Tag Archives: A.J. Matthews

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Paramount Network

BELLATOR 204: CALDWELL vs. LAHAT FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS & PHOTOS

August 19, 2018 FNU47 Leave a comment

Complete Photos // Credit: Bellator/Lucas Noonan

Complete Bellator 204 Main Card:

Featherweight Main Event: Darrion Caldwell (13-1) def. Noad Lahat (12-4) via TKO (punches) at 2:46 of round two

*Caldwell’s bantamweight title was not on the line

Welterweight Co-Main Event: Logan Storley (9-0) def. A.J. Matthews (9-8) via TKO (punches) at 3:56 of round two

Bantamweight Main Card Bout: Ricky Bandejas (11-1) def. James Gallagher (7-1) via KO (strikes) at 2:49 of round one

Featherweight Main Card Bout: Tywan Claxton (3-0) def. Cris Lencioni (3-2) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Preliminary Card:

Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Omar Morales (7-0) def. Troy Nawrocki (3-1) via KO (strikes) at 0:58 of round one

Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Demarques Jackson (9-2) def. Bryce Logan (9-3) via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Jason Jackson (8-3) def. Jordon Larson (9-5) via TKO (punches) at 3:52 of round one

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: David Michaud (13-4) def. Corey Davis (3-1) via KO (punches) at 1:42 of round one

Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Romero Cotton (3-0) def. Willie Whitehead (2-3) via TKO (strikes) at 4:12 of round one

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Tyler Ray (3-1) def. Seth Bass (4-3) via KO (strikes) at 3:30 of round 1

Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Keith Phathaem (1-1) vs. Micah Peatrowsky (2-1) via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Lloyd McKinney (8-5) def. Robiel Tesfaldet (2-2) via submission (arm triangle choke) at 4:17 of round three

Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Jeff Nielsen (2-0) def. Wyatt Meyer (1-1) via TKO (punches) at 2:53 of round one

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Paramount Network

BELLATOR TO DEBUT IN SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA ON FRIDAY, AUG. 17 AT SANFORD PENTAGON

June 23, 2018 FNU47 Leave a comment

BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPION DARRION CALDWELL RETURNS TO 145-POUNDS AGAINST NOAD LAHAT IN BELLATOR 204 HEADLINER

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SOUTH DAKOTA’S OWN LOGAN STORLEY SET FOR CO-MAIN EVENT AGAINST A.J. MATTHEWS

LOS ANGELES – Bellator will hold its first-ever event in Sioux Falls, S.D. on Friday, Aug. 17 at Sanford Pentagon. Bellator 204 will be headlined by the promotion’s bantamweight champion Darrion Caldwell (12-1) testing himself against Noad Lahat (12-3) in a non-title featherweight matchup.

A welterweight bout will serve as the co-main event of the card, when South Dakota-native Logan Storley (8-0) takes on the always-dangerous A.J. Matthews (9-7).

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Thursday, June 28 at 10 a.m. CT. Tickets start at just $28 and will be available at the Sanford Pentagon box office, as well as Ticketmaster.

The event will be broadcast live and free on Paramount Network at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and globally on the Bellator Mobile App. Additional bouts will be announced in coming weeks.

“I’m excited to bring Bellator to Sioux Falls this summer with a great venue partner in the Sanford Pentagon,” Bellator President Scott Coker said. “I always look forward to visiting a new market and having a crowd experience a live Bellator event for the first time. This is a great card with a lot of intriguing matchups that I know fans will enjoy. With this being such a strong wrestling community, I’m also excited to feature several former collegiate wrestlers on Aug. 17, including Darrion Caldwell and South Dakota’s Logan Storley.”

Caldwell, a 30-year-old Rahway, New Jersey native and the current Bellator bantamweight champion, will step up a weight class to take on Lahat in an exciting featherweight non-title affair on Aug. 17. Fighting out of San Diego, Calif., “The Wolf” has emerged as one of the most well-rounded fighters in the 135-pound class, collecting nine victories since signing with Bellator in 2013. The 2009 NCAA D1 National Champion wrestler from NC State boasts a resume that includes five first-round finishes, a 25-minute war against Eduardo Dantas for the world title and a textbook guillotine choke submission victory over Leandro Higo in his first career title defense earlier this year. Caldwell will look for his 13th professional and fourth consecutive win when he enters the cage as a 145-pounder for the first time since 2014.

A black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu currently training at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, Lahat made his professional debut in 2008 where he began an impressive streak of seven consecutive victories. The 34-year-old hails from Alfei Menashe, Samaria, Israel, Lahat and served as a soldier in the Israeli Defense Forces before transitioning to his MMA career. Lahat holds a 3-1 record in Bellator with his most recent win coming against Jeremiah Labiano this past November and now welcomes the Bellator bantamweight champion to his weight class when he enters the cage on Aug. 17.

Hailing from Webster, S.D., the 25-year-old Storley will fight in front of his hometown fans at Bellator 204 when he makes his fourth appearance for Bellator. The 4x NCAA All-American wrestler from the University of Minnesota has quickly climbed the ranks as one of the most dangerous welterweights in mixed martial arts, earning eight-straight victories to begin his career, including six knockouts and five first-round finishes. A win over the equally-dangerous Matthews on Aug. 17would only further cement his name amongst the division’s best, as Storley hopes to protect his unblemished mark of 8-0.

Fighting out of Carlsbad, Calif., Matthews will be making his 11thappearance under the Bellator MMA umbrella; a seven-year stretch that has earned the promotional veteran five victories, including a pair of first-round knockouts and a highlight reel-soccer kick finish over Charlie Rader. The 30-year-old certainly knows how to put on a show, with nine of his 16 career fights ending in a knockout, including six in the first round. “Mercenary” will look to build on his recent win over Kendall Grove at Bellator 193, as he enters the cage against hometown favorite Storley in the co-main event.

Updated Bellator 204: Caldwell vs. Lahat Fight Card:

Featherweight Main Event: Darrion Caldwell (12-1) vs. Noad Lahat (12-3)

Welterweight Co-Main Event: Logan Storley (8-0) vs. A.J. Matthews (9-7)

*Card subject to change.

boxing

LaManna wins LBF Intercontinental Welterweight title with decision over Amoako

November 25, 2017 FNU47 Leave a comment

Serrano and Diaz capture WBC Fecarbox crowns

Vermall, Mamedov and Julan remain undefeated

Atlantic City, NJ (November 21, 2017)– Las Saturday night, Thomas LaManna took home a ten round unanimous decision over rugged Samuel Amoako in the headline bout of an eight bout card at The Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City.

The card, which was promoted by Rising Promotions was the 10th consecutive sellout at The Claridge for the promotion, who continued to solidify themselves the premier boxing promoters Atlantic City.

The victory earned LaManna the LBF Intercontinental title.

LaManna worked behind a strong jab and constantly had Amoako in a defensive mindset. LaManna kept up what was working for him as he used a stiff jab to set up hard body shots. LaManna out on continuous pressure for which Amoako had no answer for.

LaManna, 147 lbs of Millville, NJ won on all cards by the shutout margin of 100-90 and is now 25-2. Amoako of Silver Spring, MD via Ghana is 23-17.

Thomas LaManna Post fight ring interview

Raymond Serrano won the WBC Fecarbox Welterweight tittle with a eighth round disqualification victory over previously undefeated Enver Halili.

The fight was a war that thrilled the crowd at the Claridge. Both guys were rocked several times throughout the contest.

The punches started to get to Halili as he was docked points in rounds six and seven for spitting out his mouthpiece. He spit put the mouth-guard one more time in round eight, and referee Eric Dali called off the bout at 1:34.

Serrano of Philadelphia is now 24-4. Halili is now 10-1.

Jorge Diaz got off the deck to take home a eight-round unanimous decision over Adam Lopez and capture the WBC Fecarbox Super Bantamweight title.

In round two, Lopez dropped Diaz with a short right hand. Diaz gathered himself and began countering well and taking rounds. It was a close and competitive fight down the stretch with Diaz taking all cards by 76-75 tallies.

Diaz, 121.4 lbs of New Brunswick, NJ is now 19-5-1. Lopez, 121.4 lbs of San Antonio, TX is 16-2-2.

Yurik Mamedov won a workmanlike six-round unanimous decision over Vincent Floyd in a welterweight bout.

Mamedov, 146.7 lbs of Brooklyn, N y won by scores of 60-54 and 59-55 twice to remain perfect at 8-0. Floyd, 146.3 lbs of Philadelphia drops to 3-4-1.

Alvin Varmall destroyed Nicholas Lavin 97 seconds into their scheduled six-round cruiserweight bout.

Varmall jumped all over Lavin, and finally put him down for the ten-count.

Varmall, 183 lbs of La Place, LA is now 14-0-1 with 12 knockouts. Lavin, 192 lbs

Tomas Romain made it two straight over Sidell Blocker by winning a unanimous decision in a six-round

In round six, Blocker began to leak blood from his right nostril.

Romain, 131.4 lbs of Brooklyn, NY won by scores of 60-54 twice and 60-55.

Romain is now 5-1. Blocker, 13o.5 lbs of Pleasntville, NJ s 1-10-1.

Jonathan Arroyo was dropped, but hung on to make his pro debut a successful one as he took a four round unanimous decision over Steve Moore in a welterweight bout.

Arroyo controlled the action, but in round four, Moore landed a hard right that sent Arroyo to his knees.

Arroyo, 145.7 lbs of New York is 1-0. Moore, 146.5 lbs of Orange, NJ is 0-2.

Frederick Julan remained perfect by stopping Willis Lockett after five rounds of their scheduled six-round cruiserweight bout.

Julan dominates the bout until Lockett had enough, and the fight was stopped in the corner following the 5th stanza.

Julan, 181.5 lbs of Brooklyn, NY is now 7-0 with five knockouts. Lockett, 182 lbs is now Takoma Park, MD is now 15-22-6.

boxing

Adam Lopez “A win over Jorge Diaz on Saturday gets me back knocking on the door of a title shot”

November 17, 2017 FNU47 Leave a comment

WBC Fecarbox Super Bantamweight title fight this Saturday at The Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City

Championship card loaded show with three title bouts

PRESS CONFERENCE THURSDAY AT MALCOM’S LOUNGE IN THE CLARIDGE HOTEL AT 6 PM

Thomas LaManna to take on Samuel Amoako for LBF Intercontinental Welterweight title

Raymond Serrano – Enver Halili now for WBC Fecarbox Welterweight title

Plus undefeated Alvin Vermall, Frederick Julan & Yurik Mamedov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Atlantic City, NJ (November 15, 2017)–Super Bantamweight contender Adam Lopez is looking to getting back to the perch of being on a short list to fight for a world title.

Back on January 20th, Lopez was right there when he took on Daniel Roman in what was a WBA title elimination bout in Atlantic City.

Unfortunately for Lopez, he came up on the short end of that fight, but Saturday night he returns to Atlantic City when he takes on Jorge Diaz in an eight-round bout for the WBC Fecarbox Super Bantamweight title at The Claridge Hotel.

The show is promoted by Rising Promotions, Greg Cohen Promotions and Winner Take All Productions.

Lopez of San Antonio, Texas has set up his 2nd training camp in Northern New Jersey under trainer Wali Moses.

Lopez is promoted by GH3 Promotions

“Camp was good. I am just taking off the last few pounds. I take my weight off slowly, and be comfortable, and then I rehydrate the right way,” said Lopez.

Lopez knows a win over the tough Diaz would get him right back in contention in the 122 pound division.

“I think a win gets me back to the place where I was at before the Roman fight. I will be knocking on the door of a title fight.”

“Diaz is a rough fighter, and I expect a tough fight from him. He has some good wins, and even though he has lost a few fights, four of them have been to undefeated fighters and the other was to a fighter with one loss, so I expect and I am preparing for the best Jorge Diaz.”

“I just want everyone to come out on November 18th, and I will put on a good show.”

In the main event, Thomas LaManna (24-2, 9 KOs) takes on Samuel Amoako (23-16, 17 KOs) in a ten round battle for the LBF Intercontinental title.

Raymond Serrano (23-4, 10 KOs) takes on Enver Halili (10-0, 3 KOs) in a ten round welterweight clash for the WBC Fecarbox Welterweight title.

Adam Lopez (16-1-2, 8 KOs) battles Jorge Diaz (18-5-1, 10 KOs) for the WBC Fecarbox Super bantamweight title in a eight-round bout.

In a six-round welterweight bout, Yurik Mamedov (7-0, 3 KOs) of Brooklyn, NY battlesVincent Floyd (3-3-1, 2 Kos) of Philadelphia in a welterweight contest.

Alvin Vermall, Jr. (13-0-1, 11 KOs) of Catskills, NY will take on Nicholas Lavin (5-6, 4 KOs) of Shelton, Connecticut in a six-round cruiserweight bout.

Frederick Julan (6-0, 4 KOs) of New York, NY will fight Willis Lockett (15-21-6, 5 KOs) of Takoma Park, Maryland in a six-round light heavyweight fight.

Sidell Blocker (1-9-1) of Pleasantville, NJ will fight a rematch with Tomas Romain (4-1) of Brooklyn, NY in a lightweight bout.

Jonathan Arroyo of New York will make his pro debut against Steve Moore (0-1) of Orange, NJ in a welterweight bout.

Tickets for the November 18th fight card at The Claridge are priced at $200, $125, $80 and $55 (General Admission) and can be purchased at www.RisingBoxingPromotions.com

boxing

Raymond Serrano – Enver Halili now for WBC Fecarbox Welterweight title this Saturday at The Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City

November 15, 2017 FNU47 Leave a comment

Loaded show now with three title bouts

PRESS CONFERENCE THURSDAY AT MALCOM’S LOUNGE IN THE CLARDIGE HOTEL AT 6 PM

Thomas LaManna to take on Samuel Amoako for LBF Intercontinental Welterweight title

Adam Lopez fights Jorge Diaz for WBC Fecarbox title

Plus undefeated Alvin Vermall, Frederick Julan & Yurik Mamedov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Atlantic City, NJ (November 14, 2017)–The stakes have grown for the exciting co-feature bout between Raymond Serrano and undefeated Enver Halili at the Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City.

The ten-round bout will be contested for the WBC Fecarbox Welterweight title.

The card is promoted by Rising Promotions, Greg Cohen Promotions, & Winner Take All Productions.

Serrano of Philadelphia has been training at the famed Wildcard Gym, and has had a terrific camp.

“Camp has been very good, I am just dropping the last couple pounds. I have been sparring with Miguel Cotto and some of the top MMA fighters as well. I have one of the top trainer’s in the gym Ernie Zavala working my corner,” said Serrano.

Serrano has trained in Philadelphia and Puerto Rico all over the world and has noticed a difference working out at one of the most famous gyms world.

“The difference in training at Wild Card is that there are so many good fighters there and everywhere you look there is a top level fighter who si working hard.”

In Halili he knows he is in with a fighter who is coming to win and bring the best out of Serrano.

“I really don’t know too much about him. I saw some old footage of him, and I can see that he is a boxer. He is undefeated, so he is coming to win and that should make for a good fight.”

It was five years ago when Serrano was a prize prospect with an 18-0 record, and he was on the brink of major fights, before a stretch where Serrano was able to go just 5-4, yet Serrano believes that he is just a win or two away from a major fight.

“I feel like with a win, I am just a phone call away from a big fight. Even thought I am not ranked, I know I can compete with the big names of the division. This win should get me the belt and also the rankings. I just want to continue to climb the ladder. People forget that I am just 28 years-old and I am in my prime. Little by little with my manager Mark Cipparone. I just want to let everyone know that this Saturday, November 18th there will be a new WBC Fecarbox champion, and that will be me, Raymond “Tito” Serrano.”