THE BRITISH ARE COMING
OFFICIAL WEIGH IN RESULTS, QUOTES AND PHOTOS FROM
BELLATOR’S “BRITISH INVASION”
Light Heavyweight Champion Emanuel Newton vs. Liam McGeary
Photo Credit: Bellator MMA/ Eric Coleman / CLICK HERE FOR FULL PHOTO GALLERY
The official weigh-ins concluded this afternoon for Bellator’s highly anticipated “British Invasion” show which will serve as the first tentpole event of the year and takes place tomorrow, Feb. 27.. The night of fights airs LIVE and FREE on Spike TV at 9/8c from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT, and features three of the UK’s top MMA fighters competing on American soil, as well as a super fight between “King Mo” Lawal and Cheick Kongo.
Champ Emanuel Newton (204.5 lbs.) vs. Liam McGeary (204 lbs.)
Cheick Kongo (239 lbs.) vs. “King Mo” Lawal (217 lbs.)
Paul Daley (171 lbs.) vs. Andre Santos (171 lbs.)
Linton Vassell (205 lbs.) vs. Rameau Sokoudjou (205 lbs.)
Brennan Ward (171 lbs.) vs. Curtis Millender (170 lbs.)
Matt Bessette (145 3/4 lbs.) vs. Josh Laberge (145 lbs.)
Raphael Butler (260 lbs.) vs. Josh Diekmann (238 1/4 lbs.)
Jason Butcher (186 lbs.) vs. Tamdan McCrory (185.5 lbs.)
Bobby Flynn (170.5 lbs.) vs. Neiman Gracie (171 lbs.)
Michael Mangan (155 1/4 lbs.) vs. Dean Hancock (155.5 lbs.)
Newton: “I am going to finish [Liam McGeary] tomorrow. Whether it be by choke, KO, TKO or submission, I am going to finish him.
“I am connected to my inner-being. All I ever request of myself is victory. I don’t request a nice car or a big house, all I request is victory and it will be given to me.”
Liam McGeary: “I am going to become the first Englishmen to win a major title in America tomorrow. I put the work in. I have sacrificed too much to come up short. I have a great team behind me.”
Chieck Kongo: “Two big guys are getting in that cage tomorrow, and at the end I will be the winner.
“I trained like crazy for this fight. I finished training camp without injury and I came to get what I deserve.
“If he gives me the opportunity to knock him out, I surely will do it. But if not, we will go the full rounds and I will claim victory.”
King Mo: “I am going to have my hand raised tomorrow. I am not sure how exactly it’s going to happen, but I will make sure of it.
“I train hard and smart. I have seen everything there is to see in this game. My camp was great.
“Whatever he gives me, I’m going to take.”
Daley: “Andres Santos is in a lot of trouble. He is going to get knocked spark out. He says he’s Brazilian and a lot of these guys are getting laid out on the floor; he’s going to be another one of them.”
Andres Santos: “I am very confident in my ability tomorrow. I know I will come out with the victory. I have prepared very long and hard for this fight and I will come out the victor.”
Vassell: “I’m going to finish him [Sokoudjou] either on the ground, pound or by submission. He only has a couple minutes in him and that’s when I will be looking for the knockout. If not, then I will take him down and save up for the TKO or submission.”
Sokoudjou: “I’m going to beat him to the ground, that’s the game plan. Whether it is on our feet or on the ground, I am going to beat him.
“I trained very hard during training camp, it was very tough. I am healthy and ready to go.”
Brennan Ward: “Im going to go out there and punch [Millender] him on his head. I’m Brennan Ward and I’m going to do when I do. When I’m on my game, no one can stop me.
“It means a lot to be fighting in front of my hometown friends and family. I’m going to put on a show.”
Millender: “I’m going to take him down and beat him at his own game. My striking is my biggest strength.
“He’s not going to expect me to be the wrestler that I am. He’s going to be in a lot of trouble.
“I am absolutely looking for the knockout, it doesn’t matter how I get it.”
Cheick Kongo vs. King Mo
Paul Daley vs. Andre Santos
Main Card (9 p.m. ET)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Title Fight: Champ Emanuel Newton (25-7) vs. Liam McGeary (9-0)
Bellator Heavyweight Feature Fight: Cheick Kongo (22-9-2) vs. “King Mo” Lawal (14-4)
Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Paul Daley (35-13) vs. Andre Santos (37-9)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Linton Vassell (14-4) vs. Rameau Sokoudjou (16-12)
Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Brennan Ward (9-3) vs. Curtis Millender (7-0)
Preliminary Card (6:45 p.m. ET)
Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Fight: Matt Bessette (13-6) vs. Josh Laberge (9-4)
Bellator Heavyweight Prelim Fight: Josh Diekmann (15-5) vs. Raphael Butler (8-1-1)
Bellator Middleweight Prelim Fight: Tamdan McCrory (12-3) vs. Jason Butcher (8-1)
Bellator Welterweight Prelim Fight: Neiman Gracie (2-0) vs. Bobby Flynn (4-2)
Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Fight: Marvin Maldonado (2-2) vs. Blair Tugman (6-5)
Dark Bout (approx. 11 p.m. ET)
Bellator Featherweight Dark Bout: Michael Mangan (2-0) vs. Dean Hancock (pro debut)
About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.
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