BATTLE FOR VACANT BELLATOR MMA MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE AIRS LIVE ON PARAMOUNT NETWORK AND DAZN AT 10 P.M. ET/9 P.M. CT
Tickets go on sale this Friday, Feb. 14
I-LOS ANGELES– A middleweight superfight for the vacant 185-pound title, pitting former divisional championGegard Mousasi (46-7-2) against current Bellator welterweight titleholderDouglas Lima (32-7),has been added to Bellator’s exciting return to SAP Center at San Jose on Saturday, May 9 – LIVE on Paramount Network and DAZN at 10 p.m. Kanye / 9 P.m. CT.
The event is anchored by a previously announced heavyweight world title bout, featuring two-division Bellator champRyan Bader(27-5, 1 NC) defending his 205-pound title against Russia’sVadim Nemkov (11-2).
Bellator: Babher vs. Nemkov airs live on Paramount Network and DAZN on Saturday, May 9 at 10 p.m. Kanye / 9 P.m. CT. Preliminary action will stream on DAZN, Bellator.com and globally on the Bellator Mobile App. Tickets can be purchased at the LexisNexis Risk Solutions Ticket Office at SAP Center, through Ticketmaster and Bellator.com.
The Bellator middleweight title was recently relinquished byRafael lovato jr.due to ongoing medical complications.
Fighting out of Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands, Mousasi has cemented legendary status within the sport, having won titles with multiple promotions across a 55-fight career. Iningi muva, Mousasi defeatedLyoto Machida nge isinqumo uqhekeko, clearing his path to a shot at a second Bellator middleweight title run. With victories in his storied career against Machida, Rory MacDonald, Chris Weidman, Rafael Carvalho, Vitor Belfort, Jacare Souza, Dan Henderson and Mark Hunt, a victory over Douglas Lima will add to his already-impressive resume.
Looking to join the ranks ofRyan Bader futhi Patricio "Pitbull"as two-division champions, Lima moves up 15-pounds to try his hand against Mousasi. Since making his promotional debut in 2011, “The Phenom” has earned 14 ngokunqoba, including a trio of world titles and 10 finishes, making the American Top Team-product one of the most dominant fighters in the 170-pound division. With 26 of yakhe 32 Ukunqoba kwemisebenzi kuza ngendlela yokungqongqoza noma ukuhanjiswa, including consecutive dominant finishes overAndrey Koreshkov futhi Michael “Venom” Page”in the first two rounds of the World Grand Prix tournament, Lima most recently capped of his 2019 with a win over Rory MacDonald to regain the welterweight world title.
TICKETS ON SALE FEB. 14 FOR CARD SET INSIDE SAP CENTER AT SAN JOSE
I-LOS ANGELES– On Saturday, May 9, SAP Center at San Jose will host Bellator with an event headlined by a light heavyweight world championship bout featuring two-division Bellator championRyan Bader(27-5, 1 NC) defending his 205-pound title against Russia’sVadim Nemkov (11-2).
Bellator San Jose: Babher vs. Nemkov airs on Paramount Network and DAZN on Saturday, May 9 at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Preliminary action will stream on DAZN, Bellator.com and globally on the Bellator Mobile App. izikhathi zokudakwa engeziwe uzobe umemezele emasontweni ezayo.
Amathikithi for Bellator San Jose: Babher vs. Nemkov are available early through an exclusive Bellator Nation pre-sale beginning Wednesday, Feb. 12 through Thursday, Feb. 13. Tickets will go on sale to the general public Friday, Feb. 14. Tickets can be purchased at the LexisNexis Risk Solutions Ticket Office at SAP Center, through Ticketmaster and Bellator.com.
A winner of seven out of his last eight fights at both heavyweight and light heavyweight, Bellator’s two-division champion Ryan Bader will make his first light heavyweight title defense since defeating"INkosi Mo" Lawal, Mat Mitrione futhi Fedor Emelianenko en route to winning Bellator’s 2018 Heavyweight World Grand Prix and becoming world heavyweight champ. Fighting out of Chandler, Ariz., the former two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler from Arizona State University began his professional career by winning season eight ofThe Ultimate Fighter. “Darth” continued his path of dominance by collecting victories over some of the 205-pound division’s top talent, including wins over former world champions“Rampage” Jackson, Rashad Evans, Phil Davis (I-X2) and Rafael “Feijão” Cavalcante, as well as Ovince Saint Preux and Vinny Magalhães, before signing with Bellator in 2017.
Vadim Nemkov, who is undefeated over his last six fights and a perfect 4-0 in Bellator since signing in 2017, will come into his first-ever title shot in MMA fresh off a submission win against former middleweight championRafael Carvalho. With the ukunqoba, Nemkov has unequivocally defeated some of the best athletes Bellator has to offer, including three former champions in Carvalho, Phil Davis futhi Liam McGeary. A three-time Russian national sambo champion, Nemkov trains alongside Fedor Emelianenko in Stary Oskol, Russia.
Kubuyekeziwe Bellator San Jose: Babher vs. Nemkov IKhadi Main:
DAZN/Paramount Network
10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Light Heavyweight World Title Bout:Ryan Bader (27-5, 1 NC) vs. Vadim Nemkov (11-2)
Bellator is a leading global mixed martial arts and kickboxing promotion featuring many of the best athletes in the world. Ngaphansi kokuqondisa esingumakadebona impi umgqugquzeli Scott Coker, Bellator events take place in major cities worldwide and can be seen on television in over 160 countries to an available audience of over one billion people. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on both Paramount Network and DAZN, the world’s first truly dedicated LIVE sports streaming service. Bellator is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live umcimbi orchestration, ukuthuthukiswa fighter / ubudlelwano, kwempahla kwenkundla yokudlalela, Indalo uxhaso / ukuthuthukiswa, kwamalayisensi international, marketing, ukukhangisa, emphakathini kanye nobudlelwane ikhomishana. Bellator is based in Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, ekhaya UNdunankulu ukuzijabulisa brand zezwe ukuxhuma izilaleli kokuqukethwe esicindezelayo yonkana ithelevishini, motion picture, intanethi and mobile.
About Paramount Network:
Paramount Network is a premium entertainment destination that pushes the limits of story-telling with bold original scripted and non-scripted series. Inspired by over a century of cinema, Paramount Network is where today’s brightest stars bring the experience of the big screen to every screen with stories that are immersive, inclusive, and deeply personal.
About DAZN:
DAZN is the largest global sports streaming platform in the world. Since launching in 2016, DAZN has expanded across four continents with the app currently available for download in the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Japan and Brazil. In the U.S., DAZN has made its mark as an attractive alternative to pay-per-view within the combat sports industry. The platform features big fights from Matchroom Boxing, Golden Boy Promotions, Fr Promotions, Bellator MMA, the World Boxing Super Series and Combate Americas, all for one affordable price, on any device – including smart TVs, Smartphones, Izibhebhe, games consoles and PCs. DAZN also features live MLB action each day of the season with its new daily show, ChangeUp. The much-anticipated daily program The Pat McAfee Show launched in September.
SAITAMA SUPER ARENA TO HOSTBELLATOR JAPAN ISONTO, DECEMBER 29 – LIVE ON PARAMOUNT NETWORK
TICKETS ON SALE NOVEMBER 3
I-LOS ANGELES– For the first time in the organization’s history, Bellator travels to Japan and the iconic Saitama Super Arena for an historic event, njengoba Fedor Emelianenko(38-6, 1 NC) futhi Quinton "Rampage" Jackson(38-13) square off in a long-awaited heavyweight showdown. Bellator Japan: Fedor vs. Rampage, powered by RIZIN, takes place Sunday, December 29 and will air LIVE on Paramount Network.
Amathikithi for Bellator Japan: Fedor vs. Rampage go on sale November 3. Additional bouts are expected to be announced in the coming days.
“For Bellator’s debut in Japan, we wanted to bring a massive event and fighters that the Japanese fans really connect with,” said Bellator President Scott Coker. “Given the vast history of martial arts and MMA in Japan, and especially at Saitama Super Arena, this will be a very special show that no one will want to miss.This will, unquestionably, be a monumental event for Bellator and I am looking forward to the moment that Fedor and ‘Rampage’ walk out to a crowd that has known them since their careers began. I would also like to thank RIZIN for their help in making this event a possibility and we look forward to working together in the near future to showcase the best talent each organization has to offer.”
Fighting out of Stary Oskol, Belgorod Oblast, Russia, Fedor Emelianenko returns to Japan following a successful run in the Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix earlier this year, where he earned consecutive first-round knockouts overEnku- Sonnen futhi Frank Mir. A former PRIDE FC Heavyweight Champion and PRIDE 2004 Heavyweight World Grand Prix Champion, “The Last Emperor” returns to where his career started. Often referred to as “The GOAT” by fans around the world, his career resume stands as one of the most impressive in the history of the sport with victories over Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mirko Cro Cop, Ukuzingela Maka, Mark Coleman and Andrei Arlovski, sibala ezimbalwa. With 29 career victories ending via finish, the punching power and world-class Sambo of the stoic Russian could result in yet another defining moment in his illustrious career.
An eight-fight veteran of Bellator, “Rampage” Jackson’s legendary career has seen him compete against some of the top names in the sport, generating a loyal army of fans along the way. The former PRIDE and UFC champion is the proud owner of many epic highlight reel slams and knockouts that he has racked up throughout his epic battles with the likes of Chuck Liddell, NoHenderson, "INkosi Mo" Lawal, Kevin Randleman and, perhaps most-notably, his four-fight series with Wanderlei Silva. The Memphis, Tennessee-native has long been seen as an icon to MMA fans around the globe and has openly voiced a desire to face Fedor in front of a Japanese crowd before his career comes to an end. Manje, the two legends will finally meet inside the Bellator cage on December 29 at the famed Saitama Super Arena.
Kubuyekeziwe Bellator Japan: Fedor vs. Rampage Ikhadi Lokulwa Nekhadi:
Umcimbi omkhulu we-heavyweight: Fedor Emelianenko (38-6, 1 NC) vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (38-13)
I-LOS ANGELES– Bellator’s return to WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Okla. ngolwesihlanu, July 12 will be headlined by a women’s featherweight title fight featuring Canada’sJulia Budd(12-2) defending her title for a third time against undefeatedOlga Rubin(6-0) of Israel.
Umcimbi uzosakazwa bukhoma futhi mahhala kwinethiwekhi yeParamount at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT, as well as DAZN.com, Ngenkathi isenzo sokuqala sizohamba sihamba Bellator.com nasemhlabeni jikelele ku I-Bellator Mobile App. Amathikithiare on sale now and can be purchased at the WinStar World Casino and Resort box office, as well as through Ticketmaster and Bellator.com. Additional bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.
Fighting out of Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada, Budd is set to enter the Bellator cage for the first time in 2019 and for the third time since claiming the inaugural Bellator women’s featherweight world title in 2017. Currently riding a winning streak of 10 imikhawulo, including six straight since joining forces with Bellator in 2015, “The Jewel” has her eyes set on a third consecutive world title defense when she challenges the undefeated Rubin on July 12. Since knocking off Dutch legend Marloes Coenen for the 145-pound strap atBellator 174, the Gibson MMA-product has since collected back-to-back victories over top contendersArlene Blencowe futhi Talita Nogueira. With six of her 12 umsebenzi uwina uyeza ngendlela Knockout noma ukuzithoba, the former kickboxing standout will look to hand Rubin the first loss of her professional career.
Making her fifth appearance since signing with Bellator in 2017, Rubin looks to protect her unblemished professional mark en route to her first career women’s featherweight world title on July 12. Following a pair of notable knockouts in her first two promotional appearances atBellator 164 futhi Bellator 188, the 29-year-old prospect has bolstered her resume with dominating victories over the likes of Cindy Dandois and Iony Razafiarisonin each of her past two bouts. Now residing in Holon, Israel, Rubin splits her time training between Tel Aviv and London’s Team Titan under the tutelage of veteran Brad Pickett. “Big Bad” will look to become the first fighter to beat Budd in almost eight years and join a select group of women that includes just Ronda Rousey and Amanda Nunes, who have succeeded against the champ in the past.
Updated Bellator: Budd vs. RubinIkhadi Lokulwa Nekhadi:
Women’s Featherweight World Title Bout:Julia Budd (12-2) vs. Olga Rubin(6-0)
I-LOS ANGELES– The full slate of bouts for Bellator’s return to WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Okla. lokhu Friday, March 22 has been completed with a stacked four-fight main card and a total of 10 preliminary contests.
The main event of Friday’s card at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT on Paramount Network, and simulcast on DAZN, will feature a 145-pound headliner, when former featherweight title contenderEmmanuel Sanchez (17-4) rematches the returningGeorgi Karakhanyan (28-8-1, 1 NC). Rounding out the stacked main card will see a heavyweight matchup pitting England’sLinton Vassell (18-7, 1 NC) in his divisional debut against Russia’sValentin Moldavsky (7-1), the always-gameGerald Harris (25-7-1) returning to action against the surgingAnatoly Tokov (27-2) in a middleweight contest and an intriguing middleweight contest between undefeated London Shootfighters-prospectNorbert Novenyi(2-0) and Kansas’Will Lavine (1-1).
Ama-prelims we Bellator 218: Sanchez vs. Karakhanyan 2 will be highlighted by multiple bouts featuring recent Bellator signings, including Duke Rufus-trained prospectJordan Newman,the professional debut ofChristian Edwardsof Jackson-Wink MMA Academy in Albuquerque, N.M., Sweden’sMalin Hermansson(2-0) futhi UJohnny EBTS (4-0), who brings his undefeated record to Bellator. Anatoly Tokov’s younger brother, Vladimir Tokov(3-0), will also enter the Bellator cage for the first time when he competes at lightweight againstRyan Walker (8-4). Ukwengeza, seven-fight Bellator veteranUJohn "Macapa" (21-4) meets 30-fight veteranKevin Croom (19-11) at featherweight.
Bellator 218: Sanchez vs. Karakhanyan 2 will be broadcast Friday, March 22 on Paramount Network at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT and will stream LIVE on DAZN. Preliminary action for both events will stream on Bellator.com and globally on the Bellator Mobile App.
Complete Bellator 218: Sanchez vs. Karakhanyan 2 IKhadi Main:
Featherweight Main Event Bout:Emmanuel Sanchez (17-4) vs. Georgi Karakhanyan (28-8-1, 1 NC)
