Qeb Archives: mixed martial arts

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New hais Fights

RUBBER MATCH WILL FEATURE THE RETURN OF POPULAR ATHLETE

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Lewiston, Maine (Lub ob hlis ntuj 12, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine on Tim 11, 2015 with its seventeenth mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event. Earlier today, the company announced the addition of a professional catchweight bout to the fight card. “Shatterproof 2.0” Derek Shorey (1-1) will meet the returning John “First Class” Raio (2-6) in a “rubber match” at a fight weight of 150-pounds.

 

Shorey won the last meeting between the two at “NEF XIV” last September via first-round submission. He gained revenge for a submission loss suffered at the hands of Raio when the pair had fought as amateurs two years earlier. Tus “NEF XIV” bout was promoted as a retirement match for Raio who had decided to step away from active competition to focus on his family and gym First Class MMA in Topsham, Maine. Raio says that he has now found the balance in his life to return to the NEF MMA cage.

 

“I retired from fighting last September because I wanted to spend more time with my family,” said Raio. “They were really supportive during my career and I owed it to them. I have found a balance with my new job at BIW. I am able to train, spend time with my family and operate my gym each day. I love MMA and never stopped training. I was not happy with the way my last fight ended and when the opportunity to compete against Derek Shorey again presented itself, I couldn’t turn it down. The idea to fight Derek came from a post on FB that Ben Raven made on Matt Denning’s page a few months ago. Derek seemed interested in a rubber match. After getting support from my family, I contacted Matt Petersen and he matched us up.”

 

The two previous bouts between Shorey and Raio had been agreed to at the featherweight limit of 145-pounds. Shorey feels he will have an advantage due to the 150-pound catchweight where he will have to cut very little or even no weight at all.

 

“I’m excited to fight John again,” exclaimed Shorey. “There’s almost no weight to cut for a fight at 150, so I’ll be fighting him at full strength, and ultimately as the best version of myself that I’ve ever known. I’m very confident that I will be in the best shape of my life, and due to recent personal events, I think I’m a little colder now than I’ve ever been. Training at Young’s MMA in Bangor as often as I can, being a single parent now, will also drastically improve my game, in every aspect of the sport. John is a really good wrestler and a lot stronger than me, but no one has ever seen what I know I’m capable of, and I plan to change that.”

NEF’s next MMA event, “NEF XVII,” is scheduled to take place onTim 11, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington (10-7) will defend the NEF MMA Lightweight Title against number-one contender Jamie Harrison (5-1). tsis tas li ntawd, Jarod “Last Minute” Lawton (4-1) meets Dennis Olson (12-7) in a welterweight contest. Daim pib mus “NEF XVII” start at just $25 and are on sale now atwww.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. tsis tas li ntawd, 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 hais 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.

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New hais Fights

WELTERWEIGHT MATCHUP HAS ALL THE MAKINGS OF “FIGHT OF THE YEAR”

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Lewiston, Maine (Lub ob hlis ntuj 11, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine on Tim 11, 2015 with its seventeenth mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event. The fight card, aptly titled “NEF XVII,” will feature a high-level professional welterweight contest between Jarod “Last Minute” Lawton (4-1) thiab Dennis Olson (12-7).

 

“This is the kind of fight we love to make in NEF,” said NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson. “It’s two exciting fighters who come with 100% each and every time they step into that cage. Neither of them could have a boring fight if they tried. Both of these athletes bring a rare intensity to their training regimens and fighting styles. When we look back at the end of 2015, I expect this fight to be in the discussion for ‘Fight of the Year.'”

 

Lawton, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt out of Augusta, Maine, recently signed a long-term promotional contract with NEF. He has been a regular in the NEF cage for three years, four of five of his professional bouts having been for the promotion. Lawton’s sole loss came to Darrius Heyliger (5-2) when the cage-side physician stopped the bout due to a cut. He had been beating Heyliger soundly up until that point.

 

Lawton would go on to win his next three in a row, becoming known for his late fight finishes of opponents. He currently owns and operates Team Lawton Martial Arts – a Team New England United (NEU) affiliate based in Farmingdale, Maine. With the Androscoggin Bank Colisee being just down the road from his base of operations, Lawton feels that he will have the home field advantage over Olson in their Tim 11 bout.

 

“I hope the fans are as excited as I am about me getting back in the cage,” said Lawton. “I plan to make this a breakout year for myself and Team Lawton-NEU. I am ready to take this step up in competition against Olson. We are both very durable and I am expecting fireworks for this fight, but NEF is my home – this guy is coming to my home, my fans’ home. When we step in that cage, it will be more than me in that cage – it will be an entire arena against him. All my preparation will be thanks to my training partners, coaches, students and my wife and son, and NEF for all the opportunities they have given me.”

 

Dennis Olson is one of the most-respected, and feared, athletes in the history of the New England MMA scene. He is a product of John Fain’s Team Triumph in Nashua, NH, and was, at one time, the kingpin of the region’s welterweight division. Olson is a two-fight veteran of the Bellator cage and has spent over a decade competing in MMA. His list of opponents reads like a “who’s who” of New England welterweights over the years, including a notable win over UFC veteran and Dolce Diet namesake Mike Dolce (4-9). Olson will undoubtedly look to avenge past losses by his Triumph teammates John Ortolani (7-9) and Cody Anderson (1-2) at the hands of Lawton.

 

“Tim 11, 2015, I climb into the cage for the 22nd time, Lawton for the sixth,” said Olson. “I respect every one of my opponents’ ability to throw a punch or snag a choke. However, with the level of competition that I have seen leads me to believe that there is nothing Lawton can use to surprise me or catch me off guard. Knowing this information leaves me with only one option. I have to take advantage of absolutely every second I have in order to prepare myself to prove that information as fact. I am going to do my best to take every ounce of heart and soul from you. I’m going to make you want to give up, make you want to die. I’m going to do my best to dismantle you piece by piece. To prove to you and I and everyone else that I am your alpha. I am above you, you cannot and will not defeat me.”

NEF’s next MMA event, “NEF XVII,” is scheduled to take place onTim 11, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington (10-7) will defend the NEF MMA Lightweight Title against number-one contender Jamie Harrison (5-1). tsis tas li ntawd, Jarod “Last Minute” Lawton (4-1) meets Dennis Olson (12-7) in a welterweight contest. Daim pib mus “NEF XVII” 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. tsis tas li ntawd, 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 hais 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.

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New hais Fights

BOYINGTON AND HARRISON ON APRIL 11: POWER IS LEGEND

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Lewiston, Maine (Lub ob hlis ntuj 10, 2015) – The night was June 16, 2012. Over 3,000 fans had filled the Androscoggin Bank Colisee for New England Fights’ (NEF) “NEF III” mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event. In the main event of the evening was former two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Champion of the World Tim “The Maine-iac” Sylvia (31-10). Sylvia was competing for the first time ever in his home state of Maine. Media outlets, both local and national, descended on Lewiston that night for the big event. National cable station HDNet (now “AXS TV”) sent a full film crew and producer to cover the pro portion of the fight card for their weekly program Inside MMA.

 

Sylvia’s 12-second knockout of Randy Smith (13-15-1), however, was not the story that night. The real story coming out of the event was the emergence of not one, but two, new stars before a national audience. Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington (10-7), already holding the first-ever knockout in Maine MMA history, added to his legend with a Taekwondo spinning-hook kick that left his opponent unconscious and earned Boyington the quickest knockout in NEF at the time at 10-seconds. Moments later, Jamie Harrison (5-1) finished his opponent with an unorthodox ground-and-pound technique dubbed “The Lobster Punch” los ntawm Inside MMA co-host Bas Rutten (28-4-1). Both finishes were caught on camera by AXS TV, and both were seen by fight fans the world over on television and the internet. The road to Tim 11, 2015, “NEF XVII,” and a showdown between Boyington and Harrison, had been paved.

 

In the months and years to come, Boyington would become the face of NEF MMA. Leaving a trail of broken opponents in his wake, Boyington would go on to capture the vacant NEF MMA Lightweight Championship in September 2014 by defeating Jesse “The Viking” Erickson (3-4). Weeks later, Boyington and Erickson would rematch with Boyington once again emerging victorious. Harrison had, himself, cut through Tollison Lewis (0-3) with reckless abandon just moments earlier, leading many to speculate that the time for the Boyington-Harrison showdown had finally arrived. In the hours that followed, both sides had agreed to the fight and the stage was set for April 11, 2015 in Lewiston at “NEF XVII.” Both athletes squared off in the cage last Saturday at “NEF XVI” to officially announce the bout which will be a five-rounder for Boyington’s Lightweight Championship.

 

“I’m feeling on top of the world,” said Boyington when reached for comment. “The break has served its purpose and although I feel I have strengths such as a well-rounded MMA game, more professional fights, more experience with top level opponents and comfort in this arena – I know that it’s all irrelevant because the high that I’m on right now right now and the eagerness to get in the cage and have fun , along with a strict conviction with myself NOT to lose and to entertain the crowd makes me more confident than ever to get the job done. I respect Jamie very much. He is tough and presents challenges and I’ve had my sights on him for a long time, studying him and knowing we would cross paths eventually. Lucky for me, I’m a hell of a wrestler. I see what’s coming. Fans, this fight is unlike anything else you will ever see. Make sure you’re in attendance to witness what I’m about to do. I have no problem proving the critics wrong. Just be there and don’t blink. This is a big stage fight, I’ll prove it.”

 

“I am extremely excited to get back in the NEF cage for this huge opportunity,” remarked Harrison. “Bruce is on a hot streak and so am I. The title belt around my waist has been a long time coming and it will be bittersweet to do it in front of all my family, friends, and fans. This fight will have a lot of fireworks and you will not want to look away for a second.”

 

“These are the two alpha males of the NEF roster,” said NEF co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo. “When they walk in a room, everyone knows it. But we all know that there can only be one alpha male in the pride. Rau Tim 11 in Lewiston, we’ll determine which is the true alpha male when these two lions collide.”

 

NEF’s next MMA event, “NEF XVII,” is scheduled to take place onTim 11, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington (10-7) will defend the NEF MMA Lightweight Title against number-one contender Jamie Harrison (5-1). tsis tas li ntawd, Jarod “Last Minute” Lawton (4-1) meets Dennis Olson (12-7) in a welterweight contest. Daim pib mus “NEF XVII” 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. tsis tas li ntawd, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

Tua Network, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, wrestling

FIGHT NETWORK MMA & KICKBOXING PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (FEB. 9-15, 2015)

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ABOUT FIGHT NETWORK: Fight Network is the world’s premier combat sports network dedicated to 24/7 coverage, including fights, fighters, fight news and fight lifestyle. The channel is available in the U.S. on Cablevision in parts of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, Texas-based Grande Communications, Armstrong Cable in Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, as well as on Shentel Cable in Virginia, West Virginia and portions of western Maryland. Fight Network is also on Roku set top boxes in the U.S. and Canada, streamed live on website KlowdTV.com, and available on all major carriers in Canada and more than 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
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, FEB. 9

2:00 p.m. LI – Ring of Combat 45 – Featuring Phillipe Nover vs. Mike Santiago and Frankie Perez vs. Adam Townsend from June 14, 2013 in Atlantic City.

5:00 p.m. LI – Fighting Spirit MMA Season 4 – Compilation of international fights from SFL, Legend, FFC, M-1 and more.

6:00 p.m. LI – Hip Show: Arena Combat – Tag-team MMA inside a 12m-by-12m arena with three levels.

6:30 p.m. LI – 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 a look back at the past.

7:00 p.m. LI – 5 Rounds – Hosts John Ramdeen and Robin Black invite special guests to break down the weekend of MMA action.

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

8:00 p.m. LI – Enfusion Live: The Hague 2014 – Professional kickboxing featuring Mohammed Jaraya vs. Mohamed Galaoui for the Enfusion welterweight title from Apr. 5, 2015 in Holland.

Hnub, FEB. 10

12:30 p.m. LI – XPTV – Coverage of regional U.S. professional and amateur MMA events.

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

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

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

9:00 p.m. LI – Havoc Fighting Championship 5 – Featuring Ryan Machan vs. Richie Whitson and Andrew Buckland vs. Advin Olic from May 2, 2014 in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.

11:00 p.m. LI – BAMMA USA: Badbeat 9 – Featuring Mikey Gomez vs. Ronald Lebreton Jr. and Ernest Chavez vs,. Jorge Valdez from May 31, 2013 in Commerce, CA.

Hnub peb, FEB. 11

6:00 p.m. LI – 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. LI – Fight News Now. MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and features.

7:30 p.m. LI – Fighting Spirit MMA – Compilations of international MMA fights from ONE FC, UCMMA, KSW, WFC, FFC, BAMMA, EFC Africa and more.

9:00 p.m. LI – Tawb Warriors ntaus Championship 65 – Featuring John Maguire vs. Saul Rogers from Mar. 1, 2014 in Dublin, Ireland.

11:00 p.m. LI – 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. LI – TakeDown Wrestling – Extensive coverage of amateur wrestling events, including the latest news, behind-the-scenes coverage from events and exclusive interviews.

Hnub plaub, FEB. 12

1:30 a.m. LI – Ultimate Challenge MMA 32 – Featuring Zelig Galesic vs. Linton Vassell from Feb. 2, 2013 in London.

6:00 p.m. LI – Championship Fighting Alliance – Professional MMA from Florida featuring Josh Sampo, Mike Kyle, John Howard, Sean McCorkle, Luis Palomino and others.

7:00 p.m. LI – Enfusion Season 3 – Fighters from 18 different countries compete in the 85 kg MAX category in Ohrid, Macedonia as they live and train together in their quest for a kickboxing title.

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

8:30 p.m. LI – Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, featur4es and inside analysis on the fight game.

10:00 p.m. LI – Enfusion #24: Lazaar vs. Venneste – Featuring Ismael Lazaar vs. Thomas Vanneste for the Enfusion heavyweight world title from Feb. 2, 2015 in Eindhovem Netherlands.

 

Hnub vas Xuv, FEB. 13

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

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

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

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

6 p.m. LI – M 1 sib tw – Professional MMA from Europe featuring top rising prospects and international stars.

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

7:30 p.m. LI — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, featur4es and inside analysis on the fight game.

8:00 p.m. LI – Toe 2 Toe with Frank Shamrock – Sit-down interview with MMA pioneer Frank Shamrock.

9:00 p.m. LI — KSW 28: Fighters’ Den – Featuring Karol Bedorf vs. Rolles Gracie for the KSW heavyweight title from Oct. 4, 2014 in Szczecin, Poland.

Hnub vas xaum, FEB. 14

1:00 a.m. LI – SuperKombat: World Grand Prix Romania 2013 – The heavyweight kickboxing tournament featuring Frank Munoz, Nikolaj Falin, Sebastian Ciobanu and Vladimir Toktasinov from May 18, 2013 in Craiova, Romania.

4:30 p.m. LI – Hip Show: Arena Combat – Tag-team MMA inside a 12m-by-12m arena with three levels.

6:00 a.m. LI – Best of TKO – Featuring Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Yan Pellerin from TKJO 26 and Todd Gouwenberg vs. Martin Desilets from TKO 27.

7:00 a.m. LI – Best of Gladiator Challenge – Featuring Tyson Griffin vs. Urijah Faber from Gladiator Challenge 42.

10:00 a.m. LI – Best of SportFight – Top quality MMA from the Pacific Northwest, hosted by UFC veterans Matt Lindland and Chael Sonnen.

4:00 p.m. LI – Ring of Combat 65 – Featuring Brendan Barrett vs. Miodrag Petkovic and Frankie Perez vs., Rafael Machado from Sept. 20, 2013 in Atlantic City.

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

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

9:00 p.m. LI – Final Fight Championship 14 MMA: Krusic vs. Racic – MMA action featuring Lemmy Krusic vs. Antun Racic from Oct. 3, 2014 in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

11:00 p.m. LI — Final Fight Championship 14 Kickboxing: Petje vs. Mikelic– Kickboxing action featuring Samo Petje vs. Teo Mikelic and Mirko Vorkapic vs. Kevin Hessling from Oct. 3, 2014 in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Hnub xya, FEB. 15

10:00 a.m. LI – 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. LI – 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.

 

Information:

 

www.FightNetwork.com

 

Twitter & Instagram @fightnet

 

www.Facebook.com/FightNetwork

 
Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New hais Fights

NEF XVI RECAP: KING RETAINS; WOOD DETHRONED; YOUNG’S MMA GOES 8-1

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Tyler King after retaining the Heavyweight Title on Saturday night

Lewiston, Maine (Lub ob hlis ntuj 9, 2015) –New England Fights’ (NEF) latest mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event “NEF XVI,” took place Hnub vas xaum night at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. With temperatures dropping to below zero, and the threat of a snowstorm looming over the area, ntau tshaj 2,500 fight fans braved the elements to pack the state’s most venerable fight venue. The crowd was treated to a total of 24 action-packed fights, including four professional bouts, two of which were for NEF MMA title belts.

 

The main event of the evening saw Anthony “Cheesesteak” Morrison (17-9) unseat Ray “All Business” Wood (5-1) to become the new NEF MMA Featherweight Champion. The loss spoiled what was expected to be a triumphant return home for Wood. The native of Bucksport, Maine had moved to South Carolina in 2014 to pursue his goal of competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Morrison was considered Wood’s toughest challenge to date, having himself competed on the national stage in Bellator and World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC). Still, Wood was recognized as the favorite going into the bout Hnub vas xaum hmo ntuj. Morrison was dominant for most of the fight, out-wrestling Wood before submitting him with a guillotine choke in the fifth round to capture the belt.

 

The loss was also the sole blemish on what was otherwise a perfect night for Young’s MMA. The Bangor, Maine-based team had won their previous eight bouts over the course of the evening, an amazing feat considering that the Young’s corners were often running back and forth from the cage to the locker room to prepare their fighters for bouts that were mere moments apart from each other. Of particular note, the opening fight of the card featured Josh Harvey (3-1) of Young’s tearing through top-ten-ranked amateur featherweight Caleb Hall (5-2) with a technical knockout (TKO) victory a mere 36-seconds into the first round. Later, Young’s newest team member, Carl Langston (4-7), got his first win ever on Maine soil with a decision over Sheldon Bang (1-2) in a rematch of a bout Langston had lost at “NEF XIII” last year.

 

Marcus Davis’s Team Irish went 2-0 on the night with Ricky Dexter(2-0) picking up the second win of his amateur career and Rick Matthews (1-1) getting his first victory. 44-year old Matthews won a decision over Emmett Huber (0-1) while Dexter scored a big knockout on Cory Trial (0-1) in the second-round, sending Trial to a nearby hospital in the process.

 

Highlight-reel knockouts were par for the course at “NEF XVI.” Among them, UFC, Bellator and Strikeforce veteran Nah-Shon “The Rock-n-Rolla” Burrell (11-5) had already bloodied Ryan Hodge(6-10) before knocking him out in the first round of their professional middleweight contest. The most-talked-about knockout of the evening, however, went to Caleb Farrington (2-0) of Team New England United (NEU) who dropped Brandon “The Enigma” Russell (0-1) with a single right hand just 8-seconds into the first round. The knockout broke the all-time record of 11-seconds previously set by Buck “Knuckles” Pineau (7-4) in April 2012.

 

More history was made at “NEF XVI” when a father and not one, but two of his sons competed on the same MMA card. Following losses by his sons, Sheldon and Steve Bang (3-3), Dr. Steve Bang(1-0), a member of Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ), entered the NEF MMA cage to a loud ovation from the crowd. The bariatric surgeon wasted little time in going to work on his opponent, Matthew Hanning (0-1), taking him down and pounding out a victory via referee-stoppage.

 

NFL and UFC The Ultimate Fighter veteran Tyler King (8-2) successfully defended the NEF MMA Heavyweight Title in the co-main event of the night, defeating Terry “The Polar Bear” Blackburn (5-3). King stormed into the arena with a determined fire in his eyes. Mid-way through the first round, King took Blackburn down to the mat and worked a Kimura submission, forcing Blackburn to tap-out. During his post-fight victory interview in the cage, King called out a slew of heavyweights and light-heavyweights including local names like Eric Bedard (6-5), as well as national stars such as Bellator’s Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (14-4).

 

Two bouts were announced for NEF’s next MMA event, “NEF XVII,” teem rau Tim 11, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee. NEF MMA Lightweight Champion Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington(10-7) faced-off in the cage with Jamie Harrison (5-1) for an interview. Boyington will defend his title at “NEF XVII” against number-one-contender Harrison in the main event. Jarod “Last Minute” Lawton (4-1) and Bellator veteran Dennis Olson (12-7) were also brought into the cage for an interview. The two exciting welterweights will square off at “NEF XVII” in a bout many local observers feel could end up being a contender for “Fight of the Year” in the region.

 

The full results of “NEF XVI” in Lewiston, Maine:

 

PROFESSIONAL

 

145*TITLE Anthony Morrison def. Ray Wood (c) via guillotine, round 5 (Morrison wins title)

265*TITLE Tyler King (c) def. Terry Blackburn via Kimura, round 1 (King retains)

185 Nah-Shon Burrell def. Ryan Hodge via TKO, round 1

265 Mike Hansen def. Artie Mullen via TKO, round 1

 

AMATEUR

CATCH Aaron Lacey def. Nick Spencer via tap to rear-naked choke, round 3

CATCH Dustin Veinott def. Dave Brown via tap to armbar, round 1

145 Mike Peitersen def. Henry Clark via KO, round 3

180 Caleb Farrington def. Brandon Russell via KO, round 1

155 Ricky Dexter def. Cory Trial via KO, round 2

155 Dr. Steve Bang def. Matthew Hanning via TKO, round 1

  1. HWT Gravin Guillen def. Mladen Holman via unanimous decision

CATCH Fred Lear def. Bryant Orick via TKO, round 2

185 Frank Dellasala def. Heath Hanson via TKO, round 1

155 Jason Lachance def. Steve Bang via unanimous decision

265 Billy Leahy def. Brandon Lessard via unanimous decision

185 Nick Shea def. Jacob Cameron via TKO, round 1

CATCH Rob Kiah def. Clifford Redman via tap to rear-naked choke, round 1

135 Johnny Crafts def. Mike Crespo via tap to rear-naked choke, round 1

CATCH Jimmy Jackson def. Kris Welch via bulldog submission, round 2

205 Chris Perry def. Ruben Redman via unanimous decision

265 Ryan Glover def. Michael Freeman via TKO, round 1

140 Carl Langston def. Sheldon Bang via unanimous decision

155 Rick Matthews def. Emmett Huber via split decision

145 Josh Harvey def. Caleb Hall via TKO, round 1

 

NEF’s next MMA event, “NEF XVII,” is scheduled to take place onTim 11, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington (10-7) will defend the NEF MMA Lightweight Title against number-one contender Jamie Harrison (5-1). tsis tas li ntawd, Jarod “Last Minute” Lawton (4-1) meets Dennis Olson (12-7) in a welterweight contest. Daim pib mus “NEF XVII” start at just $25 and are on sale now atwww.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. tsis tas li ntawd, 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 hais 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.

M-1, M 1 sib tw, mixed martial arts

M-1 Challenge middleweight title fight Vasilevsky-Emeev rematch To headline M-1 Challenge 56 Tim 10 in Moscow, Zog ntawm Guj kuj

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Presents

M-1 CHALLENGE 56

Vyacheslav Vasilevsky vs. Ramasan Emeev II

M-1 Challenge Middleweight Championship

Hnub vas Xuv, Tim 10, 2015 * Moscow, Zog ntawm Guj kuj

WATCH LIVE ON M1GLOBAL.TV

Yyacheslav Vasilevsky celebrates his M-1 Challenge middleweight title-winning performance over Ramasan Emeev last September

ST. PETERSBURG, Zog ntawm Guj kuj (FEB. 9, 2015) – M-1 Global has announced a much-anticipated rematch between M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Vyacheslav Vasilevsky and challenger Ramasan Emeev to headline M 1 sib tw 56, Hnub vas Xuv, Tim 10 in Moscow, Zog ntawm Guj kuj.

In the original showdown between these two tough middleweights, Vasilevsky took the coveted title belt from Emeev this past September 7 in St. Petersburg at M 1 sib tw 51: Fightspirit, by way of a fourth-round stoppage from punches.

The 5,000-plus fans in attendance, as well as millions of television viewers, thoroughly enjoyed all of the action from the opening bell until the end at the 4:34 mark of the fourth round.

A Vasilevsky-Emeev rematch was a natural from the moment their first fight ended. The 26-year-old Vasilevsky (26-2-0, 10 KO/TKO, 7 SUB), who trains at Sambo 70, has won his last 10 fights and 16 of his last 17. He will be making his first M-1 Challenge middleweight title defense against Emeev in April. Vyacheslav, fighting out Russia, is unbeaten in eight M-1 Global-promoted shows, including three M-1 Challenge events.

Emeev (11-3-0, 2 KO/TKO, 5 SUB), 27, lives and trains in Makhachkala, Zog ntawm Guj kuj. He captured the vacant M-1 Challenge middleweight title April 9, 2012, registering a knockout (strikes) of Mario Miranda (14-4-0) in the third round at M 1 sib tw 38. Emeev, who successfully defended his title five months later via a five-round decision in a rematch with Miranda, hasn’t fought since losing to Vasilevsky.

 

M 1 sib tw 56 will be streamed live 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 Andriod and Apple smart phones and tablets.

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

Fight Network will air M 1 sib tw 56 live on Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable and Armstrong Cable in the U.S., as well as nationwide in Canada, on 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

www.M-1Global.com

 

Twitter & Instagram:

@M1Global

@VFinkelchtein

@M1GlobalNews

 

Facebook:

 

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

NEF ANNOUNCES MMA RESULTS FROM LEWISTON, MAINE

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Lewiston, Maine (Lub ob hlis ntuj 8, 2015) –New England Fights’ (NEF) latest mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event “NEF XVI,” took place Hnub vas xaum night at the Ramada Conference Center in Lewiston, Maine. A crowd of more than 2,500 was on-hand to witness the promotion’s first event of 2015.

 

Nyob rau hauv cov kev tshwm sim lub ntsiab ntawm lub hmo, Anthony “Cheesesteak” Morrison (17-9) shocked the crowd by defeating hometown heroRay “All Business” Wood (5-1) to capture the NEF MMA Featherweight Title. In the co-main event, Tyler King (8-2) defeated Terry “The Polar Bear” Blackburn (5-3) via submission to retain the NEF Heavyweight Title.

 

tsis tas li ntawd, NEF announced two fights for its next event, “NEF XVII,” teem rau Tim 11, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee. On that night, NEF MMA Lightweight Champion Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington (10-7) will defend his title against the challenge of Jamie Harrison (5-1) in the main event. Also on the card that evening will be Jarod “Last Minute” Lawton (4-1) in a professional welterweight contest against Dennis Olson (12-7).

 

The full results of “NEF XVI” in Lewiston, Maine:

 

PROFESSIONAL

 

145*TITLE Anthony Morrison def. Ray Wood (c) via guillotine, round 5 (Morrison wins title)

265*TITLE Tyler King (c) def. Terry Blackburn via Kimura, round 1 (King retains)

185 Nah-Shon Burrell def. Ryan Hodge via TKO, round 1

265 Mike Hansen def. Artie Mullen via TKO, round 1

 

AMATEUR

CATCH Aaron Lacey def. Nick Spencer via tap to rear-naked choke, round 3

CATCH Dustin Veinott def. Dave Brown via tap to armbar, round 1

145 Mike Peitersen def. Henry Clark via KO, round 3

180 Caleb Farrington def. Brandon Russell via KO, round 1

155 Ricky Dexter def. Cory Trial via KO, round 2

155 Dr. Steve Bang def. Matthew Hanning via TKO, round 1

  1. HWT Gravin Guillen def. Mladen Holman via unanimous decision

CATCH Fred Lear def. Bryant Orick via TKO, round 2

185 Frank Dellasala def. Heath Hanson via TKO, round 1

155 Jason Lachance def. Steve Bang via unanimous decision

265 Billy Leahy def. Brandon Lessard via unanimous decision

185 Nick Shea def. Jacob Cameron via TKO, round 1

CATCH Rob Kiah def. Clifford Redman via tap to rear-naked choke, round 1

135 Johnny Crafts def. Mike Crespo via tap to rear-naked choke, round 1

CATCH Jimmy Jackson def. Kris Welch via bulldog submission, round 2

205 Chris Perry def. Ruben Redman via unanimous decision

265 Ryan Glover def. Michael Freeman via TKO, round 1

140 Carl Langston def. Sheldon Bang via unanimous decision

155 Rick Matthews def. Emmett Huber via split decision

145 Josh Harvey def. Caleb Hall via TKO, round 1

 

NEF’s next MMA event, “NEF XVII,” is scheduled to take place onTim 11, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington (10-7) will defend the NEF MMA Lightweight Title against number-one contender Jamie Harrison (5-1). tsis tas li ntawd, Jarod “Last Minute” Lawton (4-1) meets Dennis Olson (12-7) in a welterweight contest. Daim pib mus “NEF XVII” start at just $25 and are on sale now atwww.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. tsis tas li ntawd, 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 hais 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

“Bellator MMA: British Invasion” adds seven preliminary contests, including Butler vs. Diekmann, Juarez vs. Ward, Butcher vs. McCrory

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Follow us on Twitter Easy Tweet: “BellatorMMA: #TheBritishInvasion prelim card is set w/ East Coast scrappers @ragingcannoli, @SwaggleBerryFin & #TamdanMcCory: bit.ly/1KjDoAM“

 

 

MONICA RAUG, Calif. (Lub ob hlis ntuj 4, 2015) – Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Champion Emanuel “The Hardcore Kid” Newton (25-7) puts his title on the line against undefeated Englishman Liam McGeary (9-0) in the main event of “Bellator MMA: British Invasion” rau FEB. 27, and with a five-fight Spike TV-televised main card already in place, the night’s six-fight Spike.com-streamed preliminary card is now set, as well.

 

The official additions to the preliminary card include heavyweights Raphael “The Silencer” Butler(8-1-1) vs. Josh “The Freight Train” Diekmann (15-5), welterweights Jesse Juarez (22-9) vs. Brennan “The Irish Bad Boy” Ward (9-3) and middleweights Jason Butcher (8-1) vs. Tamdan “The Barn Cat” McCrory (12-3), welterweights Bobby Flynn (4-2) vs. Neiman Gracie (2-0), bantamweights Marvin “The Bulldog” Maldonado (2-3) vs. Blair Tugman (6-5) and bantamweights Randy Costa (0-0) vs. Carlos Hernandez (1-1).

A seventh preliminary bout, featuring six-time Bellator MMA veteran Matt “The Mangler” Bessette (13-6) against fellow featherweight Josh LaBerge (9-4) – who enters the bout on a seven-fight winning streak – takes place after the night’s Spike TV-broadcast main card and is being held exclusively for the evening’s live audience.

Daim pib mus “Bellator: British Invasion,” which start at just $25, are already on sale at Ticketmaster.com and Bellator.com. The night’s finalized lineup will be announced shortly.

The three new matchups all stream live on Spike.com beginning at 6:45 p.m. LI (3:45 p.m. PT local time) and precede the evening’s five-fight Spike TV-televised main card (9 p.m. LI).

Butler, ntawm Rochester, Minn., has been fighting professionally since 2010 and opened his career with nine consecutive victories, including three-straight knockout wins under the Bellator MMA banner. The 31-year-old slugger has fought to a decision just once in his professional career and owns six career knockout wins and two victories by submission. Meanwhile, Diekmann, of Groton, Conn., is also a heavy-handed slugger who boasts 11 career victories by knockout and another four by submission. The 38-year-old heavyweight owns a pair of Bellator MMA wins – both of which averaged just under one minute in length.

Juarez, of Torrance, Calif., is a familiar face on the West Coast fight scene who has been competing professionally since 2006. The 33-year-old made his Bellator MMA debut in the promotion’s second event and has since earned a 6-1 mark competing for the promotion. He now meets Ward, of Waterford, Conn., a onetime Bellator MMA Middleweight Title Challenger who has been competing exclusively for the promotion since 2012. The 26-year-old former Division III All-American wrestler has developed into a heavy-handed mixed-martial-artist, owning six career wins by knockout.

Butcher, of Huntington, W.V., is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Jorge Gurgel who makes his seventh appearance for Bellator MMA. All eight of Butcher’s career wins have come by way of finish, with five submissions and three knockouts, while his lone loss came by way of decision. McCrory, of Cortland, N.Y., recently returned from a five-year layoff to register a devastating first-round knockout victory, needed just 21 seconds to secure the win.

Flynn, of Mashpee, Mass., competes under the Bellator MMA banner for the first time and has never fought to a judges’ decision in six professional contests. He meets New York resident Gracie, a Renzo Gracie pupil who also makes his Bellator MMA debut.

Maldonado, of Latham, N.Y., is also a Renzo Gracie fighter who has made two previous Bellator MMA appearances but is still in search of his first win. He meets Tugman, of North Haven, Conn., who earned a Bellator MMA win over Brandon Fleming in September.

Costa, of Tauton, Mass., makes his professional debut against Hernandez, ntawm Lynn, Mass., who has earned split results in his first two contests.

“Bellator: British Invasion” – Hnub vas Xuv, Lub ob hlis ntuj 27, Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Conn.

Main Card (9 p.m. LI)

Bellator Light Heavyweight Title Fight: Champ Emanuel Newton (25-7) vs. Liam McGeary (9-0)

Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Paul Daley (35-13) vs. Andre Santos (37-9)

Bellator Heavyweight Feature Fight: Cheick Kongo (22-9-2) vs. “King Mo” Lawal (14-4)

Bellator Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Rameau Sokoudjou (16-12) vs. Linton Vassell (14-4)

Bellator Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Michael Page (7-0) vs. Curtis Millender (7-0)

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

Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Fight: Randy Costa (0-0) vs. Carlos Hernandez (1-1)

Bellator Heavyweight Prelim Fight: Raphael Butler (8-1-1) vs. Josh Diekmann (15-5)

Bellator Welterweight Prelim Fight: Jesse Juarez (22-9) vs. Brennan Ward (9-3)

Bellator Middleweight Prelim Fight: Jason Butcher (8-1) vs. Tamdan McCrory (12-3)

Bellator Welterweight Prelim Fight: Bobby Flynn (4-2) vs. Neiman Gracie (2-0)

Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Fight: Marvin Maldonado (2-2) vs. Blair Tugman (6-5)

Dark Bout (approx. 11 p.m. LI)

Bellator Featherweight Dark Fight: Matt Bessette (13-6) vs. Josh Laberge (9-4)

 

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:

Ntsia hlau loj 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.
Access the application for each fight by clicking on the proper banner

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mixed martial arts, UFC, women's MMA

Dana White and the Women

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Photo Credit: Esther Lin/MMA Fighting

Hnub vas xaum, FEB. 28, is going to be a landmark day for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. All the fighters on the pay-per-view card that day will pass their pre-fight drug…….never mind. That’s too easy.

That day will be the first time a UFC card features women’s bouts in both its co-main event and main event. After middleweight champion Chris Weidman was forced to withdraw from his fight against Vitor Belfort due to injury, the new main event at UFC 184 is Ronda Rousey defending her women’s bantamweight belt against Cat Zingano. In the co-main event, much-heralded prospect Holly Holm will make her UFC debut against Raquel Pennington in another women’s bantamweight fight.

As I’ve mentioned before, UFC has come a long way from when Dana White told TMZ that women would “never” fight in his organization. Rousey will main event her third consecutive February PPV and Holm is widely believed to be the next in line for a shot at the title, should she defeat Pennington. Holm is still very raw in mixed martial arts, but trains with the world renowned coaches Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn.

Rousey is carrying the flag for women’s MMA and for women in the UFC. Other female fighters have followed her into the Octagon, including Miesha Tate, Liz Carmouche and Alexis Davis. What do those three have in common? They all also fell to Rousey – Tate twice in Strikeforce and the UFC, and Carmouche and Davis both in the first round at UFC PPVs in 2013 thiab 2014, respectively.

Rousey and Tate’s feud is well-chronicled. It led to the two being coaches on The Ultimate Fighter, which included female fighters for the very first time who greatly outshined their male counterparts on the show that season.

Given that season’s success, the most recent season of The Ultimate Fighter featured ALL female fighters and the debut of the UFC’s newest division, women’s strawweight. Carla Esparza, the former Invicta FC strawweight champion, won the inaugural UFC version of that belt after defeating Rose Namajunas.

So in the span of four years, UFC goes from having no female fighters and White emphatically stating that it never will, to being home to TWO female weight classes and undoubtedly the promotion’s biggest star right now in Rousey. Don’t believe me? Did you see the third Expendables movie? Or do you plan on seeing the film version of Entourage this summer? You might notice a familiar face.

So where does women’s MMA go from here? I am personally a big fan of female fights, as they tend to be among the more entertaining and action-packed fights on a UFC card. As I previously stated, female fighters are more than capable of outshining their male contemporaries. Why is that? Maybe female fighters feel they have more to prove inside the Octagon and always go for broke. Maybe they go into the Octagon with more of a “go for broke” mentality and actively seek a finish as opposed to “playing it safe.”

The fight between Rousey and Zingano on Feb. 28 will also go a long way toward determining the future of women’s MMA. Should Rousey defeat Zingano – which all signs indicate she will – she will have essentially cleaned out her division, with only unknown challengers like Holm and Bethe Correia left. If Zingano pulls the upset, then the division has a fresh batch of exciting matchups waiting.

But who knows what would have happened if Dana White kept his promise to TMZ?

Chris Huntemann writes about mixed martial arts in the state of Maryland. He also contributes his thoughts to our site on the UFC, Bellator, and World Series of Fighting. Check out his blog, or follow him on Twitter: @mmamaryland.

Bellator, mixed martial arts

Bellator MMA Lightweight World Champion Will Brooks meets Dave Jansen on April 10 at Bren Events Center in Irvine, Calif.

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Follow us on Twitter Easy Tweet: “Title Defense Time! @illwillbrooks86 v @DaveJansen155 plus @Joeschilling3 v

@RafaelCarvalh74 is set for April 10 @brencenter in Irvine, CA “

 

Bellator MMA: Bellator: Brooks vs. Jansen Coming to SPIKE!
Bellator MMA: Bellator: Brooks vs. Jansen Coming to SPIKE!

 

MONICA RAUG, Calif. (Lub ob hlis ntuj 4, 2015) – Bellator MMA Lightweight World Champion “Ill” Will Brooks (15-1) returns to action on April 10, when he faces top contender Dave “The Fugitive” Jansen (20-2) at Bren Events Center in Irvine, Calif on April 10.

The two men compete in the headlining bout of the newly announced “Bellator: Brooks vs. Jansen” event, which also features a middleweight affair between Brazilian knockout machine Rafael Carvalho (10-1) and another man known for his sensational striking in Joe Schilling (2-3)

Both bouts take place on the evening’s main card, which airs live and free on Spike TV at 9 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. I, while preliminary bouts stream on Spike.com at 7 p.m. LI.

Daim pib mus “Bellator: Brooks vs. Jansen” go on sale next Friday, FEB. 13 tom 10 a.m. PT and are available online at www.ucirvinetickets.com (under the Bren Events Center tab) and through the UC Irvine Ticket Office.

“I’m really looking forward to this one,” said Bellator President Scott Coker. “Brooks and Schilling were two huge components to our successful show last November, and I wanted to get them another fight as quickly as possible.” With Will Brooks, you’ve got a phenomenal athlete with a tremendous personality. He is someone who brings it each and every time he gets in the cage. Joe Schilling is one of those incredible strikers who just has danger written all over him. I think our team has really done a great job in finding both of these guys extremely tough opponents in Jansen and Carvalho respectively, and I’m happy that I’ll have one of the best seats in the house..

Additional bouts will be announced shortly.

The 28-year-old Brooks looks to make the first defense of the undisputed Bellator MMA Lightweight World Title he earned in November with a thrilling, fourth-round finish of former champ Michael Chandler. Prior to the win, Brooks boasted Bellator MMA’s Interim Lightweight World Title, which he also earned with a victory over Chandler. Overall, Brooks – an American Top Team athlete – is on a seven-fight winning streak and has lost just once in his 16-fight career.

Across the cage from him, the 35-year-old Jansen also brings a seven-fight winning streak to the cage. An eight-year veteran of the sport, Jansen earned his shot at the belt with a 2012 tournament victory after registering wins over Marcin Held, Ricardo Tirloni and Magomed Saadulaev. He was scheduled to fight for the title in 2013, but an injury forced him to withdraw from the contest. Once healthy, rather than sit around and wait for a rescheduled title shot, Jansen chose to remain active, scoring an October 2014 win over Rick Hawn.

Carvalho is a 28-year-old Brazilian who made an immediate impact in his promotional debut, scoring a first-round TKO win over nine-time Bellator MMA veteran Brian Rogers. Carvalho is quickly establishing himself as one of the most devastating strikers in the world today, notching nine of his 10 career wins by knockout, including five that came in the first round. Carvalho lost his professional debut in 2011 but has since earned 10 straight victories.

The 31-year-old Schilling has been fighting professionally since 2006, starting his combat sports career in kickboxing, where he earned both U.S. national and world titles in Muay Thai. While he’s since turned his focus to MMA, Schilling continues to compete in striking events, as well, working his way to GLORY’s Last Man Standing tournament this past June, competing three times in a single evening. Schilling made his Bellator MMA debut in November, scoring a “Xyoo knockout” candidate with his stoppage of noted striker Melvin Manhoef.

“Bellator: Brooks vs. Jansen” – Hnub vas Xuv, Tim 10, Bren Events Center, Irvine, Calif.

Bellator Lightweight Title Fight: Champ Will Brooks (15-1) vs. Dave Jansen (20-2)

Bellator Middleweight Feature Fight: Rafael Carvalho (10-1) vs. Joe Schilling (2-3)

 

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:

Ntsia hlau loj 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.
Access the application for each fight by clicking on the proper banner

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