 ST. PETERSBURG, Zog ntawm Guj kuj (Lub ib hlis ntuj 26, 2016) – Reigning M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Ramazan Emeev will take on Brazilian challenger Maiquel “Big Rig” Falcao in the second M-1 Grand Prix middleweight eliminator, Lub peb hlis ntuj 4 tom M 1 sib tw 65, in Moscow.
The first M-1 Grand Prix match of 2016 is set in the middleweight division as three-time Bellator champion Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko (51-9-0, M-1: 2-0-0) takes on former M-1 Challenge middleweight and light heavyweight titlist Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (27-3-0, M-1: 10-1-0)tom M 1 sib tw 64, Lub ob hlis ntuj 19 at Olympic Stadium in Moscow.
The winners of Shlemenko vs. Vasilevsky and Emeev vs. Falcao will advance to the M-1 Grand Prix middleweight championship later this year.
“We tried to get the strongest middleweight fighters and did a great job to give fans the most spectacular match-ups,” M-1 Global president Vadim Finkelchtein Hais. “Every single fight is intriguing in M-1 Grand Prix. I can’t guess how these fights will end up. Every single fighter has his advantages. Therefore, I think all of these fights are 50-50.”
Emeev (13-3-0, M-1: 7-1-0), the 2015 M-1 Global Fighter of the Year, is a two-time M-1 Challenge middleweight champion. Born in Azerbaijan but fighting and training out of Markaxhkala, Zog ntawm Guj kuj, Emeev originally captured the vacant M-1 Challenge middleweight crown in 2012 tom M 1 sib tw 35, winning a decision over Mario Miranda. Emeev successfully defended his title in a rematch five months later with Miranda, who was stopped via strikes in the third round at M 1 sib tw 38.
In his next title defense, Emeev lost his title belt at M 1 sib tw 51 as Vasilevsky won by fourth-round stoppage via punches. Seven months later in a rematch, Emeev defeated Vasilevsky by first round submission (choke), and the champion defended his title this past December at M-1 Challenge 63, when American challenger Fioravanti Luigi was unable to continue fighting after two rounds.
Falcao may be making his M-1 Global debut at M 1 sib tw 65, however, the Brazilian black belt holder is a veteran of 43 professional MMA bouts with 23 knockouts. The 34-year old Falcao split two fights with Vasilevsky and he was stopped by Shlemenko in the second round at Bellator 69.
M 1 sib tw 64 & 65 will be streamed live from Russia in high definition onwww.M1Global.TV. Viewers will be able to watch the preliminary fights and main card by logging on to register at www.M1Global.TV. Fans may watch all of the action on their computers, as well as on Android and Apple smart phones and tablets.
|
Qeb Archives: MMA
WSOF29: GAETHJE VS. FOSTER MOVES TO BANK OF COLORADO ARENA ON SATURDAY, MARCH 12, LIVE ON NBCSN
|
||
|
The FNU Combat Sports Show With MMA Referee Kevin MacDonald
Kevin MacDonald is one of the most knowledgeable and professional referees in Mixed Martial Arts. Just last Sunday he was the third man in the cage for three fights on the UFC Fight Night 81: Dillashaw vs. Cruz card. Our interview covers a wide range of topics, from rule and weight class changes on the horizon to a few behind-the-scenes glimpses into the UFC’s operations. Psychic Tom Padgett and Rabble Rousin’ Rich Bergeron also recap the past week’s combat sports events (including Szpilka vs. Wilder and Cruz vs. Dillashaw) and preview the next UFC event headlined by Anthony Johnson vs. Ryan Bader.
WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING AND TALK2LEGENDS PARTNER TO PROVIDE AN UNRIVALED FAN-ATHLETE INTERACTION EXPERIENCE
|
||
|
WMMAA Pan-American Congress Feb. 5-8 in Albuquerque, New Mexico
|
|
M-1 Grand Prix Tournament relaunched
ST. PETERSBURG, Zog ntawm Guj kuj (Lub ib hlis ntuj 20, 2016) – M-1 Global President Vadim Finkelchtein recently announced the relaunching of its popular series, M-1 Grand Prix Tournament.
“We’ve been preparing this a long time and now we’re happy to officially announce our 2016 M-1 Grand Prix Tournament,” Finkelchtein said. “This has been a very popular format and fans are always excited about it. This time we will feature a 4-man tournament, rather than the usual 8-man pairings, because the 4-man version is faster and more entertaining. We don’t want to bore people with long expectation periods and lessen the risk of occasional injuries and fighter changes in the tournament.”
The first M-1 Grand Prix match of 2016 is set in the middleweight division as three-time Bellator champion Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko (51-9-0, M-1: 2-0-0) takes on former M-1 Challenge middleweight and light heavyweight titlist Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (27-3-0, M-1: 10-1-0)tom M 1 sib tw 64, Lub ob hlis ntuj 19 at Olympic Stadium in Moscow.
“Well, we were choosing between several offers from different promotions,” explained Shlemenoko’s manager Alexey Zhernakov. “Thaum kawg, we came to the conclusion that M-1 Grand Prix participation is the most interesting option for us at the moment. Alexander is still under Bellator’s exclusive contract. Therefore, we had to negotiate with Bellator, which kindly allowed us to sign with M-1 Global. We expect Alexander Shlemenko to take part in major M-1 Challenge events as they are always organized at a high level and broadly covered by the media.”
M 1 sib tw 64 will be streamed live from Moscow in high definition on www.M1Global.TV. Viewers will be able to watch the preliminary fights and main card by logging on to register atwww.M1Global.TV. Fans may watch all of the action on their computers, as well as on Android and Apple smart phones and tablets.
WSOF28: MORAES VS. BARAJAS WORLD BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP HITS ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, LIVE ON NBCSN
|
||
|
West Coast Fighting in Sacramento this Saturday
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – This Saturday mixed martial arts fans will pour into the McClellan Conference Center in Sacramento for West Coast Fighting Championship 16.
The 13-bout card features a main event that’s been dubbed “King of Sacramento” pitting local favorites Max Griffin and David Mitchell.
“It wasn’t easy, but we were able to put it together,” West Coast Fighting Championship matchmaker Jeremy Luchau said. “There was a lot that had to be negotiated between Max and David, but ultimately I feel like both guys were able to concede in some areas to make the fight happen.”
The showdown will take place at a catch weight of 175 pounds and although a non-title affair will be contested with a possible five rounds.
Griffin (11-2) is the current West Coast Fighting 170-pound champ and former Tachi Palace Fights welterweight kingpin. Meanwhile, Mitchell (19-5) has held titles for the promotion at middleweight and heavyweight.
“I’m not sure there’s been a more significant fight booked in that region in a long time,” said Luchau, who has served as the West Coast Fighting matchmaker since early 2015. “I really believe that with a victory, one of these guys should get the call.”
In the co-main event, an equally impressive tilt takes place pitting Sacramento’s Josh Emmett against Sothern California’s Christos Giagos.
“Emmett has been the man in the region for a long, long time,” Luchau said of the 8-0 Team Alpha Male product. “He has pretty much run the course of competition in the region, defeated all comers and is now looking to make that jump to the next level.”
He will have to do so against the well-versed Giagos (11-4), who held titles at both Tachi Palace Fights and Resurrection Fighting Alliance, before being cut from the Ultimate Fighting Championship after going 1-2.
“Giagos is a game opponent and was just the what the Emmett camp was looking for to give them that boost to the next level,” Luchau said. “It’s another fight where I feel like the UFC could be the next step for either guy.”
A pair of local heavyweights will vie for the newly vacant strap, as Josh Appelt (11-5) takes on Roy Boughton (12-6).
A pair of UFC vets will also be featured on the undercard, as Turlock welterweight and UFC vet Lewis Gonzalez (10-2) fights Ty Freeman (9-4) and hard-hitting, UFC vet Scott Smith (18-10) clashes with Bellator vet Baesman (17-8).
For ticketing and streaming information visit www.westcoastfighting.com
M-1 Grand Prix 2016 Alexander Shlemenko vs. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky To headline M-1 Challenge 64, FEB. 19 in Moscow
|
||||||
|
INJURY TO AUGUSTO SAKAI ALTERS ‘BELLATOR 150: GALVAO VS. DANTAS 2’ CO-MAIN EVENT
ALSO: LENA OVCHYNNIKOVA SET FOR BELLATOR MMA DEBUT
MONICA RAUG, Calif. (Lub ib hlis ntuj 15, 2015) – An injury to Augusto Sakai has derailed his previously announced pairing with Cheick Kongo (23-10-2) during “Bellator 150: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” at Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane, Kansas. As a result, Vinicius Queiroz (8-3) has agreed to fight Kongo in the co-main event on Lub ob hlis ntuj 26.
tsis tas li ntawd, the main card will feature the Bellator MMA debut of newly signed women’s flyweight Lena Ovchynnikova (10-3), when she meets Rebecca Ruth (5-1).
Bellator MMA’s Bantamweight Championship will be on the line at “Bellator 150: Galvao vs. Dantas 2,” in a rematch pitting Marcos “Loro” Galvao(17-6-1) against former champion Eduardo “Dudu” Dantas (17-4) and hometown favorite, David Rickels (16-4, 1 NC) will return to action against Bobby Cooper (12-5).
The contests make up the televised portion of “Bellator 150: Galvao vs. Dantas 2,” which airs live on Spike at 9 p.m. LI/8 p.m. I, while preliminary bouts will stream live on Bellator.com thiab The Bellator Mobile App.
Tickets for “Bellator 150: Galvao vs. Dantas 2,” which start at just $27, are on sale now at KansasStarEventCenter.com or Ticketmaster.com, as well as the Kansas Star Arena box office.
Kongo will be making his eighth appearance under the Bellator MMA banner, looking to add to his impressive promotional mark of 5-2. The Paris native has fought a who’s who in the mixed martial arts landscape, with notable wins against Mirko Cro Cop, Pat Barry, Matt Mitrione, and Alexander Volkov already on his record. In his last outing – which just so happened to be inside the Kansas Star Arena — Kongo impressively defeated Volkov via unanimous decision.
After nearly two years out of action, Queiroz returned to the Bellator MMA cage against Ewerton Teixeira tom “Bellator 139: Kongo vs. Volkov,” defeating his Brazilian opponent via second round arm-triangle choke. “Spartan” hopes to plant the seeds for a busy 2016 with the matchup against Kongo, where a win can undoubtedly place him in the midst of the heavyweight title picture.
Hailing from Ukraine, Ovchynnikova will enter the fray fresh off a new exclusive, multi-fight contract with Bellator MMA. “Hunter” has previously fought the likes of Joanne Calderwood and at only 28-years-old has already competed professionally since 2006. Now, Ovchynnikova looks to solidify herself as a top contender in the budding women’s flyweight division on Lub ob hlis ntuj 26 against a tough foe in Ruth.
“Becky” Ruth was undefeated in 2015, winning all three of her matchups by echnical knockout under the Shamrock Fighting Championships banner. The lone loss on the Missouri native’s record came against Resurrection Fighting Alliance champion Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger, via controversial split decision.
The “Bellator 150: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” undercard has also nearly been completed, with the announcement of eight pairings which are listed below. An undefeated Bellator MMA prospect will be in action during the preliminary portion of the event, when Gaston Reyno (5-0) returns to the cage with the intent of keeping his unblemished record intact.
Kho tshiab "Bellator 150: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” Fight Card:
Bellator MMA Bantamweight Title Main Event: Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) vs. Eduardo Dantas (17-4)
Bellator MMA Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Cheick Kongo (23-10-2) vs. Vinicius Queiroz (8-3)
Bellator MMA Lightweight Feature Bout: Dave Rickels (16-4, 1 NC) vs. Bobby Cooper (12-5)
Bellator MMA Flyweight Feature Bout: Lena Ovchynnikova (10-3) vs. Rebecca Ruth (5-1)
Preliminary Card:
Bellator MMA Middleweight Feature Bout: Gregory Babene (16-11) vs. Trey Houston (11-3)
Bellator MMA Featherweight Feature Bout: Gaston Reyno (5-0) vs. Chuka Willis (6-2)
Bellator MMA Heavyweight Feature Bout: Daniel Gallemore (4-3) vs. Frederick Brown (3-2)
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 Welterweight Feature Bout: Manny Meraz (7-1) vs. Andre Fialho (5-0)
Bellator MMA Lightweight Feature Bout: Jason Witt (7-2) vs. Jonathan Gary (11-6)