Tag Archives: Dave Rickels
BARE KNUCKLE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTS LOADED CARD HIGHLIGHTED BY LOCAL TALENTS ENTERING THE RING ON SATURDAY, MARCH 14 IN WICHITA, KAN.
BARE KNUCKLE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP BRINGS FIRST EVENT TO KANSAS ON SATURDAY, MARCH 14!
COMPLETE BELLATOR 171 RESULTS, QUOTES & PHOTOS
Chidi Njokuani (17-4) defeated Melvin Guillard (32-17) via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-24, 30-26)
Quote: “I felt like the fight was pretty good, I had taken it on short notice, so I didn’t really have a lot of time to prepare for it,” Chidi Njokuani said. “Overall, I thought I did alright, but like I said, I just didn’t have a full camp and I could tell the difference.”
Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/per4k86majpp5m7/AACAUkbQzegBSRD_TQ6OVkl0a?dl=0
David Rickels (18-5) defeated Aaron Derrow (14-9) via TKO at :45 of round three
Quote: “I can’t wait to re-watch that walkout. Shoutout to everyone that helped with that, including Sean Grande,” David Rickels said. “Now, give me the fun fights. Give me whoever wants it. I dropped him with a good combination 30 seances in and set the tone, I really wanted to get the finish and after tonight, I’m one step closer to being the best of the best.”
Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/km0yv4a45r6tiee/AAAZ8aLX6To6KuU1zIOrtMKCa?dl=0
Jessica Middleton (2-0) defeated Alice Yauger (4-5) via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-26, 30-26)
Quote: “Blood and pain, isn’t that what you guys wanted? She was tough, after the first round I was like ‘holy crap,’ Jessica Middleton said. “I’m not truly happy with my performance, I want to get better and I will come back stronger and more efficient. Emily Ducote is great, I’d love to fight her, but I’m ready for any flyweight, I’m ready to go.”
Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qx27fz4n49oakqx/AAAvwiCrRmPgTVdzb0eI9MRga?dl=0
A.J. McKee (6-0) defeated Brandon Phillips (6-2) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Quote: “I thought the night went well. It’s a fight and you never know what result you’re going to get in a fight. End of the day, I’m coming home with the victory,” A.J. McKee said. “I knew I could go out there and wrestle, but I wanted to do something different and entertain the fans.”
Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/492bpnr154drzqo/AACkb5DI-_f1oB5lHXFFK6jTa?dl=0
Jarod Trice (2-0) defeated Kevin Woltkamp (1-3) via knockout at 3:17 of round two
Quote: “Everything went according to plan tonight. I told my coaches that I have the best left hook in the world and my opponent better watch out for it,” Jarod Trice said. “I’m going to take fights from 185 to 265 pounds and best believe that they all can catch these hands”
Tyrell Fortune (2-0) defeated Will Johnson (0-1) via TKO at 4:27 of round two
Quote: “It was a good fight and a good win, but I took a few shots the groin that really made it difficult for me tonight,” Tyrell Fortune said. “I’ll take the win, but I paid for it.”
Jordan Young (6-0) defeated Chris Harris (7-1) via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Justin Overton (4-2) defeat Gaston Reyno (6-2) via technical submission (rear-naked choke) at :34 of round two
Bruna Ellen (3-1) defeated Carmella James (0-1) via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Domo Garcia (1-0) defeated Will Lavine (0-1) via submission (triangle choke) at 2:08 of round two
Chance Rencountre (9-2) defeated Jake Lindsay (11-6) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Johnny Marigo (3-0) defeated Joe Fulk (4-5) via TKO at 1:23 of round one
Manny Meraz (9-3) defeated Scott Heston (4-2) via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Mike Breeden (1-0) defeated Craig Farley (0-1) via TKO at 4:38 of round 1
Full Bellator 171 Weigh-In Results, Video & Photos
STACKED MAIN CARD FEATURED DURING BELLATOR 171 TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE ON SPIKE
Complete Weigh-In Photos Here / Weigh-In Video Here
MULVANE, KANSAS. (Jan. 26, 2017) –The official weigh-ins for Bellator 171: Guillard vs. Njokuani took place this evening in front of a rowdy crowd just outside the Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane, Kansas. The competitors are now ready for action tomorrow, with the event airing LIVE on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.
The event is headlined by a 180 lb. catchweight main event featuring Melvin Guillard (32-16-2, 3 NC) and Chidi Njokuani (16-4, 1 NC). In the evening’s co-main event, Kansas’ own Dave Rickels (17-4, 2 NC) returns to the Bellator MMA cage to take on Aaron Derrow (14-8) in a lightweight feature fight. The Spike-televised main card also offers an enticing featherweight clash pitting undefeated phenom A.J. McKee (6-0) against Brandon Phillips (6-2), as well as a female flyweight contest pairing Jessica Middleton (1-0) against Alice Yauger (4-4).
Bellator 171: Guillard vs. Njokuani takes place at the Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane, Kansas, and airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream live on Bellator.com and The Bellator Mobile App.
Main Card: (Live on SPIKE – 9 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. CT)
Catchweight Main Event: Melvin Guillard (178.1) vs. Chidi Njokuani (179.7)
Lightweight Co-Main Event: Dave Rickels (170.3) vs. Aaron Derrow (169.8)
Featherweight Main Card Bout: A.J. McKee (145.6) vs. Brandon Phillips (146.8)*
Flyweight Main Card Bout: Jessica Middleton (126) vs. Alice Yauger (125.7)
Preliminary Card: (Bellator.com – 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CT)
Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Chris Harris (184.7) vs. Jordan Young (187)
Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Gaston Reyno (145.2) vs. Justin Overton (146)
Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Jarod Trice (223.6) vs. Kevin Woltkamp (238)
Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Tyrell Fortune (244.4) vs. Will Johnson (228.1)
Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Bruna Ellen (125) vs. Carmella James (124.2)
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Will Lavine (170.8) vs. Domo Garcia (170.5)
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Chance Rencountre (170) vs. Jake Lindsay (170.9)
Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Johnny Marigo (135.5) vs. Joe Fulk (135.9)
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Manny Meraz (170.2) vs. Scott Heston (170.1)
Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Craig Farley (155.5) vs. Mike Breeden (155.9)
BLUE CHIP PROSPECTS JAROD TRICE & TYRELL FORTUNE RETURN TO BELLATOR MMA CAGE AT BELLATOR 171 INSIDE KANSAS STAR ARENA ON JAN. 27
BRAZILIAN PHENOM BRUNA ELLEN ALSO ADDED TO STACKED UNDERCARD
HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. — (Jan. 13, 2017) – A pair of heavyweight fights featuring undefeated blue chip prospects Jarod Trice(1-0) and Tyrell Fortune (1-0) have been added to the Bellator.com-streamed preliminary card of Bellator 171 at the Kansas Star Arena on Jan. 27.
Also added to the preliminary portion of Bellator 171 is Bruna Ellen (2-1), who will take on Carmella James (Debut) in a female flyweight clash. The new additions join a competitive undercard that is highlighted by a middleweight fight pitting the undefeated Chris Harris (7-0) against Jordan Young (5-0), along with Gaston Reyno (6-1, 2 NC) versus Justin Overton (3-2).
A catchweight bout putting Melvin Guillard (32-16-2, 3 NC) against knockout artist Chidi Njokuani (16-4, 1 NC) will serve as the evening’s main event, while fans will have the opportunity to see the return of “The King of Kansas” David Rickels (17-4, 2 NC) in a lightweight co-main event fight with Aaron Derrow (14-8). Undefeated phenom A.J. McKee (6-0) will take on Brandon Phillips (6-2) in a featherweight feature fight and Kansas’ own Jessica Middleton (1-0) challenges Alice Yauger (4-4) in a female flyweight bout on the SPIKE-televised main card.
Tickets for Bellator 171: Guillard vs. Njokuani start at $24 and are on sale now atKansasStarEventCenter.com, as well as Ticketmaster.com. The event will be broadcast live and free on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and the Bellator Mobile App.
A highly touted wrestling prospect out of Detroit, Michigan, Jarod Trice will make his second appearance inside of the Bellator MMA cage and is looking to build off of an impressive professional debut. The 27-year-old standout was awarded three All-American honors, as well as a National Title at 120 kg and two Greco Roman National Titles, prior to joining the Bellator MMA fray in 2016. Now Trice is looking to make a name for himself in the world of MMA, after delivering an exceptional performance in his first career win over Tommie Britton at Bellator 167 just over one month ago. Kansas’ Kevin Woltkamp (1-2) will challenge Trice, and will look to play the role hometown spoiler when he competes in front of thousands of friends and family.
After earning state championships in nearly every national age-group in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling during high school, Fortune went on to compete at Grand Canyon University’s highly acclaimed program, where he was named the 2013 Division II Wrestler of the Year, taking home a NCAA Division II championship in the process. The Portland, Ore. native began his career under the direction of Bellator MMA last year, earning a sensational first round knockout victory in his debut at Bellator 163. The 26-year-old now hopes to preserve his unblemished record when he enters the cage for the second time against Will Johnson, who will be making his professional debut.
Hailing from Sao Paulo, Brazil, Ellen enters the bout looking to build off the momentum she came into Bellator with after signing with the Viacom-owned promotion last year. The flyweight prospect began her professional career with back-to-back victories in 2015, including one victory coming after a brilliant knockout win in the opening round of action. Now, the 20-year-old Brazilian makes her second appearance under the Scott Coker-led promotion in the same venue where she made her debut.
Complete Bellator 171: Guillard vs. Njokuani Main Card:
175 lb. Catchweight Main Event: Melvin Guillard (32-16-2, 3 NC) vs. Chidi Njokuani (16-4, 1 NC)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Dave Rickels (17-4, 2 NC) vs. Aaron Derrow (14-8)
Featherweight Feature Fight: A.J. McKee (6-0) vs. Brandon Phillips (6-2)
Flyweight Feature Fight: Jessica Middleton (1-0) vs. Alice Yauger (4-4)
Preliminary Card:
Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Chris Harris (7-0) vs. Jordan Young (5-0)
Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Gaston Reyno (6-1, 2 NC) vs. Justin Overton (3-2)
Weltereweight Preliminary Bout: Will Lavine (Debut) vs. Domo Garcia (Debut)
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Chance Rencountre (8-2) vs. Jake Lindsay (11-5)
Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Johnny Marigo (2-0) vs. Joe Fulk (4-4)
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Manny Meraz (8-3) vs. Scott Heston (4-1)
Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Craig Farley (Debut) vs. Mike Breeden (Debut)
Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Jarod Trice (1-0) vs. Kevin Woltkamp (1-2)
Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Tyrell Fortune (1-0) vs. Will Johnson (Debut)
Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Bruna Ellen (2-1) vs. Carmella James (Debut)
RISING STAR A.J. MCKEE RETURNS TO ACTION WITH FEATHERWEIGHT BOUT AGAINST BRANDON PHILLIPS AT BELLATOR 171 INSIDE KANSAS STAR ARENA ON JAN. 27
KANSAS’ OWN JESSICA MIDDLETON MAKES SPIKE DEBUT DURING FLYWEIGHT BOUT AGAINST ALICE YAUGER
GASTON REYNO ADDED TO STACKED PRELIMINARY CARD
HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. — (Jan. 12, 2017) – A featherweight feature fight pitting A.J. McKee (6-0) against Brandon Phillips (6-2) has been added to the SPIKE-televised main card of Bellator 171 at the Kansas Star Arena on Jan. 27.
In addition, Kansas’ own Jessica Middleton (1-0) will take on Alice Yauger (4-4) in a female flyweight clash, while Uruguayan knockout artist Gaston Reyno (6-1, 2 NC) highlights a stacked preliminary card when he meets Justin Overton (3-2).
The evening’s main event features a 175-pound catchweight showdown between MMA veteran Melvin Guillard (32-16-2, 3 NC) and knockout specialist Chidi Njokuani (16-4, 1 NC). “The King of Kansas” David Rickels (17-4, 2 NC) also returns to the Bellator cage, as he will take on Aaron Derrow (14-8) in a lightweight feature fight.
Tickets for Bellator 171: Guillard vs. Njokuani start at $24 and are on sale now at KansasStarEventCenter.com, as well as Ticketmaster.com. Additional main and preliminary card bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.The event will be broadcast live and free on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and the Bellator Mobile App.
McKee enters the Bellator MMA cage undefeated and continues to prove that he is one of the top young prospects in the sport of MMA. With each of McKee’s six professional fights coming under the direction of Bellator MMA, the 21-year-old Team BodyShop product has made a name for himself from day one, showing both exceptional power and elusiveness every time he steps into the cage. After finishing each of his first five opponents with opening round victories, “Mercenary” was finally taken the distance in his most recent bout with Ray Wood, earning a hard-fought unanimous decision win atBellator 166. A native of Long Beach, Calif., McKee will return to the Midwest in search of his first win of 2017.
Taking his ninth professional fight, 27-year-old Brandon Phillips will participate in the main card action for the first time in his Bellator MMA career. Phillips began his professional career with a bang, delivering five consecutive victories, with four knockouts, and earning well-deserved attention from the Scott Coker-led promotion. Phillips made his Bellator MMA debut in 2016, collecting a unanimous decision victory over Chuka Willis at Bellator 159. After recording finishes in five of six career wins, the Oklahoma City native will make the short trip up North to Kansas Star Arena, where he will have the opportunity to add to that impressive total.
Fighting out of Wichita, Kansas, 28-year-old Jessica Middleton will look to add to her impressive professional debut, a clutch victory over Bruna Ellen at last year’s Bellator 159 when she competes on Jan. 27. Following an undefeated amateur career, the hometown favorite now hopes to preserve her unblemished professional mark in a flyweight fight with Alice Yauger. An eight-fight veteran of MMA, Yauger enters the bout having won each of her last two contests and three of her past four. Hailing from Arlington, Texas, the 38-year-old Yauger hopes to use her experience advantage when she makes her promotional debut against the younger Middleton.
Making his fourth appearance under the Bellator MMA banner, Reyno enters the bout in search of his third win under the promotion and second in a row. A native of Montevideo, Uruguay, Reyno has delivered finishes in each of his six career victories, including five straight first round stoppages to begin his professional career. “Tonga” will now direct his attention to Kansas Star Arena and Jan. 27, where he will look to build off of an impressive knockout win over L.J. Hermreck at Bellator 159.
Updated Bellator 171: Guillard vs. Njokuani Main Card:
175 lb. Catchweight Main Event: Melvin Guillard (32-16-2, 3 NC) vs. Chidi Njokuani (16-4, 1 NC)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Dave Rickels (17-4, 2 NC) vs. Aaron Derrow (14-8)
Featherweight Feature Fight: A.J. McKee (6-0) vs. Brandon Phillips (6-2)
Flyweight Feature Fight: Jessica Middleton (1-0) vs. Alice Yauger (4-4)
Updated Preliminary Card:
Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Chris Harris (7-0) vs. Jordan Young (5-0)
Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Gaston Reyno (6-1, 2 NC) vs. Justin Overton (3-2)
Weltereweight Preliminary Bout: Will Lavine (Debut) vs. Domo Garcia (Debut)
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Chance Rencountre (8-2) vs. Jake Lindsay (11-5)
Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Johnny Marigo (2-0) vs. Joe Fulk (4-4)
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Manny Meraz (8-3) vs. Scott Heston (4-1)
Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Craig Farley (Debut) vs. Mike Breeden (Debut)
MELVIN GUILLARD-CHIDI NJOKUANI SET TO MAIN EVENT BELLATOR 171 INSIDE KANSAS STAR ARENA ON JAN. 27
HOLLYWOOD, CA. (Jan. 10, 2017) – A catchweight bout pitting Melvin Guillard (32-16-2, 3 NC) against Chidi Njokuani (16-4, 1 NC) will serve as the main event of Bellator 171 at the Kansas Star Arena on Jan. 27.
The SPIKE-televised main card will feature the return of “The King of Kansas” David Rickels (17-4, 2 NC), who will meet Aaron Derrow (14-8). Lastly, a middleweight fight pitting undefeated prospect Chris Harris (7-0) against Jordan Young (5-0) will be featured during the preliminary portion of the event.
Tickets for Bellator 171: Guillard vs. Njokuani start at $24 and are on sale now at KansasStarEventCenter.com, as well as Ticketmaster.com. Additional main and preliminary card bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.The event will be broadcast live and free on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and the Bellator Mobile App.
After beginning his professional career 11-0, Guillard continued to make a name for himself under the direction of UFC, where he fought 22 times over a nine-year stint. “The Young Assassin” has made 50 professional appearances inside the cage over his 15-year career, making him one of the most experienced veterans Njokuani has ever faced. With 21 of his 32 professional wins coming by way of knockout, we can be sure to see fireworks fly when Guillard returns to action inside Kansas Star Arena on Jan. 27.
A native of Las Vegas, Nevada, Njokuani enters the cage riding momentum of an impressive streak that has seen him win seven consecutive bouts and 11 of his last 12. Since joining the Bellator MMA fray in 2015, the 28-year-old Njokuani has collected three victories, including a pair of knockout finishes. Most recently, “Chidi Bang Bang” made quick work of rising star Andre Fialho at ‘Bellator 167,’ handing the Portuguese powerhouse the first loss of his young career with a brutal stoppage just 21 seconds into the fight. With 10 of his 16 career wins coming by way of knockout, Njokuani brings a fearless style of fighting that pairs perfectly with his equally unshakable opponent Guillard.
Updated Bellator 171: Guillard vs. Njokuani Main Card:
175 lb. Catchweight Main Event: Melvin Guillard (32-16-2, 3 NC) vs. Chidi Njokuani (16-4, 1 NC)
Lightweight Feature Bout: Dave Rickels (17-4, 2 NC) vs. Aaron Derrow (14-8)
Updated Preliminary Card:
Middleweight Feature Bout: Chris Harris (7-0) vs. Jordan Young (5-0)
JOE TAIMANGLO UPSETS DARRION CALDWELL VIA GUILLOTINE DURING MAIN EVENT OF ‘BELLATOR 159’
MULVANE, KS. (July 22, 2016) – In the main event of the evening, Darrion Caldwell (9-1) was submitted by Joe Taimanglo (23-6-1) in an absolutely shocking upset :09 seconds into the third and final frame.
With the defeat, the 2009 NCAA Div. 1 National Champion was handed the first loss of his career, while “Juggernaut” has the entire Island of Guam rocking with his guillotine submission win. “The Wolf” was cruising heading into the third and final frame, but after shooting for a takedown, Taimanglo slapped on a choke and didn’t relinquish the hold until Caldwell tapped. The fight was slated to be a title eliminator, but because of Taimanglo failing to make weight, it remains to be seen who will challenge next for Eduardo Dantas’ title.
Guillard Assassinates ‘Caveman’ in Front of Hometown Faithful
Melvin Guillard (33-16-2) put Dave Rickels (17-5) to sleep in front of his hometown fans during the co-main event of “Bellator 159: Caldwell vs. Taimanglo.” After 90 seconds of closely contested action, “The Young Assassin” caught “The Caveman,” then followed with a series of vicious elbows that ended the action at 2:14 of round one.
After the fight, Guillard made it clear that he is done as a lightweight and will carry on his Bellator MMA career at 170-pounds, and hopes to fight renowned welterweight Paul “Semtex” Daley.
Ducote Taps Vargas in Flyweight Bout
Emily Ducote (3-1) handed Bruna Vargas (2-1) the first loss of her short career, landing an overhand right that she quickly followed up with a rear-naked choke, forcing the referee to call a halt to the action at :29 of round two. After the fight, Ducote dedicated the fight to her grandmother, who has helped her a great deal throughout her upbringing and supported her decision to pursue a career in mixed martial arts. Look for Ducote to make waves in the flyweight division in the future.
Weichel ‘Weasels’ Out Split Decision Win
In a fight that had plenty of title implications for both 145-pounders, Daniel Weichel (37-9) weaseled out a close decision victory against Emmanuel Sanchez (13-3) on Friday night, receiving the benefit of the doubt from two of the three cage side judges. Weichel has now been on the positive end of 10 straight decisions, while Sanchez has been involved in four straight consecutive split decisions.
Preliminary Card Results:
Brandon Phillips (6-1) defeated Chuka Willis (8-3) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Chris Harris (7-0) defeated Matt Foster (6-9) via submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 1:23 of R1
Trey Ogden (6-1) defeated Manny Meraz (8-3) via submission (Guillotine Choke) at 2:37 of R2
Philipe Lins (10-1) defeated Guilherme Viana (7-3) via KO (Punches) at 1:14 of R2
Jessica Middleton (1-0) defeated Bruna Ellen (2-1) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Gaston Reyno (6-1) defeated L.J. Hermreck (3-2) via TKO (Punches) at 3:57 of R3
Johnny Marigo (2-0) defeated Andy Riley (2-2) via submission (Armbar) at 2:44 of R1
Fernando Martinez (15-10-1) defeated Marcio Navarro (14-13) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
EMMANUEL SANCHEZ-DANIEL WEICHEL PAIRING SET FOR MAIN CARD OF STACKED ‘BELLATOR 159’
PHILIPE LINS-GUILHERME VIANA & THE PROMOTIONAL DEBUT OF BRUNA ELLEN COMPLETE STACKED MAIN CARD
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (June 29, 2016) – A gem of a featherweight contest pitting divisional standouts Emmanuel Sanchez (13-2) and Daniel “The Weasel” Weichel (36-9) has been added to the main card of “Bellator 159: Caldwell vs. Taimanglo” on July 22 inside Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane, Kansas. Completing the televised card, Philipe Lins (9-1) will face Guilherme Viana (7-2) in light heavyweight action and Brazilian strawweight Bruna Ellen (2-0) will make her promotional debut against Jessica Middleton.
The fights join a main and co-main event that has the MMA world abuzz, featuring the undefeated Darrion Caldwell (9-0), who will meet Joe Taimanglo (22-6) in a 135-pound main event to determine the No. 1 contender for Bellator MMA’s Bantamweight Championship. In support, Kansas’ own Dave Rickels (17-4) will return to Mulvane’s Kansas Star Arena to face the always-exciting Melvin Guillard (32-16-2). In addition, multiple preliminary contests have also been confirmed, namely, the debut of recent strawweight signee Bruna Vargas (2-0) who will be facing Emily Ducote (2-1) and Uruguay’s favorite MMA superstar, Gaston Reyno (5-1), when he takes on L.J. Hermeck (3-1). Both of these preliminary bouts will stream live on Bellator.com andThe Bellator Mobile App beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
“Bellator 159: Caldwell vs. Taimanglo” airs live on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. Tickets for the event start at just $27 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com,KansasStarEventCenter.com or the Kansas Star Arena box office. Doors for the event open at 5:30 p.m. CT local time and the first preliminary bout will commence one hour later.
“The Weasel” has shown great consistency as of late, recording wins in eight of his last nine fights dating back to 2012 over fighters the likes of Pat Curran and Georgi Karakhanyan. Since joining Bellator MMA in 2014, the German featherweight has posted a 5-1 record, proving time and time again that he belongs among the division’s elite. Of his 36 career wins, 21 have come by way of submission, making Weichel one of the most skilled athletes on the ground. The 31-year-old submission specialist will look to build off his deserving unanimous decision win against Karakhanyan at“Bellator 147: Thomson vs. Villaseca,” as he prepares to take on “El Matador” inside Kansas Star Arena on July 22.
Sanchez also enters this contest having won five of his first six bouts under the Bellator MMA banner. Hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and training at the world-renown Roufusport camp, “El Matador” has recently put together an impressive run, claiming wins in nine of his last 10 fights. The 25-year-old most recently defeated Daniel Pineda via split decision at the record-shattering “Bellator 149: Shamrock vs. Gracie”event in Houston. Sanchez will enter the cage riding a three-fight winning streak, all of which subsequently ended in split decision victories.
At only 30 years of age, Viana has impressed only nine fights into his professional career. Most recently, Viana put his unique skillset on full display against Houston Alexander at “Bellator 146: Kato vs. Manhoef,” emerging victorious after a second-round knockout. The Brazilian light heavyweight now has seven career finishes to his name, including three in the first round, and will look to add to that total when he enters the cage with fellow Brazilian competitor Philipe Lins on July 22.
Hailing from Natal, Lins has consistently impressed through his first 10 professional bouts, recording nine wins, with four victories coming by way of knockout. After winning his first four professional fights, Lins decided to take an extended break from MMA from 2007 until 2011. After the hiatus, Lins rallied off five wins, including his first two bouts under the Bellator MMA umbrella. Now, “Monstro” will look to return to the cage for the first time since a brutal knee injury that he suffered against Kelly Anundson at “Bellator 122” back in 2014.
Undefeated to start her professional career, Bruna Ellen, 20, competed twice in 2015, winning both of her bouts. A member of Team Nogueira Campinas in Sao Paulo, Ellen recently did a stint of training at the world-renown Blackzilians gym in Florida, where she continued to hone her budding striking and skills on the mat. It’s also worth noting that Ellen’s listed on this year’s “Top-Ten Brazilian Prospects” compiled by MMAFighting.com.
Eight years the elder of Ellen, Middleton will be making her professional debut after a stellar 4-1 amateur record on the regional scene. If unfamiliar with her work, look no further than her spectacular finish of Holly Torrez via spinning-backfist here.
Complete “Bellator 159: Caldwell vs. Taimanglo” Fight Card:
Bellator MMA Bantamweight Main Event: Darrion Caldwell (9-0) vs. Joe Taimanglo (22-6)
Bellator MMA Lightweight Co-Main Event: Dave Rickels (17-4, 1 NC) vs. Melvin Guillard (32-16-2, 2 NC)
Bellator MMA Featherweight Feature Bout: Daniel Weichel (36-9) vs. Emmanuel Sanchez (13-2)
Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Feature Bout: Philipe Lins (9-1) vs. Guilherme Viana (7-2)
Bellator MMA Strawweight Feature Bout: Bruna Ellen (2-0) vs. Jessica Middleton (Debut)
Preliminary Card:
Bellator MMA Strawweight Preliminary Bout: Bruna Vargas (2-0) vs. Emily Ducote (2-1)
Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Gaston Reyno (5-1, 1 NC) vs. L.J. Hermreck (3-1)
Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Manny Meraz (8-2) vs. Trey Ogden (5-1)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Chris Harris (6-0) vs. Matt Foster (6-8)
Bellator MMA Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Marcio Navarro (14-12) vs. Fernando Martinez (14-10-1)
Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Johnny Marigo (1-0) vs. Andy Riley (2-1)
Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Josh Pfeifer (4-2) vs. Henry Lindsay (5-5)
Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Chuka Willis (8-2) vs. Brandon Phillips (5-1)
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 400 million homes worldwide in over 120 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, 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.