SANTA MONICA, Calif. (September 1, 2015) – Brandon “Bull” Halsey (9-0) will compete for the second time in 2015 when he meets Rafael Carvalho (11-1) for the Bellator MMA middleweight title in the co-main event of “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., on October 23.
The contest will serve as the co-main event of “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2,” which airs live on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream on Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET.
The main event of “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” features a bantamweight title fight between Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) and Eduardo Dantas, (17-4). In addition, “Irish” Brennan Ward (11-3) will be in action, as will Michael “Venom” Page(8-0). The pair of welterweight’s opponents, as well as additional bouts will be announced shortly.
Tickets for “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2,” which start at just $25, are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and the Mohegan Sun Arena box office. Doors for the event open at 6:00 p.m. ET local time, and the first contest takes place shortly after.
Undefeated to open his professional mixed martial arts career, Halsey looks to take back the middleweight title that he never lost. “Bull” was stripped of the title after a training camp injury hindered his ability to make weight prior to “Bellator 137: Halsey vs. Grove,” a fight that the 28-year-old went on to win in emphatic fashion. It’s worth noting that Halsey recently re-signed with Bellator MMA to an exclusive, multi-fight contract.
Carvalho entered his Bellator debut with Joe “Stitch Em’ Up” Schilling at “Bellator 136: Brooks vs. Jansen” as the underdog, but after a tightly contested bout, earned a split decision victory. The 29-year-old Rio de Janeiro resident has not tasted defeat since the opening contest of his 12-fight career and has only seen two of his wins go as far as the judges’ scorecards.
Bellator Middleweight Championship Fight: Brandon Halsey (9-0) vs. Rafael Carvalho (11-1)
Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Michael Page (8-0) vs. TBA
Bellator Heavyweight Feature Fight: Brennan Ward (11-3) vs. TBA
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (September 1, 2015) – Brandon “Bull” Halsey (9-0) will compete for the second time in 2015 when he meets Rafael Carvalho (11-1) for the Bellator MMA middleweight title in the co-main event of “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., on October 23.
The contest will serve as the co-main event of “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2,” which airs live on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream on Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET.
The main event of “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” features a bantamweight title fight between Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) and Eduardo Dantas, (17-4). In addition, “Irish” Brennan Ward (11-3) will be in action, as will Michael “Venom” Page(8-0). The pair of welterweight’s opponents, as well as additional bouts will be announced shortly.
Tickets for “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2,” which start at just $25, are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and the Mohegan Sun Arena box office. Doors for the event open at 6:00 p.m. ET local time, and the first contest takes place shortly after.
Undefeated to open his professional mixed martial arts career, Halsey looks to take back the middleweight title that he never lost. “Bull” was stripped of the title after a training camp injury hindered his ability to make weight prior to “Bellator 137: Halsey vs. Grove,” a fight that the 28-year-old went on to win in emphatic fashion. It’s worth noting that Halsey recently re-signed with Bellator MMA to an exclusive, multi-fight contract.
Carvalho entered his Bellator debut with Joe “Stitch Em’ Up” Schilling at “Bellator 136: Brooks vs. Jansen” as the underdog, but after a tightly contested bout, earned a split decision victory. The 29-year-old Rio de Janeiro resident has not tasted defeat since the opening contest of his 12-fight career and has only seen two of his wins go as far as the judges’ scorecards.
Kira Innocenti (l) and Angela Young (r), photo courtesy of Tracey McCue
Lewiston, Maine (August 31, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its nineteenth mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF XIX,” on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. The fight card will feature two amateur women’s bouts. Angela Young (0-0) of Young’s MMA in Bangor is scheduled to make her debut against Rachel Reinheimer (1-0) from team Sityodtong. Young’s teammate Kira Innocenti (0-0) is also scheduled to make her debut against Hannah Sparrell (0-0) from First Class MMA in Brunswick.
Angela Young is the wife of Chris Young – owner and founder of Young’s MMA. She views her debut fight as a way of testing herself.
“It’s important for me to test myself,” said Young, “not only in the cage comeSeptember 12th, but also through the fight that’s happened the last eight weeks leading up to the NEF event. I feel the fight is essentially a showcase and representation of the grueling training sessions and endless hours in the gym that took place prior to fight night. Living the MMA lifestyle to me meant more than diet modifications and strict training schedules. Athletically, it was more about enduring through the obstacles and pushing my limits as a competitor in a way that had not been tested. It was about proving to myself, my coaches and my teammates that I have earned my right to step in the cage.”
Where in the past women have been relegated to the sideshow and novelty portions of combat sports events, like boxing, women’s MMA has not only risen to equal status with men’s MMA, it has, in some ways, surpassed it. One has to look only to the highest level of the sport to see this trend. Women’s fights are now routinely present on the main cards of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The promotion’s top star, and its highest paid athlete, is its women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey (12-0). The women competing on the September 12 card will be at the forefront of a movement to expand opportunities for women at the regional level.
“MMA for women is not hugely different than it is for men,” stated Young. “Obviously, MMA is a predominantly male sport, but successful women in the MMA world are on the rise. Through this fight camp I have grappled, sparred and wrestled with the Young’s MMA fight team and they have been unrelentingly supportive. Being one of the first female fighters out of Young’s certainly has its pressures (as well as being married to Mr. Young) but it’s also a spotlight I’m hoping will inspire other women who otherwise wouldn’t have pursued MMA. I would bet the women’s fights on September 12th won’t be unlike the others we’ve seen at prior NEF events. I expect the women to put on a great show because we do have something to prove. I have put blood, sweat and tears into training and you better believe I’m assuming my opponents done the same. That being said, the women are going to come after it to plant their stake in the NEF cage.”
Both Young’s teammate, Kira Innocenti, as well has her opponent at “NEF XIX,” Rachel Reinheimer, seem to concur with Young’s views on the rapid growth of women’s MMA.
“Women’s MMA is on the rise,” said Innocenti. “Each discipline teaches a woman something she does not know about herself. I have seen it build confidence in myself and many others. The more women on the mats, the better. Fans can expect my teammate, Angie, and myself to give it our all and go to war just like the male warriors at Young’s MMA do. We have worked hard to represent our gym. We will fight with pride, passion, and with the strongest corners looking out for us. I can assure you that the women’s bouts will be unforgettable.”
“Women’s MMA is a sport just like any other,” stated Reinheimer of Everett, Massachusetts. “It’s not an action movie where the hero runs out into the woods for three days to train with a martial arts master and then defeats an entire army. It’s not a bar brawl. It’s not a back alley ambush. These women are serious athletes who train diligently for years using the best training, equipment and resources available. Women who compete in combat sports spend thousands of hours of blood, sweat and tears perfecting their sport. They make sacrifices. Furthermore, there are rules and time limits and safety precautions. When someone is unfamiliar with the idea of women’s MMA, I compare it to boxing or fencing, something else that people are more familiar with. The pool of women fighters in New England is deepening fast and the fact that there are more women’s bouts on fight cards reflects that. My opponent and I are both from serious, hardworking camps. We are both mothers and it takes a lot of determination and drive to do this sport while juggling work and children. I have been working tirelessly with my team since my last fight to improve my game in every aspect. I am so grateful for the amazing training and teammates at Sityodtong that push me so hard. On September 12, you can expect a war.”
Most individuals, both men and women, who join MMA gyms do not do so initially intending to become an active cage fighter. On any given day, one can walk into any MMA gym and find a diverse population of trainees. Men and women, old and young, blue collar and white collar, all train side by side. Most will never step foot in a cage in front of thousands of screaming fans. Most are there to get in shape or learn self-defense. Some, however, are bitten by the competition bug.
“I was introduced to the MMA world after signing my daughter up for Jiu Jitsu classes thinking it would be beneficial to her for the self defense aspect involved in the sport,” recalled Hanna Sparrell. “I watched as she fell in love with the game, gaining strength and confidence, and was quick to decide that it was something I needed to be doing too. It didn’t take long before I fell in love with Jiu Jitsu myself, and then ultimately wanted to explore the other aspects of the MMA world. Being in the gym has become a second home for me and my daughter, my training partners, a second family. Every day I walk through the doors of the gym is a test, it’s a test of athleticism, as well as a test of mental and emotional drive. Since being introduced to the mixed martial arts world I have put my body, heart, and soul into training, and competing in this bout is important to me for many reasons, not only to represent myself and my hard work, but also to represent all the hard work, dedication, and encouragement I have received from my friends, instructors, training partners, and fellow fighters along the way. I think MMA training for woman is a great outlet for many reasons, it physically is a great workout, and is also a good form of “therapy” at the end of a possibly stressful day. I have many women I train with, not all of them are planning on fighting, but the benefits of the sport are still there, and they love it just the same.”
Innocenti, like many, became involved in fight sports as a way to get in, and stay in, shape. Little did she know when her journey started some two years ago that it would take her into an MMA cage with thousands watching her compete.
“Testing myself in a mixed martial arts bout is important to me in many regards. Two years ago, I was overweight and struggling to find a healthy, fulfilling path. One day, I woke up and took life by the reigns and in half a year, lost sixty pounds on my own. I welcomed that challenge, succeeded, and wanted another. Aaron “Relentless” Lacey told me about Young’s MMA and I was compelled to check it out. After stepping through the doors, trying out all of the classes, and meeting the family who made it so special, I was hooked. I made it a goal to be one of the first female fighters on the arguably most dominant fight team in New England. I have always been a competitor. I enjoy challenging myself and pushing limits that are thought to be impossible to achieve. Living the mixed martial arts lifestyle is tough. It requires more dedication than I ever imagined possible. It breaks you and builds you back up into the person you truly are. This fight is important because I have been spoiled with an amazing team by my side that is taught by the most motivating and encouraging coaches. I am determined to make them proud and thank them with my hand being raised.”
“Mixed Martial Arts is the ultimate test of the human spirit on every level: physically, mentally, and emotionally,” said Reinheimer. “I have a burning desire to know how far I can go. I like exceeding expectations and pushing my limits and that’s MMA in a nutshell. Since I started training in martial arts, my life has become boundary-less. My life on the mat has improved my life off the mat and vice versa. It’s stripped away all the unnecessary distractions and distilled my life down to what really matters, in and out of the ring. I feel like it’s helped me become much closer to my authentic self. It’s the best of ancient martial arts and modern life.”
Of the four women fighting on the “NEF XIX” card, only Reinheimer has actively competed in the past. She dominated her opponent this past spring on her way to a unanimous decision victory in her debut. All of the women fighting on September 12 in Lewiston are excited for the opportunity.
“NEF is a solid promotion with a great reputation,” said Reinheimer. “I was a spectator at their very first fight card back in 2012. I love Maine and the crowd is awesome there. I can’t wait!”
“I think the fans can expect a great show indeed,” exclaimed Sparrell. “More often than not the women’s fights have proven to be extremely entertaining, we of course want to prove ourselves worthy in this prominently male-dominated sport. This is the debut for three out of four of the women on this card, so I know there is going to be a lot of heart and determination thrown into these fights. I know, personally, I am very excited to represent! I couldn’t be more excited to be making my MMA debut in the NEF cage; I have watched so many of the fighters I idolize and look up to in this sport from the stands of the Androscoggin Bank Colisée, having the opportunity to now be out there with them really is a true honor.”
“As September 12th rapidly approaches, I’m becoming more excited and ready to get in the cage,” said Young. “This has been quite a journey and I’m grateful for the opportunity of making my amateur MMA debut with NEF.”
“I am ecstatic to make my MMA debut with NEF on September 12th,” said Innocenti. “I have worked tirelessly to get this opportunity and I am excited that the time has come.”
New England Fights’ next event, “NEF XIX,” takes place on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. Tickets for “NEF XIX” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at 207.783.2009 x 525. For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”
About New England Fights
New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) president Ed Soares announced today that the promotion will return home to its roots in Nebraska with RFA 30 in September. The promotion hosted its first show in the “Cornhusker State” in December 2011 and has since promoted MMA events in 13 states across 3 time zones. RFA 30 will take place Friday, September 18th inside the state-of-the-art Pinnacle Bank Arena located in the state’s capital city of Lincoln, Nebraska. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
“RFA started in Nebraska and I’m excited to see Anthony Smith and Brock Jardine add to our history in the Cornhusker State,” stated Soares. “These are two surging UFC vets that are about to collide in a fantastic main event at RFA 30.”
Tickets for RFA 30 are available now through Ticketmaster.com. You can also support your favorite fighter buy purchasing your tickets through CageTix.com.
Smith (22-11) is currently enjoying a career resurgence that has left his last five opponents reeling and looking for answers. Smith, who is a native of Nebraska City, Nebraska, quickly rose to prominence in mixed martial arts. Widely known for his no-nonsense approach to fighting, Smith racked up win-after-win and soon found himself a veteran of the UFC, Strikeforce, and Bellator by the time he was 25-years-old. However, it wasn’t until he turned 25 that he feels that he was finally able to close all the gaps in his MMA game. That turning point in his career has contributed directly to his recent winning streak heading into RFA 30 and he is excited about showcasing his new form back in the city where he made his professional MMA debut in 2008.
“I’m super pumped about headlining RFA 30 in front of my fans in Nebraska,” stated Smith. “I don’t know any fighters with my kind of support system. You can’t beat 3,000 people. That noise is pretty much a third man in the cage and no one is beating me in Nebraska. I grew up in Nebraska City, I live in Omaha, and I made my pro debut in Lincoln. My fans in all three cities will be there to see me win in devastating fashion on September 18th.”
Jardine (12-5) is currently enjoying a career resurgence of his own, now that he is back competing as a middleweight, where he has never lost. Jardine, who competed twice for the UFC as welterweight, holds a career record of 7-0 at 185-pounds. That includes wins in his last three fights, which have all taken place in headliners in his home state of Utah this year. Jardine credits his head coach Rob Handley at Absolute MMA in West Jordan, Utah for his recent win streak at middleweight and looks to parlay that run into a career defining victory at RFA 30, which he sees as his golden ticket back to the UFC.
“I’m very excited to be a part of a great organization like the RFA,” Jardine exclaimed. “Everyone knows what the RFA is all about, developing top prospects and getting UFC vets back to the big show. This will be a great fight for the fans, where the winner could very easily punch their ticket back to the UFC. That’s exactly what I plan on doing at RFA 30.”
The co-main event of RFA 30 also features a local favorite, who is looking to get back to the UFC. That would be Ryan “Are You Ready” Roberts (21-10-1), who like Smith, is also riding the momentum of a five-fight win streak. Roberts most recent outing was his most impressive fight during this run. He stopped fellow UFC vet Junior Hernandez via TKO in the first round of a regional title fight. Roberts is now looking to stick to his winning ways in his RFA debut.
“I’m honored to be fighting as the co-main event in the RFA,” stated Roberts. “I believe I am one of the top featherweights on the roster and will be able to prove that by finishing a tough RFA vet, who is on a roll fighting out of Tennessee. Being able to fight in Lincoln will allow a lot of my fans, friends, and family to make the short trip and liven up the Pinnacle Bank Arena. I can’t wait to finish this fight with the crowd roaring live on AXS TV.”
Traveling into enemy territory to lock horns with Roberts will be one of the more affable and entertaining fighters in the sport. That would be none other than Adam “Prime Time” Townsend (13-3), who will be dropping down to featherweight for this fight. The high-octane Tennessean made his RFA debut at lightweight in May, as a part of the RFA team that defeated a team of Legacy fighters in the historic promotion vs. promotion event that took place in Robinsonville, Mississippi. The flamboyant Townsend, now looks to reassert himself against his fellow RFA fighters.
“I’m excited about coming to someone else’s hometown and whooping them in front of their fans,” Townsend exclaimed. “Honestly, I’m too big and fast for him. I’m easily the best fighter he has ever faced. I’m surprised he even accepted the fight. He’s probably going to back out of the fight once he starts watching tape on me.”
The feature fight at RFA 30 will mark the return of one of Smith’s lifelong friends from Nebraska City. That would be Darrick Minner, who will be making his fifth appearance inside the RFA octagon. Minner has gotten his hand raised in three RFA fights, which includes a win over Marvin Blumer at RFA 24 this past March. That win was a dominant career-defining moment in the young fighter’s career that has many wondering how far he can ascend in this sport. The man eager to test Minner’s potential is a man who has been making his own star glow brighter by defeating highly-touted prospects in his first two RFA fights. That would be Matt Brown (10-4), who has a fighting style eerily reminiscent to the UFC welterweight star who shares the same name.
Also scheduled to return to the RFA octagon on the main card of RFA 30 are former RFA lightweight title challenger Zach Juusola (10-3), four-time RFA vet Dan Moret (8-2), and former University of Nebraska wrestler James Nakashima (3-0). Juusola will face Nebraska native Robert Rojas (10-4) at lightweight, Moret welcomes undefeated Grand Dawson (7-0) at featherweight, and Nakashima will tussle with fellow undefeated welterweight prospect Chance Recountre (7-0).
The RFA 30 preliminary card and further information regarding this event will be announced soon. RFA 30 will be the promotion’s sixth event to take place in Nebraska since its inception in 2011. The entire main card of RFA 30 will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on Friday, September 18th.
TEMECULA, Calif. (August 28, 2015) – In what is undoubtedly the biggest win of his mixed martial arts career, Brandon “Cold Roll” Girtz (13-4) defeated Melvin “The Young Assassin” Guillard (32-15-2) at “Bellator 141: Guillard vs. Girtz” via split decision (29-27, 28-29, 29-27).
The beautiful Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, Calif., housed the Spike-televised event, that will surely be remembered for multiple back-and-forth battles that culminated in Girtz out-pointing and out-slamming Guillard, a veteran on over 50 documented professional bouts.
It was the wrestling pedigree of the Minnesota native that made the difference, as Guillard was unable to get off his back for a good portion of the first and second frames. After being told in his corner that he was clearly down two rounds, Guillard began to open up, but his effort proved to be too little, too late.
“Pitbull” Ends Feud With Awad, Taking Unanimous Decision
Lightweight champion Will Brooks beware – there is a dangerous “Pitbull” that is barking for your belt.
Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (14-6) dominated Saad Awad (18-7) for a hard fought unanimous decision victory, with scores of (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
The bad blood generated by a Twitter war and viral video between the two co-main eventers set the stage for an action packed 155-pound battle. An evenly fought first round saw both competitors trading various leg kicks which culminated in an action packed second stanza that saw “Pitbull” take down Awad to score valuable points with the judges.
Despite a partisan crowd for the Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., native, “Pitbull” landed powerful body blows to dominate the third round and secure the shutout win. Following the bout, the Brazilian made it clear he wants a title shot at Brooks.
After 5-Year Hiatus, Wren Outpoints Burns
Justin Wren (11-2) returned to the sport of mixed martial arts following a five-year absence, defeating six-fight Bellator MMA veteran Josh “The Hammer” Burns (8-9) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26).
“The Big Pygmy” didn’t seem to miss a beat despite his time spent in the Congo, landing solid knees to the head of Burns that would have finished many heavyweights. Wren made it clear that he is here in Bellator MMA to stay and he has more to fight for than he ever has in his nine-year career.
For more on Wren’s humanitarian efforts, refer to CNN’s piece on the “The Big Pygmy here.
Coenen Armbars Blencowe
After a last minute knee injury to Lorenzo Hood forced the cancellation of his bout against Raphael Butler, the women’s featherweight match between Marloes “Rumina” Coenen (23-6) andArlene “Angerfist” Blencowe (6-5) was promoted to the televised portion of the card.
A large portion of the opening round was spent on the mat, with both women jockeying for a dominant position. Following a minute intermission, Coenen did what she has now done 17 times in her career, finished her foe via submission. The ending came at 3:23 of round two, with Coenen ending the bout with a deep armbar.
Coenen has now won two-straight fights since dropping a contest to “Cyborg” Justino in 2013.
Preliminary Card:
In the final post-lim of August 28’s festivities, Johnny Cisneros (9-4) defeated Gabriel Miglioli (9-8) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).
Luc Bondole (5-1-2) handed Ray Sloan (8-1) the first loss of his career, earning the unanimous decision with (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) scorecards from the California State Athletic Commission appointed judges.
Adrienna Jenkins (19-6) stopped Lissette Neri (6-3) with a technical knockout after Neri failed to intelligently defend herself at 2:38 of round one.
“Curtious” Curtis Millender (8-2) brought a two-fight losing streak to a halt with a (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) unanimous win over Steven Ciaccio (4-4).
The most explosive finish of “Bellator 141: Guillard vs. Girtz” on Friday came via A.J. Mckee,(2-0) who stopped James Barnes (4-1) via vicious knockout at 1:42 of the opening frame.
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (2-0) impressed in her Bellator MMA debut, edging out Maria Rios (2-3) via split decision (29-28) (28-29) (29-28). The Hawaiian showcased her ability to take the fight to her opponent on the feet, as well as fending off multiple submission attempts from Rios on the mat.
After 15 tightly contested minutes, Brent Primus (6-0) remained undefeated, squeaking out a split decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-28) win over Derek “The Barbaric” Anderson (12-2).
In the opening bout of “Bellator 141: Guillard vs. Girtz,”A.J. “The Mercenary” Matthews (8-3) defeated Emiliano Sordi (13-5) after the Argentinian failed to answer the bell following round one.
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.
Glory Vacant Light Heavyweight Title Fight: Saulo Cavalari (31-2) vs. Zack Mwekassa (13-2)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Fight: Phil Davis (13-3) vs. Emanuel Newton (25-8-1)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Fight: Linton Vassell (15-4-1) vs. Muhammed Lawal (15-4, 1 NC)
Glory Welterweight Feature Fight:Paul Daley (37-13-2 MMA/20-3 Kickboxing) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (24-13/1-2 Kickboxing)
Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Josh Thomson (20-8) vs. Mike Bronzoulis (18-8-1)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Alternate Bout: Francis Carmont (23-10) vs. Philipe Lins (9-1)
*Fight card subject to change
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 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, 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 GLORY: Founded in 2012, GLORY is owned and operated by GLORY Sports International (GSI), a professional martial arts organization and television content provider that maintains offices in New York, Denver, London, Amsterdam, and Singapore. GLORY programming is seen in over 170 territories. GLORY kickboxing rules are comprised of a mix of several combat disciplines including Karate, Muay Thai, Tae Kwon Do and traditional Boxing. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @GLORY_WS, and visit us online at gloryworldseries.com.
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 SAP Center in San Jose
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, SAP Center at San Jose is the premier sports and entertainment venue in Northern California. Each year, SAP Center hosts approximately 175 events featuring professional and amateur athletes, Olympic athletes, Grammy award-winners, international recording artists, and a variety of performers who appeal to children and families alike. SAP Center at San Jose is home to the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League as well as the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League. For more information about SAP Center at San Jose and for a list of upcoming events, visit the SAP Center home page atwww.sapcenter.com.
TEMECULA, Calif. (August 27, 2015) – All of the competitors involved in tomorrow night’s “Bellator 141: Guillard vs. Girtz” event took to the scales this afternoon from the Cabaret Theater inside the beautiful Pechanga Resort and Casino, and successfully hit their required marks.
The preliminary card for “Bellator 141: Guillard vs. Girtz” will stream on Spike.com at 7:45 p.m. ET, which is followed by the main card on Spike airing live and free at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
In the evening’s main event, Melvin “The Young Assassin” Guillard (32-14-2, 2 NC) will make his promotional debut against Brandon “Cold Roll” Girtz (11-4). The co-headliner will feature lightweight action that pits Saad Awad (18-6) against Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (13-6). After nearly five years away from action, Justin Wren (10-2) will face Josh Burns (8-8) in heavyweight action and opening the main card, Lorenzo Hood (9-2) will make his Bellator MMA debut against Raphael Butler (9-1-1).
Lightweight Bout:Melvin Guillard (155.4) vs. Brandon Girtz (155.8)
Lightweight Bout:Patricky Pitbull (156) vs. Saad Awad (155.8)
Heavyweight Bout:Justin Wren (246) vs. Josh Burns (262.8)
Heavyweight Bout:Raphael Butler (260.2) vs. Lorenzo Hood (256.2)
Middleweight Bout:AJ Matthews (184.8) vs. Emiliano Sordi (185.6)
Lightweight Bout:Brent Primus (155.4) vs. Derek Anderson (155.8)
Featherweight Bout: Marloes Coenen (145.6) vs. Arlene Blencowe (145.8)
Strawweight Bout:Ilima Macfarlane (125.2) vs. Maria Rios (125.4)
Featherweight Bout:A.J. McKee (145.8) vs. James Barnes (145)
Welterweight Bout:Curtis Millender (170.6) vs. Steven Ciaccio (170.4)
Featherweight Bout:Adrienna Jenkins (144.4) vs. Lissette Neri (143.2)
Light Heavyweight Bout:Ray Sloan (202) vs. Luc Bondole (203.4)
Welterweight Bout:Johnny Cisneros (170.8) vs. Gabriel Miglioli (170.2)
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 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, 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.
Tybura vs. Delija heavyweight title fight to headline Sept. 20 show in Ingushetia, Russia
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (August 27, 2015) – Two potentially explosive fights have been added to the M-1 Challenge 61:Battle of Narts event, headlined by M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion Marcin Tybura (12-1, 3 KO/TKO, 5 SUB) defending his title against Ante “The Walking Trouble” Delija(14-2-0, 5 KO/TKO, 7 SUB), September 19 in Ingushetia, Russia
In another previously announced M-1 Challenge 61 match-up, former M-1 Global middleweight champion Magomed “The White Wolf” Sultanakhmedov (18-5-0, 12 KO/TKO, 0 SUB), of Russia, will return to action after a 4 1/2-year hiatus to fight Brazilian veteran Marcelo Brito13-7-0, 2 KO/TKO. 5 SUB).
M-1 Challenge 61: Battle of Narts will be streamed live from Russia in high definition on www.M1Global.TV. Viewers will be able to watch the preliminary fights and main card by logging on to register at www.M1Global.TV. Fans may watch all of the action on their computers, as well as on Android and Apple smart phones and tablets.
Fighting on the main card is a match featuring featherweight fighters with contrasting styles as Luthuanian star Sergej Grecicho (pictured to left) takes on undefeated Russian prospect Magomed Idrisov (5-0-0, 2 KO, TKO, 0 SUB).
The 29-year-old Grecicho (21-6-0, 2 KO/TKO, 16 SUB) is a submission specialist whose victims have primarily fallen to his choke holds. He has won 11 of his last 13 fights during the past three years and he’s never been knocked out during his entire MMA professional career. Grechico will be making his M-1 Global debut.
A student from the famed Gorets Club, Idrisov (pictured to the left) is coming off of a sensational win at M-1 Challenge 57 in May, in which he won a decision over German challengerMax Coga (4-0-0). Idrisov is unbeaten in M-1 Global fights having also defeated Brazilian opponent Yuri Maia (3-0-0) via a first-round knockout at M-1 Challenge 49 in June of 2014.
The other most recently announced fight is between a pair of talented lightweight prospects, Ramazan Esenbaev (8-1-0, 2 KO/TKO, 2 SUB) and Damir Ismagulov (4-1-0, 3 KO/.TKO, 0 SUB), who will meet on the preliminary card.
Esenbaev is a Russian freestyle wrestler who is 4-1-0 in M-1 Global competition. He has been fighting in Japan for the past year. Ismagulov (pictured to left) was born in Kazakhstan and lives in Orenburg, Russia. He registered a tremendous opening-round knockout of Pedro Eugenio Granjo in his last fight this past July on M-1 Challenge 49.
Fights and fighters are subject to change. Additional bouts will soon be announced.
Fight Network will air M-1 Challenge 61:Battle of Narts live on Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable, Suddenlink Communications and Armstrong Cable in the U.S., as well as nationwide in Canada, Roku devices across North America, and globally in more than 30 countries throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Lewiston, Maine (August 27, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, is proud to announce the signing of “Sleepy” Norman Fox (4-2) to an NEF developmental deal. The deal will see Fox make his professional debut with the promotion in the flyweight division in early 2016.
“I’ve had a pretty successful run as an amateur with NEF, but it’s time to take things to the next level,” said Fox. “No one has seen what I’m fully capable of, but they will soon enough. The flyweight division is mine.”
A member of MMA Athletix in Bath, Maine, Fox debuted with NEF as an amateur in the summer of 2013. He won his first four fights in NEF all via stoppage. Fox is considered a rising star in a very thin, but burgeoning, regional flyweight division.
“We couldn’t be happier to have Norman with us as a professional,” said NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson. “Norman has developed as an amateur inside the NEF cage and is now ready to tackle the pro flyweight division. Norman is an exciting signing and we’re proud to have him as a part of the NEF roster. There’s a good chance that 2016 will be the year of the Fox.”
“I couldn’t ask for a better promotion to kick off my pro career with than NEF,” Fox said.
New England Fights’ next event, “NEF XIX,” takes place on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. Tickets for “NEF XIX” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee box office at 207.783.2009 x 525. For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”
About New England Fights
New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.
NBC UNIVERSO to Feature Combate Americas’
Most Bad-Ass Latino MMA Fighters
Main Event: Ramiro “Junior” Hernandez vs. Max Ceniceros
Also in action: Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc, Ozzie Alvarez,
John “Sexy Mexy” Castaneda and
reality TV stars Ricky Palacios and JC Llamas
NEW YORK – August 26, 2015 – Combate Americas, the first-ever U.S. Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise founded by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) co-creator Campbell McLaren, and NBC UNIVERSO, the modern sports and entertainment cable channel for Latinos, today announced the kick-off of “Road To The Championship,” an all-new, multi-year MMA fight series that will air live on NBC UNIVERSO. The first live event in the Combate Americas series will air on Thursday, September 17 at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. from The D in Las Vegas, Nev., just in time for the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Combate Americas is the groundbreaking, live MMA fight series created specifically for U.S. Hispanics who are passionate about the artistry and action of the sport. Fans can tune into NBC UNIVERSO to watch these modern day gladiators enter the cage to compete for a chance at glory.
The Combate Americas live fight series schedule on NBC UNIVERSO includes:
Thurs., Sept. 17, 2015 at 11p ET / 8p PT
Thurs., Nov. 19, 2015 at 11p ET / 8p PT
In 2016, four additional dates TBD
“We are excited to expand our relationship with NBC UNIVERSO, and look forward to delivering action-packed fight cards featuring some of the best Latino fighters on the planet,” said McLaren, who created Combate Americas two years ago to serve the fastest-growing U.S. demographic – Hispanic millennials.
“NBC UNIVERSO’s partnership with Combate Americas’delivers on our promise to provide our Latino viewers rousing and edgy entertainment and the biggest events,” said Rubén Mendiola, President, NBC UNIVERSO.
The Combate Americas fight series comes one-year after Combate Americas – the competition reality series, made history by becoming the first fight-themed program ever to win a major television award – “Best Variety or Reality Series,” at last year’s 29th Annual Imagen Awards. The Combate Americas reality show aired on NBC UNIVERSO (formerly mun2) and was a fan favorite among U.S. Hispanic viewers.
In the main event of the live NBC Universo telecast of the Combate Americas kick-off event on Thur., Sept. 17, two-time UFC veteran and Miletich Fighting Systems prodigy Ramiro “Junior” Hernandez (17-7) of Muscatine, Iowa will square-off with hard-hitting KO artist Max Ceniceros (7-2) of La Mirada, Calif. in a featherweight (145 lbs.) main event showdown. Ceniceros is seeking his seventh consecutive victory, after finishing four of his last six opponents by way of (T)KO or submission.
Also on the fight card that night will be Combate Americas reality series stars J.C. Llamas (5-5) and Ricky “El Gallero” Palacios (3-1), who will make their respective second starts in the Combate Americas cage.
The runner-up in the reality series competition, Llamas of Bakersfield, Calif., will square-off against aggressive-minded finisher Ozzie “The Outlaw” Alvarez (6-2) of Brea, Calif. in a welterweight (170 pounds) contest. Palacios of Mission, TX will face Benji “The Brawler” Gomez (4-4) of Ventura, Calif. in a bantamweight (135 pounds) matchup.
In a featured women’s strawweight (115 pounds) bout, Invicta FC veteran Nicdali “The Night Queen” Rivera-Calanoc (8-8) of Tulsa, Okla. will collide with power puncher Katy “Red Dragon” Collins (2-1) of Branson, Mo.
Additional fights, including a complete preliminary bout card will be announced soon.
# # #
ABOUT COMBATE AMERICAS
Combate Americas, LLC. is the first U.S. Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise in history, designed to build Latino fighting champions and serve Hispanic fans, one of the world’s most avid groups of prize fighting enthusiasts. The Combate Americas franchise includes reality TV programming, live events and mobile programming. The company’s CEO, Campbell McLaren, is universally recognized as the co-founder/co-creator of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). New York Magazine described McLaren as “the marketing genius behind the UFC” and Yahoo! Sports proclaimed that he “knows more about the sport than just about anyone in it today.” With an unprecedented product and a blue-chip ownership and management team, Combate Americas is poised to break new ground and bring about a new era in world championship level MMA competition.
About NBC UNIVERSO:
NBC UNIVERSO (www.nbcuniverso.com) is a modern sports and entertainment cable channel for Latinos, bringing the world’s top sports franchises and edgy programming to more than 40 million households in the U.S. As one of the most widely available modern cable channels for U.S. Latinos, NBC UNIVERSO delivers a thrilling mix of exclusive sports action – including FIFA World Cup™, Liga MX, Premier League, NASCAR Mexico Series, NFL and The 2016 Rio Olympics – along with signature series, blockbuster movies, music, must-see live events and strategic acquisitions, on TV, online and mobile devices. NBC UNIVERSO is part of Hispanic Enterprises and Content, a division of NBCUniversal (www.nbcuniversal.com), one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation (www.comcastcorporation.com). To find the NBC UNIVERSO channel number in your area, please visit www.nbcuniverso.com/encuentralo.
Lewiston, Maine (August 26, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its nineteenth mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF XIX,” on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. Earlier today, the promotion announced the addition of an amateur catchweight bout to the fight card. Pat Kelly (3-0) is scheduled to meet Ken Dunn (0-1) at a fight weight of 160-pounds.
Kelly is the 51-year-old coach of the Camden Hills Regional High School wrestling team in Rockport, Maine, where he has led the team to three state championships. He also teaches at the school. Kelly is a 2007 inductee of the Maine Amateur Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame. He won a state title wrestling for Camden-Rockport High School in the early 1980s. He later wrestled for the University of Maine, winning the New England Championship and competing in the NCAA championships in 1986. Kelly made his MMA debut in the fall of 2014 at the age of 50 as a member of Bangor, Maine’s Young’s MMA. Earlier this year, he was the subject of international headlines after defeating the father-son duo of 46-year-old Dr. Steve Bang (0-1) and Steve Bang, Jr. (3-3) at separate NEF events.
Kelly’s opponent Ken Dunn is a member of Maine Kyokushin Karate (MKK) located in Norway, Maine. As a practitioner of Kyokushin, Dunn is well-versed in full-contact sparring and will no doubt bring his striking skills to bear against the wrestler Kelly. He will be making his debut in the NEF cage on September 12 in Lewiston.
New England Fights’ next event, “NEF XIX,” takes place on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. Tickets for “NEF XIX” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee box office at 207.783.2009 x 525. For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”
About New England Fights
New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.
Fighting on the main card is a match featuring featherweight fighters with contrasting styles as Luthuanian star Sergej Grecicho (pictured to left) takes on undefeated Russian prospect Magomed Idrisov (5-0-0, 2 KO, TKO, 0 SUB).
A student from the famed Gorets Club, Idrisov (pictured to the left) is coming off of a sensational win at M-1 Challenge 57 in May, in which he won a decision over German challengerMax Coga (4-0-0). Idrisov is unbeaten in M-1 Global fights having also defeated Brazilian opponent Yuri Maia (3-0-0) via a first-round knockout at M-1 Challenge 49 in June of 2014.
Esenbaev is a Russian freestyle wrestler who is 4-1-0 in M-1 Global competition. He has been fighting in Japan for the past year. Ismagulov (pictured to left) was born in Kazakhstan and lives in Orenburg, Russia. He registered a tremendous opening-round knockout of Pedro Eugenio Granjo in his last fight this past July on M-1 Challenge 49.