Category Archives: MMA

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

BELLATOR MMA IS THE NEW FIGHTING HOME OF WANDERLEI ‘THE AXE MURDERER’ SILVA

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Bellator President Scott Coker and Wanderlei Silva (Credit: Bellator/Lucas Noonan)

 

SANTA MONICA (March 2, 2016) –Bellator MMA is pleased to announce that one of the most popular, recognizable and beloved fighters in the sport of mixed martial arts, Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva (35-12-1), has signed an exclusive multi-year, multi-fight contract with the promotion. The 39-year-old publicly fielded offers from companies all around the world, but the former Pride FC Middleweight Champion made the decision to take his explosive style to Bellator MMA.

 

“The Axe Murderer” has fought in some of the most memorable feuds and battles the sport has ever seen. His wars with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Tito Ortiz, Mirko Cro Cop, Vitor Belfort, Dan Henderson, Kazushi Sakuraba, Chuck Liddell, and Michael Bisping are the stuff of legend – but Silva is far from ready to close the book on his illustrious career.

 

In addition to his Pride FC Middleweight World Championship, Silva’s packed trophy case of accolades includes awards for Fight of the Year (2003, 2004, 2007), KO of the Year (2008), and multiple Fight of the Night awards including one for each of his last three fights, just to name a few. He now looks to continue to provide his award-winning, entertaining fights inside the Bellator cage.

 

Silva has several options for his first fight with Bellator. Although he has spent the majority of his career at 185-pounds, one of the things that his fans love most about him has been Wanderlei’s willingness to fight the best of the best – even if it was up two weight classes at heavyweight – as proven by his heavyweight wars against guys like Mark Hunt, Gilbert Yvel, Kazuyuki Fujita and Cro Cop; Or, his battles against light heavyweights like Ortiz, and his most recent opponent, Brian Stann, who he knocked out in the second frame.

 

Silva is the latest in a long line of recent free agent signings made by Scott Coker and Bellator MMA. The former Chute Box competitor joins: Josh Thomson, Phil Davis, Benson Henderson, Sergei Kharitonov and Anastasia Yankova on a roster with champions the likes of: Marcos Galvao, Daniel Straus, Will Brooks, Andrey Koreshkov, Rafael Carvalho, Liam McGeary andVitaly Minakov,

mixed martial arts, MMA, RFA

RFA RETURNS TO SOUTH DAKOTA IN APRIL WITH CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLEHEADER

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MAIN EVENT:  RAFAEL VIANA vs. DEVIN CLARK  LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE
CO-MAIN EVENT:
 LEANDRO HIGO vs.

JOEY MIOLLA
BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE
FEATURE FIGHT:
JORDON LARSON vs. BRIAN CAMOZZI
WELTERWEIGHT WAR
FRIDAY, APRIL 15TH, 2016 LIVE ON AXS TV
LIVE at the SANFORD PENTAGON in SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA
 
Tickets on Sale Now at Ticketmaster.com
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) president Ed Soares announced today that the RFA will be returning to South Dakota in April and is set to crown its first light-heavyweight champion and a new bantamweight champion. In the main event, Devin “Brown Bear” Clark will fight for a world title in his hometown against top Brazilian prospect Rafael “Gaucho” Viana. In the co-main event, Joey “The Beast” Miolla and Leandro “Pitbull” Higo will battle for the vacant bantamweight crown.
RFA 37 – Viana vs. Clark takes place Friday, April 15th at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT.
“I am excited to announce that the RFA will be bringing two world title fights to South Dakota in April,” stated Soares. “Rafael Viana and Devin Clark are undefeated and two of the top 205-pound prospects in the world. They will compete for the inaugural RFA light-heavyweight title in the main event of RFA 37. In the co-headliner, Joey Miolla and Leandro Higo will both return to the Sanford Pentagon to fight for the vacant RFA bantamweight title.”
Tickets for RFA 37 – Viana vs Clark are available for purchase through Ticketmaster.com. You can also support your favorite fighter buy purchasing your tickets through CageTix.com/RFA.
Clark (5-0) is the most successful 205-pound fighter in RFA history and is looking to become the promotion’s first light-heavyweight champion in front of his hometown crowd. Clark is an NJCAA wrestling champion and a Golden Gloves boxing champion that has quickly seen his name rise to the top of several MMA light-heavyweight prospect rankings.  The Lincoln High School graduate has earned over half of his career wins inside the RFA Octagon and will be looking for the biggest win of his career in the main event of RFA 37.
“It’s an honor to fight for the inaugural RFA light-heavyweight title in front of my hometown crowd in Sioux Falls,” stated Clark. “Becoming the first RFA light-heavyweight champion will mean even more to me since I get to do it against such a talented and tough opponent.”
Viana (6-0) is the older brother of Bellator star Guilherme Viana and he also trains alongside UFC star Glover Teixeira. He is a BJJ black belt and the reigning Shooto Brasil light-heavyweight champion. Viana, like Clark, has proven to be clinical with his finishing ability and is eager to fight outside of his native Brazil for the first time. His international debut will also be his first fight televised worldwide and Viana is looking to take full advantage of it.
“I am very honored to be given this opportunity,” stated Viana. “This will be my first international fight and it is a great honor to fight for the inaugural RFA light-heavyweight title. I will put on a great show for the fans at RFA 37.”
The co-main event of RFA 37 will culminate in crowning the third bantamweight champion in RFA history. The first two champions, Pedro Munhoz and Luke Sanders, went 4-0 in the RFA before signing with the UFC. The vacant RFA bantamweight title will be up for grabs between two men who made their RFA debut on the same card last summer in back-to-back bouts. Joey Miolla (8-1) and Leandro Higo (15-2) represented their home countries on the historic “USA vs. BRAZIL” event that took place last August at RFA 29. Both men were victorious that night and showed why they are two of the most highly-regarded 135-pound prospects in the sport. On Friday, April 15th, Miolla and Higo will face off inside the same building that they made their RFA debut last summer, but this time the winner will be walking away with RFA gold strapped around their waist.
RFA 37 will also feature one of South Dakota’s favorite sons as Jordon Larson (6-2) is set to return in the welterweight feature fight. Larson will be making his fourth appearance for the RFA in his hometown of Sioux Falls against Colorado native Brian Camozzi (5-2). Larson, who has been the recipient of three of the loudest ovations in RFA history, will once again make the walk to the RFA Octagon in front of his adoring hometown fans. He will face Camozzi, who is the younger brother of UFC star Chris Camozzi. The younger Camozzi brother made a huge statement in his RFA debut in January. He showcased his dynamic skill set by becoming the first person to finish Tyler Milner and he did it in less than one round.
RFA 37 – Viana vs Clark takes place Friday, April 15th at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Additional bouts on the main card and preliminary card of RFA 37 will be announced soon. This will be the promotion’s fourth event to take place in “The Mount Rushmore State” of South Dakota and it will be the fourth RFA event of 2016. The entire main card of RFA 37 will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT thisFriday, April 15th.
Please visit RFAfighting.com for bout updates and information. RFA is also on Facebook at Facebook.com/RFAfighting, Instagram at @RFAfighting, and Twitter at @RFAfighting.
BAMMA, mixed martial arts, MMA

BAMMA 24 – Kone vs. Phillips Results, Fight Highlight’s and Video Footage

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BAMMA’s second event in Ireland was even more successful than their first, as nearly 6,000 fans packed the 3Arena for ‘BAMMA 24 – Kone vs. Phillips’ on February 27. The card, stacked with many of Ireland’s top contender’s, did not disappoint.  BAMMA 24 delivered many impressive KO and submission wins throughout the night, as 12 of the events 16 bouts ended with a finish. Some of the night’s stand-outs include John ‘The White Mike Tyson’ Phillips, BAMMA Featherweight Champion Tom ‘Firekid’ Duquesnoy, Irish fan favorite ‘The Housewives Choice’ Chris Fields and Dylan ‘The Nuke’ Tuke.

 

Phillips pulled off the big upset of the night by knocking out Cheick ‘Animal’ Kone in just 65 seconds, becoming the new BAMMA Middleweight Champion. BAMMA Featherweight Champion Tom ‘Firekid’ Duquesnoy knocked Damien ‘The Rage’ Rooney out cold in his bantamweight debut, ‘The Housewives Choice’ Chris Fields clinched an impressive first round submission win, and Dylan ‘The Nuke’ Tuke delivered a brutal TKO that fans are still talking about!

 

Click here to view BAMMA 24 replay footage: http://grabyo.com/g/bamma-2016

 

The stacked card for this Dublin event also featured several elite fighters from Straight Blast Gym (SBG) in Ireland. As noted on Fightsday.com, UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor took to FacebookSaturday night to pay tribute to his SBG teammates fighting on the BAMMA card. (See Facebook snapshot)

 

*FB Image source: Fightsday.com

 

Below are the official results from ‘BAMMA 24: Kone vs. Phillips’ held on Saturday February, 27 at the famed 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland.  BAMMA’s next event is BAMMA 25, to be held on May 14, 2016 at the Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham.  Tickets are on sale now at http://bit.ly/BAMMA25. For more information, please visit www.Bamma.com.

 

BAMMA 24 – Kone vs. Phillips Official Results

BAMMA is brought to you in Association with:

Spike TV & Channel 5 – BAMMA Broadcast Partners

Lonsdale & Sports Direct – The Official Equipment Partners of BAMMA

Safe MMA – Independent British Medical Organization

 

#BAMMA24 #ThisIsNotATest

 

MAIN CARD
(Main Event) BAMMA MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE
John ‘The White Mike Tyson’ Phillips Def. Cheick ‘Animal’ Kone via Knockout (Punch) Rd.1 1:05

MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT
Andy ‘Lions Paw’ DeVent Def. Paul Byrne via Knockout (Punches) Rd.1 0:59 

BANTAMWEIGHT SUPERFIGHT
Tom ‘Firekid’ DuQuesnoy Def. Damien ‘The Rage’ Rooney Via Knockout (Punch) Rd.1 1:23 

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT
‘The Housewives Choice’ Chris Fields Def. Dan Konecke via Submission (Darce Choke) Rd.1 4:39

 

PRELIMINARY CARD
LONSDALE BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE
Alan ‘The Apprentice’ Philpott Def. Nathaniel ‘The Prospect’ Wood Via TKO (Doctor Stoppage – Broken Nose) Rd.3 3:40

LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT
‘Magic’ Myles Price Def. Mario ‘Rudeboy’ Saeed Via TKO (Strikes) Rd. 2 1:24

WELTERWEIGHT BOUT
Peter ‘The Showstopper’ Queally Def. Nathan ‘Mr. Bag & Tag’ Jones Via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

FEATHERWEIGHT BOUT
Dylan ‘The Nuke’ Tuke Def. Mark ‘The Prophet’ Andrew Via TKO (Strikes) Rd.1 0:51

LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT

Brian ‘Pikeman’ Moore Def. Mick ‘Basher’ Brennan Via TKO (Strikes) Rd.1 2:39

FEATHERWEIGHT BOUT
Decky ‘The Diamond’ Dalton Def. Mike ‘Gip’ Cutting Via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

FEATHERWEIGHT BOUT
James Gallagher Def. Gerard Gilmore Submission (Rear Naked Choke) Rd.1 2:55

WOMENS FEATHERWEIGHT BOUT
Sinead Kavanagh Def. Zarah Fairn Dos Santos Via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

BANTAMWEIGHT BOUT
Sean Tobin Def. Gary ‘The Dumptruck’ Morris Via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) Rd.2 3:53

FEATHERWEIGHT BOUT
Lloyd Manning Def. Nicholas Ott Via Knockout (Punch) Rd.1 0:59

160lb CATCHWEIGHT BOUT
Rhys ‘Skeletor’ McKee Def. Alex Masuku Via Knockout (Headkick) Rd.1 2:51 

(AMATUER) LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT
Jay Moogan Def Cian Cowley Via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

*Tom DuQuesnoy is still the BAMMA Featherweight Champion, this was his debut at Bantamweight

 

A range of BAMMA 24 replay clips are now available here for use with your reports: http://grabyo.com/g/bamma-2016

 

ABOUT BAMMA:

BAMMA is Europe’s largest and most premier MMA organization. BAMMA launched in 2009 with the aim of delivering Mixed Martial Arts events that fully capture the entertainment and sporting prowess on display in the world’s fastest growing sport. BAMMA’s combination of arena sized venues, compelling fight cards and exceptional production values has led to the fight organizations unrivaled position as Europe’s leading MMA promotion, as well as a broadcast deal with Spike TV UK.  For more information, please visitwww.Bamma.com.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

PATRICIO ‘PITBULL’ FREIRE VS. JOHN ‘MACAPA’ TEIXEIRA TO CO-MAIN EVENT AT ‘BELLATOR 153: KORESHKOV VS. HENDERSON’ APRIL 22 ON SPIKE

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B153_1920x1080_comain_inhouse

 

‘IRISH’ BRENNAN WARD WELCOMES EVANGELISTA ‘CYBORG’ SANTOS TO THE BELLATOR MMA WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION

 

FOUR ADDITIONAL PRELIMINARY MATCHUPS ADDED TO THE MOHEGAN SUN EVENT IN CONNECTICUT

 

 

SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (March 1, 2016) – The co-main event for “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson” is set, with the news that Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (24-3) will compete against John “Macapa” Teixeira (19-1-2) in featherweight action on April 22 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

 

In addition, Connecticut’s own “Irish” Brennan Ward (13-3) returns to action in his home state fresh off an impressive victory in Japan, when he welcomes Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (20-16) into the Bellator MMA fray at 170-pounds.

 

The two bouts join a main event that features the highly anticipated Bellator debut of Benson “Smooth” Henderson (23-5), as he challenges welterweight champion Andrey Koreshkov (18-1) for his belt. Four preliminary bouts were also announced; additional contests will be added in the coming weeks.

 

Tickets for “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson” start at just $30 and are on sale now at Bellator.com, Ticketmaster.com and the Mohegan Sun Box Office. 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.

 

For “Pitbull,” a fight on April 22 is the first step back towards a shot at Daniel Straus’ featherweight title, a belt that Freire held before the two met at “Bellator 145: With A Vengeance.” At 28 years of age and with already 15 fights under the Bellator MMA banner, the Natal-native has been victorious in seven out of his last eight outings and emphatically finished Daniel Weichel in what was a knockout of the year candidate in 2015.

 

Undefeated in Bellator MMA, including an entertaining victory his last time out against Gleristone Santos; “Macapa” has not suffered defeat since 2012. A product of the highly regarded Nova Uniao team, Teixeira has previously competed in the UFC, where he was a competitor on “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.” April 22 will only be the fourth time the 29-year-old has fought outside of Brazil.

 

For Ward, fighting at the Mohegan Sun is like competing in his own backyard. Located 10 miles from his home in New London, Conn., “Irish” has won four times at the Mohegan Sun, all by finish with three KOs and one submission. Most recently, the 27-year-old former NCAA All-American moved up in weight and submitted former heavyweight Ken Hasegawa in Japan while representing Bellator MMA during Rizin FF’s inaugural event this past December. The win brought Ward’s current winning streak to five fights, all coming by way of finish.

 

Best known to fans as “Cyborg,” Santos enters the Scott Coker-led promotion fresh off a win already in 2016. A veteran of Pride FC and Strikeforce, “Cyborg” has been involved in some memorable tussles against names the likes of: Nick Diaz, Gegard Mousasi, Francis Carmont, and Melvin Manhoef (2x). Now, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt will turn his attention to one of Bellator MMA’s fastest rising stars.

 

“Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson” Updated Fight Card:

 

Bellator MMA Welterweight World Title Bout: Andrey Koreshkov (18-1) vs. Benson Henderson (23-5)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Co-Main Event: Patricio Freire (24-3) vs. John Teixeira (19-1-2)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Feature Bout: Brennan Ward (13-3) vs. Evangelista Santos (20-16)

 

Preliminary Card:

 

Bellator MMA Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Sam Watford (1-0) vs. Dean Hancock (2-0)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Chris Foster (8-4) vs. Felipe Lavandoski (5-0)

Bellator MMA Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Jason Bakanowski (3-2) vs. T.J. Hepburn (4-2)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Pete Rogers (2-3) vs. Mike Mangan (0-3)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

‘BELLATOR 151: WARREN VS. CALDWELL’ FIGHT CARD UPDATE – THIS FRIDAY ON SPIKE

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 B151_18x24_tunein

Click below for “What to Watch: Warren vs. Caldwell”

 

SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (February 29, 2016) – This Friday, Bellator MMA returns to Spike for the third consecutive Friday with “Bellator 151: Warren vs. Caldwell.” The event takes place from the WinStar World Casino & Resort in Thackerville, OK, and features a main event between highly touted undefeated bantamweight Darrion Caldwell (8-0) challenging former two-division world champion and the self-proclaimed “Baddest Man on the Planet” Joe Warren (13-4).

Tickets for “Bellator 151: Warren vs. Caldwell” are on sale now and start at just $45. You can purchase tickets at the WinStar World Casino and Resort Box Office, as well as Ticketmaster.com and Bellator.com. Doors for the event open at 5:00 p.m. CT local time, with the first contest taking place 45 minutes later.

“Bellator 151: Warren vs. Caldwell” 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.. Additional bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

Joe Warren (13-4) vs. Darrion Caldwell (8-0)

Warren has just about done it all under the Bellator MMA banner, winning titles at featherweight and bantamweight during his nearly six-year promotional tenure. Now, Warren has his sights set on another run with the 135-pound title, a belt he lost during an intense encounter with Marcos Galvao early in 2015. A 2006 Pan American and World Champion in Greco-Roman competition, the 39-year-old will test himself against a young competitor who excels in the same skillset that Warren has used to his advantage for most of his career, wrestling.

 

With five impressive outings in a little over a year and a half under the Bellator MMA umbrella, it was only a matter of time before “The Wolf” found himself in a position to compete for a world title. The next stop on the road to championship gold goes through Warren, a man who has held Galvao’s belt already. A standout on the wrestling team at NC State University, the 27-year-old Caldwell most recently submitted Shawn Bunch via rear-naked choke in the first frame, adding to his tally of finishes (4). Initially a featherweight, Caldwell looks much more comfortable now at 135-pounds and as he proclaimed during a recent interview, “I foresee myself competing against Joe [Warren] with a No. 1 contender shot on the line, sooner rather than later.”

 

Fernando Gonzalez (24-13) vs. Gilbert Smith (12-4)

Gonzalez took a brief hiatus from MMA to compete in the kickboxing portion of the groundbreaking “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” event in September, losing a tightly contest decision to world-renowned striker Paul “Semtex” Daley. Gonzalez now returns to his comfort zone of MMA, where he has strung together an impressive four-fight winning streak. A veteran of the Scott Coker-founded Strikeforce promotion, as well as World Extreme Cagefighting, Gonzalez has been competing professionally since 2003.

 

Smith will be making his Bellator MMA debut against a fighter who is currently in the midst of a four-fight winning streak. “Midnight Magic” is on a bit of a roll of his own, coming into the promotion riding a two-bout winning streak. A veteran of UFC and most recently RFA, Smith won the regional promotion’s welterweight belt in June, defending the title one time before signing with Bellator.

 

Goiti Yamauchi (19-2) vs. Bubba Jenkins (10-2)

Yamauchi comes into the fight riding a wave of momentum he’s caught after wins against Mike Richman, Martin Stapleton, and Isao Kobayashi. The 23-year-old Japanese fighter has only lost once in six appearances under the Bellator MMA banner and has notched 15 of his 19 wins as a professional by way of submission.

 

It’s hard to ignore Jenkins inside or outside the Bellator MMA cage, being that “The Highlight Kid” also doubles as a podcast host during his free time. The Arizona State alum notched two straight wins to cap off 2015, most recently, an impressive offensive display against a promising prospect in Jordan Parsons.

 

Sirwan Kakai (12-3) vs. Joe Taimanglo (21-6-1)

Taimanglo will be making his seventh appearance under the Bellator MMA umbrella, and is riding a two-fight winning streak. A Guam-native, “The Juggernaut” has stopped his opponent in 21 of his victories and has only lost twice in his last 14 fights. Look for the 31-year-old to make an impression against the bantamweight division’s newest commodity.

 

Kakai is one of Bellator MMA’s latest signings, joining the fray after a two-fight stint in the UFC. “Zohan,” 26, hails from Sweden and owns 10 finishes in his 12 victories as a professional fighter. With a bantamweight title fight one-week prior and another marquee 135-pound pairing in the main event, it will be interesting to see what a win does for Kakai in the grand scheme of things.

 

Complete “Bellator 151: Warren vs. Caldwell” Fight Card:

 

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Main Event: Joe Warren (13-4) vs. Darrion Caldwell (8-0)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Co-Main Event: Gilbert Smith (12-4) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (24-13)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Feature Bout: Goiti Yamauchi (19-2) vs. Bubba Jenkins (10-2)

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Feature Bout: Sirwan Kakai (12-3) vs. Joe Taimanglo (21-6-1)

 

Preliminary Card:

 

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Roger Carroll (16-13) vs. Neiman Gracie (3-0)

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Steve Garcia (6-0) vs. Ricky Turcios (5-0)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Justin Patterson (6-1) vs. Chance Rencountre (8-1)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Chris Jones (10-3) vs. Ray Wood (5-1)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Derek Palmer (Debut) vs. Jermayne Barnes (0-1)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Steven Peterson (13-4) vs. Stephen Banaszak (5-5)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Treston Thomison (8-4) vs. Aaron Roberson (5-3)

 

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

M-1 Challenge 64 Bonus Performances Announce

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MOSCOW (February 29, 2016) – M-1 Global has announced its M-1 Challenge 64bonus performances, highlighted by co-Fight of the Night awards, along with KO of the Night and Submission of the Night.
 
Veteran Russian fighter Alexander Shlemenklo (52-9-0), a three-time Bellator champion, won a close unanimous decision over former 2-division M-1 Challenge division Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (28-3-0), of Russia, in their M-1 Global Grand Prix Middleweight Tournament co-Fight of the Night match (pictured below).
 
Sharing top honors for Fight of the Night (see below) was Pavel Vitruk (13-2-0) vs. Ukrainian Vitaly Branchuk (21-5-0), in which Vitruk won a decision in their M-1 Challenge Bantamweight Semifinals Eliminator match.
 
Russian heavyweight Kurban Ibragimov (4-1-0) won KO of the Night honors with his opening-round stoppage of Ukrainian Dmitriy Mikutsa (5-3-0).
 
Submission of the Night (see below) was awarded to Russian strongman Alexander “Drago” Volkov (25-6-0), who captured the vacant M-1 Challenge heavyweight championship, for his winning third-round triangle choke Denis Smoldarev (11-2-0), of Estonia.
 

 
Information

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Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

CHEICK KONGO INCHES PAST VINICIUS SPARTAN IN ‘BELLATOR 150’ MAIN EVENT ON SPIKE

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COMPLETE BELLATOR 150 PHOTOS HERE

MULVANE, Kan. (February 26, 2015) – A week removed from the most watched Bellator MMA event in company history, the Scott Coker-led promotion returned to action on SPIKE with “Bellator 150: Kongo vs. Queiroz,” an event that delivered five spectacular main card fights.

 

In the evening’s main event, Cheick Kongo (24-10-2) intelligently managed the distance between he and Vinicius Spartan (8-4), kicking and jabbing his way to a split decision victory (30-27, 28-29, 29-28).

 

Spartan did have his moments during the heavyweight encounter, securing takedowns in rounds two and three, followed by a knockdown late. But in the end, Kongo received the benefit of the doubt from the Kansas-appointed judges. The Frenchman has now won two straight, and improved to 6-2 overall under the Bellator MMA banner.

It only took David Rickels (17-4) three minutes and 49 seconds to finish Bobby Cooper (12-6) in front of a sellout crowd at Kansas Star Arena on Friday. Both men had their moments during the action, but after a knee to the body dropped Cooper to his knees, “The Caveman” pummelled his foe with hammerfists until referee John McCarthy called a stop to the action.

Kendall Grove (23-15) stopped Francisco France (13-4-1) with a vicious punch 35 seconds into the second round, winning by knockout. The victory was an emotional one for “Da Spyder,” who recently lost his brother and made it clear his performance was dedicated to his late sibling. Grove has now won three of his last four tilts, all via finish.

Chuka Willis (7-2) handed Gaston Reyno (5-1) the first defeat of his mixed martial arts career on Friday, winning via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27). The scrap went back-and-forth over the course of 15 minutes, with multiple submission attempts and knockdowns by both men. But in the end – much to the delight of the partisan crowd – Willis earned the nod.

Former Shamrock FC Flyweight Champion Rebecca Ruth (6-1) defeated Lena Ovchynnikova (10-4) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) in the opening main card fight at “Bellator 150: Kongo vs. Queiroz.” For “Ruthless” the win is the first of her career via the judges’ scorecards and extended her current winning streak to four straight.

 

Preliminary Card Results:

 

Kyle Noblitt (2-0) defeated David Hammons (1-2) via TKO (punches)

Rome Lindsay (5-5) defeated Marcio Navarro (14-12) via TKO (punches) 2:30, R1

Chris Harris (5-0) defeated Julian Marquez (2-1) via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Andre Fialho (6-0) defeated Manny Meraz (7-2) via knockout (punches) :29, R1

Gregory Babene (17-11) defeated Brandon Farran (12-11) via submission (rear-naked choke) 3:37, R1

Thai Clark (6-0) defeated Deron Carlis (4-2) via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

RAFAEL CARVALHO SET TO DEFEND MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE AGAINST MELVIN MANHOEF AT ‘BELLATOR 155’ ON MAY 20

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PAT CURRAN RETURNS AGAINST GEORGI KARAKHANYAN IN FEATHERWEIGHT ACTION

SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (February 26, 2016) – Rafael Carvalho (12-1) will make his first defense of the Bellator MMA Middleweight Championship against heavy-handed Melvin “No Mercy” Manhoef (30-12-1) in the main event of “Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” on May 20 at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho.

 

In the co-main event, former Bellator MMA Featherweight Titlist Pat Curran (21-7) will return to action for the first time since June, when he faces the always-dangerous Georgi Karakhanyan (24-5-1).

 

Tickets for “Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” start at just $25 and go on sale next Friday, March 4 at Bellator.com, the CenturyLink Arena Box Office, CenturyLinkArenaBoise.com or by phone at 208-331-TIXS.

 

“Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” 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. Additional contests will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

Carvalho’s second-round body kick knockout of Brandon Halsey at “Bellator 144: Halsey vs. Carvalho” was the third biggest oddsmaker upset in 2015, and extended his current winning streak to 12. The 29-year-old will be making his fourth appearance under the Bellator MMA banner and has an impressive finishing rate of 83 percent.

With a resume of knockouts as violent as Manhoef, it’s no surprise the Dutch competitor has been given the nickname of “No Mercy.” Known for his relentless striking style, the former K-1 and Strikeforce competitor is fresh off his emphatic knockout of Hisaki Kato at “Bellator 146: Manhoef vs. Kato” in November. Now the 39-year-old is in position to lay claim to the Bellator 185-pound MMA title, before returning to kickboxing competition in the newly founded Bellator Kickboxing league.

 

It’s hard to find a Bellator MMA fighter with as many memorable moments for the Scott Coker-led promotion as Pat Curran. The former featherweight kingpin has been involved in wars with fighters the likes of: current champion Daniel Straus, Patricio Freire, Daniel Weichel, and Joe Warren. Now “Paddy Mike” sets his sights on “Insane,” in a bout that surely has future title implications at stake.

 

Karakhanyan made a splash in his return to Bellator MMA in 2015, choking out Bubba Jenkins in his first fight for the Viacom-owned promotion since 2011. Now, the Millenia MMA standout will put his knack for submitting opponents (14x) to the test against Curran, a fighter who has only been submitted once in 28-fights.

“Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” Updated Fight Card

 

Bellator MMA Middleweight World Title Fight: Rafael Carvalho (12-1) vs. Melvin Manhoef (30-12-1)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Co-Main Event: Pat Curran (21-7) vs. Georgi Karakhanyan (24-5-1)

mixed martial arts, MMA, Showtime, UFC

JACKSON WINK MMA ACADEMY FEATURED ON THE NEXT EDITION OF “60 MINUTES SPORTS” TUESDAY, MARCH 1 ON SHOWTIME®

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lick HERE To Watch A Video Preview Of This Segment: http://s.sho.com/1KLdpqm

 

NEW YORK (Feb. 25, 2016) – Noted mixed martial arts journalist Jon L. Wertheim takes an in-depth and personal look at how Holly Holm, a barely known underdog, was able to knock out women’s MMA queen Ronda Rousey.  In the piece, Wertheim visits Jackson Wink MMA Academy in Albuquerque, N.M., the home of Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn.  Wertheim investigates how the world-renowned trainers helped guide Holm to victory last November and have established their once-unheralded outpost in Albuquerque as a mecca for some of the best MMA fighters in the world.

 

Wertheim’s report appears on the next edition of 60 MINUTES SPORTS, premiering Tuesday, March 1 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME.  Nathalie Sommer is the producer.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

ILLNESS REMOVES MARCOS GALVAO FROM CARD, CHEICK KONGO VERSUS VINICIUS QUEIROZ PROMOTED TO MAIN EVENT SLOT

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MULVANE, Kan. (February 25, 2015) – Over the course of fight week, Marcos “Loro” Galvao (17-6-1) has been battling an illness. After consulting physicians, Bellator officials have decided to to pull him from his Bellator MMA Bantamweight Title defense against former champion Eduardo Dantas (17-4).

 

After making weight inside Kansas Star Arena at 10 a.m. CT, Dantas was paid his show money. The fight will be rescheduled in the near future.

 

As a result, Cheick Kongo (23-10-2) against Vinicius Queiroz (8-3) will now serve as the headliner and David Rickels (16-4) versus Bobby Cooper (12-5) is the new co-main event. Rounding out the SPIKE-televised card will be a middleweight attraction pitting Kendall Grove (22-15) against Kiko France (13-3-1), the Bellator MMA debut of Lena Ovchynnikova (10-3), when she fights Rebecca Ruth (5-1) and Gaston Reyno (5-0) – fresh off his new exclusive multi-fight contract with Bellator MMA – will fight against Chuka Willis (6-2).

 

“Bellator 150: Kongo vs. Queiroz,” airs live 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.

 

Complete “Bellator 150: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” Fight Card:

 

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Main Event: Cheick Kongo (23-10-2) vs. Vinicius Queiroz (8-3)

Bellator MMA Lightweight Co-Main Event: Dave Rickels (16-4, 1 NC) vs. Bobby Cooper (12-5)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Feature Bout: Kendall Grove (22-15) vs. Francisco France (13-3-1)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Feature Bout: Gaston Reyno (5-0) vs. Chuka Willis (6-2)

Bellator MMA Flyweight Feature Bout: Lena Ovchynnikova (10-3) vs. Rebecca Ruth (5-1)

 

Preliminary Card:

 

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Feature Bout: David Hammons (1-1) vs. Kyle Noblitt (1-0) 

Bellator MMA Middleweight Feature Bout: Brandon Farran (12-10) vs. Gregory Babene (16-11)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Feature Bout: Manny Meraz (7-1) vs. Andre Fialho (5-0)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Feature Bout: Chris Harris (4-0) vs. Julian Marquez (2-0)

Bellator MMA Lightweight Feature Bout: Marcio Navarro (14-11) vs. Henry Lindsay (4-5)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Feature Bout: Thai Clark (5-0) vs. Deron Carlis (4-1)

Bellator MMA Lightweight Feature Bout: Jason Witt (7-2) vs. Jonathan Gary (11-6)