kickboxing: Budapest,” the Scott Coker-led promotion hosted a press conference yesterday at the historic Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy to announce its next international extravaganza. The Viacom-owned fight company is returning to Italy with another combo-event featuring heart-pounding action from the Bellator MMA and Bellator Kickboxing brands, both taking place onDec. 10 from the Mandela Forum in Florence. Both events will air on SPIKE, and exact broadcast details will be revealed at a later date.

 

“Bellator 167” will boast Italy’s most popular and beloved mixed martial artist, Alessio “Legionarius” Sakara (18-11, 2 NC) who takes on Mexican-American slugger Joey “The Mexicutioner” Beltran (17-13, 1 NC) in a light heavyweight headlining matchup.

 

Meanwhile, “Bellator Kickboxing: Florence” features an anticipated female flyweight rematch between Dutch striking ace Denise “Miss Dynamite” Kielholtz (45-3) and the woman who defeated her this past June, Gloria Peritore (11-1-1) for the inaugural Bellator Kickboxing Female Flyweight World Championship. Additionally, Italian superstar striker Giorgio Petrosyan will be making his Bellator Kickboxing debut and other Bellator Kickboxing superstars Raymond Daniels, Kevin Ross and Joe Schilling are also likely to compete on the card against opponents to be named later.

 

“International expansion was a major goal for us in 2016, and I feel that we’ve really nailed it thus far,” said Bellator President Scott Coker. “After the incredible success of our first event in Italy this past April where we packed the Pala Alpitour with over 14,000 people, we knew that we wanted to return for a second go-round before the end of the year.  With our great partner Carlo DiBlasi and his team at Oktagon, we are looking forward to another epic event on December 10.”

 

“Our partnership with Bellator is producing incredible results, so as to double the stages in Italy and start a European course that has seen us protagonists in recent days in Budapest,” said Oktagon President Carlo DiBlasi. “I am sure that Florence will respond to the appointment on December 10 and will not be disappointed by the spectacle that the best fighters in the world will bring on Mandela forum ring.”

 

Not to be confused with current pop sensation “Alessia Cara,” Italy’s favorite mixed martial arts superstar Alessio Sakara returns to the Bellator MMA fray fresh off an emphatic finish of Brian Rogers at “Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Souza.” Known for his knack for the spectacular, “Legionarius” will be making his second appearance for the Viacom-owned promotion in his home country, a locale he’s undefeated in throughout his career as a professional, a run that began in 2002. A longtime member of the world-renown “American Top Team,” there’s no doubt that Sakara comes to the cage looking to finish, ending the proceedings before reaching the judges’ scorecards in 14 of his 18 wins; a similar record to his opponent on Dec. 10.

 

Having competed across multiple weight classes from heavyweight down to middleweight, the man fondly referred to as “The Mexicutioner” always comes ready to go toe-to-toe. A six-fight Bellator MMA competitor, Beltran has competed against the elite in multiple promotions and weight divisions, facing names like: “Rampage” Jackson, Kendall Grove, Emanuel Newton, and Stipe Miocic. Now, the 34-year-old San Diego native returns to light heavyweight, looking to add to his impressive total of 14 finishes in 17 wins as a professional. A veteran of Strikeforce, as well as the UFC, it’s surprising Beltran hasn’t previously crossed paths with Sakara, but all that changes when the cage door closes in Florence.

 

The streaking Dutch striker Denise Kielholz had her progress temporarily slowed when she was upset by Peritore at “Bellator: Dynamite 2” this past June. A 27-year-old native of Sicily, Italy, Peritore has won titles such as the ISKA & WTKA Amateur World Kickboxing Champion and IASKA Amateur World K-1 Championship. The first meeting between these two ladies was a tightly contested and technical, with both competitors picking their spots wisely over the course of three rounds. The ante has been upped the second go around though, with the news that a freshly minted Bellator Kickboxing belt will be waiting for the victor.

 

Updated “Bellator 167” Card:

Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Alessio Sakara (18-11, 2 NC) vs. Joey Beltran (17-13, 1 NC)

 

Updated “Bellator Kickboxing: Florence” Card:

Female Flyweight World Title: Denise Kielholtz (45-3) vs. Gloria Peritore (11-1-1)

Bellator, kickboxing, Spike TV

“BELLATOR KICKBOXING: BUDAPEST” SET TO AIR ON SPIKE TV THIS FRIDAY, SEPT. 23

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WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION KARIM GHAJJI, RAYMOND DANIELS, DENISE KIELHOLTZ RETURN TO ACTION

 

 

SANTA MONICA, CALIF (September 19, 2016) – Bellator’s world tour continues this Friday, September 23 when Bellator Kickboxing brings top-flight action to SPIKE TV all the way from Budapest, Hungary. The event will be headlined by Bellator Kickboxing’s welterweight champion Karim Ghajji (96-12) defending his belt against Zoltan Laszak (10-2).

 

In addition to this welterweight world title bout, the always-exciting Raymond Daniels(11-3) will return to action against Zsolt Benedek (15-3) of Hungary. Following her controversial defeat at “Bellator: Dynamite 2,” Denise Kielholtz (44-3) will also compete, when she takes on Renata Lantos (5-4).

 

The must-see kickboxing event will also feature the man who upset Melvin Manhoefearlier this year, Alexandru Negrea (9-3), who meets Ali El Ameri (42-10-2) at a catchweight of 189-pounds.

 

“Bellator Kickboxing: Budapest” will air on Spike Friday, September 23 at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.

 

Fresh off winning his championship at Bellator’s inaugural kickboxing show in Turin, Italy, Ghajji will defend the title he won at the expense of Mustapha Haida when he meets world-renowned Hungarian champion Zoltan Laszak in five, three minute rounds.

 

Raymond Daniels is never involved in a boring fight; look no further than his first two Bellator Kickboxing bouts, which have produced highlight-reel stoppages. This go-round, the showman will face the Hungarian Zsolt Benedek at 170-pounds. While Daniels will enter the ring as the favorite, Benedek will have the advantage of the home-town crowd, who he hopes will help propel him towards upsetting the American Superstar.

 

Arguably the most important fight of Denise Kielholz’s career, the talented Dutch Kickboxer will face another fighter of Hungarian descent when she meets Renata Lantos in a flyweight encounter. After dropping a decision Gloria Peritore, Kielholtz has been hell-bent on earning a rematch against the Italian, but will have to get through Lantos first.

 

Complete “Bellator Kickboxing: Budapest” Card:

 

Welterweight World Title Main Event: Karim Ghajji (96-12) vs. Zoltan Laszak (10-2)

Welterweight Co-Main Event: Raymond Daniels (11-3) vs. Zsolt Benedek (15-3)

Flyweight Feature Bout: Denise Kielholtz (44-3) vs. Renata Lantos (5-4)

189 lb. Catchweight Feature Bout: Alexandru Negrea (9-3) vs. Ali El Ameri (42-10-2)

Bellator, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

‘RAMPAGE’ OWNS THE NIGHT–‘BELLATOR: DYNAMITE 2’ THRILLS FANS WITH MMA & KICKBOXING ACTION ON SPIKE

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Complete Event Photos Her

ST. LOUIS —(June 24, 2016) – In a highly-competitive heavyweight main event at“Bellator: Dynamite 2,” “Rampage” Jackson (37-11) edged out Satoshi Ishii (14-6-1) with a split decision victory (30-27, 28-29, 29-28) on Friday night inside Scottrade Center during an event that aired LIVE and FREE on SPIKE.

With the win, “Rampage” extends his current winning streak to five, proving once again why he is one of the most dangerous athletes on Bellator MMA’s roster. Jackson also improves his promotional mark to an undefeated 4-0, with multiple wins coming via first round knockout.

After the fight, “Rampage” made it clear he intends on returning to action sooner, rather than later. “I’m going to go home to Orange County, take a little vacation, then come back bigger and better than ever,” Rampage said.

Michael Chandler Claims Bellator MMA Lightweight Belt With Explosive Knockout win Over Patricky ‘Pitbull’

Missouri’s own “Iron” Michael Chandler (15-3) gave his hometown fans exactly what they came for, reclaiming the vacant lightweight belt with a ferocious first-round knockout punch. The new 155-pound kingpin finished Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (16-8) just 2:14 into the evening’s co-main event, giving him six total knockouts during his seven-year professional career. The loss is the eighth of “Pitbull’s” illustrious career and puts an abrupt end to his recent string of two consecutive victories. After the win, Chandler stuck a backflip in the center of the cage as St. Louis Cardinal’s legend Ozzie Smith looked on, emulating the famous celebration Smith made famous during his MLB career.

Kevin Ross Earns Unanimous Decision Victory Over Justin Houghton

In a featherweight kickboxing bout, Kevin Ross (32-9) took care of business with a unanimous decision victory (29-27, 29-27, 30-26) over Justin Houghton (7-3). Nicknamed “The Soul Assassin,” Ross was able to land 86% of his shots over the course of the fight, thoroughly dominating Houghton and tacking on another victory to an already historic 11-year career. Ross now remains undefeated under the Bellator Kickboxing banner, building upon his victory at “Bellator Kickboxing: Torino.”

MacFarlane Displays Phenomenal Ground Game En Route to Submission win Over Ruth

In the second MMA battle of the evening, Ilima-Lei MacFarlane (4-0) was able to continue her rapid ascension to the top of the women’s flyweight division and remain undefeated with an impressive rear-naked choke submission over Rebecca Ruth (6-2). MacFarlane’s remarkable ground game and jiu-jitsu skill set was on full display tonight, forcing the veteran Ruth to tap out three minutes into the second round. For Ruth, the loss is just the second of her career and first since 2014. The win is “The Ilimanator’s” third since joining the promotion and is her first submission victory of the rear-naked choke variety.

Gloria Peritore Takes Split Decision Victory From Denise Kielholtz

 

In the opening kickboxing bout of “Bellator: Dynamite 2,” Gloria Peritore (11-1-1) was able to edge out Denise Kielholtz (44-3), taking home a split decision victory. It was an even battle from start to finish, but in the end it was the judges’ scorecards that read 29-28, 28-29, 29-28 in favor of the Italian. The loss is just the third of Kielholtz’s career and left the Dutch powerhouse completely speechless in the center of the ring. For the 27-year-old Peritore, the win gives her 11 since making her professional debut only two years ago.

Matt Mitrione Ignites Full House in Opening Bout of “Bellator: Dynamite 2”

Matt Mitrione (10-5) was able to absorb an early blow from Carl Seumanutafa (10-7) just 20 seconds into round one and answered with a flash of brilliance 3:22 into the opening frame. The come-from-behind knockout victory is the ninth of that variety and tenth of Mitrione’s career. “Meathead” proved his ability to outlast yet another opponent in what will surely go down as one of the greatest Bellator MMA debuts of all time. Now, Mitrione sets his sights on returning to the cage as quickly as possible, with the goal of winning Bellator gold on his mind.

Preliminary Card Results:

Guilherme “Bomba” Vasconcelos (8-3) defeated Jordan Dowdy (3-2) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:59 of round one

Justin Lawrence (9-3) defeated Isao Kobayashi (18-4-4) via knockout at 2:11 of round two

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 400 million homes worldwide in over 120 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, 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.

 

About Spike:

Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks.  A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.  Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press.  Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

About Scottrade Center:

Scottrade Center is a contemporary, 12-story glass and concrete structure located in the heart of downtown St. Louis. The home of the St. Louis Blues Hockey Club, Scottrade Center also features a full range of arena programming, including concerts, ice shows, family shows and other sporting events. Scottrade Center is consistently ranked by Pollstar Magazine as one of the top grossing arenas in the country.

Bellator, kickboxing, Spike TV

HUMAN HIGHLIGHT REEL RAYMOND DANIELS TAKES ON STEFANO BRUNO AT ‘BELLATOR KICKBOXING: ST. LOUIS’ ON JUNE 24 – LIVE & FREE ON SPIKE AT 11/10C

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IN ADDITION: KERI MELENDEZ-SARAH HOWELL SHOWDOWN COMPLETES DYNAMIC BELLATOR KICKBOXING CARD

 

 

SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (June 14, 2016) – The SPIKE-televised “Bellator Kickboxing: St. Louis” event on June 24 at Scottrade Center is now complete, with the addition of two fights featuring Bellator Kickboxers Raymond Daniels (11-3) and Keri Melendez (3-1), who will take on Stefano Bruno (23-2-1) and Sarah Howell (debut) respectively.

 

The fights join a main event that features a middleweight rematch between Joe Schilling (27-8) and Hisaki Kato (6-2), who initially competed against one another in a mixed martial arts contest that saw Kato get the better of the kickboxing ace with a “Knockout of the Year” winning superman punch.

 

“Bellator Kickboxing: St. Louis” will air immediately following the highly anticipated “Bellator: Dynamite 2” event LIVE and FREE on Spike at 11 p.m. ET/10 p.m. CT. Tickets for the double feature event start at just $30 and are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and the at Scottrade Center Box Office.

 

A native of California, Daniels is one of the most widely known kickboxers in America, having made a splash as both and amateur and professional. “The Real Deal” went 17-0 as an amateur, with nine knockouts, finishing all 17 bouts in the first round. Daniels made his professional debut in 2007, winning each of his first four fights, three of which ended in knockouts for the 36-year-old welterweight. Daniels was also a competitor at Bellator’s inaugural “Bellator Kickboxing: Torino” event in Italy this year, earning his first career victory with the Scott Coker-led promotion. The win was the eighth of his professional career and it came spectacularly 30 seconds into the first round, giving him five first-round knockouts in total.

 

With a stellar record of 23-2-1, Italian kickboxer Stefano Bruno will have his hands full when he steps into the ring with Daniels on the 24th of June. One half of what many kickboxing pundits considered the fight of the year in 2015 against Hosam Radwan, Bruno has competed all around the globe and has truly made a name for himself in the welterweight division.

 

The queen of the infamous Skrap Pack in Northern California, Melendez made her first appearance with Bellator during the kickboxing portion of “Bellator: Dynamite 1,” recording a unanimous decision victory over Hadley Griffith in front of her home town faithful. Melendez tallied a 4-1 amateur mark before taking her talents to the professional circuit, where she currently holds a 3-1 kickboxing record. The 32-year-old flyweight will look to build off her impressive debut last year, when she takes on Sarah Howell in the kickboxing portion of Bellator’s “Dynamite 2” on June 24 at Scottrade Center in St. Louis.

 

Making your professional debut in anything is an arduous task, but making your debut against Melendez will be tougher than usual for Howell, who comes into the fight with no pro experience. Hailing from Washington – which coincidentally was the homestate of Melendez’s last opponent —  the proud mother has been documenting her road to “Dynamite 2” through her blog, which can be found here.

 

Complete “Bellator Kickboxing: St. Louis” Fight Card:

Bellator Kickboxing Middleweight Main Event: Joe Schilling (27-8) vs. Hisaki Kato (6-2)

Bellator Kickboxing Welterweight Feature Bout: Raymond Daniels (11-3) vs. Stefano Bruno (23-2-1)

Bellator Kickboxing Flyweight Feature Bout: Keri Melendez (3-1) vs. Sarah Howell (Debut)

Bellator, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

DENISE KIELHOLTZ-GLORIA PERITORE SET TO FACE OFF IN FLYWEIGHT CONTEST AT ‘BELLATOR: DYNAMITE 2’

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KICKBOXING VETERAN KEVIN ROSS RETURNS TO ACTION FOR BELLATOR KICKBOXING AGAINST JUSTIN HOUGHTON

 

 

SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (June 10, 2016) – The SPIKE-televised main card of “Bellator: Dynamite 2” on June 24 at Scottrade Center in St. Louis is now complete, with the addition of a women’s flyweight kickboxing bout pitting Denise Kielholtz (44-2) against Gloria Peritore(10-1-1) and a featherweight feature fight between Kevin Ross (31-9) and Justin Houghton(7-2).

 

The fights join a main event that features a heavyweight clash between “Rampage” Jackson(36-11) and Satoshi Ishii (14-5-1), while a lightweight title fight pitting Michael Chandler(14-3) against Patricky “Pitbull” (16-7) will serve as the evening’s co-main event. In addition, former NFL player Matt Mitrione (9-5) and Carl “Badwater” Seumanutafa (10-6) will trade blows in their heavyweight showdown, while a flyweight contest between undefeated Ilima Macfarlane (3-0) and Rebecca Ruth (6-1) wraps up a mouthwatering main card.

 

The event airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream live on Bellator.com and The Bellator Mobile App. Doors for “Bellator: Dynamite 2”open at 5:00 pm CT, with the first streamed fight taking place at 5:30 pm CT.

 

Tickets for the event start at just $30 and are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and the Ford Box Office at Scottrade Center.

 

Hailing from Amsterdam, Dutch flyweight Kieholtz will be making her second appearance under the direction of Bellator Kickboxing after earning a win in her promotional debut at the inaugural Bellator Kickboxing event in Torino, Italy earlier this year. With over 40 career fights (one MMA bout) under her belt, the 27-year-old Kielholtz will be searching for her 45th professional victory when she prepares to take on Gloria Peritore on June 24 in St. Louis. Kielholtz now directs her attention to “Bellator: Dynamite 2,” where both a mixed martial arts cage and kickboxing ring will be featured just like the groundbreaking inaugural “Dynamite” event last year. If you think you can handle “5 Rounds” with her, click here.

 

The 27-year-old Peritore has a total of 12 professional fights over her two-year career, earning victories in all of them, including a third round knockout of Li Mingrui in her Bellator Kickboxing debut earlier this year. A native of Sicily, Italy, Peritore had the unique opportunity to fight in front of her hometown fans when Bellator invaded Torino, Italy in April of 2016. As an amateur fighter, she posted a 9-3 record and won titles such as the ISKA & WTKA Amateur World Kickboxing Champion and IASKA Amateur World K-1 Champion.

 

At 35 years old, Ross has put together an impressive kickboxing and muay Thai career, highlighted by accruing some of the most highly sought-after championships in the game. During his 53-fight career, he has collected the WBC Muay-Thai USA welterweight title, the WBC Muay-Thai International Super-lightweight title and the Lion Fight Super Lightweight Championship. Known also as “The Soul Assassin,” Ross is working on a transition into the sport of MMA and most recently made his promotional debut at the inaugural “Bellator 152”Kickboxing event in Torino, Italy where he defeated Matteo Taccini via unanimous decision.

 

Houghton, who hails from Michigan, has competed previously for Bellator, but on the mixed martial arts side of things. “J-Ho” most recently laced up the kickboxing gloves against Alfredo Corona, at a regional event in Denver, defeating his opponent via lopsided unanimous decision. Now, the Grudge Training Center standout sets his sights on Ross, arguably one of the most successful kickboxers in American history.

 

Complete “Bellator: Dynamite 2” Fight Card:

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Main Event: Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (36-11) vs. Satoshi Ishii (14-5-1)

Bellator MMA Lightweight World Title Bout: Michael Chandler (14-3) vs. Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (16-7)

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Feature Bout: Matt Mitrione (9-5) vs. Carl Seumanutafa (10-6)

Bellator Kickboxing Featherweight Feature Bout: Kevin Ross (31-9) vs. Justin Houghton (7-2)

Bellator Kickboxing Flyweight Feature Bout: Denise Kielholtz (44-2) vs. Gloria Peritore (10-1-1)

Bellator MMA Flyweight Feature Bout: Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (3-0) vs. Rebecca Ruth (6-1)

 

Preliminary Card:

Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Justin Lawrence (8-3) vs. Isao Kobayashi (18-3)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Guilherme “Bomba” Vasconcelos (7-3) vs. Jordan Dowdy (3-1)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Kevin Engel (5-0) vs. Chel Erwin-Davis (3-1)

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Jordan Howard (9-3) vs Justin Robbins (14-17-1)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Joaquin Buckley (5-0) vs Chris Heatherly (9-3-1)

Bellator MMA 130-pound Preliminary Bout: Michelle Royer (1-0) vs Katy Collins (3-1)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Brad Jones (5-4) vs Tyler Claussen (2-0)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Jason Christeson (1-0) vs Jarrod Thomas (0-0)

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Lee Burns (2-0) vs. Byron Stevens (0-0)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Steven Mann (11-4) vs. Mike Estus (7-4)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Rashard Lovelace (3-0) vs. Garret Mueller (2-1)

Bellator MMA Strawweight Preliminary Bout: Nikki Smith (1-0) vs. Ashley Cummins (3-3)

Bellator Kickboxing Preliminary Bout: Elmir Kulosman (3-0) vs. Darryl Cobb (2-1)

Bellator Kickboxing Preliminary Bout: Tara Walker (4-3-1) vs. Mimi Kutzin (3-2)

 

Bellator, kickboxing, Spike TV

KARIM GHAJJI BECOMES THE FIRST KICKBOXING CHAMPION IN PROMOTIONAL HISTORY AT INAUGURAL ‘BELLATOR KICKBOXING: TORINO’ EVENT

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Complete Fight Night Photos Here

 

TORINO, ITALY. (April 22, 2016) – Italy’s largest indoor arena, The Pala Alpitour was packed with over 13,000 fans for the historic, inaugural “Bellator Kickboxing: Torino” event. The kickoff event was one for the ages with fierce competitors making a name for themselves with their world-class kickboxing on display. The card aired tonight on SPIKE through a delayed broadcast following “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson.”

Melvin Manhoef (37-13) was upset by Milan’s Alexandru Negrea (9-2) via decision in the evening’s main event. Negrea, also known as “The Volcano,” erupted in the second round, scoring a knockdown that forced an eight-count for Manhoef. The closely contested bout resulted in a decision victory for the Romanian-born fighter (30-25, 29-26, 29-26).

Mustapha Haida (40-5-2) and Karim Ghajji (96-12) battled it out for five hard-fought, exciting rounds of action for the ISKA and Bellator Kickboxing World Titles. At the culmination of the bout, France’s Ghajji emerged victorious with the scorecards reading (50-44, 50-44, 46-48).

Los Angeles native Raymond Daniels (11-3) has a knack for producing highlight-reel finishes, and he was back at it again during the “Bellator Kickboxing: Torino” event, flooring Francesco Moricca (15-3-1) with a spinning heel liver kick just 30 seconds into round one.

Here is the answer to a future trivia question: Veronica Vernocchi (31-7-1) was the first fighter to ever step into a Bellator Kickboxing ring. Denise Kielholtz (44-2), however, was all business from the very beginning. The Dutch striker made her historic walk to the ring to Rihanna’s hit song, “B*tch Better Have my Money,” and she fought as though her opponent showed up with empty pockets, winning a decision victory (30-27, 30-27, 28-29). With the win, Kielholtz became the first fighter to have their hand raised in a Bellator Kickboxing contest.

 

About Bellator:

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, 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.

 

About Spike:

Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks.  A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.  Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press.  Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

 

About Oktagon:

Carlo Di Blasi created Oktagon in 1996. At its beginning the show was dedicated to free fight, the name that was given initially to MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). Other disciplines such as Kickboxing, Muay Thai and Savate were gradually added from the early 2000’s onwards. During the last 20 years Oktagon has reached a huge popularity, both in Italy and abroad, creating many superstars in the process including Bellator welterweight Paul Daley as well as The Petrosyan brothers (Giorgio and Armen), Robin Van Roosmalen, Valentijn Overeem, Rico Verhoeven and Artem Levin.