Category Archives: MMA

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA

‘BELLATOR 149: SHAMROCK VS. GRACIE’ TAKES PLACE FEBRUARY 19 AT TOYOTA CENTER IN HOUSTON

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SHAMROCK – GRACIE III PLUS

 KIMBO SLICE RETURNS TO ACTION FOR GRUDGE MATCH AGAINST FELLOW MIAMI BRAWLER ‘DADA 5000’

 

OFFICIAL PRESS CONFERENCE TO TAKE PLACE WED., NOV. 11 AT TOYOTA CENTER DETAILS TO FOLLOW

 

 

SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (November 6) – It’s a pairing that is synonymous with the sport of mixed martial arts —Ken Shamrock versus Royce Gracie — and Bellator MMA is pleased to bring these two pioneers together for a third time on Feb. 19 at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas at “Bellator 149: Shamrock vs. Gracie.”

 

While this mega-fight is more than enough to round out the latest tentpole offering from Scott Coker and company, everything is bigger in Texas and that’s why in addition to the aforementioned blockbuster main event, Kimbo Slice will meet the man who has been calling him out since the two parted ways years ago, Dhafir Harris, better known as “Dada 5000.”

 

Tickets for this MMA extravaganza start at $30 and go on sale Saturday, November 14 at Bellator.com, as well as HoustonToyotaCenter.com, Toyota Center Box Office and Houston area Randall’s locations.

 

Gracie is a living legend, considered by many as the Godfather of MMA. This iconic pioneer of the sport is returning to competition for the first time in almost a decade for the third fight in his trilogy against fellow MMA great Ken “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” Shamrock.

 

Since returning to action earlier this year, Shamrock has made it clear that his present MMA run is about closing the book on longstanding feuds and solidifying his place as one of the sports all-time greats.

 

The two great warriors fought twice before in their illustrious careers, with Gracie defeating Shamrock in November 1993 via submission and then later in April of 1995, when the two fought to draw in an unforgettable 36-minute bout.

 

Kimbo Slice’s meteoric rise to fame from Miami street fighter to wildly popular MMA fighter is legendary. After his triumphant victory at the record-breaking “Bellator 138: Unfinished Business” event in June, Slice returns to action with more than merely victory on his mind.

 

Harris, a childhood friend and former bodyguard of Kimbo, also gained acclaim from his promotion and participation in the rugged world of street fighting. The story of the South Florida-resident was brought to the forefront of the combat sports world recently in the documentary entitled “Dawg Fight.”

 

Now, the two former street warriors are set to write the final chapter of their beef in front of millions of people worldwide as Dada 5000 takes his prodigious brawling skills to the Bellator MMA cage against Kimbo Slice.

 

You won’t want to miss “Bellator 149: Shamrock vs. Gracie” on Feb. 19. With not one, but two main events airing live and free on Spike, the latest and greatest from Bellator MMA promises to close the book on two very different rivalries.

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

NEW SPORT, SAME FIGHTING PASSION FOR JOSH PARKER

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Lewiston, Maine (November 5, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its next event, “NEF XX: A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE” on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The event will feature a first for Maine – mixed-martial-arts (MMA) bouts and professional boxing bouts on the same event with an MMA cage and a boxing ring set up side-by-side.  In a featured lightweight professional boxing match, Josh Parker (0-1) has signed to face Elias “Danger Mouse” Leland (0-0) in a four-round contest.

 

While the bout will be Parker’s first boxing match with NEF, he is no stranger to longtime fans of the promotion.  Parker was a regular on NEF MMA cards during the early days of the company. He put together a record of 4-8 as a professional MMA competitor over the course of five years.  Parker feels that he has found his true home not in the MMA cage, but in the boxing ring.

 

“Boxing is a better fit for me because I’ve always loved the standup part of MMA,” noted Parker.  “When I was offered the Brandon Berry (9-1) fight and started focusing on that alone, I knew I had found my true calling. I quit my job, started building a fight team, and have done nothing but study and train since.  My plan is to stay very active, I’d like to fight every couple months if possible.”

 

As noted, Parker began his boxing career in the spring of 2014 when he accepted a bout with Brandon Berry in North Anson, Maine.  Parker held his own in the bout, eventually dropping a four-round decision.  Fans have speculated that there would be a rematch at some point down the road between the two.

 

“You know, people always ask that, but I really don’t care about fighting Brandon again,” said Parker.  “You watch the fight and tell me how the judges came up with the scores they did. That fight was on five weeks of boxing training.  Now I’ve had a year and a half.  If he’s standing in the path on the way to the top then so be it, but it’s not something I’m thinking about.”

 

What is on Parker’s mind is his fight team – Ruthless MMA & Boxing.  Opened in 2014 and based out of Benton, Maine, Ruthless is one of the standout new teams emerging on the Maine fight scene consisting of scrappy young athletes.  In founding the team, Parker is very clear that he is only interested in training those who are serious about competing as fighters.

 

“Ruthless is different because I’m not in it for the money.  I don’t take people who are just trying to get in shape or learn about MMA or boxing.  We don’t do ‘classes.’  We fight, every day.  I’m building a fight team.  When we fight, we’re looking for the finish.”

 

Unfortunately for Parker, he has had some trouble finding boxing matches in the past year-and-a-half following the Berry fight.  With NEF now operating as an MMA and boxing promotion, Parker, and others like him, are destined to benefit from the company’s stability and consistent events schedule.

 

“It’s been very frustrating,” said Parker of trying to find boxing matches.  “I’ve tried setting up a couple fights through other promotions out of state and they’ve fallen through.  I know I can always count on NEF to give me the opportunity to showcase my skills.  I’m extremely excited for November 21st, especially to be a part of the first dual MMA and boxing show.  It’s been a year-and-a-half since my boxing debut. I’ve done nothing but train since.  I can’t wait to finally be able to put all that hard work to the test.”

 

And Parker will, no doubt, be tested on November 21 at “NEF XX.” His opponent, Elias Leland, is a member of Jay Jack’s Academy of MMA in Portland, Maine.  Leland is a talented mixed-martial-artist who has competed regularly on NEF cards.  He is currently 2-1 as a professional MMA fighter after putting together a 3-1 record as an amateur.  While Leland has established himself as a submission specialist, he has shown very good hands and standup abilities to date in MMA bouts.

 

“I expect it to be a good fight for the fans,” said Parker of the upcoming boxing match with Leland.  “I’ve never been one to trash talk before a fight.  I’ll let my hands do the talking on November 21st.  Fans can expect to see me looking for a knockout for as long as it lasts. It’s going to be an exciting fight.”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF XX: A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE,” takes place on November 21, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The event will mark the first time in Maine history a mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event and a professional boxing event have taken place together on the same show.  Tickets for “NEF XX” 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 event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com.  In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

About New England Fights

 

New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

mixed martial arts, MMA, RFA

RFA 32: MEET THE BASH BROTHERS

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH LIVE ON AXS TV
LIVE from  Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
 
Tickets on Sale Now at  Ticketmaster.com
Support Your Favorite Fighter at CAGETIX.com
The 80’s had Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco crushing baseballs out of stadiums and the 90’s had Fulton Reed and Dean Portman in The Mighty Ducks movie series. However, it wasn’t until the new millennium that the nickname the “Bash Brothers” was  attached to a pair of twins just north of the “Twin Cities” that finally brought out its true meaning.
That was when Minneapolis’ daily newspaper the Star Tribune dubbed Marvin and Melvin Blumer the “Bash Brothers” after they both won amateur MMA titles on the same night. The Blumers are identical twin brothers from Lindstrom, Minnesota that have been making a name for themselves in the Upper Midwest since they began training MMA in 2008. They have since made their pro MMA debut on the same card, have fought in Japan on the same card, and are now set to fight on national television together for the second time on Friday night.
Marvin is looking to pick up a second impressive win in the RFA, when he meets fellow RFA vet Bill Kamery in the bout two fights before his brother’s fight. Melvin is set to face one of Brazil’s top prospects in the main event of RFA 24. He will be fighting Leandro “Pitbull” Higo, who is a jiu-jitsu balck belt and trains alongside the world famous Pitbull Brothers, Patricio and Patricky Freire.
In the interview below, the “Bash Brothers” discuss everything from their big fights on Friday to what it was like growing up in the same house with an equally tough mirror image of each other.
They also reveal some fun facts about each other and how they have used a typical sibling rivalry to help push each other to greatness.
Name: Melvin Blumer
Nickname: Career Killer
Born: February 18, 1982
Nationality: American
Ht: 5’9″
Wt: 135 lbs.
Reach: 70.5″
Division: Bantamweight
Hometown: Lindstrom, Minnesota
Team: Minnesota Militia at the Minnesota School of Martial Arts
Head Coach: Denny Anderson
Name: Marvin Blumer
Nickname: The Terminator
Born: February 18, 1982
Nationality: American
Ht: 5’9″
Wt: 135 lbs.
Reach: 70.5″
Division: Bantamweight
Hometown: Lindstrom, Minnesota
Team: Minnesota Militia at the Minnesota School of Martial Arts
Head Coach: Denny Anderson
Twitter: @MarvinBlumer82
RFA 32 will be the promotion’s third event to take place in the state of Minnesota. The entire main card of RFA 32 will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on Friday, November 6th.
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.
About RFA: RFA is a professional mixed martial arts promotion that gives rising stars and top contenders the opportunity to prove their talent to fans and leaders in the industry. The RFA presents live events on a monthly basis around the United States including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Milwaukee. RFA can be seen live in over 43 million homes nationally through its television deal with AXS TV. Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, RFA is one of the most active and respected MMA organizations in the fastest growing sport in the world. (The Octagon, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, UFC®, and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC. All rights reserved).

About AXS TV Fights: AXS TV Fights is renowned for its universally recognized Friday Night Mixed Martial Arts and Kickboxing events. As Your Home For MMA, AXS TV utilizes an expansive network of promotions from the United States, Canada, and Europe. And Asia to broadcast more LIVE fights than any other television network. “The Voice” Michael Schiavello and five-time MMA world-champion Pat Miletich provide viewers expert play-by-play, in-depth fighter coverage, and extensive analysis to each fight card. AXS TV broadcasts world-class LIVE fight events from RFA, Lion Fight, Legacy FC, and MFC every Friday night at 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET.
About MYSTIC LAKE CASINO HOTEL:
Mystic Lake CasinoHotel, the premier gaming facility in the Midwest, continually creates new, fun and exciting entertainment experiences for its guests. Mystic Lake® offers gaming, three lively bars, exceptional dining at seven restaurants, headline performers, unique special events and luxurious accommodations. Located 25 minutes southwest of Minneapolis / St. Paul in Prior Lake.
M-1, M-1 Challenge, mixed martial arts, MMA

M-1 Challenge title fights announced Puetz vs. Nemkov II, Emeev vs. Fioravanti M-1 Challenge 63, Dec. 4 in St. Petersburg, Russia

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(L-R) Viktor Nemkov & Stephan Puetz from their first M-1 Challenge light heavyweight title fight
(photo gallery below)
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (November 3, 2015) – M-1 Global has announced twin M-1 Challenge title fights as light heavyweight champion Stephan “T-800” Puetz takes on former champion Viktor Nemkov and middleweight titlist Ramazan Emeev faces American challenger Luigi “The Italian Tank” Fioravanti in the rescheduled M-1 Challenge 63 to be held December 4 in St. Petersburg, Russia.

M-1 Challenge 63 will be streamed live from St. Petersburg 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 Android and Apple smart phones and tablets.
 
Puetz (13-1-0, 5 KO/TKO, 4 SUB), arguably MMA’s the hottest light heavyweight fighter today, is coming off a sensational SuperFight victory this past May against M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion Marcin Tybura, whose severely broken nose halted the action in the third round at M-1 Challenge 57.
 
Undefeated in four M-1 Global fights to date, Puetz captured the coveted M-1 Challenge title 1 ½ years ago with a hard fought five-round split decision over defending champion Nemkov, who was making his first title defense after having defeated Vasily Babich (SUB2 – arm-lock) two years ago for the vacant title.
 
Fighting out of Munich, Germany, Puetz defeated Valery Myasnikov (TKO2 – punches) and Luis Fernando Mirando (SUB2 – choke) in his two title defenses to date.
Kazakhstan-native Nemkov, who fights out of Stary Oskol, Russia, has won two in a row since losing to Puetz, including an impressive decision in his last action over always tough Maro Perak this past December.
An M-1 Global veteran with 12 victories in 16 M-1 fights, Nemkov lost his original M-1 title fight back in 2011, losing by submission (choke) to Vinny Magalhaes.
A two-time and reigning M-1 Challenge middleweight champion, Emeev (12-3-0, 2 KO/TKO, 6 SUB) is a native of Dagestan who fights out of Makhachkala, Russia. He first won the M-1 Challenge championship in 2012 at M-1 Challenge 35, taking a decision fromMario Miranda, who Emeev defeated four months later by third-round knockout at M-1 Challenge 38.
At M-1 Challenge 51, Emeev was topped in the fourth round byVyacheslav Vasilevsky, who lost the title back to Emeev by fifth-round submission this past April at M-1 Challenge 56.
Fioravanti (26-13-0, 10 KO/TKO, 7 SUB), representing American Top Team, is a popular fighter out of Orlando, Florida. His last fight was a second-round win by submission (choke) last July against Sergey Kovalev at M-1 Challenge 59.
Fight Network will air M-1 Challenge 63 live on Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable, Suddenlink Communications and Armstrong Cable in the U.S., as well as nationwide in Canada, Roku devices across North America, and globally in more than 30 countries throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Additional fights will soon be announced by M-1 Global.

Puetz (L) strikes Tybura

Puetz has been unbeatable in M-1 Global competition, shining here vs. Tybura

Puetz finishes off Valery Myasnikov

 

Nemkov had position on Puetz

Nemkov (R) kicks Perak

Nemkov punishes Perak


Emeev has position on Vasilevsky


Emeev (L) vs. Vasilevsky

Luigi Fioravanti (R) unloads on his opponent

Fioravanti ends the show vs. Kovalev
Information

www.M1Global.tv

Twitter & Instagram:
@M1GlobalNews
@VFinkelchtein
@M1Global
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Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CONTEST PITTING HOUSTON ALEXANDER AGAINST GUILHERME VIANA COMPLETES ‘BELLATOR 146: KATO VS. MANHOEF’ MAIN CARD

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FINAL FIVE PRELIMINARY CONTESTS ALSO CONFIRMED FOR NOV. 20

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (October 28, 2015) – A light heavyweight contest featuring Houston Alexander (16-12) versus Guilherme Viana (6-2) completes the main card of “Bellator 146: Kato vs. Manhoef” at WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, OK., on November 20.

 

The televised card of “Bellator 146: ‘Kato vs. Manhoef,” airs live on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream on Spike.com at 6 p.m. CT. Tickets for “Bellator 146: Kato vs. Manhoef” are on sale now at the WinStar World Casino and Resort Box Office, as well as Ticketmaster. Ticket prices range from: $75, $55, $45 and doors for the event open at 5:00 p.m. CT local time, with the first contest taking place one hour later.

Previously announced pairings for the event include featherweight action featuring Bubba Jenkins (9-2), who takes on Jordan Parsons (11-1) and Hisaki Kato (5-1) who meets Melvin Manhoef (29-12-1) in a middleweight headlining attraction. In addition, a welterweight scrap pitting Ricky Rainey (11-3) against Chidi Njokuani (13-4) and a lightweight feature fight pitting Brandon Girtz (13-4) against Derek Campos (15-5) will also take place.

The card’s preliminary slate is also now complete, with the addition of five new contests. A middlweight fight between Ben Reiter (16-0) and Francisco France (12-3), two women’s bouts, one featuring Arlene Blencowe (6-5) against Gabrielle Holloway (5-3) and Julia Budd (7-2) versus Roberta Rovel(4-0), also a welterweight scrap pitting Andre Santos (37-10) against Josh Neer (36-14), and a couple 145-pounders going to war when Israel Giron (18-4) meets Mark Dickman (10-2).

At 43-years-old, Houston Alexander has been competing professionally since 2001, lacing up the gloves from promotions the likes of Ultimate Fighting Championship, Shark Fights, Resurrection Fighting Alliance, KSW and Bellator MMA. “The Assassin” is known for his one-punch knockout power, a skill the Grudge Training Center standout has showcased in 11 of his 16 wins as a professional. Now, a loser of his last two bouts, Alexander looks to end 2015 on a high note at the expense of his Nov. 20 opponent.

Coming off a defeat in his Bellator MMA debut, the 29-year-old Viana looks to bounce back against an opponent who has more than two times his experience. Hailing from Brazil, Viana has made a living off ending fights early, stopping the man standing opposite of him inside the cage five times before reaching the judges’ scorecards.

Complete “Bellator 146: Kato vs. Manhoef” Fight Card

Main Card:

Bellator Middleweight Feature Fight: Hisaki Kato (5-1) vs. Melvin Manhoef (29-12-1)

Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Bubba Jenkins (9-2) vs. Jordan Parsons (11-1)

Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Ricky Rainey (11-3) vs. Chidi Njokuani (13-4)

Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Brandon Girtz (13-4) vs. Derek Campos (15-5)

 

Preliminary Card:

Bellator Middleweight Feature Fight: Ben Reiter (16-0) vs. Francisco France (12-3)

Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Israel Giron (18-4) vs. Mark Dickman (10-2)

Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Arlene Blencowe (6-5) vs. Gabrielle Holloway

Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Andre Santos (37-10) vs. Josh Neer (36-14)

Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Julia Budd (7-2) vs. Roberta Rovel (4-0)

Bellator Heavyweight Feature Fight: Zach Rosol (1-0) vs. Alonzo Menifield (Debut)

Bellator Catchweight (140 lbs.) Feature Fight: Stephen Banaszak (4-5) vs. George Pacurariu (10-4)

Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Treston Thomison (8-3) vs. Chris Jones (9-3)

Bellator Bantamweight Feature Fight: Eli Tamez (9-0) vs. Roshaun Jones (2-3)

Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Justin Patterson (6-0) vs. Sean Holden (3-1)

Bellator Catchweight (195 lbs.) Feature Fight: Bubba McDaniel (25-10) vs. Kenyon Jackson (3-2)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

LIGHTWEIGHT REMATCH BETWEEN BRANDON GIRTZ-DEREK CAMPOS ADDED TO MAIN CARD OF ‘BELLATOR 146: KATO VS. MANHOEF’

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SIX PRELIMINARY CONTESTS ALSO CONFIRMED FOR NOV. 20

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (October 29, 2015) – A lightweight scrap pitting Brandon Girtz (13-4) against Derek Campos (15-5) has been added to“Bellator 146: Kato vs. Manhoef” at WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, OK., on November 20.

 

The 155-pound tilt will take place during the main card of “Bellator 146: ‘Kato vs. Manhoef,” which airs live on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream on Spike.com at 6 p.m. CT.

 

Tickets for “Bellator 146: Kato vs. Manhoef” are on sale now at the WinStar World Casino and Resort Box Office, as well as Ticketmaster. Ticket prices range from: $75, $55, $45 and doors for the event open at 5:00 p.m. CT local time, with the first contest taking place one hour later.

Previously announced pairings for the event include featherweight action featuring Bubba Jenkins (9-2), who takes on Jordan Parsons (11-1) and Hisaki Kato (5-1) who meets Melvin Manhoef (29-12-1) in a middleweight headlining attraction. In addition, a welterweight scrap pitting Ricky Rainey (11-3) against Chidi Njokuani (13-4) will also take place.

The card’s preliminary slate is also taking shape with the addition of six contests. A heavyweight fight between Zach Rosol (1-0) and Alonzo Menifield, two catchweight bouts, one featuring Bubba McDaniel (25-10) against Kenyon Jackson (3-2) and Stephen Banaszak (4-5) versus George Pacurariu(10-4). Also, a featherweight scrap pitting Treston Thomison (8-3) against Chris Jones (9-3), a bantamweight feature with Eli Tamez (9-0) battling Roshaun Jones (2-3) and welterweights Justin Patterson (6-0) meets Sean Holden (3-1).

Coming off a fight that many mixed martial arts media members and fans consider to be an upset, Girtz will “Cold Roll” his way into “Bellator 146: Kato vs. Manhoef” riding momentum from his split decision win against Melvin Guillard at “Bellator 141: Guillard vs. Girtz.” Now, with two wins in his last two Bellator MMA appearances, the 30-year-old Minnesota resident will look to redeem himself from a unanimous decision loss suffered against Campos more than two years prior.

On the opposite end of the spectrum will be Campos, who is coming off a defeat at the hands of Michael Chandler at this past June’s record-breaking“Bellator 138: Unfinished Business” event. “The Stallion” will hope to duplicate the success he experienced at the expense of Girtz during “Bellator 96”where he took home scores of 29-28 from all three judges sitting at cageside. Campos will be competing close to home, with Lubbock, Texas being a short drive away from Thackerville, OK.

“Bellator 146: Kato vs. Manhoef” Updated Fight Card

Main Card:

Bellator Middleweight Feature Fight: Hisaki Kato (5-1) vs. Melvin Manhoef (29-12-1)

Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Bubba Jenkins (9-2) vs. Jordan Parsons (11-1)

Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Ricky Rainey (11-3) vs. Chidi Njokuani (13-4)

Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Brandon Girtz (13-4) vs. Derek Campos (15-5)

 

Preliminary Card:

Bellator Heavyweight Feature Fight: Zach Rosol (1-0) vs. Alonzo Menifield (Debut)

Bellator Catchweight (140 lbs.) Feature Fight: Stephen Banaszak (4-5) vs. George Pacurariu (10-4)

Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Treston Thomison (8-3) vs. Chris Jones (9-3)

Bellator Bantamweight Feature Fight: Eli Tamez (9-0) vs. Roshaun Jones (2-3)

Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Justin Patterson (6-0) vs. Sean Holden (3-1)

Bellator Catchweight (195 lbs.) Feature Fight: Bubba McDaniel (25-10) vs. Kenyon Jackson (3-2)

mixed martial arts, MMA, World Series of Fighting

WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING ANNOUNCES RULES FOR EIGHT-MAN TOURNAMENT ON FRIDAY, NOV. 20, LIVE ON NBCSN FROM COMERICA THEATRE IN PHOENIX, ARIZ.

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Fourth judge to be added in event of any draws 

LAS VEGAS (October 29, 2015) –World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) announced today, a comprehensive set of rules for its historic, one-night, eight-man lightweight (155 pounds) tournament on Friday, Nov. 20, live on NBCSN at11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT from Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz.

“We are looking forward to a competitive night of tournament action after months of evaluating how we could make this the most exciting event possible and, at the same time, ensure the safety of our athletes and give each of them the best opportunity to prevail in the cage,” said World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo.

A former, six-time world kickboxing champion and two-time Hall of Famer, Sefo is a decorated veteran of over 50, one-night tournaments.

Designed to maximize the performance of its athletes and ensure that a decisive winner emerges in each bout, the “WSOF 25: 8-Man Lightweight Tournament” rules include scoring by a fourth cageside judge in the event that the original three judges in place score any bout a draw.

Additionally, elbow strikes will be permitted in the championship bout of the tournament when the standard, Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts take effect, but not in the quarterfinal or semifinal stages of the single-elimination affair.

Each of the four quarterfinal stage tournament bouts as well as both semifinal stage bouts will consist of two, five-minute rounds.  The championship bout will be comprised of three, five-minute rounds.

Priced from $29.99, tickets for “WSOF 25: 8-Man Lightweight Tournament” are on sale at the Comerica Theatre box office as well as online at Ticketmaster.com and WSOF.com.

In one bracket of the eight-man tournament affair, Luis “Baboon” Palomino (23-11) of Miami, Fla. will square off with Rich Patishnock (6-2) of East Stroudsberg, Pa., while Brian Foster (23-7) of Sallisaw, Okla. will collide with Joao Zeferino(18-6) of Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.

In the opposite bracket, Brian “The Bandit” Cobb (20-8) of Bakersfield, Calif. will battle Mike “The Martian” Ricci (10-4) of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, whileIslam Mamedov (12-1) of Jersey City, N.J. via Derbent, Dagestan, Russia will face Jorge “Macaco” Patino (38-15-2, 1 NC) of Houston, Texas via Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The winner of the fight between Palomino and Patishnock will meet the winner of the fight between Foster and Zeferino in the semifinal stage of the tournament, while the winner of the bout between Cobb and Ricci will square off with the winner of the bout between Mamedov and Patino in the semifinal stage of the event.

The two semifinal stage winners will face one another in the championship round.

In the lightweight co-main event, Jason “The Kansas City Bandit” High (18-5) of Kansas City, Mo. will duke it out with Estevan “El Terrible” Payan (16-8, 1 NC) of Tempe, Ariz.

In one of two tournament reserve bouts, LaRue “The Cannibal” Burley (6-1) of Mesa, Ariz. will go to war with Joe Condon (12-8) of Victorville, Calif.

In the second reserve contest, Benny “El Hijo” Madrid (11-3) of Phoenix will face Ramil Mustapayev (3-1) of Ossetia, Russia.

Should any of the tournament’s quarterfinal stage fight winners be unable to re-enter the cage for his semifinal stage commitment due to an injury sustained en route to victory, the loser of the bout will advance to the following tournament round in place of the hurt fighter.

If neither the winner nor loser are healthy enough to re-enter the cage, however, one of the reserve fight winners will serve as a replacement in the tournament field.

Doors at Comerica Theatre will open at 5 p.m. MT, and the first bout will begin at 6 p.m.

Additional bouts will be announced soon.
mixed martial arts, MMA, World Series of Fighting

WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING ADDS TWO RESERVE BOUTS TO ONE-NIGHT TOURNAMENT ON FRIDAY, NOV. 20, LIVE ON NBCSN FROM COMERICA THEATRE IN PHOENIX, ARIZ.

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WSOF 25 receives new NBCSN start time of 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT

LAS VEGAS (October 27, 2015) –World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) has confirmed the addition of two alternate bouts – LaRue “The Cannibal” Burley vs. Joe Condon and Benny “El Hijo” Madrid vs. Ramil Mustapayev – for its highly-anticipated, one-night, eight-man lightweight (155 pounds) tournament on Friday, Nov. 20, live on NBCSN at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT from Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz.

Should any of the tournament’s quarterfinal stage fight winners be unable to re-enter the cage for his semifinal stage commitment due to an injury sustained en route to victory, the loser of the bout will advance to the following tournament round in place of the hurt fighter.

If neither the winner nor loser are healthy enough to re-enter the cage, however, one of the reserve fight winners will serve as a replacement in the tournament field.

“Our tournament lineup is officially complete with the addition of these matchups, and we are looking forward to having the four talented fighters selected for these two important fights, compete on this historic card and be prepared to enter the single-elimination contest if necessary,” said World Series of Fighting PresidentRay Sefo.

The 31-year-old Burley (6-1) of Gilbert, Ariz. is looking to return to form after suffering his first career blemish, a first round (:32) KO (punch) at the hands of accomplished veteran and one of the eight tournament contestants, Brian Foster, at WSOF 23 on September 18.

Prior to the defeat, Burley had emerged one of MMA’s hottest prospects, recording victories in his first six professional fights, including a third round (3:40) TKO (punches) of fellow rising star Bubba Jenkins, after an unbeaten career as an amateur.  Four of Burley’s six career wins have come by way of (T)KO or submission.

Condon (12-8) of Victorville, Calif. is also looking to return to the win column in what will be his third start for World Series of Fighting, following a unanimous decision defeat to Nick Newell at WSOF 20 on April 10.

In his promotional debut on January 17, the 29-year-old Condon submitted Jonathan Nunez with a guillotine choke in the third round (4:22) of battle at WSOF 17.

The 35-year-old Madrid (8-3) of Phoenix is coming off a splendid, first round (1:26) submission (rear-naked choke) victory over Jeff Fletcher at WSOF 23.  The win snapped a three-fight skid that came after Madrid had reeled off wins in his first seven professional career fights, a streak that spanned four years between 2009 and 2013.

Mustapayev (3-1) of Albuquerque, N.M. via Moscow, Russia will make his World Series of Fighting debut and will risk a perfect, 3-0 run that he is in the midst of this year.

A member of Greg Jackson’s and Mike Winklejohn’s famed fight team, Mustapayev is fresh off a stunning, first round (3:10) TKO (punches) of Jarel Askew in a matchup that took place on August 29.

Priced from $29.99, tickets for “WSOF 25: Eight-Man Lightweight Tournament” are on sale at the Comerica Theatre box office as well as online at Ticketmaster.com and WSOF.com.

In one bracket of the eight-man tournament affair, Luis “Baboon” Palomino (23-11) of Miami, Fla. will square off with Rich Patishnock (6-2) of East Stroudsberg, Pa., while Brian Foster (23-7) of Sallisaw, Okla. will collide with Joao Zeferino(18-6) of Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.

In the opposite bracket, Brian “The Bandit” Cobb (20-8) of Bakersfield, Calif. will battle Mike “The Martian” Ricci (10-4) of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, whileIslam Mamedov (12-1) of Jersey City, N.J. via Derbent, Dagestan, Russia will face Jorge “Macaco” Patino (38-15-2, 1 NC) of Houston, Texas via Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The winner of the fight between Palomino and Patishnock will meet the winner of the fight between Foster and Zeferino in the semifinal stage of the tournament, while the winner of the bout between Cobb and Ricci will square off with the winner of the bout between Mamedov and Patino in the semifinal stage of the event.

The two semifinal stage winners will face one another in the championship round.

In the lightweight co-main event, Jason “The Kansas City Bandit” High (18-5) of Kansas City, Mo. will duke it out with Estevan “El Terrible” Payan (16-8, 1 NC) of Tempe, Ariz.

Doors at Comerica Theatre will open at 6 p.m. MT, and the first bout will begin at 7 p.m.

Additional bouts will be announced soon.

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

Weekly Fight Network MMA programming schedule (Oct. 26-Nov. 1, 2015)

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(U.S. only schedules unless otherwise indicated. For full Canadian schedule, please visit tv.fightnetwork.com from your region.)
 
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, Oct. 26
7:00 p.m. ET – 5 Rounds – Fight Network’s John Ramdeen and Robin Black invite special guests to breakdown the weekend of MMA action.
7:30 p.m. ET & 11:30 p.m. ET– Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.
 
Tuesday, Oct. 27
1:30 a.m. ET – XPTV – Coverage of regional U.S. professional and amateur MMA events.
5:00 & 5:30 p.m. ET – Xtreme Fighting Championship – Florida-based pro MMA featuring top American prospects, international stars and UFC veterans.
6:00 p.m. & 10 p.m. ET — – 5 Rounds Today – Video podcast with John Ramdeen and Robin Black breaking down a wide variety of topics in the MMA world, including previews of upcoming events and all the latest rumors and headlines.
8:00 p.m. ET – 5 Rounds – Fight Network’s John Ramadeen and Robin Black invite special guests to breakdown the weekend of MMA action.
8:30 p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.
11:00 p.m. ET – Hard Knocks Fighting 46 – Featuring Jesse Arnett vs. Dimitri Waardenburg for the Hard Knocks bantamweight title from Oct. 24, 2015 in Calgary, Canada.
 
Wednesday, Oct. 28
5:00 p.m. ET – Texas Fight Night – MMA action from Texas featuring the Lone Star State’s top prospects in the cage.
6:00 p.m. ET – Best of Cage Rage – Featuring classic fights from the UK-based Cage Rage organization with Anderson Silva, Antonio Silva, Victor Belfort, Paul Daley and others.
7:00 p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra: MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and feature.
7:30p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.
8:00 p.m. ET – Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 59 – Featuring Jim Alers vs. Martin Svensson for the featherweight title, plus bantamweight grand prix, from Sept. 14, 2013 in Cardiff, Wales.
11:00 p.m. ET – MMA Meltdown with Gabriel Morency – Gabriel Morency breaks down all the happenings in MMA, discussing odds, predictions, plus special weekly guests and exclusive interviews.
11:30 p.m. ET – 2015 IMMAF Amateur MMA Championships: Part 4 / 4 – Coverage of the 2015 IMMAF Amateur MMA Championships from Las Vegas, featuring the men’s lightweight, men’s middleweight, female featherweight and Men’s super-heavyweight divisions.
 
Thursday, Oct. 29
2:00 a.m. ET – Ultimate Challenge MMA 31 – Featuring Neil Grove vs. Tomasz Czerwinski in heavyweight action from Dec. 1, 2012 in London.
4:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. ET – TakeDown Wrestling – Eztensive coverage of amateur wrestling events, including the latest news, behind-the-scenes coverage from events and exclusive interviews.
6:00 p.m. ET – Championship Fighting Alliance – Pro MMA from Florida featuring the likes of Josh Sampo, Mike Kyle, John Howard, Sean McCorkie, Luis Palomino and others.
7:00 p.m. ET – Fighting Rookies – Aspiring kickboxers climb the ladder of success as rookies compete for a chance to become pros and get experience needed to succeed at a higher level.
8:00 p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra: MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and feature.
8:30p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.
9:00 p.m. ET – Enfusion Live #21: Belgium – Professional kickboxing featuring Nordin Ben Moh vs. Sergio Sanchez, Brice Guidon vs. Dexter Suisse and Anke Van Gestel vs. Aleide Lawant for the -61 kg world championship from Oct. 10,k 2015 in Gent, Belgium.
11:00 p.m. ET – MMA Meltdown with Gabriel Morency – Gabriel Morency breaks down all the happenings in MMA, discussing odds, predictions, plus special weekly guests and exclusive interviews.
Friday, Oct. 30
12:00 a.m. & 11 a.m. ET – It’s Showtime Special – The world’s premier kickboxing organization featuring Badr Hari, Melvin Manhoef and Giorgio Petrosyan.
5:00 p.m. ET – Fighting Rookies – Aspiring kickboxers climb the ladder of success in the sport as rookies compete for a chance to become professional and get experience needed to succeed at a higher level.
6:00 p.m. ET – M-1 Challenge – Pro MMA from Europe featuring top rising prospect and international stars.
7:00 p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra: MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and feature.
7:30p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.
9:00 p.m. ET – Toe 2 Toe with Chung Lee – Sit-down interviews with Sanshou specialist and UFC middleweight star Chung Lee.
9:30 p.m. ET – KSW 23: Khalidov vs. Manhoef – Featuring Mamde Khakidov vs. Melvin Manhoef, Sean McCorkle vs. Mariusz Pudzianowski and Kendall Grove vs. Michal Materia from June 8, 2013 in Gdansk, Poland.
 
Saturday, Oct. 31
6:00 a.m. ET — Best of TKO – Featuring George St-Pierre vs. Travis Galbraith from UCC 11.
7:00 a.m. ET –Best of Gladiator Challenge – Featuring Urijah Faber vs. David Velasquez from Gladiator Challenge 27.
8:00 a.m. ET – Best of SportFight – Top quality MMA from the Pacific Northwest.  Hosted by UFC veterans Matt LIndland and Chael Sonnen.  This episode features Brian Caraway and Ian Loveland in action.
2:00 p.m. ET – KSW 32: Road to Wembley– LIVE MMA featuring Mariusz Pudzianowski vs. Peter Graham, Borys Mankowski vs. Jesse Taylor for the KSW welterweight title, Tomasz Narkun vs. Goran Reijic for the KSW light heavyweight title, plus James McSweeney vs. Marcin vs. Marcin Rozalski, from London’s Wembley Stadium.
8:00 p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra: MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and feature.
8:30p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.
9:00 p.m. ET – 2015 IMMAF Amateur MMA Championships: Part 1 / 4 – Coverage of the 2015 IMMAF Amateur MMA Championships from Las Vegas, featuring the the men’s flyweight, female strawweight and men’s heavyweight divisions.
10:30 p.m. ET – 2015 IMMAF Amateur MMA Championships: Part 2 / 4 – Coverage of the 2015 IMMAF Amateur MMA Championships from Las Vegas, featuring the men’s bantamweight, female flyweight and men’s light heavyweight division.
Sunday, Nov. 1
6:00 a.m. ET – Pancrase Classics – Classic pioneering MMA battles featuring Ken Shamrock, Frank Shamrock, Bas Rutten, Name Marquardt, Chael Sonnen and others.
11:00 a.m. ET – Best of ADCC– Features compilations of the greatest grappling matches ever held, featuring Tito Ortiz, Matt Hughes, Eddie Bravo, Fabricio Werdum, Marcelo Garcia, Ronaldo Souza and Royler Gracie.
12:00 p.m. ET – Elite Muay Thai: Thailand vs. Challenger – The biggest Muay Thai series in the world featuring premium international stand-up fighters taking on the renowned Thailand National Team.
5:30 p.m. ET – 2014 Judo Tyumen Grand Slam – Highlights from the 2014 Judo Tyumen Grand Slam from July 12-13, 2014 in Russia.
6:00 p.m. ET – Fighting Spirit MMA Season 4 – Compilation of international fights from SFL, Legend FFC, M-1 and more.
11:00 p.m. ET – Enfusion Live #18: Amsterdam – Pro kickboxing from Amsterdam, Holland, featuring top international and rising prospects.
Information:
Twitter & Instagram @fightnet
Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

RAFAEL CARVALHO WINS VACANT MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE AFTER LIVER KICK TO BRANDON HALSEY

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UNCASVILLE, Conn. (Oct. 23, 2015) – Rafael Carvalho (12-1) won the title that was vacated by Brandon Halsey (9-1) after missing weight in his last appearance, finishing the former undefeated fighter during an enthralling middleweight encounter in the main event of ”Bellator 144: Halsey vs. Carvalho.”

 

Carvalho had the belt wrapped around his waist by Bellator MMA President Scott Coker after sending Halsey to the mat in a heap, with a perfectly placed liver kick in front of a packed house at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

 

“I want to thank my team for everything,” Carvalho said after the win. “I have believed in myself from the beginning and I knew this time would come.”

 

The 29-year-old Brazilian fighter was an exorbitant underdog heading into the matchup, but as the saying goes, that’s why they fight. The next time Carvalho enters an arena, his banner will now hang from the rafters.

Ward Stops Olson to the Delight of Partisan Crowd

 

Much like the last time Brennan Ward (12-3) competed in his homestate of Connecticut, “Irish” caught Dennis Olson (14-10) with a right hand that sent“The Menace” to the mat, where Ward quickly pounced and forced the hand of referee John McCarthy. The finish came at 4:37 of the opening round.

 

Olson proved to be tough enough to withstand multiple flurries from Ward, even landing an upkick that seemed to hurt Ward when he tried to score a finish early. But Ward refused to let up, making sure he sent his friends and family home with a smile on their faces.

 

“I’m a hometown guy. Dennis and I talked a lot of stuff before the fight, but it was a battle in there. I have nothing but respect for him. He’s tough as hell. He almost knocked me out off his back with an elbow.

 

“I love this arena and my hometown fans, I was just trying to be patient, but he’s tough on the ground. My coach and dad told me that if I’m patient and land the right hand then the rest would be history.” Ward said. “[Andrey] Koreshkov is a tough dude, if I’m next in line then hopefully we can bang out.”

 

There are plenty of matchups that make sense for a striker the caliber of Ward, Bellator MMA fans will need to keep close tabs as 2016 quickly approaches.

Yamauchi Equals Featherweight Submission Record

 

The Bellator MMA debut of Isao Kobayashi (17-3) didn’t go as planned at “Bellator 144: Halsey vs. Carvalho,” as Goiti Yamauchi (19-2) finished the Japanese fighter with a rear-naked choke submission at 3:50 of the final frame.

 

With the win, Yamauchi tied former Bellator MMA Featherweight Champion Pat Curran, Daniel Straus, Alexandre Bezerra and Marlon Sandro for most submissions (15) in 145-pound history.

 

After the contest, the 22-year-old had some pointed words for current featherweight champion Patricio Freire.

 

“It feels great to get the victory, Kobayashi is a tough opponent. I feel my performance was good. We trained hard to improve my technique and I had a big performance today,” Yamauchi said. “Patricio, I know you will beat Daniel Straus. Accept my fight afterwards. I will be the next champion.”

”Venom” Showcases Ground Game in Opening Round Finish

In the opening main card bout at “Bellator 144: Halsey vs. Carvalho,” Michael Page (9-0) remained undefeated after finishing Charlie Ontiveros (6-4) with vicious elbows at 3:20 in the first round.

 

Previously, “Venom” has usually showcased his striking while standing upright, but on Friday, Page quickly took dominant position on the mat against his opponent and dropped perfectly placed elbows to the jaw of Ontiveros, forcing the Bellator MMA newcomer to verbally submit.

 

“I know I can finish anyone. I know I don’t have to prove anything. I hope he’s okay, I’m sorry I finished it like that, but you know I like to impress people,” Page said following the fight. “It’s down to Bellator and my coaches as to what happens next, but whoever they put in front of me the same thing is going to happen.”

 

With the win, Page has now finished eight of his nine wins as a professional in the opening round, a trend that the 28-year-old hopes to parlay into a title shot sooner rather than later.

Preliminary Card Results:

Kemran Lachinov (1-1) def. Ilya Kotau (1-0) via submission (Kneebar) 2:57, R2

Damien Trites (7-6) def. Keenan Raymond (2-2) via submission (Kimura) 1:17, R2

Kin Moy (8-2) def. Walter Smith-Cotito (3-4) via submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 3:53, R3

Billy Giovanella (9-4) def. Brandon Polcare (1-1) via submission (Triangle Choke) 2:19, R1

Matt Bessette (16-7) def. Kevin Roddy (15-16) via submission (heel hook) 3:47, R1

Kevin Haley (4-3) def. Mike Zichelle (7-4) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Matt Secor (7-2) def. Jeremie Holloway (7-1) via submission (heel hook) 4:54, R2

Marius Enache (3-3) def. Pete Rogers Jr. (3-2) via submission (Americana) 2:37, R2

Sam Watford (1-0) def. TJ Hepburn (4-2) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)