Tūtohu Archives: Brandon Girtz

Bellator, whakauru toi hōia, MMA, Koi TV

KERI MELENDEZ SET FOR MIXED MARTIAL ARTS DEBUT VS. SHEILA PADILLA AT SAP CENTER IN SAN JOSE ON NOV. 19

October 20, 2016 FNU47 Waiho he tākupu

UNDEFEATED LIGHTWEIGHTS JAKE ROBERTS-CARRINGTON BANKS READY FOR ACTION IN PRELIMINARY CONTEST

Santa MONICA, Calif (October 19, 2016) – The anticipated mixed martial arts debut of flyweight Keri Melendez will come against Sheila Padilla (2-0) during the main card of "Bellator 165: Chandler vs. Henderson " i te Center SAP i San Jose, Calif. i runga i Nov. 19.

I tua atu, a lightweight bout pitting Carrington Banks (5-0) ki Jake Roberts (7-0) has been added to the Bellator.com-streamed preliminary card.

The bouts join action-packed fights highlighted by a lightweight world title main event featuring Michael Chandler (15-3) ki Benson Henderson (24-6). I tua atu, a welterweight clash between undefeated British striker Michael whārangi "mana'o" (11-0) and California’s own Fernando Gonzalez (25-13) will also be the card’s co-main event. Rounding out the televised action, a lightweight showdown pitting Arama Piccolot (8-0) ki Brandon Girtz (14-4) and a light heavyweight matchup pitting Linton “The Swarm” Vassell (16-5) versus Francis Carmont (14-4) were added earlier this week.

"Bellator 165: Chandler vs. Henderson " will take place on Whiringa 19, airing LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 9 p.m ET/ 8 p.m. CT. Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased at Bellator.com, as well as SAP Center Box Office and Ticketmaster.

The queen of the infamous Skrap Pack in Northern California, Melendez made her first appearance in a victory during the kickboxing portion of "Bellator: Taipohū 1, " and followed up with another win at “Dynamite 2.” Melendez tallied a 4-1 amateur mark before taking her talents to the professional circuit, te wahi i te ia wā mau 4-1 lekooti kickboxing. The 32-year-old flyweight will now make the transition to MMA, an iteration of combat sports that her husband, Gilbert Melendez has plenty of success in. Living up to her promise of making her debut in 2016, Melendez will compete on the main card of "Bellator 165: Chandler vs. Henderson " i te Center SAP i San Jose, Calif. i runga i Nov. 19.

Fighting out of Visalia, Calif., Padilla will enter the Bellator MMA fray following two successful wins on the regional scene, both coming in 2016. Training under Bellator MMA veteran Doug Marshall at Team Elite, this will be Padilla’s opportunity to truly make a name for herself against Melendez, when she competes LIVE on SPIKE.

Just like his opponent, Banks enters the cage undefeated and ready to make another splash in his second fight since joining the Scott Coker-led promotion. The Peoria, Illinois native has finished two of his five victims and dominated all three of his decision victories, earning each by unanimous variety. “Jetsetter” will look to use Roberts as his runway for success as the Blackzilian product hopes to couple his Bellator MMA debut triumph with yet another feat and continue his climb up the lightweight ranks. After competing professionally in Kansas, Texas, and Iowa, the trip to Connecticut will mark Banks’ first on the East Coast. Tune in to Bellator.com’s live-streaming preliminary action to find out if the long journey will have any effect on “Jetsetter” and his performance.

“The North County Nightmare” hasn’t the slightest idea what it’s like to lose, as the 25-year-old enters his eighth professional contest at an admirable 7-0. Having won all five amateur bouts and each of his first four professional fights by way of first round submission, it is Roberts’ ground game that keeps his opponents up at night. Heoi, Roberts’ 2016 campaign has been all about power, after recording back-to-back knockout finishes, highlighted by an emphatic first round knockout in his Bellator MMA debut at "Bellator 160: Henderson vs. Pitbull.” Roberts hopes to haunt Banks’ dreams when the two clash in the bright lights of SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.

Oti "Bellator 165: Chandler vs. Henderson” Main Card:

Lightweight World Title Main Event: Michael Chandler (15-3) vs. Benson Henderson (24-6)

Welterweight Co-Main Event: Michael Whārangi (11-0) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (25-13)

Light Heavyweight Feature Bout: Linton Vassell (16-5) vs. Francis Carmont (25-11)

Lightweight Feature Bout: Arama Piccolot (8-0) vs. Brandon Girtz (14-4)

Flyweight Feature Bout: Keri-Anne Taylor-Melendez (Tuatahi) vs. Sheila Padilla (2-0)

Complete Preliminary Card:

Kōmāmātanga Tuhinga o mua: Carrington Banks (5-0) vs. Jake Roberts (7-0)

Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Diego Herzog (3-2) vs. Nick Pica (5-0)

Tuhinga o mua Bantamweight: Gabe Carrasco (7-0) vs. Rolando Velasco (10-4)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: James Terry (17-9) vs. Justin Baesman (19-10-1)

Taumekehiko Whakatekau Mua: Jose Parete (2-1) vs. J.T. Donaldson (2-1)

Kōmāmātanga Tuhinga o mua: J.J. Okanovich (2-1) vs. Luis Vargas (Tuatahi)

Kōmāmātanga Tuhinga o mua: Hugo Lujan (0-1) vs. Cesar Gonzalez (Tuatahi)

Welterweight “VOW” Preliminary Bout: Dominic Sumer (Tuatahi) vs. Justin Roswell (1-0)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Danasabe Mohammed (5-0) vs. Dwight Grant (6-1)

Flyweight Tuhinga o mua: Sarah D’Alelio (10-6) vs. Jaimelene Nievera (4-1)

Bellator, whakauru toi hōia, MMA, Koi TV

UNDEFEATED ADAM PICCOLOTTI SET FOR LIGHTWEIGHT CLASH WITH BRANDON GIRTZ AT SAP CENTER IN SAN JOSE ON NOV. 19 LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS LINTON VASSELL AND FRANCIS CARMONT ALSO ADDED TO THE SPIKE-TELEVISED MAIN CARD

October 12, 2016 FNU47 Waiho he tākupu

Santa MONICA, Calif (October 11, 2016) – A lightweight showdown pitting Arama Piccolot (8-0) ki Brandon Girtz (14-4) and a light heavyweight matchup pitting Linton “The Swarm” Vassell (16-5) versus Francis Carmont (14-4) Kua tāpiri ki te kāri matua o "Bellator 165: Chandler vs. Henderson " i te Center SAP i San Jose, Calif. i runga i Nov. 19.

The bouts join a pair of action-packed fights highlighted by a lightweight world title main event featuring Michael Chandler (15-3) ki Benson Henderson (24-6). I tua atu, a welterweight clash between undefeated British striker Michael whārangi "mana'o" (11-0) and California’s own Fernando Gonzalez (25-13) will also be the card’s co-main event. Additional contests will be announced in the coming weeks.

After emerging victorious in his first four professional fights, Piccolotti has continued with more of the same under the Scott Coker-led promotion’s banner. Since making his Bellator MMA debut in 2015, the California native has recorded wins in each of his four bouts, including three consecutive finishes via submission. Piccolotti opened his 2016 campaign with a nifty first round finish of Ray Wood i "Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo," lifting his overall record to 8-0. The 27-year-old will look to protect his unblemished mark when he challenges Girtz on Whiringa 19 inside SAP Center.

One year removed from an impressive first round finish that left opponent Derek Āpure on the Bellator MMA canvas just 37 seconds into the bout, Girtz returns to the cage in an attempt to build off of his current three-fight winning streak. The Mankato, Mai., native holds an impressive 6-2 promotional mark since joining Bellator MMA, including four finishes and a pair of first round knockouts. Since making his professional debut in 2008, the 31-year-old Girtz has recorded 10 finishes, eight of which have come by way of submission. Having won five of his last six bouts, the powerful grappler will look to pick up right where he left off and further his case for a 155-pound title shot.

A seven-fight veteran of Bellator MMA, Vassell has recorded five wins since making his promotional debut in 2013. The 33-year-old British striker is known for ending fights early with his elite striking and a near-flawless ground game. I roto i te katoa, “The Swarm” has finished 13 o tona 16 hoariri, whai wāhi 10 first round finishes and six knockout blows. Vassell hopes to build off of a strong performance at the record shattering "Bellator 149: Shamrock vs. Gracie " takahanga, where he defeated Emauel Newton. Vassell now turns his attention to Francis Carmont, an opponent that he was originally slated to face earlier in the year at "Bellator 158: Daley vs. Lime," before an injury forced Vassell to withdraw.

Similar to his opponent, former UFC competitor Francis Carmont also has a knack for finishing opponents early and often in his bouts. The 34-year-old Carmont has stopped his opponent in 17 o tona 25 career wins, whai wāhi 11 submission victories and six knockouts. Hailing from Paris, France, “Limitless” credits much of his success to the top-notch trainers at Tristar Gym in Montreal, Canada. The well-known training camp is loaded with accomplished instructors, who have helped develop a number of talented fighters, including recent Bellator MMA free agent signee Rory MacDonald. With more than half of his submission finishes coming in the opening round of action, we can expect the dynamic Carmont to attack his opponent right off the bat in hopes of adding to that remarkable total.

Whakahoutia "Bellator 165: Chandler vs. Henderson” Main Card:

Lightweight World Title Main Event: Michael Chandler (15-3) vs. Benson Henderson (24-6)

Welterweight Co-Main Event: Michael whārangi "mana'o" (11-0) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (25-13)

Light Heavyweight Feature Bout: Linton Vassell (16-5) vs. Francis Carmont (25-11)

Lightweight Feature Bout: Arama Piccolot (8-0) vs. Brandon Girtz (14-4)

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