Tūtohu Archives: Karaitiana Edwards

Bellator, whakauru toi hōia, MMA, Showtime, Showtime mekemeke

Complete Weigh-In Results & Photos for Tomorrow’s BELLATOR 261: Johnson vs. Moldavsky Event – E ora i runga i SHOWTIME

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COMPLETE WEIGH-IN PHOTOS

UNCASVILLE, Conn. - BELLATOR 261: Johnson vs. Mouldavsky will be broadcast tomorrow, Rāmere, Pipiri 25 on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, while preliminary bouts will stream on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel beginning at 6:30 p.m. / 3 AND:30 p.m. PT.

BELLATOR MMA 261: Johnson vs. Mouldavsky Kāri Main:
Rāmere, Pipiri 25 – Live on SHOWTIME
9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT

Interim Heavyweight World Title Main Event: #1-Timothy Johnson (260) vs. #3-Valentin Mouldavsky (234)
Flyweight Co-Main Event: #2-Liz Carmouche (125.5) vs. #3-Kana Watanabe (125.25)
Mā whitu a'ee: #6-Daniel Weichel (145.5) vs. Keoni Diggs (146)
Kōmāmā a'ee: #4-Myles Huuri (156) vs. #6-Sidney Outlaw (156)
Light taumahamaha a'ee: Karaitiana Edwards (206) vs. Simon Biyong (204.5)

Kāri hukihuki:
BELLATOR MMA YouTube Channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube Channel | Pouaka Pouaka Whakaata
6:30 p.m. / 3 AND:30 p.m. PT

Kōmāmā a'ee: Soren Bak (156) vs. Bobby Lee (155.25)
Kōmāmā a'ee: Isaiah Hokit (155.75) vs. Corey Samuels (156)
Whā a'ee: Jaylon Bates (136) vs. Cody Matthews (135)
Whitu a'ee: Taylor Johnson (185.25) vs. Lance Wright (184.75)
Mā whitu a'ee: John Macapa (144.75) vs. John de Jesus (145.5)

Haere ki Bellator.com no te tahi atu mau haamaramaramaraa.

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About BELLATOR
BELLATOR MMA is a leading global mixed martial arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. I raro i te aronga o te kaiwhakatairanga whawhai hōia 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. I roto i te United States, BELLATOR can be seen on SHOWTIME. BELLATOR is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, rōpū takahanga ora, whanaketanga whawhai / whanaunga, ähua wāhi, i hanga e tautoko / whanaketanga, raihana ao, marketing, pānuitanga, publicity me te kōmihana whanaunga. BELLATOR is based in Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant ViacomCBS, home ki rama pirimia whakangahau o te ao e hono ki te hunga i roto i te ihirangi mālohi puta noa i te pouaka whakaata, nekehanga pikitia, ipurangi me te pūkoro tüäpapa.

Mō SHOWTIME
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc., owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ a Flix®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. Markets SNI a tohatoha hākinakina, me ngā kaupapa whakangahau mo te whakaaturanga ki kaiohauru i runga i te kaupapa utu-ia-tirohanga i roto i SHOWTIME PPV®. Mō ētahi atu pārongo, haere ki te www.SHO.com.
Bellator, whakauru toi hōia, MMA, Showtime

BELLATOR MMA 261 MEDIA DAY VIDEOS AND QUOTES

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Text Description automatically generated
Los Angeles – Kaua e. 1 tūranga taumahamaha Timothy Johnson a No. 3 tūranga taumahamaha Valentin Mouldavsky previewed their monumental inaugural interim heavyweight title fight at BELLATOR 261 on SHOWTIME during a virtual media day Wednesday. Johnson vs. Moldavsky caps off an amazing main card this Friday, Pipiri 25 ora i runga i SHOWTIME i 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

Te BELLATOR 261 main card also features a top-five women’s flyweight bout in the co-main event slot as the No. 2 runga Liz Carmouche takes on the undefeated No. 3 runga Kana Watanabe. Ano, lightweights square off as No. 4 runga Myles Huuriclashes with the No. 6 runga Sidney Outlaw in a contest holding major title implications and former title challenger No. 6 rima tekau mā whitu runga Daniel Weichel battles the undefeated Keoni Diggs in a 145-pound bout. Top prospect Karaitiana Edwards opens the action on SHOWTIME in a light heavyweight banger against Simon Biyong.

Tenei ko te aha te whawhai i ki te mea Wenerei:

Tim Johnson BELLATOR Heavyweight

*Pāwhiritia HERE to view Johnson’s full media session

“I’m counting this as a title, I’ll let everyone else put interim in front of it. Moldavsky is a championship level fighter and so am I, so in my eyes this fight is to become the best heavyweight in the division.”

“It was easy to focus on his gameplan because it is the exact same thing I do. We both are strong wrestlers and have heavy ground and pound. I guess we are going to have see who does it better on Friday.”

“My resurgence in my career comes from me not doubting myself. I lost a few in a row and it was an easy excuse to quit and doubt myself, but I didn’t, and I was able to rip off three in a row and put myself in a position to win a title.”

Valentin Moldavsky BELLATOR Heavyweight

*Pāwhiritia HERE to view Moldavsky’s full media session

“Yes, there are some similarities between me and Tim. My style is a little different, ahakoa, I like to take people down and finish them there.”

“Now that this is a title fight, I understand that there is more on the line, but this is just another fight for me. I plan to do what I always do and that is fight my fight and come out with a victory.”

“It is an honor to train with Fedor and represent his team.”

“His wrestling is not better than mine, and my sambo is going to be more impactful than his wrestling.’

Liz Carmouche BELLATOR Women’s Flyweight

*Pāwhiritia HERE to view Carmouche’s full media session

“I plan to get a dominant finish and earn a title shot. I don’t think either of us want this to go to a decision. Weather it be me knocking her out, cutting her open or ground and pound, I plan to finish this fight in a dominating fashion.”

“It is really exciting to fight in front of the fans and feel that energy again. Walking in and walking out is where you feel it, but when I step foot in the cage it is just me and my opponent.”

“This has nothing to do with Kana and her record. I have to put on a dominant performance and show why I deserve to be the champion in this division. When I got to Bellator, I wanted to climb all the way up the rankings, and that is what I have done and plan on continuing to do.”

“Without giving too much away I see a lot of possibilities here. I see a lot of disabilities in her game that I can capitalize on that will enhance my game. This will allow me to put on a great performance and finish her.”

Kana Watanabe BELLATOR Women’s Flyweight

*Pāwhiritia HERE to view Watanabe’s full media session

“I am very flattered by the comparison to Rhonda, but my judo and my ground and pound is very advanced and much different than Rhonda’s.”

“If I have a positive showing Friday, then I believe I deserve a shot at the title.”

“Liz is one of the biggest names I have ever fought, but this does not change my mindset or make me feel pressure. I am honored to fight Liz and can’t wait to step foot in the cage with her.”

“I am honored to be the co-main event on Friday. That all means nothing, ahakoa, if I don’t put on a show and an impressive performance. I plan to do that.’

Myles Jury BELLATOR Lightweight

*Pāwhiritia HERE to view Jury’s full media session

“I try to focus on the things I can control, but a win Friday along with how I have been fighting should put me in the conversation for a title shot.”

“I credit my toughness for this two-fight win streak. I continue to show up and work hard. When I was on that three-fight losing streak, I did not allow for myself to get down. After Friday I will be on a three-fight win streak and in a great spot for a shot at the title, and I credit my toughness and resilience for that.”

Sidney Outlaw BELLATOR Lightweight

“I have improved in every way possible. Jury is just another guy who breathes air, so I have nothing to worry about.”

“Fighting guys like Michael Chandler have helped me, but at the end of the day it is me vs. ahau. I am confident, and that has translated to every other aspect of my life. I am prepared for this fight and am going to put on a show.”

Daniel Weichel BELLATOR Featherweight

*Pāwhiritia HERE to view Weichel’s full media session

“I think Keoni is a tough fighter, but I am looking forward to giving him his first loss. I am extremely excited for this fight and giving him his first loss is going to be a challenge for me, and I look forward to It.”

"Totonu, I don’t want to look ahead of this fight. It was easy to do that in the Grand Prix, and I did not like it. Keoni is a tough opponent, and my focus has been on him. I had a great camp and look forward to showing that Friday night.”

Keoni Diggs BELLATOR Featherweight

*Pāwhiritia HERE to view Diggs full media session

“I’m stoked for the challenge. This is my toughest fight to date, and it’s against the toughest opponent. I am looking forward to making a statement and solidifying myself in this division.”

“My game plan never changes. I am going to take what he gives me and beat him. I believe I am better than him everywhere, I am not really looking forward to wins and losses, but I just want to put on a great performance and show what I am capable of.”

“Just because he has more fights doesn’t mean he has mystical powers. I train with some very tough people, and I am a veteran myself. I have a lot of confidence in myself and don’t see him doing anything that will shock me when we step in the cage.”

Christian Edwards BELLATOR Light Heavyweight

*Pāwhiritia HERE to view Edward’s full media session

“Simon is very tough, and it is definitely the toughest opponent of my career. I know my skill set, ahakoa, and I know what I can do, and I expect to show that Friday.”

“I know Simon is very powerful and athletic. It is his first fight in the United States, so I expect him to come out flying. I plan to weather the storm and then take him into deep waters where I can finish the fight.”

Simon Biyong BELLATOR Light Heavyweight

*Pāwhiritia HERE to view Biyong full media session

“It is a dream to fight in the United States and making my debut here is a huge opportunity. I was originally on the prelims and now I am on the main card, what more could I ask for?"

“I didn’t have a lot of time to prepare for Edwards, but it doesn’t matter because at the end of the day it is a fight. It is short notice for me, and it is short notices for him. I will be ready and can’t wait to show my skills.”

“I am here to put myself in a position to get a ranked opponent, and Christian Edwards is in my way. I think he looked good in his last fight, but I am not his last opponent. I hope he is ready because I am.”

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About BELLATOR
BELLATOR MMA is a leading global mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. I raro i te aronga o te kaiwhakatairanga whawhai hōia 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. I roto i te United States, BELLATOR can be seen on SHOWTIME. BELLATOR is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, rōpū takahanga ora, whanaketanga whawhai / whanaunga, ähua wāhi, i hanga e tautoko / whanaketanga, raihana ao, marketing, pānuitanga, publicity me te kōmihana whanaunga. BELLATOR is based in Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant ViacomCBS, home ki rama pirimia whakangahau o te ao e hono ki te hunga i roto i te ihirangi mālohi puta noa i te pouaka whakaata, nekehanga pikitia, ipurangi me te pūkoro tüäpapa.

Mō SHOWTIME
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc., nona a mahi nga kupenga moni pouaka SHOWTIME®, THE Whitiāhua Channel™ a Flix®, a ka tuku hoki SHOWTIME ON tono®, THE Whitiāhua Channel™ ON tono a Flix ON tono®, me te motuhēhēnga ratonga SHOWTIME wā o te whatunga®. Showtime Mamati Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SNI, whakahaere i te ratonga tu-anake roma SHOWTIME®. SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS, and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Amazon, Apple®, Google, LG Smart TVs, Oculus Go, Tau®, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox One and PlayStation®4. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Amazon’s Prime Video Channels, Apple TV Channels, AT&T TV Now, FuboTV, Hulu, The Roku Channel, Sling TV and YouTube TV. Viewers can also watch on computers at Showtime.com. Markets SNI a tohatoha hākinakina, me ngā kaupapa whakangahau mo te whakaaturanga ki kaiohauru i runga i te kaupapa utu-ia-tirohanga i roto i SHOWTIME PPV®. Mō ētahi atu pārongo, haere ki te www.SHO.com.
Bellator, whakauru toi hōia, MMA, Showtime

FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS, Korukī & PHOTOS FOR BELLATOR MMA 259: CYBORG VS. SMITH 2

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A picture containing person, sport Description automatically generated
COMPLETE FIGHT NIGHT PHOTOS HERE - (PLEASE CREDIT: BELLATOR MMA / LUCAS NOONAN)

POST-FIGHT VIDEO INTERVIEWS HERE

c-Cris Cyborg (24-2, 1 NC) patua #4-Leslie Smith (12-9-1) mā TKO (aro) i 4:51 o te a tawhio rima

Cris Cyborg after retaining the title:

“I knew she was tough and I’ve fought her before. I know her and respect her and she’s a real fighter. I knew with her it would be a great match, because she’s capable and she’s tough."

“I was really working in sparring to keep going and going because I knew it was going to be this way. I noticed I enjoyed it a little more. It’s going to be 16 years as a professional fighter this month so I started to enjoy it in there."



“I’ve been working on grappling my whole life but I just feel like I’m getting better and better every day. I got a black belt, but it’s like a white belt because I’m always learning."

“I’ve been doing this 16 tau, I’ve got four titles. But before you can be a G.O.A.T. you have to fight the ‘Cat.’ So, I’d like to fight with Cat Zingano and I will ask Scott Coker. Because before you can be a G.O.A.T. you have to fight the ‘Cat.’”

#6-Leandro Higo (20-5) patua Darrion Caldwell (15-5) mā te whakatau ritua (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

“I’ve been waiting for this fight for three years now. It’s exactly how I wanted it to go. I used my wrestling and I used my jiu-jitsu. I’m a complete fighter and I’m ready for any fighter on the planet because I believe I’m the best. I knew I had lost the first round, but in the second when he was throwing all those elbows and cut me open, I’m from a poor family in Brazil and that was nothing I hadn’t seen before. I felt happy being in that cage with blood all over me.

“He ended up taking me down in the second and I went for a kimura, which is something I’m very accustomed to doing, but he reversed it but then he didn’t do anything and I hit him with a lot of strikes on bottom. A lot of elbows and strikes and I stayed very on bottom and he wasn’t doing anything. That’s why I won the second and third round.”

“I think that I deserve a title shot. I just beat three of the biggest names in the game and I just beat a former world champion. And nobody has beaten the top three guys of this world-class caliber like I have done in three consecutive wins. I’m going for that world title and that’s what’s next for me. So let’s make it fast.”

#3-Austin Vanderford (11-0) patua #4-Fabian Edwards (9-2) mā te whakatau Kotahi tonu (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Austin Vanderford following his unanimous decision win:

“I like my fights bloody, whether it’s me or my opponent. I’ll get a scab. But hats off to Fabian who cut me up a little bit. But happy to get the win.”

“He was a big, strong guy. I started feeling him give me that head and arm choke. Kia aroha mai, I didn’t capitalize on it. But I knew what I was going to do. I was going to just grind it out. He’s a good striker so I had to be careful but I felt good. Wrestling … it’s my heart. I’m ready for the next step.”

Jaleel Willis (15-2) patua Maycon Mendonca (11-5) mā te whakatau Kotahi tonu (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Hannah Guy (3-1) patua #8-Valerie Loureda (3-1) mā te whakatau Kotahi tonu (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Hannah Guy following her first win inside the BELLATOR cage…

“I felt like I had really good cardio, so that was awesome because I was really worried about that a little bit. I’m so thankful she took the fight and I’m so thankful BELLATOR gave me this opportunity.

“I thought I was going to finish with the triangle (kowaowaotia iho), tika. She just slipped right out of there, so that was awesome of her. Her defense was really good. I was really impressed with that. I didn’t know what her ground game was but it was a lot better than I thought it was going to be.

“Grappling is just where I want to be if you’ve seen any of my other fights. My striking has really improved a lot though so I’m hoping to change that. But grappling has always been my strong suit. I didn’t want to just depend on my grappling, but I thought I landed some shots pretty well a few times. In this fight I thought I could see when the punches were coming. And I was able to defend a little bit better and how I’ve grown. So I’m just really proud of myself right now.”

Kāri hukihuki:
Koe Awad (24-13, 1 NC) patua Nate Andrews (16-4) mā KO (aro) i 3:16 o te tetahi a tawhio noa
#7-Grant Neal (6-0) patua #8-Tyree Fortune (5-1) mā tāpaetanga (kowaowaotia iho muri-tahanga) i 4:20 o te tetahi a tawhio noa
Sumiko Inaba (2-0) patua Kristina Katsikis (1-2) mā TKO (aro) i 3:35 o te a tawhio noa e toru
Aviv Gozali (6-0) patua Sean Felton (5-3-1) mā tāpaetanga (rekereke matau) i 1:17 o te tetahi a tawhio noa
#9-Davion Franklin (3-0) patua Tyler King (12-10) via KO at 2:02 o te tetahi a tawhio noa
#7-Leah McCourt (5-1) patua 6-Janay Harding (6-5) mā tāpaetanga (tapatoru kowaowaotia) i 2:42 o te a tawhio noa e rua
Danny Sabatello (11-1) patua Brett Johns (17-3) mā te whakatau Kotahi tonu (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Alexander Shabliy (20-3) patua #9-Alfie Davis (14-4) mā te whakatau Kotahi tonu (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Haere ki Bellator.com no te tahi atu mau haamaramaramaraa.
Bellator, whakauru toi hōia, MMA, Showtime

BELLATOR MMA™ CONFIRMS FULL FIGHT CARD FOR BELLATOR 259 – LIVE ON SHOWTIME® NEXT FRIDAY, MAY 21 AT 9 P.M. AND

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CRIS CYBORG SET TO DEFEND WOMEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST LESLIE SMITH IN A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED REMATCH

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Los Angeles– BELLATOR MMA has confirmed the full fight card forBELLATOR MMA 259: Cyborg vs. Smith 2teneiRāmere, Kia 21 i Mohegan Sun Arena. The event caps off an exciting month of action for BELLATOR, and airs LIVE on SHOWTIME at9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

With plans to continue her dominance over the women’s featherweight division, Cris Cyborg(23-2, 1 NC) will put her world championship on the line against No. 4 rima tekau mā whitu rungaLeslie Smith(12-8-1) in a rematch to crown the world’s top 145-pound female athlete.

Te BELLATOR MMA 259 main card on SHOWTIME is loaded from top to bottom, including former bantamweight champion Darion Caldwell (15-4) rematching Kaua e. 6 ranked bantamweight Leandro Higo (20-5) in a 135-pound contest, a top-five middleweight clash between the undefeated No. 3 runga Austin Vanderford (10-0) a No. 4 runga Fabian Edwards (9-1), and a welterweight matchup that will see the streaking Jaleel Willis (14-2) face off against former LFA champion Maycon Mendonca (11-4), who’ll be making his promotional debut. Capping off the main card action will be the undefeated Jackson Wink-product and No. 9 ranked light heavyweight Karaitiana Edwards (4-0) challenging Mississippi’s Ben Parrish (4-1).

As part of the launch of BELLATOR MMA on SHOWTIME, the network is offering viewers who are new to the SHOWTIME streaming service a 30-day free trial, Whai muri i te utu mo te utu ohaurunga mo te $ 4.99 / marama mo nga marama e ono e whai ake nei. Ka taea e nga kaitoro te haina kiSHO.com/BellatorMMA. Ka tukuna nga kaiohauru kia rua nga huihuinga BELLATOR MMA pirimia ia marama puta noa 2021 a tera taha, with all events scheduled to air live at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT anywhere the SHOWTIME service is available.

The nine-fight preliminary card has no shortage of action-packed bouts, featuring a top-10 light heavyweight matchup between No. 7 rungaGrant Neal(5-0) a No. 8 rungaTyree Fortune(5-0) and the return of Israeli lightweight superstarAviv Gozali (5-0), as he looks to add to his five first round finishes and record breaking 11-second submission win. Ētahi atu, the charismatic No. 8 ranked women’s flyweightValerie Loureda (3-0), the always-excitingKoe Awad(23-13, 1 NC), a No. 6 ranked Australian featherweightJanay Harding (6-4), who takes on No. 7 ranked Irish sensationLeah McCourt(4-1). Heoi, Kaua e. 9 ranked lightweightAlfie Davis (14-3) makes his sixth promotional appearance against BELLATOR newcomerAlexander Shabliy (19-3).

All prelims will stream live at5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV. Full bout listings are below:

BELLATOR MMA 259: Cyborg vs. Smith 2Kāri Main:

SHOWTIME

9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT

Featherweight World Title Main Event: c-Cris Cyborg(23-2, 1 NC) vs. #4-Leslie Smith(12-8-1)

Bantamweight Co-Main Event: Darrion Caldwell (15-4) vs. #6-Leandro Higo(20-5)

Whitu a'ee: #3-Austin Vanderford (10-0) vs. #4-Fabian Edwards (9-1)

Welterweight a'ee: Jaleel Willis (14-2) vs.Maycon Mendonca (11-4)

Light taumahamaha a'ee: #9-Karaitiana Edwards (4-0) vs.Ben Parrish (4-1)

 Kāri hukihuki: 

BELLATOR MMA YouTube Channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube Channel | Pouaka Pouaka Whakaata

5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT

Kōmāmā a'ee: Koe Awad (23-13, 1 NC) vs.Nate Andrews (16-3)

Light taumahamaha a'ee: #7-Grant Neal (5-0) vs. #8-Tyree Fortune (5-0)

mā a'ee: Sumiko Inaba (1-0) vs.Kristina Katsikis(1-1)

Kōmāmā a'ee: Aviv Gozali (5-0) vs.Sean Felton (5-2-1)

mā a'ee: #8-Valerie Loureda (3-0) vs.Hannah Guy(2-1)

Taumahamaha a'ee: Davion Franklin (2-0) vs.Tyler King (12-9)

Mā whitu a'ee: #6-Janay Harding(6-4) vs. #7-Leah McCourt (4-1)

Kōmāmā a'ee: #9-Alfie Davis(14-3) vs.Alexander Shabliy(19-3)

*Ka whakarerekehia te kaari.

Haere kiBellator.com no te tahi atu mau haamaramaramaraa.