|
||
|
Category Archives: MMA
MIKE HANSEN: FACING FEAR HEADFIRST
Lewiston, Maine (June 15, 2016) – Fighting anyone, anywhere, anytime and under any circumstances has become Mike Hansen’s calling card with New England Fights.
No surprise, then, that the 30-year-old father of three from Rumford, ME will gladly entertain the idea of a mixed martial arts contest … against an opponent about whom he admittedly knows precious little … on the eve of Father’s Day.
Hansen (4-4) will take on Robert Laroski in a heavyweight clash at “NEF 24: Promised Land” on Saturday, June 18 at Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston.
There is no fear of the unknown in a man who has carved out his reputation confronting substantially bigger foes since his days as a state champion wrestler at Mountain Valley High School. During his relatively short time in NEF, Hansen has fought as a middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight.
“When I took the fight (at NEF 23 in Massachusetts) against Brendan Battles, people were saying, ‘You’re crazy! He’s going to bust your head!’ I understand why the weight classes exist, and I respect that it’s about safety and all that, but I’ve always felt that a fighter should be ready to fight anybody, no matter what,” Hansen said. “In high school, I would drink two gallons of water and put lead in my uniform just so I could get to the minimum weight for the unlimited class.”
That’s the attitude of a fighter whose skill and talent level far exceed his current record as a professional.
Hansen’s docket includes a stoppage win over former NEF “Fighter of the Year” Crowsneck Boutin. His record also includes TKO losses to Battles and Cody Anderson and a choke-out at the hands of Zach Elkins.
When he reflects upon his unique life story, Hansen, who fought twice for the World Fighting League as a 20-year-old college student, marvels that he ever got back into the cage at all.
“I started the winter of 2004-05. I started training because I had gone from 187 to 242 pounds in a few months. I was seeing stretch marks,” Hansen recalled. “I was pretty upset with myself for allowing that to happen. I started doing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu two nights a week to get in shape. Then I went home for the summer and ended up with my first fight in August. My friends got me the fight without my coaches knowing about it. They told me it was a good thing I won, or they would have kicked my butt.”
Hansen kept a promise to his father to quit the sport after a knockout loss to Alexander Chianurashvili in 2006. He was studying at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, with intentions to enter the medical field.
He was stabbed and attacked with a baseball bat by three men in a case of mistaken identity not long thereafter. “I walked out of the hospital the next day, and all three of them were still in there from the beating I gave them in self-defense,” Hansen said proudly.
That dogged determination served Hansen well in the United States Army, where he studied in the elite Combatives program.
“They ask you ‘Who wins the fight?’ and the answer is, ‘Whoever’s buddy gets there first to help him clean up.’ That’s what Combatives taught me: How to survive that extra 30 to 60 seconds,” Hansen said. “Work ethic is what it taught me. It helped me grow and do things I might have questioned mentally whether or not I could do. Not many people find that extra little motivation. The Army taught me how to find it and utilize it.”
A few years later, Hansen found that inner fire again. Even as he returned to coaching wrestlers in his hometown, his own physical fitness suffered as work and fatherhood took precedence.
Hansen vividly describes sitting in a bean bag chair, eating snack food, watching TV at 2:11 a.m. when his phone rang. He assumed it was a friend in trouble.
“It was (NEF co-owner) Matt Peterson. Our families grew up maybe 200 yards apart. My high school wrestling coach had called him, unbeknownst to me, to tell him he needed to get me back in the cage,” Hansen said.
Three weeks later and 20 pounds lighter, Hansen dispatched super heavyweight fixture Artie Mullen at “NEF 16: New Blood Rising,” and the comeback was on.
In the 15 months that have followed, Hansen has been instrumental in launching Berserkers MMA and building his reputation as both a fighter and an instructor.
Life is blossoming at home, also. Hansen is the father of two girls, ages 5 and 2, and a boy of four months. His older daughter, Kaydn, often accompanies Dad to the gym at Greater Rumford Community Center. He returns the favor by chaperoning field trips for her kindergarten class.
“She and her friends will be on the playground practicing boxing stances and stuff,” Hansen said. “Her teacher says it’s adorable. Hopefully she is learning to take care of herself so I don’t have to.”
Kaydn’s parents are making plans to take her to her first live NEF show after she turns 6. For now, she is content to watch her Dad’s fights on YouTube.
“If we’re watching TV together,” Hansen said, “we have a thing where I get two shows and then she gets two shows. If I put in a fight tape, she’ll say, ‘Daddy, I know this doesn’t count as one of your shows, because this is your work.’”
The opening bell on June 18 is set for 7 p.m. Tickets for “NEF 24: Promised Land” start at $25 and are available at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee box office at 207.783.2009, extension 525.
For more information on the events 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.”
FIGHT WITH DENNING IS THE CROSSROADS FOR BUSHAW
Lewiston, Maine (June 14, 2016) – Like so many headline-grabbing heavy hitters with New England Fights, Maine native Brandon Bushaw (1-2) had nothing left to prove in his combat sports career.
Bushaw parlayed his undefeated state championship season as a Westbrook High School senior in 1999 into a college wrestling career at Michigan State University, where he was a teammate of UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans (19-5-1).
“I was with my high school girlfriend (Cynthia), now my wife, so I knew we would always have ties to Maine,” Bushaw said. “Other than being on wrestling scholarship, I thought I was done fighting.”
The couple settled in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and opened Island Bar and Grill, which they have owned and operated for a dozen years.
It is a good, comfortable life. Extended family visited and found the area so alluring that they stayed permanently.
Those competitive juices never completely evaporated, however.
“I had teammates who turned to mixed martial arts,” Bushaw said. “I watched them, and as I approached 30, it became a bucket list thing. Now here I am, 17 fights later.”
Bushaw, 35, explained the journey in a phone interview as he prepared for his fourth professional bout, a featherweight clash with Auburn’s Matt “Ken Doll” Denning (3-2) at “NEF 24: Promised Land” on Saturday, June 18 at Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston.
The fight is Bushaw’s first on his original home turf since a 2014 loss to Elias Leland at the 135-pound limit. He ascends to 145 pounds, where he admitted he is more comfortable (“at my advanced age,” Bushaw quipped) for the confrontation with Denning.
“It’s weird, because I thought I was done competing up that way when I graduated from high school, but when I go home after all these years, all the old friends that I haven’t seen for years turn out to watch me fight,” Bushaw said. “I’ve fought all over, but any time I fight in Myrtle Beach or in Maine, it’s more special.”
Some athletes return to their competitive arena because they miss the allure of the cheering crowd.
That’s true of Bushaw, to a degree, although even the spectator interest he drew with the Blue Blazes and Spartans pales by comparison to what greets him surrounding the NEF hexagon.
“It’s nothing like high school or even college wrestling,” Bushaw said. “You show up and there’s two, three, four thousand people watching. It’s so different. You don’t get multiple chances to fight in a week or even a single weekend. It lasts a few minutes and then it’s the highest of the highs or the lowest of the lows.”
The physical toll and the necessary complement of skills also exceed what Bushaw knew in his youth.
He made that discovery about a minute into his initial amateur bout.
“MMA is more dynamic than wrestling. I remember my first fight, the guy picked me up and threw me down and I landed on my head,” Bushaw said. “I remember thinking, ‘This was probably not such a good idea,’ but I found a way to get the win.”
“You can be better than a guy in four different categories, but if he’s better in just one, he’s capable of beating you,” he continued. “You think things are going your way and then it’s the biggest letdown in the world.”
There’s a camaraderie in that unpredictable realm that only veterans of the cage can fully understand. Bushaw, who has trained with the likes of childhood friend Jamie Harrison and Amos Collins, noted that he has become cordial with almost all his prior opponents.
Denning (3-2) is one of the few with whom Bushaw (1-2) became “friends” on social media before their fight.
“It’s kind of strange, but all those things go out the window,” Bushaw said. “He’s fought my buddy Dom Cofone. He’s a local boy. I know it’s going to be a tough challenge for me.”
In many respects it is a crossroads bout for Bushaw, who admitted that he has considered retirement from the sport.
“Probably my last five fights I’ve gone in saying, ‘One more fight and I’m done,’ and then I keep going. I don’t shy away from anybody,” he said. “My last fight was against a kid who was 23 and he’d been in Thailand for two years or some (stuff). That was one time when I might have said, ‘What am I doing?’
“For me it’s family, then business, then fighting. For a lot of these younger guys, fighting is first, and that makes it a challenge.”
The opening bell on June 18 is set for 7 p.m. Tickets for “NEF 24: Promised Land” start at $25 and are available at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee box office at 207.783.2009, extension 525.
For more information on the events 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.”
COMBAT SPORTS GIVE BEZANSON DIRECTION AFTER FAMILY TRAGEDY
Lewiston, Maine (June 13, 2016) – Combat sports gave Mike Bezanson (1-0) direction. They also helped him cultivate the relationship with his father that he always coveted but could never seem to grasp.
Now, on the eve of Father’s Day, less than a week past the four-year anniversary of his dad’s untimely death, Bezanson is poised to take another step in the career that was their shared dream.
Bezanson, 21, of Lancaster, N.H., returns to the New England Fights hexagon to take on Shawn Bang (1-1) of Auburn, Maine, in a welterweight bout at “NEF 24: Promised Land.” Their amateur bout is one of the many attractions on theSaturday, June 18 card at Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston.
“I think this fight is going to be good for me, because I’ll be able to show my skills against an opponent with more in-cage experience than I have,” Bezanson said. “Also, the fact that June 18 is the day before Father’s Day makes this a sentimental and emotional fight for me.”
The encore comes almost a year to the day after Bezanson stopped Jeff Dustin (0-1) by technical knockout via strikes in his mixed martial arts debut on June 13, 2015. Bang has split his first two verdicts in the NEF cage.
Bezanson’s showboating, stick-and-move style drew mixed reviews from the large crowd that witnessed his rookie effort. Some booed the relative lack of action, perhaps suspecting that Bezanson was toying with an overmatched opponent.
It was all part of his plan to relish the moment and take advantage of the opportunity.
“Truthfully we had a game plan to get experience,” Bezanson said. “If I have any thoughts of going pro, I need to get as much experience as I can. If you go in there and knock a guy out in 10 seconds, don’t get me wrong, you got a knockout and that’s great, but you’re not learning what it takes to get comfortable on the other side of that 10 seconds. You don’t know how much energy you’re going to need.”
Bezanson never lacked energy, or personality, from childhood. He describes himself as a young man who never got into any serious trouble, and never experimented with drugs or other disorderly conduct, but one who freely challenged authority.
He gravitated to the boxing ring as a freshman in high school. It gave him direction. It also provided a foundation for the on-again, off-again relationship with his father, Jamie.
“Before I took up boxing, my dad wasn’t really involved much in my life. He would come and go, you know, for personal reasons,” Bezanson said. “When I started boxing, we got really close. Boxing and racing were his things. He would tell anybody and everybody that I was boxing and how proud he was, and that meant a lot to me.”
Jamie Bezanson never had the chance to watch his son develop as a fighter. On June 15, 2012, during annual “Bike Week” in Laconia, his motorcycle crossed the center line and struck another vehicle.
The elder Bezanson succumbed to his injuries. He was 37.
“I lost it for a while. I stopped boxing. Mentally, I was just in a very emotional place,” Bezanson said. “Then right next to my house, Kaze Dojo opened up. I said, ‘That’s something I could do.’”
Bezanson began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with Greg Williams. He proved himself a natural talent, winning the gold medal in his debut at the Vermont Open.
Then came the natural progression to MMA, where his stand-up skills proved too difficult for Dustin to defend. Bezanson commanded the cage with the poise and surgical precision of a veteran.
“I’m a pretty confident guy all around. I really wasn’t that nervous. I figure why be scared if you’re prepared and you’ve put in all that training?” he said. “Ninety percent of fights are lost before you even get into the cage. If you let the emotions get to you, you’re not going to perform to the best of your ability.”
Bezanson suffered a catastrophic knee injury in training shortly thereafter. He has spent most of the past year recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL and meniscus.
Once he returned to the gym, Bezanson spent much of his time focused on his evolving ground game. It should be tested royally by Bang, a former high school wrestler from a renowned regional fighting family.
“Striking is definitely one of my strengths. I’m a lanky dude, and I try to use that to my full advantage,” Bezanson said. “But I’ve worked really hard on my ground game in training. I didn’t really get a chance to show it in my first fight, but I know I will this time.”
Bezanson sees his second foray into the cage as the true beginning of what he hopes will be a prolific career.
In addition to the many fans who will make the four-hour round trip from the North Country to watch him, Bezanson knows he will have one special set of eyes in his corner.
“Boxing taught me a lot of discipline. MMA is the same thing. People can use it however they want, but that’s what it does for me,” he said. “It’s something I like to do and something that I know makes my father proud all at the same time.”
The opening bell on June 18 is set for 7 p.m. The current docket includes five pro boxing fights, three pro MMA bouts and eight amateur MMA skirmishes. Tickets for “NEF 24: Promised Land” start at $25 and are available atwww.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee box office at 207.783.2009, extension 525.
For more information on the events 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.
DENISE KIELHOLTZ-GLORIA PERITORE SET TO FACE OFF IN FLYWEIGHT CONTEST AT ‘BELLATOR: DYNAMITE 2’
KICKBOXING VETERAN KEVIN ROSS RETURNS TO ACTION FOR BELLATOR KICKBOXING AGAINST JUSTIN HOUGHTON
SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (June 10, 2016) – The SPIKE-televised main card of “Bellator: Dynamite 2” on June 24 at Scottrade Center in St. Louis is now complete, with the addition of a women’s flyweight kickboxing bout pitting Denise Kielholtz (44-2) against Gloria Peritore(10-1-1) and a featherweight feature fight between Kevin Ross (31-9) and Justin Houghton(7-2).
The fights join a main event that features a heavyweight clash between “Rampage” Jackson(36-11) and Satoshi Ishii (14-5-1), while a lightweight title fight pitting Michael Chandler(14-3) against Patricky “Pitbull” (16-7) will serve as the evening’s co-main event. In addition, former NFL player Matt Mitrione (9-5) and Carl “Badwater” Seumanutafa (10-6) will trade blows in their heavyweight showdown, while a flyweight contest between undefeated Ilima Macfarlane (3-0) and Rebecca Ruth (6-1) wraps up a mouthwatering main card.
The event airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream live on Bellator.com and The Bellator Mobile App. Doors for “Bellator: Dynamite 2”open at 5:00 pm CT, with the first streamed fight taking place at 5:30 pm CT.
Tickets for the event start at just $30 and are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and the Ford Box Office at Scottrade Center.
Hailing from Amsterdam, Dutch flyweight Kieholtz will be making her second appearance under the direction of Bellator Kickboxing after earning a win in her promotional debut at the inaugural Bellator Kickboxing event in Torino, Italy earlier this year. With over 40 career fights (one MMA bout) under her belt, the 27-year-old Kielholtz will be searching for her 45th professional victory when she prepares to take on Gloria Peritore on June 24 in St. Louis. Kielholtz now directs her attention to “Bellator: Dynamite 2,” where both a mixed martial arts cage and kickboxing ring will be featured just like the groundbreaking inaugural “Dynamite” event last year. If you think you can handle “5 Rounds” with her, click here.
The 27-year-old Peritore has a total of 12 professional fights over her two-year career, earning victories in all of them, including a third round knockout of Li Mingrui in her Bellator Kickboxing debut earlier this year. A native of Sicily, Italy, Peritore had the unique opportunity to fight in front of her hometown fans when Bellator invaded Torino, Italy in April of 2016. As an amateur fighter, she posted a 9-3 record and won titles such as the ISKA & WTKA Amateur World Kickboxing Champion and IASKA Amateur World K-1 Champion.
At 35 years old, Ross has put together an impressive kickboxing and muay Thai career, highlighted by accruing some of the most highly sought-after championships in the game. During his 53-fight career, he has collected the WBC Muay-Thai USA welterweight title, the WBC Muay-Thai International Super-lightweight title and the Lion Fight Super Lightweight Championship. Known also as “The Soul Assassin,” Ross is working on a transition into the sport of MMA and most recently made his promotional debut at the inaugural “Bellator 152”Kickboxing event in Torino, Italy where he defeated Matteo Taccini via unanimous decision.
Houghton, who hails from Michigan, has competed previously for Bellator, but on the mixed martial arts side of things. “J-Ho” most recently laced up the kickboxing gloves against Alfredo Corona, at a regional event in Denver, defeating his opponent via lopsided unanimous decision. Now, the Grudge Training Center standout sets his sights on Ross, arguably one of the most successful kickboxers in American history.
Complete “Bellator: Dynamite 2” Fight Card:
Bellator MMA Heavyweight Main Event: Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (36-11) vs. Satoshi Ishii (14-5-1)
Bellator MMA Lightweight World Title Bout: Michael Chandler (14-3) vs. Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (16-7)
Bellator MMA Heavyweight Feature Bout: Matt Mitrione (9-5) vs. Carl Seumanutafa (10-6)
Bellator Kickboxing Featherweight Feature Bout: Kevin Ross (31-9) vs. Justin Houghton (7-2)
Bellator Kickboxing Flyweight Feature Bout: Denise Kielholtz (44-2) vs. Gloria Peritore (10-1-1)
Bellator MMA Flyweight Feature Bout: Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (3-0) vs. Rebecca Ruth (6-1)
Preliminary Card:
Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Justin Lawrence (8-3) vs. Isao Kobayashi (18-3)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Guilherme “Bomba” Vasconcelos (7-3) vs. Jordan Dowdy (3-1)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Kevin Engel (5-0) vs. Chel Erwin-Davis (3-1)
Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Jordan Howard (9-3) vs Justin Robbins (14-17-1)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Joaquin Buckley (5-0) vs Chris Heatherly (9-3-1)
Bellator MMA 130-pound Preliminary Bout: Michelle Royer (1-0) vs Katy Collins (3-1)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Brad Jones (5-4) vs Tyler Claussen (2-0)
Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Jason Christeson (1-0) vs Jarrod Thomas (0-0)
Bellator MMA Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Lee Burns (2-0) vs. Byron Stevens (0-0)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Steven Mann (11-4) vs. Mike Estus (7-4)
Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Rashard Lovelace (3-0) vs. Garret Mueller (2-1)
Bellator MMA Strawweight Preliminary Bout: Nikki Smith (1-0) vs. Ashley Cummins (3-3)
Bellator Kickboxing Preliminary Bout: Elmir Kulosman (3-0) vs. Darryl Cobb (2-1)
Bellator Kickboxing Preliminary Bout: Tara Walker (4-3-1) vs. Mimi Kutzin (3-2)
THIAGO JAMBO CLIMBS INTO CO-MAIN BATTLE WITH CHIDI NJOKUANI AT ‘BELLATOR 156: GALVAO vs. DANTAS 2’
LIVE AND FREE ON SPIKE – JUNE 17
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (June 10, 2016) – An undisclosed injury to “Bellator 158” competitor Josh Koscheck has paved the way for a new co-main feature bout at “Bellator 156: Galvao vs. Dantas 2,” pitting Chidi “Chidi Bang Bang” Njokuani (14-4) against Thiago Jambo (18-4) on June 17 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, CA. Jambo will be making his promotional debut in place of Douglas Lima.
The fight completes a card that features a Bellator MMA Bantamweight Title rematch pitting Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) against Eduardo Dantas (17-4), while Fresno native, Chris Honeycutt (7-1) returns home to take on Mikkel Parlo (13-2) in a middleweight slugfest. Rounding out the main card, John Salter (11-3) and Brandon Halsey (9-1) duke it out in a 185-pound feature bout.
“Bellator 156: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” airs LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream live on Bellator.com andThe Bellator Mobile App. Tickets for the event start at only $25 and are currently on sale at the Save Mart Center Box Office, as well as Ticketmaster.com and Bellator.com.
Having not lost a fight in his last six appearances dating back to 2013, “Chidi Bang Bang” will try to keep the train rolling as he prepares for Jambo. The 27-year-old Las Vegas native finished his 2015 campaign on a high note, recording a unanimous decision victory over Ricky “The Sniper” Rainey in his promotional debut at “Bellator 146: Kato vs. Manhoef.” Njokuani will face one of the stiffest tests of his career when he meets Jambo in the co-headliner of “Bellator 156: Galvao vs. Dantas 2.”
The 35-year-old Goncalves has landed himself a golden opportunity when he steps into the cage with Njokuani in the co-feature on June 17. The 12-year professional most recently earned his 18th career win by defeating Matt Baker via technical knockout in the second round of their contest and now the Brazilian welterweight will be making his Bellator MMA debut after impressively recording six wins over his last seven fights dating back to 2010.
Complete “Bellator 156: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” Card:
Bellator MMA Bantamweight Title Bout: Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) vs. Eduardo Dantas (17-4)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Co-Main Event: Chidi Njokuani (14-4) vs. Thiago Jambo Goncalves (18-4)
Bellator MMA Middleweight Feature Bout: Brandon Halsey (9-1) vs. John Salter (11-3)
Bellator MMA Middleweight Feature Bout: Chris Honeycutt (7-1) vs. Mikkel Parlo (13-2)
Preliminary Card:
Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: A.J. Matthews (8-4) vs. Ben Reiter (16-1)
Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Jermaine McDermott (2-0) vs. Blake Watkins (5-0)
Bellator MMA 140lb. Preliminary Bout: Paul Ruiz (6-4) vs. Christian Navarro (5-0)
Bellator MMA Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Javy Ayala (8-5) vs. Roy Boughton (14-7)
Bellator MMA Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Nick Bustamante (5-1) vs. Antoine Smith (3-5)
Bellator MMA Lightweight Preliminary Bout: C.J. Keith (8-3) vs. Carrington Banks (4-0)
Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Justin Smitley (10-7) vs. TBD
Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: John Paul Elias (3-0) vs. Jose Cabesas (5-8)
Bellator MMA Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Chris Lewis (0-0) vs. Gil Medina (1-0)
Bellator MMA Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Luis Jauregui (3-2) vs. Ryan Tobar (3-2)
Updates to ‘Bellator 158: London’ Event
LONDON (June 9, 2016) – Arguably England’s two top welterweights, Paul “Semtex” Daley(38-13-2) and Michael “Venom” Page (10-0) have each been assigned new opponents for the upcoming “Bellator 158: London” event. Former welterweight world champion Douglas Lima (26-6) has agreed to fight Daley after an undisclosed injury forced Josh Koscheck to withdraw from the highly anticipated matchup. In addition, gritty Brazilian veteran Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (21-17) will step in for Fernando Gonzalez to fight undefeated British superstar Page.
The main card also features a light heavyweight contest between local hotshot Linton “The Swarm” Vassell (16-5) and Francis “Limitless” Carmont (24-11) as well as a heavyweight slugfest pitting Mark Godbeer (11-2) against James Mulheron (8-1) in a British brawl that you do not want to miss.
We will have to wait a little longer for the highly anticipated faceoff between Daley and Koscheck. The 33-year-old now directs his attention to “The Phenom” as he looks to add to his five fight winning streak. A native of Nottingham, England, “Semtex” has recorded wins in nine of his last ten fights, with eight of those victories ending in a knockout. A four fight veteran of Bellator MMA, Daley has put his stamp on the welterweight division, posting a 4-0 record with three knockouts, including his most recent first round finish of top contender Andy Uhrich in the main event of “Bellator 148: Daley vs. Uhrich.”
After originally being slated for the co-main event of “Bellator 156: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” onJune 17, Lima has been given the opportunity to take his talents overseas and challenge Daley in a welterweight thriller. In his first 10 appearances under the Bellator MMA fray, the 28-year-old Brazilian has collected eight wins, seven of which have come by way of knockout. A former champion of Bellator’s stacked 170-pound division; Lima has continuously proven his worth with highlight reel victories over former Bellator MMA veterans the likes of Rick Hawn, Ben Saunders (twice) and Bryan Baker. With past winning streaks of nine, six, and five, Lima’s most recent string of victories consisted of five consecutive knockouts over the span of three years. “The Phenom” will look to begin another streak of success when he challenges “Semtex” Daley on his home turf on July 16.
Having made his professional debut in 1997, “Cyborg” Santos is undoubtedly one of the most experienced MMA athletes in the game today. The 38-year-old Brazilian veteran has amounted 21 victories over his illustrious career, highlighted by his 12 knockouts, 10 of which came in the first round. In his Bellator MMA debut, “Cyborg” stunned an electric Connecticut crowd when he delivered a first round win over Brennan Ward via heel hook submission at“Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson.” Before signing a multi-fight contract with Bellator MMA this year, Santos also made four appearances under the Strikeforce banner from 2009 to 2011. “Cyborg” will have to prepare for one of the most feared fighters in the sport of MMA, when he meets the undefeated “MVP” in his home country on July 16.
With an unblemished record of 10-0, “MVP” remains one of the brightest young stars in the world of MMA. Page received a new opponent, with the news that “Cyborg” Santos would replace Fernando Gonzalez in one of the evening’s welterweight feature fights. The 29-year-old London native has a knack for finishing his challengers in the early stages of the bout, collecting nine first round victories with only one fight reaching the judges’ scorecards. “Venom” thoroughly impressed in his 2016 debut, when he forced budding star Jeremie Holloway into an Achilles lock submission just 2:15 into the first round in their clash at“Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson.” It will be more of the same for the knockout specialist Page, as he will enter the cage on July 16 with the full intention of adding to his impressive tally of first round finishes.
“Bellator 158: London” will be broadcast free on SPIKE UK and Channel 5 in the United Kingdom, while in America the card will air FREE on SPIKE. Exact broadcast details for the event will be revealed in the near future. Tickets are on sale now and start at only £40.00. They are available at TheO2.co.uk or The O2 Box Office.
Updated “Bellator 158: London” Fight Card
Bellator MMA Welterweight Bout: Douglas Lima (26-6) vs. Paul Daley (38-13-2)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Bout: Michael Page (10-0) vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (21-17)
Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Bout: Linton Vassell (16-5) vs. Francis Carmont (24-11)
Bellator MMA Heavyweight Bout: Mark Godbeer (11-2) vs. James Mulheron (8-1)
Preliminary Card:
Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: Michael Shipman (8-1) vs. Lee Chadwick (21-12-1)
Bellator MMA Prelim Flyweight Bout: Pietro Menga (12-0) vs. Spencer Hewitt (12-10)
Bellator MMA Prelim Bantamweight Bout: Luiz Tosta (9-2) vs. Dean Garnett (7-0)
Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: Jason Radcliffe (8-2) vs. Jack Mason (29-15)
Bellator MMA Prelim Featherweight Bout: Chase Morton (6-2) vs. Nathaniel Wood (8-3)
Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: Alex Reid (11-9-1) vs. TBD
Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: C.J. Meeks (4-1) vs. Danny Mitchell (17-7-1)
INTERNATIONAL FLAIR ADDED TO LEWISTON BOXING CARD AS IRELAND AND MEXICO RENEW RIVALRY
Lewiston, Maine (June 7, 2016) – In an international boxing match-up, Ireland’s undefeated Steve Collins, Jr. (7-0-1, 3 KOs) will face his stiffest test yet as a pro when he takes on Mexico’s Jose Humberto Corral (19-21, 12 KOs) in a six-round cruiserweight fight on June 18, 2016 at The Androscoggin Bank Colisée. The bout will take place as part of New England Fights’ (NEF) next event “NEF 24: PROMISED LAND.”
Collins, Jr., the son of former world champion and Irish boxing legend “The Celtic Warrior” Steve Collins (36-3, 21 KOs), will be fighting in the United States for the third consecutive time after having each of his first six fights in Ireland and Great Britain.
“I’m happy to be back over in the States fighting,” said Collins, Jr. “The crowd and the fans have really seemed to enjoy my fighting and style that I bring to the boxing world. I’ve been training hard at the Celtic Warriors Gym here in Ireland, and I’m looking forward to putting my knowledge to use in the ring. My next opponent has got a lot of fights under his belt, but I’m looking forward to giving him another loss.”
Jose Humberto Corral is a former amateur standout on the Mexican national team who has made a career as a pro as a journeyman giving solid tests to future world champions like Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin and regional prospects like Chris Traietti, Vinnie Carita and Paul Gonsalves.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to fight Steve Collins in Maine,” said Corral recently through a translator. “Sure he’s an undefeated prospect and son of a former world champion, but I’ve got way more ring experience, and you can’t teach that. If I had a peso for every time I got beat up by the son of a former world champion, I would have zero pesos. I look forward to showcasing my skills in the same building Muhammad Ali fought in and leaving with all the American boxing fans looking forward to me coming back.”
Collins Jr. is promoted by Murphy’s Boxing USA, a boxing organization headed by Ken Casey of the popular rock band The Dropkick Murphys who are well known for hit songs like “I’m Shipping up to Boston,” “The State of Massachusetts” and “Skinhead on the MBTA.”
“It’s wonderful to be able to have Steve Jr. here so often,” said Ken Casey when reached for comment from Cork, Ireland during the band’s latest European tour. “This will be his third fight here in the States in less than a year, and we are all excited to see where it goes from there. He’s proven that he can step out of his father’s shadow and legacy, and make a career and name for himself. It’s going to be interesting to see where he ends up in another year from now, but we’re all excited to be part of his journey, and seeing what Steve Jr. can do.”
NEF returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine on June 18, 2016 with “NEF 24: PROMISED LAND.” Tickets for “NEF 24” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at 207.783.2009 x 525.
For more information on the events 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.
New M-1 Challenge Lightweight Champion Alexander Butenko decisions Artiom Damkovsy
|
M-1 CHALLENGE 67 RESULTS
|
BAKU, Azerbaijan (June 5, 2016) — Ukrainian fighter Alexander Butenko won a hard fought 5-round decision over Artiom Damkovsky last night to become the new M-1 Challenge lightweight champion in the M-1 Challenge 67 main event in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Butenko (41-11-2) and Damkovsky (20-10-0) battled from start to finish with Buntenko winning a unanimous decision to capture the vacant M-1 Challenge lightweight title.
In the co-feature, M-1 Challenge featherweight champion Ivan “Buki” Buchinger (31-4-0), of Slovakia, used a North-South choke to submit his late replacement opponent, Russian Mikhail Korobkov (9-2-0), in a non-title fight.
Red-hot Kazakh welterweight Shavat Rakhmonov (6-0-0) kept rolling, knocking out Brazilian Marcelo Brito (13-8-0) in the opening round. Hometown favorite Etigat Adakishniev (1-1-0) won his first professional fight, submitting Spaniard Adrian Perez (3-2-0) by way of a guillotine choke.
Czech Republic had two winners on the main card as middleweight Talekh Nadzhafadz (5-1-0) won a 3-round decision over his Spanish opponent, Felipe “Biggi” Nsue (11-10-0), while heavyweight Zauer Gadzhibabayev (5-1-0) used a rear naked choke to submit Bulgarian Lazar Todev (2-3-0).
Fighting on the preliminary card, Russian lightweight Zalimbeg Omarov (7-1-1) and Russian featherweight Azamat Zhantuduev (1-2-0) won a 3-round decisions over, respectively, Mikhail Syrbu (4-2-0), of Moldova, and his fellow countryman Bair Shtepin (3-1-0). Russian heavyweight Evgeni Myakinkin (14-5-0) forced Evgeni Guryanov (8-6-0) to submit with a triangle choke, and Russian featherweights Vadin “Bad Santa” Malygin (6-1-1) and Ibragim Navrusov (2-0-1) fought to a 3-round draw.
Complete results and picture gallery below:
MAIN CARD
MAIN EVENT – VACANT M-1 CHALLENGE LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – 5 X 5
ALEXANDER BUTENKO (41-11-2, M-1: 8-1-0), Ukraine
WDEC5
ARTIOM DAMKOVSKY (20-10-0, M-1: 10-7-0), Belarus
(Butenko wins vacant M-1 Challenge Challenge lightweight title)
FEATHERWEIGHTS
IVAN BUCHINGER (31-4-0, M-1: 6-0-0), Slovakia
WSUB1 (North-South choke)
MIKHAIL KOROBKOV (9-2-1, M-1: 0-2-0), Russia
WELTERWEIGHTS
SHAVKAT RAKHMONOV (6-0-0, M-1: 4-0-0), Kazakhstan
WTKO1
MARCELO BRITO (13-8-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Brazil
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
TALEKH NADZHFADE (5-1-0, M-1: 2-0-0), Czech Republic
WDEC3
FELIPE NSUE (11-10-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Spain
HEAVYWEIGHTS
ZAUR GADZHIBABAYEV (5-1-0, M-1: 3-0-0), Czech Republic
WSUB2 (Rear Naked Choke)
LAZAR TODEV (2-3-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Russia
PRELIMINARY CARD
LIGHTWEIGHTS
ZALIMBEG OMAROV (7-1-1, M-1: 4-0-1), Russia
WDEC3
MIKHAIL SYRBU (4-2-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Moldova
HEAVYWEIGHTS
EVGENI MYAKINKIN (14-5-0, M-1: 2-1-0), Russia
WSUB1 (Triangle Choke)
EVGENI GURYANOV (8-6-0, M-1: 1-3-0), Ukraine
FEATHERWEIGHTS
AZAMAT ZHANTUDUEV (2-1-0, M-1: 1-0-0), Russia
WDEC3
BAIR SHTEPIN (3-1-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Russia
VADIM MALYGIN (6-1-1, M-1: 0-0-1), Russia
DRAW3
IBRAGIM NAVRUZOV (2-0-1, M-1: 0-0-1), Russia
 Alexander Butenko and Artiom Damkovsky
 Alexander Butenko and Artiom Damkovsky
 Azamat Zhantuduev & Bair Shtepin
 Etigat Adakishiev
 Ivan Buchinger
 Vadim Malygin & Ibragim Navrusov
 Zaur Gadzhibabayev & Lazar Todev
Upcoming Event:June 16, M-1 Challenge 68, St. Petersburg, Russia
Information
Twitter & Instagram:
@M1GlobalNews
@VFinkelchtein
@M1Global
Facebook:
|
TALENTED FEATHERWEIGHTS JUSTIN LAWRENCE AND ISAO KOBAYASHI SQUARE OFF IN FEATURED PRELIM OF ‘BELLATOR: DYNAMITE 2’ ON JUNE 24
SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (June 3, 2016) – A featherweight bout pitting Justin Lawrence (8-3) against Isao Kobayashi (18-3) will anchor the preliminary portion of “Bellator: Dynamite 2” on June 24 at Scottrade Center in St. Louis.
The bout joins a main event that features a heavyweight bout between “Rampage” Jackson (36-11) and Satoshi Ishii (14-5-1) in “Rampage’s” first fight for the Scott Coker-led promotion since 2014. The evening’s co-main event will feature a lightweight world championship fight between former titlist Michael Chandler (14-3) and Patricky “Pitbull” (16-7). Also the main card, former NFL player Matt Mitrione (9-5) makes his debut for Bellator MMA against Carl “Badwater” Seumanutafa (10-6). Rounding out the main card action, undefeated Ilima Macfarlane (3-0) will face Rebecca Ruth (6-1) in a flyweight contest.
Tickets for “Bellator: Dynamite 2” start at just $30 and are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and the Ford Box Office at Scottrade Center. Doors for the event open at 5 p.m. CT local time, and the first bout is scheduled to take place one hour after.
“Bellator: Dynamite 2” airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream live on Bellator.comand The Bellator Mobile App. Doors for the event open at 5:00 pm CT, with the first streamed fight taking place at 5:30 pm CT.
Exactly like the groundbreaking inaugural “Dynamite” event this past September in San Jose, both a mixed martial arts cage and kickboxing ring will cover the floor at Scottrade Center, giving fans in attendance the opportunity to see both iterations of combat sports on the same night. A portion of the preliminary action on June 24 will take place simultaneously, allowing those in attendance to witness MMA and kickboxing with a simple swivel of the head.
A native of Missouri, Justin “The American Kid” Lawrence will put his 8-3 career mark on the line when he challenges Isao Kobayashi in front of his hometown fans at “Bellator: Dynamite 2.” The 25-year-old budding star has won four of his last five bouts, including a first round knockout in his Bellator MMA debut against Sean Wilson at “Bellator 138: Unfinished Business.” Lawrence began his professional career under the Strikeforce umbrella, before a brief stint on “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show and now has his eyes set on truly making a splash in the always-competitive Bellator MMA featherweight division.
After going undefeated through his first eight fights as a professional, Kobayashi has put together an impressive resume with an overall record of 18-3, and eight wins coming by way of knockout. Following seven with the Pancrase promotion, the 27-year-old will enter the cage for the second time under the Bellator MMA banner and first time since October of last year. The Japanese featherweight has been known to extend fights and outlast opponents with his phenomenal endurance. Each of his last eight fights have made their way to the third round, with six of those eight going the distance. After recording a streak of 12 consecutive fights without a loss over a four-year period (2010-14), Kobayashi will look to kick off yet another long string of success when he takes on Justin Lawrence on June 24.
Updated “Bellator: Dynamite 2” Fight Card:
Bellator MMA Heavyweight Main Event: Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (36-11) vs. Satoshi Ishii (14-5-1)
Bellator MMA Lightweight World Title Bout: Michael Chandler (14-3) vs. Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (16-7)
Bellator MMA Heavyweight Feature Bout: Matt Mitrione (9-5) vs. Carl Seumanutafa (10-6)
Bellator MMA Flyweight Feature Bout: Ilima-Lei Macfalane (3-0) vs. Rebecca Ruth (6-1)
Preliminary Card:
Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Justin Lawrence (8-3) vs. Isao Kobayashi (18-3)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Guilherme “Bomba” Vasconcelos (7-3) vs. Jordan Dowdy (3-1)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Kevin Engel (5-0) vs. Chel Erwin-Davis (3-1)
Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Jordan Howard (9-3) vs Justin Robbins (14-17-1)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Joaquin Buckley (5-0) vs Chris Heatherly (9-3-1)
Bellator MMA 130-pound Preliminary Bout: Michelle Royer (1-0) vs Katy Collins (3-1)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Brad Jones (5-4) vs Tyler Claussen (2-0)
Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Jason Christeson (1-0) vs Jarrod Thomas (0-0)
Bellator MMA Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Lee Burns (2-0) vs. Byron Stevens (0-0)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Steven Mann (11-4) vs. Mike Estus (7-4)
Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Rashard Lovelace (3-0) vs. Garret Mueller (2-1)
Bellator MMA Strawweight Preliminary Bout: Nikki Smith (1-0) vs. Ashley Cummins (3-3)
Bellator Kickboxing Preliminary Bout: Elmir Kulosman (3-0) vs. Darryl Cobb (2-1)
Bellator Kickboxing Preliminary Bout: Tara Walker (4-3-1) vs. Mimi Kutzin (3-2)