Category Archives: mixed martial arts

Bellator, mixed martial arts, Spike TV

“UNFINISHED BUSINESS” IS FINISHED, AS KIMBO SLICE STOPS KEN SHAMROCK IN SAINT LOUIS

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PATRICIO FREIRE RETAINS FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE WITH MUST-SEE SECOND ROUND KNOCKOUT OVER DANIEL WEICHEL

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM BELLATOR 138

PHOTO CREDIT: BELLATOR

 

The long-awaited, highly anticipated matchup between mixed martial arts legend Ken Shamrock (28-16-2) and bare-knuckled brawler Kimbo Slice (5-2) definitely didn’t disappoint. The energy from the packed crowd at Scottrade Center in St. Louis was palpable, as fans from all walks of life had waited since 2008 to see the two enter the cage, with Slice claiming victory by TKO at 2:22 in round one.

 

When the opening bell sounded, the founding father of MMA looked to shoot for the takedown on Slice immediately, maneuvering into a position to secure a win with a rear-naked choke. But as promised, Slice refused to tap.

 

Before the crowd could blink, the two fighters were upright and exchanging blows. Slice was able to land a lethal right hook that stunned Shamrock, sending him immediately to the canvas. Just as Slice moved in to land additional blows on the defenseless Shamrock, referee John McCarthy quickly stepped in and stopped the fight.

 

After the bout, an exuberant Slice acted as if this victory was long overdue.  “I’ve been in this position before,” said Slice. “I trained my ground game very well. Tapping was not an option.”

 

Shamrock, who looked to be in top shape coming into the fight, was full of class in defeat. “When you come into a fight and you get beat you have to show respect,” said Shamrock. “I’m frustrated, I had the submission but I didn’t take my time with it. I lost my position. I tried to scramble, but I wasn’t that fast and I got caught.”

 

In the night’s co-feature and potential comeback “Fight of the Year,” current Bellator Featherweight World Champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (24-2) retained his title against Daniel “Weasel” Weichel (35-9) with a beautiful left hook knockout 32-seconds into round two.

 

In the first round it looked like Bellator would have a new 145-pound champion, as the German international immediately came forward with pressure, catching the Brazilian with multiple jabs.

 

Just when it looked like referee McCarthy would stop the action, the first round bell sounded just in the nick of time to save Freire from a stunning first-round knockout.

 

After the fight, a seemingly stunned “Pitbull” didn’t seem to lose any confidence. “My opponent was very tough, but I can go to war,” said Freire. “I am very happy to still be the champion. I’m here, if you want my belt you can try to come get it.”

 

“I believe the bell saved me,” Freire continued. “He hit me with a hard punch on my chin but I stayed calm going into the second round because I knew I needed to win the fight. I saw an opening after he punched me and I hit him with my best shot.”

 

A visibly distraught and emotional Weichel knew he let a golden opportunity slip away. “I started the second round slowly,” said Weichel. “I didn’t want him to recover after the first round. I started on the offensive in the second round and unfortunately I got caught.”

 

In heavyweight action, Bobby “The Dominator” Lashley (13-2), of Coconut Creek, Fla., made quick work of Dan “The Man” Charles (9-3), dominating the 29-year-old with a great ground and pound, an arsenal that including multiple suplexes. Referee McCarthy stopped the fight at 4:14 in the second round resulting in a TKO for the three-time NAIA amateur wrestling champion and his third straight win under the Bellator banner.

 

Charles, who took the fight on two weeks’ notice after James Thompson dropped out due to injury, was overmatched by the considerably larger Lashley, who kept himself in great position to eventually vie for the heavyweight title.

 

The 38-year-old referenced his esteemed wrestling background as a major factor in claiming victory. “You always go back to your basics in a fight and wrestling is my background,” said Lashley. “I need to keep moving forward, the heavyweight division is wide open. I need to keep my eyes open.”

 

Daniel Straus (23-6), of Coconut Creek, Fla. looked like he has fully rebounded from his title shot loss to Pitbull Freire, convincingly beating Henry Corrales (12-1) of La Mirada, Calif. via submission (guillotine choke) at 3:47 into round two.

 

Straus looked like he came into the fight to make a statement, quickly attacking Corrales with consecutive blows to the head that had the Californian staggering backwards on multiple occasions.

 

“I’m still dominating people,” said Straus.  “This is what I do. Win or lose I come in here to beat up my opponent.”

 

Straus seemed confident that he would have no issues reclaiming his belt. “Whoever wins the featherweight belt tonight,” exclaimed Straus. “I am coming to beat you up.”

 

It was a valiant effort by Corrales, who was making his Bellator debut, but it was obvious that he was a step behind Straus from the opening bell. The loss was just the first in Corrales’ career.

 

In the night’s first main-card contest, lightweight and hometown favorite Michael Chandler (13-3), of High Ridge, Mo., made quick work of Derek “The Stallion” Campos (15-5), needing just 2:17 secondsto score a submission (rear-naked choke) win.

 

Coming off three straight losses, Chandler clearly looked relieved following the fight. “Derek Campos is a tough guy, he hit me in my mouth and bloodied me a bit,” said Chandler. “I was excited to fight this guy. I’m not in this sport to tip toe and find easy fights.”

 

Feeling notably confident, Chandler called out current lightweight champion Will Brooks, who happened to be sitting  cage side. “I want that belt back,” said Chandler. “Will Brooks, that belt has my name on it, wherever you are.”

 

On tonight’s preliminary card shown on Spike.com

 

Hometown fighters were represented in all nine preliminary fights, starting with Miles McDonald (2-1) of Springfield, MO defeated Dan O’Connor (5-5) via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 4:30 in round 3.

 

Hugh Pulley (5-2) of St. Louis, MO defeated Eric Irvin (9-4) of Farmington, MO via Split Decision scored 30-27 (Pulley), 29-28 (Pulley), 29-28 (Irvin)

 

Kyle Kurtz (4-0) of Jackson, MO stayed undefeated with a round 2 Submission victory over Adam Cella (6-4) of St. Louis, MO.

 

Chris Heatherly (9-3) of Cahokia, IL defeated Garrett Gross (6-4) of Coconut Creek, FL via Unanimous Decision scored 29-28 three times.

 

Justin Lawrence (8-2) of Pacific, MO defeated Sean Wilson (34-26) of Omaha, NE via TKO in 4:56 of round 1.

 

Justin Guthrie (18-8) of Colorado Springs, CO defeated Steven Mann (10-2) of St. Louis, MO via Submission (Brabo Choke) at the 1:09 mark in round two.

 

Main Card Results

Kimbo Slice def Ken Shamrock by KO – Round 1, 2:22

Patricio Freire def. Daniel Weichel by KO – Round 2, :32 to retain Bellator MMA Featherweight title

Bobby Lashley def. Dan Charles via TKO – Round 2, 4:14

Daniel Straus def. Henry Corrales by submission (guillotine) – Round 2, 3:47

Michael Chandler def. Derek Campos by submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:17

 

Preliminary Card Results

Miles McDonald def. Dan O’Connor by submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 4:30

Hugh Pulley def. Eric Irvin by Split Decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29)

Kyle Kurtz def. Adam Cella by submission (armbar) – Round 2, 4:13

Chris Heatherly def. Garrett Gross by Unanimous Decision (29-28 three times)

Justin Guthrie def. Steven Mann by submission (brabo choke) – Round 2, 1:09

Justin Lawrence def. Sean Wilson via TKO – Round 1, 4:56

 

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 TV:

Spike TV 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 TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV’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.

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

BELLATOR MMA ANNOUNCES A LANDMARK EVENT IN COMBAT SPORTS HISTORY

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 FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN AMERICA: MMA AND KICKBOXING APARATUS IN THE SAME ARENA, ON THE SAME NIGHT, FROM THE SAP CENTER IN SAN JOSE, CA. ON SEPTEMBER 19 ON SPIKE

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Tito Ortiz Battles Liam McGeary for the Bellator Light Heavyweight Title

 

Four-Man, One-Night Light Heavyweight No. 1 Contender Tournament Featuring Phil Davis, Muhammed ‘King Mo’ Lawal, Emanuel Newton, and Linton Vassell

 

In Addition, World-Class Kickboxing Action Featuring Bellator & Glory Fighters Joe Schilling and Paul Daley

 

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Bellator MMA will present a landmark event in American combat sports history on September 19 from the SAP Center in San Jose, which will air live on Spike. An event so big it will include two fields of battle – a Bellator cage and a Glory kickboxing ring.

 

“I’m so proud and honored to bring this truly amazing event to my hometown of San Jose,” said Scott Coker, President of Bellator MMA. “This mega-card will feature something for every combat sports fan- MMA legends, rising stars, a stacked tournament, plus many of the world’s best kickboxers. It will be an unforgettable night for the thousands in attendance and the millions watching at home.”

 

In the main event, MMA legend Tito Ortiz (18-11) will take on Bellator’s reigning light heavyweight king, Liam McGeary (10-0). This will mark McGeary’s first defense of his coveted title.

 

The epic evening will also showcase a four-man, one-night light heavyweight tournament to determine the No. 1 contender in the division. The participants include the return of Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (15-4, 1 NC), former champion Emanuel Newton (25-8-1), the always dangerous Linton Vassell (15-4-1) and Phil Davis (13-3), who makes his highly anticipated Bellator Debut.

 

First round pairings for the tournament, as well as further details on the tournament format will be announced shortly.

 

The event will also feature Glory Kickboxing bouts that will feature many of the best fighters in the world. Namely, Bellator MMA competitors Joe Schilling and Paul “Semtex” Daley. Opponents for Schilling and Daley, as well as additional kickboxing matchups will be announced shortly.

 

Tickets for “Bellator MMA: Dynamite” will go on sale Friday, June 26 with an exclusive presale taking place on Thursday, June 25th. With the announcement of “Bellator MMA: Dynamite!!!,” Coker is making his triumphant return to Northern California, a region where he pioneered the sport of mixed martial arts as owner of Strikeforce.

 

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Bellator, mixed martial arts, Spike TV

OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS, PHOTOS AND INFORMATION FROM “BELLATOR MMA: UNFINISHED BUSINESS”

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SAINT LOUIS (June 18, 2015) –  After weigh-ins at Scottrade Center on Thursday, Kimbo Slice and Ken Shamrock will finally settle their “Unfinished Business.”

“Bellator MMA: Kimbo vs. Shamrock,” which airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT, features a main event between the aforementioned Slice and “The World’s Most Dangerous Man.” The fight is nearly seven years in the making, after a fluke accident caused the cancellation of their first planned meeting.

In the co-main event, a battle for the featherweight championship will go on as planned when Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (23-2) looks to defend his title against a streaking Daniel Weichel (35-8). On his second attempt, “Pitbull” hit the required mark of 145-pounds.

In a critical heavyweight scrap between two larger than life fighters, Bobby Lashley (12-2) looks to continue his undefeated ways in Bellator MMA against a very game Dan “The Man” Charles (9-2). Lashley was originally slated to face James Thompson, but an injury derailed the tilt.

One of MMA’s most promising prospects Henry Corrales (12-0), looks to keep his record unblemished against former featherweight champion Daniel Straus (22-6), who has only suffered three defeats in his last 22 bouts.

In the opening televised bout of the evening, Mike Chandler (12-3) will attempt to return to lightweight glory when he faces Derek Campos (15-4). The Missouri native has been involved in plenty of legendary wars inside the Bellator cage and if his comments at the weigh-ins were any indication, he plans on making his homecoming nothing short of special.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL WEIGH-IN PHOTOS

Main Card (9 p.m. ET)

Bellator Heavyweight Main Event: Kimbo Slice (232) vs. Ken Shamrock (204.4)

Bellator Featherweight Title Fight: Champ Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (144.9) vs. Daniel Weichel (144.5)

Bellator Featured Heavyweight Fight: Bobby Lashley (239) vs. Dan Charles (228)

Bellator Featured Featherweight Fight: Daniel Straus (144.4) vs. Henry Corrales (144.9)

Bellator Featured Lightweight Fight: Michael Chandler (155.6) vs. Derek Campos (152.8)

 

Preliminary Card (7:45 p.m. ET)

Bellator Bantamweight Fight: A.J. Siscoe (135.5) vs. Garrett Mueller (135.6)

Bellator Featherweight Fight: Kain Royer (184.6) vs. Enrique Watson (185.8)

Bellator 166 lb. Catchweight Fight: Rashard Lovelace (160.6) vs. Demagio Smith (164.8)

Bellator Featherweight Fight: Justin Lawrence (145.7) vs. Sean Wilson (145.8)

Bellator Welterweight Fight: Steve Mann (169.8) vs. Justin Guthrie (170.3)

Bellator Lightweight Fight: Garrett Gross (155.2) vs. Chris Heatherly (160)

Bellator Welterweight Fight: Adam Cella (170.3) vs. Kyle Kurtz (171)

Bellator Lightweight Fight: Eric Irvin (155.2) vs. Hugh Pulley (155.6)

Bellator Strawweight Prelim Fight: Dan O’Connor (115.3) vs. Miles McDonald (115.3)

Bellator, M-1, M-1 Challenge, mixed martial arts

Sergei Kharitonov-Kenny Garner rematch To headline M-1 Challenge 59 plus Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Michal Wiencek & Luigi Fioravanti vs. Sergey Kovalev July 3 in Astana, Kazakhstan 

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(L) Kenny Garner and Sergei Kharitonov exchanged a lot o punches in their original atM-1 Challenge 53 in Beijing,China/

 

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (June 18, 2015) – The much-anticipated Heavyweight SuperFight rematch between Sergei “The Paratrooper” Kharitonov and Kenny “Deuce” Garner will headline the July 3rd M-1 Challenge 59: Battle of Nomads 5 in Astana, Kazakhstan.

The 6′ 4″, 260-pound Kharitonov (22-5-0, 12 KO/TKO, 9 SUB), fighting out of Moscow, was a star in the United States-based Strikeforce, as well as Japanese MMA organizations Dream and PRIDE Fighting Championships. His victims have included reigning UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum,former UFC champions Andrei Arlovski and Alistar Overeem, as well as Pedro Rizzo,among the more notables. 

Garner, fighting out of Port St. Lucie, Florida, won the inaugural M-1 Challenge interim heavyweight championship Oct. 14, 2011 atM-1 Challenge: 27, by way of a fifth-round submission (strikes) against Maxim Grishin. Garner successfully defended his title June 21, 2012 at M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Rizzo, when Guram Gugenishvili was unable to continue fighting in the third round after suffering an injury. 

Garner was a replacement for injured Satoshi Ishii this past November 25 against Kharitonov in Beijing. The rugged American dominated the opening round, even attempting to submit the tough Russian, who rebounded in the second round by keeping the fight in a stand-up mode. The fight was stopped in the third round with Kharitonov declared the winner due to safety concerns for Garner, who suffered serious cuts and other damage to his face and head.

  

 

M-1 Challenge 59 will be streamed live from Kazakhstan in high definition onwww.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 Andriod and Apple smart phones and tablets.

 

Promising Kazakh welterweight prospect Shavkat Rakhmonov (2-0-0, 1 KO/TKO, 1 SUB) will be showcased in his homeland against Polish foe Michal Wiencek (5-2-0, 2 SUB).

 

The 19-year-old Rakhmonov was the 2013 WMMAA welterweight champions, in addition to capturing top honors in the Asian and Kazakhstan championships. His amateur experience prepared for M-1 Challenge competition, in which he is undefeated in two fights, including his last a first-round knockout of Bartosz Chyrekthis past May 2nd at M-1 Challenge 57.

  

 

Wiencek, 21, was a winner at the Berserkers Grand Prix. In his last fight April 10 at M-1 Challenge 56, he won his M-1 Challenge debut in impressive fashion, choking outRustam Gadzhiev in the third round (see picture to the right).

 

 

 

Another interesting match has been announced as popular American middleweight Luigi “The Italian Tank” Fioravanti takes on undefeated Russian Sergey Kovalev.

 

Fiorvanti (striking on right in this picture) is coming off a decision loss this past February 21 to Nodar Kudukhashvili at M-1 Challenge 55.The Italian-American joined the U.S. Marines after graduating from high school. He started training in kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in California and Iraq while active in the military. Fioravanti holds a second-degree black belt in Pancrase Pankration. 

Kovalev (5-0-0, 2 KO/TKO, 2 SUB) has been out of action more than two years due to an injury. His last fight was April 9, 2013 in his M-1 Challenge debut, in which he choked Gregory Babine into submission

 

All fights and fighters are subject to change. Additional fights to soon be announced.

 

Fight Network will air M-1 Challenge 59 live on Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable 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.

 

 

  

Information:
www.mixfight.ruwww.wmmaa.org

www.M1Global.tv

 

Twitter & Instagram:
@M1GlobalNews

@VFinkelchtein

@M1Global

 

Facebook:

 

www.facebook.com/pages/M-1-Global/145250878842244
Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada collaborates with new community partners to launch “Men in Mentoring” initiative, aimed at recruiting men as Big Brothers

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The need for men to volunteer is BIG: there are currently over 550 boys waiting for a Big Brother in Southern Nevada.

LAS VEGAS – June 19th, 2015 – If you met 12 year old Ryan, he might be a little quiet at first, but once you get to know him he is funny, talkative and outgoing. He loves basketball, hiking, playing hide and seek with his younger sister Alexia and their two dogs, Zach and Zoey. Ryan has been waiting for a Big Brother for almost 15 months. “I want a guy I can look forward to hanging out with and maybe learn a new sport with,” Ryan tells the program staff at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada (BBBSN) when his mother enrolled him in the beginning of 2014. “Ryan’s father left us when he was an infant. I know Ryan would benefit from having a Big Brother mentor to take him to a baseball game or a super hero movie. At this point in his life, I don’t think I am making the same impact as a guy could,” Ryan’s mother tells BBBSN.

BBBSN has hundreds of boys just like Ryan that are waiting for men to step up to the plate and become Big Brothers. “We took a look at our recruiting efforts and determined that we need to place a greater emphasis on targeting men and appealing to their personalities,” said Athena Gould, Chief Program Officer for BBBSN, “All it takes is 4 hours per month and an 18 month commitment to our program to mentor one of our boys waiting and give them the extra push they may need to succeed in life.”

This is where Men in Mentoring comes into play. New community partners to BBBSN including Tuff-N-Uff, a local amateur MMA organization, Vegas Lions and Vegas Outlaws Football teams, Alston Business Consulting, Office Depot, Never Give Up Foundation and the Gianniosis Realty Group have joined forces to highlight guy-centric athletic and cultural events that will ultimately focus on male volunteer recruitment efforts.

The inaugural event will be held in conjunction with Tuff-N-Uff’s annual “Future Stars of MMA Pack the Mack” night at the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday, June 27th. “We are proud to host the first Men in Mentoring group at our organization’s largest event of the year,” said Jeff Meyer, CEO of Tuff-N-Uff, “Fans will receive a special meet & greet with our fighters beginning at 5PM and will have the opportunity to sit in a VIP section when the fights start at 6PM. We hope to encourage our fans and fighters to serve their community as mentors.” Anyone interested in joining the Men in Mentoring group at their first outing must RSVP to Kyle Dunlap (kdunlap@bbbsn.org / 774-571-0291) in order to attend the meet & greet and sit in the VIP section reserved for BBBSN.

Men in the Las Vegas community are encouraged to participate in future Men in Mentoring events throughout 2015 as well. Future outings include, but are not limited to: behind the scenes with the players of the Vegas Lions football team; train with local MMA fighters at local gyms; and hiking at Red Rock Canyon. Kyle Dunlap, Community Relations Manager and Big Brother with BBBSN, is looking to add more unique and exciting, guy-centric events to the Men in Mentoring roster. Please get in touch with Kyle to inquire about participating in the program, hosting an outing for a group of 20-30 individuals, or about signing up to be a mentor. Individuals looking to start the Big Brother application process may also visit: www.mentorvegas.com 

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada:

BBBSN, the region’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes such as educational success, higher aspirations, greater confidence, better relationships and avoidance of risky behaviors. Youth mentored with BBBSN are over 75% more likely to graduate than their peers. Since 1973, BBBSN has provided over 20,000 mentors to local youth. It is the goal of BBBSN to serve 300 additional local youth in 2015. The non-profit’s mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.

For more information about how to donate or volunteer, please visit their website at http://www.bbbsn.org, or call (702) 222-9000. Connect with BBBSN at www.facebook.com/BBBSSN, www.linkedin.com/company/big-brothers-big-sisters-of-southern-nevada and www.twitter.com/BBBSSN

mixed martial arts, World Series of Fighting

WSOF ‘UNSTOPPABLE’  RETURNS TO NBC ON SATURDAY, JULY 11

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LAS VEGAS (June 17, 2014) –World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) will return to NBC with an all-new installment of its action-packed ‘Unstoppable’ program showcasing the best, recent world championship action from the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion, on Saturday, July 11, beginning at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.

MMA legends Bas Rutten and Renzo Gracie, and veteran NBCSN announcer Todd Harris will host the two-hour program, “WSOF Unstoppable: The Road Ahead,” and be joined in studio by guests and reigning WSOF world champions David Branch(middleweight – 185 pounds) and Marlon Moraes (bantamweight – 135 pounds), whose most recent, respective bouts in the WSOF decagon cage will be on display.

Additionally, the show will feature an in-depth look at undefeated, reigning WSOF World  Lightweight (155 pounds) Champion Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje, and ferocious action from reigning WSOF World Welterweight (170 pounds) Champion Rousimar “Toquinho” Palhares, reigning WSOF World Featherweight (145 pounds) Champion Lance Palmer and newly crowned WSOF World Heavyweight Champion Blagoy Ivanov.

“We are excited to deliver another hard-hitting compilation of the most memorable, recent bouts featuring WSOF’s collection of dynamic world champions and other superstars,” said WSOF President, six-time world champion and two-time Hall of Famer Ray Sefo. “NBC has been an incredible partner and highly instrumental in building the WSOF brand over the course of the last two and a half years, and the ‘Unstoppable’ series is a testimony to their commitment to our company and the sport of MMA.”

Along with Branch and Moraes, the hosts will preview the highly-anticipated, WSOF world championship showdown between defending kingpin Palhares and challenger and two-time world champion Jake Shields, whose latest conquests in the WSOF cage will be on display for NBC viewers during “WSOF Unstoppable: The Road Ahead.”

Palhares and Shields will face off in the main event of WSOF 22, live on NBCSN from Las Vegas.

Since launching in Nov. 2012, WSOF has catapulted to the forefront of the MMA world with its star-studded, world championship live event series on NBCSN as well as additional programming on NBC.

The promotion has successfully expanded its footprint to over 100 different countries with its fight programming as part of a multi-year agreement with IMG, the world’s leader in sports content distribution.

About World Series of Fighting (WSOF)
World Series of Fighting (WSOF) is a worldwide premier professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering the best action-packed fights for fight fans by producing the best possible match-ups between elite fighters from around the world. For more information please visitWSOF.com. Follow World Series of Fighting on Twitter (@MMAWorldSeries) and World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo (@SugarRaySefo).
Bellator, mixed martial arts, Spike TV

SPIKE TV AND BELLATOR MMA PRESENT THE DEFINITIVE LOOK AT TWO OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN AND COMPLICATED FIGHTERS IN MMA HISTORY WITH “FINALLY: KIMBO vs. SHAMROCK”

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Spike TV and Bellator MMA present a compelling and insightful look at one of the most talked about fights of 2015 in “Finally: Kimbo vs. Shamrock.” Produced by Leigh Simons, the one-hour documentary debuts on Spike WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17 at 11:00pm ET/PT.

 

 

Ken Shamrock and Kimbo Slice took very different paths to stardom. Kimbo Slice was an internet sensation thrust into the spotlight seemingly overnight while Ken Shamrock was an MMA pioneer who fought his way to the top with workman-like resolve and dedication.

 

Their two paths were supposed to cross in the cage seven years ago. However, on that fateful day of October 4, 2008, a freak accident robbed the MMA world of one of the most anticipated fights in the history of the sport. A fight of epic proportions that never was – now finally will be. On Friday, June 19, the infamous street fighting legend and YouTube sensation Kimbo Slice and “The World’s Most Dangerous Man,” Ken Shamrock will now meet in the main event of “Bellator: Unfinished Business.”

 

“FINALLY” will take an in-depth look at the events seven years ago and addresses the various conspiracy theories relating to the fight’s cancellation. The show travels to the gritty streets of Miami where Kimbo made a name for himself and to San Diego to visit Ken Shamrock’s unorthodox training facility. Viewers will get a rare glimpse of these complicated warriors outside of the cage with a first person account of their personal struggles and achievements.

 

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, 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.

Fight Network, Judo, kickboxing, martial arts, mixed martial arts, Muay Thai

FIGHT NETWORK MMA, MUAY THAI, JUDO & KICKBOXING PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (June 15-21, 2015)

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Fight Network is a 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports. It airs programs focused on the entire scope of the combat sports genre, including live fights and up-to-the-minute news and analysis for mixed martial arts, kickboxing, professional wrestling, traditional martial arts, boxing, fight news, as well as fight-themed drama series, documentaries and feature films.

 

Below find highlights of this week’s programming:

Monday, June15

8:00 p.m. ET – 5 Rounds – Hosts John Ramdeen and Robin Black invite special guests to break down the weekend of MMA action.

7:30 p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

10:00 p.m. ET – Journey Fight Series 12 – Professional Muay Thai featuring Team Canada vs. Team Sweden, headlined by a Canadian title match between Chris McMillan and Hasman Sandhu from Apr. 18, 2015.

Tuesday, June 16

1:30 & 6:30 a.m. ET – Hip Show: Arena Combat – Tag-team MMA inside a 12m by 12m arena with three-level obstacle structures.

2:30 a.m. ET – XPTV – Coverage of regional U.S pro and amateur MMA.

12:00 p.m. ET – Final Fight Championship 9 MMA – Featuring heavyweight James McSweeney vs. Stefan Traunmuller from Nov. 15, 2013 in Ljublijana, Slovenia.

2:00 p.m. ET – Final Fight Championship 9 Kickboxing – Featuring Mirko Vorkapic vs. Chris Ngimbi from Nov. 15, 2013 in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

7:00 & 7:30 p.m. ET – Xtreme Fighting Championship – Florida-based professional MMA featuring top American prospects, international stars and UFC veterans.

8:00 p.m. ET – 5 Rounds – Hosts John Ramdeen and Robin Black invite special guests to break down the weekend of MMA action.

8:30 p.m. ET — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

Wednesday, June 17

3:00 a.m. ET – Texas Fight Night – MMA action from Texas featuring the Lone Star State’s top prospects in the cage.

6:00 p.m. ET – Best of Cage Rage – Featuring classic fights from the UK-based Cage Rage organization with Anderson Silva, Antonio Silva, Victor Belfort, Paul Daley and others.

7:00 p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra: MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and features.

7:30 p.m. ET — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

9:00 p.m. ET – Cage Warriors FC: Fight Night 3 -Featuring Kyle Watson vs. Juka-Pekka Vaalnikalnen from Feb. 11, 2013 in Beirut, Lebanon.

11:00 p.m. ET – MMA Meltdown with Gabriel Morency – Gabriel Morency breaks down all the happenings in MMA, discussing odds, predictions, plus special weekly guests and exclusive interviews.

11:30 p.m. ET – TakeDown Wrestling – Extensive coverage of amateur wrestling events, including the latest news, behind-the-scenes coverage from events and exclusive interviews.

Thursday, June 18

1:30 a.m. ET – Ultimate Challenge MMA 12: Never Back – Featuring Neil Grove vs. Stav Economou and Jimi Manuwa vs. Reza Mahdavaian from May 18, 2010 in London.

6:00 p.m. ET – Championship Fightling Alliance – Pro MMA from Florida featuring the likes of Josh Sampo, Mike Kyle, John Howard, Sean McCorkie, Luis Palomino and others.

7:00 p.m. ET – Fighting Rookies – Aspiring kickboxers climb the ladder of success in the sport as rookies compete for a chance to become professionals and get experience needed to succeed at a higher level.

8:00 p.m. ET – Fight News Now: MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and features.

8:30 p.m. ET — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

9:00 p.m. ET – M-1 Challenge 34: Emelianenko vs. Gluhov – Featuring Aleksander Emelianenko vs. Konstantin Gluhov, Sergey Kornev vs. Marcin Zontek and Yasubey Enomoto vs. Khusein Khalief from Sept. 30, 2012 in Moscow.

Friday, June 19

12:00 a.m. ET – It’s Showtime Special – The world’s premier kickboxing organization featuring Badr Hari, Melvoin Manhoef and Giorgio Petrosyan.

2:00 a.m. ET – Pancrase Classics – Classic pioneering MMA battles featuring Ken Shamrock, Frank Shamrock, Bas Rutten, Nate Marquardt, Chael Sonnen and others.

4:00 a.m. ET – Best of DEEP – Featuring class fights from the historic Japanese DEEP promotion including Shinya Aoki, Hayato Sakurai and Gegard Mousasi.

5:00 a.m. ET – Best of Jewels – Classic fights from the all-female Japanese MMA league, Jewels.

12:00 p.m. ET – Bookie Beatdown – Preview of betting lines and top picks for major UFC events.

6:00 p.m. ET – M-1 Challenge – Pro MMA from Europe featuring top rising prospects and international stars.

7:00 p.m. ET – Fight News Now: MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and features.

7:30 p.m. ET — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

8:00 p.m. ET – Toe 2 Toe with Jean-Yves Theriault – John Ramdeen goes in depth with Canadian kickboxing legend Jean-Yves Theriault.

8:30 p.m. ET – Hip Show: Arena Combat – Tag-team MMA inside a 12m by 12m arena with three-level obstacle structures.

9:00 p.m. ET — KSW 22 – Featuring Jan Blachowicz vs. Goran Reljic and Pawel Nastula vs. Kevin Asplund from Mar. 16, 2013 in Warsaw, Poland.

Saturday, June 20

1:00 a.m. ET – SuperKombat New Heroes Ploisti 2015 – Featuring Benjamin Adegbuyi vs, Daniel Lentie, Andrei Stoica vs. Marcello Adriaansz and the New Heroes middleweight championship from Mar. 7, 2015 in Ploiesti, Romania.

6:00 a.m. ET – Best of TKO – Featuring Rich Franklin vs. Anthony Rea from UCC 7.

7:00 a.m. ET – Best of Gladiator Challenge – Featuring Tyson Griffin vs. Cody Williams from,Joe Stevenson vs. Casey Balkenbush from Gladiator Challenge 36.

8:00 a.m. ET – Best of SportFight – Top quality MMA from the Pacific Northwest, histed by UFC veterans Matt Lindland and Chael Sonnen.

2:00 p.m. ET – UFC Fight Night: Jedrzejczyk vs. Penne Pre-Show – LIVE pre-fight coverage of UFC Fight Night: Jedrzejczyk vs. Penne from Berlin, Germany.

3:00 p.m. ET – CANADA ONLY – UFC Fight Night: Jedrzejczyk vs. Penne Main Card – LIVE airing of UFC Fight Night: Jedrzejczyk vs. Penne main card from Berlin, Germany.

8:00 p.m. ET – KSW 31: Materia vs. Drwal – Featuring Michal Materia vs. Tomasz Drwal, Mariusz Pudzianowski vs. Rolles Gracie and Goran Reljic vs. SAttila Vegh from May 23, 2015 in Gdansk, Poland.

11:00 p.m. ET – DEEP: 71 Impact – Featuring Ken Hasegawa vs. Ryuta Sakurai and Keita Nakamura vs. Yoshiyuki Katahira from Feb. 28, 2015 in Tokyo, Japan.

Sunday, June 21

6:00 a.m. ET – Pancrase Classics – Classic pioneering MMA battles featuring Ken Shamrock, Frank Shamrock, Bas Rutten, Name Marquardt, Chael Sonnen and others.

10:00 a.m. ET – Best of ADCC – Featuring compilations of the greatest grappling matches ever held, featuring Tito Ortiz, Matt Hughes, Eddie Bravo, Fabricio Werdum, Marcelo Garcia, Ronaldo Souza and Royler Gracie.

11:00 a.m. ET – Elite Muay Thai: Thailand vs. Challenger – The biggest Muay Thai series in the world featuring premium international stand-up fighters taking on the renowned Thai National Team

5:00 p.m. ET – USA Wrestling Weekly – Host Scott Casber gives weekly news and analysis centering around USA Wrestling, the sport’s national governing body, including interviews, features and look back at the past.

5:30 p.m. ET – Judo Tbilisi Grand Prix – Highlights from the Judo Tbilisi Grand Prix from Mar. 20-22 in Georgia.

11:00 p.m. ET – DEEP: Jewels 7 – Featuring Mei Yamaguchi vs. Miyoko Kusaka and Emi Tomimatsu vs. Mina Kurobe from Feb. 21, 2015 9in Tokyo, Japan.

 

INFORMATION:

www.FightNetwork.com

 

Twitter & Instagram @fightnet

 

www.Facebook.com/FightNetwork

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

NEW ENGLAND FIGHTS ANNOUNCES THE RESULTS OF NEF XVIII

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Lewiston, Maine (June 14, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, held its eighteenth mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF XVIII: MADE IN AMERICA,” on Saturday night at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  A crowd of 2,000 was on hand to see Crowsneck Boutin (1-0) win his professional debut over Ryan “The Junkyard Dog” Cowette (2-3) and Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington (11-8) gain a measure of revenge by defeating John “First Class” Raio (2-8) in their long-awaited rematch.

 

NEF crowned its first three amateur champions in the fight promotion’s history with Billy “Bigfoot” Leahy (3-1) taking the heavyweight title in a wild back-and-forth brawl with Ryan Glover(1-1), Dustin Veinott (4-3) won a close split decision over“Sleepy” Norman Fox (4-2) to capture the flyweight strap, andJosh Harvey (4-1) submitted Ricky Dexter (3-1) to claim the lightweight championship.

 

It was further announced that former NEF MMA Professional Bantamweight Champion Paul Gorman (10-9) would return at “NEF XIX” on September 12, 2015 at the Colisee after a year’s absence from the cage.

 

The results from Lewiston, Maine:

 

PROFESSIONAL

150 Bruce Boyington def. John Raio via TKO, round 2
185 Crowsneck Boutin def. Ryan Cowette via unanimous decision

135 Jeremy DiChiara def. Derek Shorey via Americana, round 1
155 Jesse Erickson def. Zenon Herrera via tap to strikes, round 1
205 Cody Anderson def. Michael Hansen via TKO, round 1

 

AMATEUR
155*TITLE Josh Harvey def. Ricky Dexter via armbar, round 1 (Harvey wins title)
125*TITLE Dustin Veinott def. Norman Fox via split decision (Veinott wins title)
S.HWT Dave Smith def. Gravin Guillen via armbar, round 1
CATCH Mike Crespo def. Caleb Costello via unanimous decision

155 Cory Trial def. Corey Hinkley via KO, round 1
125 Ryan Burgess def. Justin Witham via unanimous decision

170 Mike Bazanson def. Jeff Dustin via TKO, round 2

155 Dom Cofone def. Jason Lachance via armbar, round 2

265*TITLE Billy Leahy def. Ryan Glover via unanimous decision (Leahy wins title)

145 Rob Robinson def. Dustin Shorey via rear-naked choke, round 2

170 Alex Payson def. Alex Bronish via TKO, round 2

160 Pat Kelly def. Dr. Steve Bang via TKO, round 1

185 Ruben Redman def. Heath Hanson  via tap to strikes, round 1

265 Nick Gulliver def. Sonny Spratt via rear-naked choke, round 1

CATCH Carl Langston def. Alex Johnson via TKO, round 2

 

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 at207.783.2009 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.

 

Bellator, mixed martial arts, Spike TV

Injury to James Thompson derails ‘Bellator: Unfinished Business’ heavyweight rematch, Dan Charles steps up against Bobby ‘The Dominator’ Lashley on short notice

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SANTA MONICA, Calif. (June 11, 2015) – While Kimbo Slice and Ken Shamrock are prepared to take care their “Unfinished Business” on June 19, Bobby Lashley and James Thompson’s score will need to be settled somewhere down the line.

 

Thompson has been forced off the main card due to an undisclosed injury suffered during training and as a result, Dan Charles(9-2) has agreed to fill-in on short notice against “The Dominator.” The fight will still take place on the main portion of the Spike-televised card.

 

Charles, will be making his fourth appearance for the Scott Coker-led promotion, last competing in the main event of 2014’s “Monster Energy Cup.” After dropping two fights, “The Man” has bounced back to with two straight wins to earn a shot against a heavyweight title contender the likes of Lashley. The 29-year-old Phoenix, Ariz. Native has ended seven of his nine victories before reaching the judges’ scorecards.

 

A 6-foot-3 wrestling standout, Bobby “The Dominator” Lashley (12-2) started training in the grappling arts at age 12 and would go on to win several titles including three National Championships at Missouri Valley College, an NAIA National Championship, a CISM World Championship Silver Medal and two Armed Forces Wrestling Championships during his time in the U.S. Army. In addition to a professional wrestling career with stints in the WWE, ECW and TNA, Lashley began his MMA career in 2008, and he’s built an impressive career mark that includes Bellator MMA submission wins over Karl Etherington and Josh Burns.

 

“Bellator: Unfinished Business” – Friday, June 19, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Mo.

 

Main Card (9 p.m. ET)

 

Bellator Heavyweight Main Event: Kimbo Slice (4-2) vs. Ken Shamrock (28-15-2)

Bellator Featherweight Title Fight: Champ Patricio Pitbull (23-2) vs. Daniel Weichel (35-8)

Bellator Featured Heavyweight Fight: Bobby Lashley (12-2) vs. Dan Charles (9-2)

Bellator Featured Featherweight Fight: Daniel Straus (22-6) vs. Henry Corrales (12-0)

Bellator Featured Lightweight Fight: Michael Chandler (12-3) vs. Derek Campos (15-4)

 

Preliminary Card (6:45 p.m. ET)

 

Bellator Strawweight Prelim Fight: Dan O’Connor (5-4) vs. Miles McDonald (0-1)

Bellator Featherweight Prelim Fight: Justin Lawrence (7-2) vs. Sean Wilson (34-25)

Bellator Lightweight Prelim Fight: Eric Irvin (9-3) vs. Hugh Pulley (4-2)

Bellator Lightweight Prelim Fight: Rashard Lovelace (debut) vs. Demagio Smith (1-1)

Bellator Featherweight Prelim Fight: Kain Royer (1-1) vs. Enrique Watson (1-0)

Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Fight: A.J. Siscoe (0-1) vs. Garrett Mueller (1-0)

Bellator Welterweight Dark Prelim: Adam Cella (6-3) vs. Kyle Kurtz (3-0)

Bellator Welterweight Dark Prelim: Steve Mann (10-1) vs. Justin Guthrie (17-8)

Bellator Lightweight Dark Prelim: Garrett Gross (6-3) vs. Chris Heatherly (8-3)