Complete Fight Night Photos Here / Event Highlights Here

ANAHEIM, California. (Lub yim hli ntuj 26, 2016) - Benson Henderson (24-6) earned his first victory since joining the Bellator MMA fray at Honda Center in Anaheim, California., Friday yav hmo ntuj. A faulty kick by Patricio "Pitbull" Freire (25-4) led to a leg injury, forcing him to forfeit the loss two minutes and 26 vib nas this mus rau hauv lub thib ob puag ncig.

 

After making the jump up to Bellator MMA’s 170-pound division, Henderson returned to where he was dominant in the UFC as a lightweight. Tom qab lub yeej, Henderson received word of his next opponent; Bellator MMA’s current Lightweight Champion, Michael Chandler. The two are scheduled to tangle November 19 in the main event of the recently announced “Bellator MMA in San Jose.”

‘Fight of the Year Candidate Ends in Unanimous Decision Victory for Anderson

It took all three rounds to determine a winner in the evening’s co-main event, tab sis nyob rau hauv lub kawg, Derek Anderson (14-2) emerged victorious with a unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 ob zaug) yeej tshaj Koj Awad (19-8). “The Barbaric” continues his recent trend of extending fights through the final round, as the win marks his third consecutive fight to go to the judges’ scorecards. The San Diego native has now recorded five wins under the direction of the Scott Coker-led promotion, including multiple victories over fellow lightweight Patricky "Pitbull" Freire, earning himself well-deserved respect among the division’s elite.

Karakhanyan’s “Insane” Knockout Puts Early end to Jenkins’ Night

Georgi Karakhanyan (25-6-1) Xav tau nkaus xwb 53 seconds to finish Bubba Jenkins (11-3), as the Russian featherweight took care of “The Highlight Kid” for the second time in two years. “Insane” came out firing, landing multiple blows that sent Jenkins to the mat with an early knockout, earning his 11^th win in his last 14 fights. The loss is only the third of Jenkins’ young career and second of the first round variety, both of which Karakhanyan is now responsible for. The win is the fifth knockout of Karakhanyan’s career and is his third in the opening frame.

McKee Remains Undefeated With Impressive Guillotine Finish

 

In the opening contest at "Bellator 160: Henderson vs. Pitbull," A.J. “Mercenary” McKee (5-0) remained unbeaten with a guillotine choke submission 32 vib nas this mus rau hauv lub thib ob puag ncig. By extending the fight past the opening frame, Walker was able to do what no other opponent has done, as each of McKee’s previous four wins had resulted in a first round finish. The win capped off an impressive night by Team Bodyshop, as McKee’s teammates Joey Davis (1-0) thiab Gabriel Green (4-0) also had their arms raised in the preliminary portion of the event. As one of Bellator MMA’s top young talents, the 21-year-old McKee was able to prove once again that he belongs among the division’s elite. Tom qab kev sib ntaus, the Long Beach native called out Patricio “Pitbull," saying “It’s nothing personal, Kuv xav (Daniel) Straus."

 

Preliminary Card tau:

Jake Roberts (7-0) yeej Stephen Martinez (11-5) via TKO at 4:24 ntawm puag ncig ib

Chinzo Machida (4-2) yeej Mario Navarro (4-5) via TKO at 2:57 ntawm puag ncig ib

Jacob Rosales (4-2) yeej Mike Segura (4-4) ntawm unanimous kev txiav txim siab (30-27, 29-28 ob zaug)

Andy Murad (13-2) yeej Jonny Cisneros (9-5) ntawm unanimous kev txiav txim siab (29-28)

Gabriel Green (4-0) yeej Alex Trinidad (1-2) via TKO at 2:01 ntawm round ob

Joey Davis (1-0) yeej Keith Cutrone (1-1) ntawm unanimous kev txiav txim siab (30-27)

Steve Ramirez (5-1) yeej Ron Henderson (4-3) via TKO at 2:24 ntawm puag ncig ib

David Duran (4-4) yeej Kyle Estrada (3-3) ntawm cais kev txiav txim siab (29-28)

CODY WALKER STEPS UP ON SHORT NOTICE TO CHALLENGE UNDEFEATED A.J. MCKEE, WHILE GEORGI KARAKHANYAN-BUBBA JENKINS MOVED TO SPIKE-TELEVISED CARD

Raug Monica, California (Lub yim hli ntuj 16, 2016) – Just nine days before the highly anticipated "Bellator 160: Henderson vs. Pitbull " kev tshwm sim rau Lub yim hli ntuj 26 Ntawm Hasdas Center hauv Anaheim, California., injuries sustained by main card fighters Henry Corrales thiab Lena Ovchynnikova have shaken things up a bit. Undefeated featherweight A.J. McKee (4-0) yuav tam sim no fim Cody Walker (7-2), thaum lub sij hawm Bubba Jenkins (11-2) thiab Georgi Karakhanyan (24-6-1) find themselves in a featherweight feature fight during the SPIKE-televised main card.

The fights join a main card that spotlights a super fight at 155-pounds between Benson Henderson (23-6) thiab Patrick "Pitbull" (25-3), as the two will duke it out for a shot at Michael Chandler's championship belt. Nyob rau hauv tas li ntawd, an explosive lightweight contest pitting Koj Awad (19-7) tiv thaiv Derek Anderson (13-2) yuav ua haujlwm rau yav tsaus ntuj kev sib tw.

Hauv kev ua ntej, welterweights Kevin "tus me nyuam hlais" Ferguson Jr. thiab Joey Davis will make their professional debuts, thaum lub sij hawm Chinzo Machida (3-2) will compete for the first time under the Bellator MMA banner.

Tickets for the event start at $30 thiab tuaj yeem muas tam sim no ntawm daim pib thiab ntawm Honda Center Box Office. Qhov rooj qhib rau ntawm 4:45 p.m. PT Lub sijhawm nyob hauv zos thiab thawj lub rooj sib tham preliminary - uas ntws nyob Bellator.com thiab Lub Bellator Mobile App — pib thaum 5:00 p.m. PT.

Tom qab pib nws txoj haujlwm 7-1 raws li ib tug pib xyaum ua, the 21-year-old “Mercenary” has made a splash on the professional circuit, kaw ib qho zoo meej 4-0 Kos rau ntawm nws thawj zaug plaub. McKee has fought under the Bellator MMA banner ever since he made his professional debut in 2015, Tag nrho nws cov kev sib tw hauv kev qhib ncej, suav nrog peb knockouts thiab lub nraub qaum. McKee’s most recent victory came at the expense of Italian Danilo Belluardo during the mixed martial arts portion of Bellator MMA’s first-ever event overseas, "Bellator 152: Freire vs. Souza.” Lub puam ntev, California. native will now take his flashy personality to the Honda Center, where he will have the chance to put his unique skill set on full display in front of his hometown fans.

Agreeing to take a professional mixed martial arts contest on short notice is no easy task, doing so against an undefeated fighter the caliber of McKee is even more daunting. But that’s exactly the scenario Walker finds himself in now ahead of next Friday’s kev tshwm sim. A two-time competitor for Bellator, “The Crow” will look to move above .500 within the promotion when he enters the cage at Honda Center. The 28-year-old Texan has ended all seven of his professional victories via TKO or KO, including four in the first round.

Longtime Qub Qub Tub Rog ntawm Bellator MMA, Karakhanyan will look to get back on track after dropping two closely contested decision losses against Jenkins, leej twg nws ob tog swb ze li ob xyoos dhau los ntawm guillotine xa. Known to many mixed martial arts fans as “Insane,"Lub 31-xyoo-laus tau ua tiav lawm 18 ntawm nws 24 yeej raws li ib tug kws, earning himself multiple titles in regional promotions along the way. Following multiple setbacks to his knee, the Russian fighter is finally healthy and now looks to climb the 145-pound ladder in a competitive division that he once sat atop as the No. 1 contender.

Tsuas yog ob peb xyoos dhau los, Bubba Jenkins tau pom dav hais tias yog sab saum toj MMA zeem muag hauv txhua qhov kev ua si nawv, though the title became tainted following the aforementioned loss to Karakhanyan at “Bellator 132.” The former NCAA National Champion wrestler with Arizona State University now has three consecutive wins under his belt, thiab tab tom nrhiav rau kev txhiv dim. Heading into his 11th fight under the Scot Coker-led promotion, the 28-year-old “Highlight Kid” looks to put on a standout performance in Bellator’s incredibly deep featherweight division. Tune in Lub yim hli ntuj 26 to see if the Corona, California., native can return the favor and finish Karakhanyan in front of his local supporters.

 

Sau kom tiav "Bellator 160: Henderson vs. Pitbull” SPIKE-Televised Main Card:

Lightweight No. 1 Kev cuam tshuam lub ntsiab lus tseem ceeb: Benson Henderson (23-6) vs. Patricio "Pitbull" Freire (25-3)

Hnav Co-Main kev tshwm sim: Koj Awad (19-7) vs. Derek Anderson (13-2)

Featherweight feature bout: A.J. McKee (4-0) vs. Cody Walker (7-2)

Featherweight feature bout: Bubba Jenkins (11-2) vs. Georgi Karakhanyan (24-6-1)

 

Bellator.com-Streamed Preliminary Card:

Featherweight preliminary bout: Chinzo Machida (3-2) vs. Mario Navarro (4-4)

Welterweight preliminary bout: Joey Davis (Pro Debut) vs. Keith Cutrone (1-0)

Welterweight preliminary bout: Kevin Ferguson Jr. (Pro Debut) vs. Jon Tomasian (Pro Debut)

Me Me Kev Sib Tw: Gabriel Green (2-0) vs. Alex Trinidad (1-0)

Cov Ncaws Nrov Tseem Ceeb Preliminary: Steve Ramirez (4-1) vs. Ron Henderson (4-2)

Cov Ncaws Nrov Tseem Ceeb Preliminary: Kyle Estrada (3-2) vs. David Duran (3-4)

Me Me Kev Sib Tw: Mike Segura (4-3) vs. Jacob Rosales (3-2)

Welterweight preliminary bout: Jonny Cisneros (9-4) vs. Andy Murad (12-2)

Me Me Kev Sib Tw: Jake Roberts (6-0) vs. Stephen Martinez (11-4)