Santa Monica, Calif. (April 9, 2015) – A talent-laden preliminary card for May’s “Bellator Emmanuel: Halsey vs. Grove” event is starting to take shape with the addition of welterweights Jesse Juarez (22-9) vs. Ricky “The sinipa” Rainey (10-3), bantamweights Joe “The Juggernaut” Taimanglo (20-6-1) vs. Anthony “Tigre” Duarte (18-5) na featherweight Jordan “Mara Nwa” Parsons (10-1) vs. Julio Cesar “Morceguinho” Neves Jr. (30-0).
The new additions complement the four-bout main card for “Bellator Emmanuel: Halsey vs. Grove,” which includes undefeated Bellator MMA World Middleweight Champion Brandon “Ehi” Halsey (8-0) megide towering Hawaiian scrapper Kendall “The Spyder” Grove (21-14), former Bellator MMA World Champion Eduardo “Dudu” Dantas (16-4) vs. Mike “The Marine” Richman (18-5), ìhè heavyweights Virgil “Rezdog” Zwicker (13-4-1) vs. “Aguba” Razak Al-Hassan (12-4) na welterweights Fernando “The Menifee Maniac” Gonzalez (23-13) vs. “Curtious” Curtis Millander (7-1).
“Bellator: Halsey vs. Grove” na-ewe ebe Friday, Ka 15, na Pechanga amalite & Cha cha na Temecula, Calif. The night’s main card airs live on Spike TV at 9 p.m. NA (6 p.m. Pt obodo oge), mgbe mbido oké strimụ na Spike.com.
Tiketi maka “Bellator: Halsey vs. Grove,” nke na-amalite mgbe dị nnọọ $50, nwere ugbu a na-ere na Pechanga.com na Pechanga amalite & Cha cha igbe ọrụ.
Ụzọ maka “Bellator: Halsey vs. Grove” emeghe na 3:30 p.m. Pt obodo oge, na mbụ zoo-ewe ebe 30 nkeji mesịrị. Agbakwunyere oké ga-mara ọkwa obere oge.
Juarez, nke Torrance, Calif., is a seven-time Bellator MMA veteran whose days with the company date back to the promotion’s second show. The 33-year-old has been fighting professionally since 2006 but is currently enjoying one of the best runs of his career at 5-1 in his past six appearances, a run that includes Bellator MMA wins over Ron Keslar, Joe Williams and Jordan Smith.
Rainey, nke Gastonia, N.C., fights for the fourth time under the Bellator MMA banner. All three of Rainey’s Bellator MMA fights have ended in the first round, as he’s bracketed TKO wins over Johnny Cisneros and Andy Murad around a loss to top contender Michael “Venom” Page. Seven of Rainey’s 10 career wins have come by finish, including six by knockout.
A five-time Bellator MMA veteran, Taimanglo has quickly established himself as one of Guam’s top fighting exports. A scrappy 30-year-old, Taimanglo never fails to entertain. He fought most recently in September, scoring a decision win over Michael Parker.
Fighting professionally since 2006, Duarte hails from Tijuana, Mexico. He makes his Bellator MMA debut on the strength of back-to-back submission wins over Marco Beristain and Ed West. Fifteen of Duarte’s 18 career wins come by way of stoppage, na nsonye 11 by tapout.
The 24-year-old Parsons, of Fargo, N.D., is a member of California’s famed Alliance MMA. Fighting professionally, Parsons has established himself as one of the top prospects in the world after winning 10 nke mbụ ya 11 ọkachamara ịlụ ọgụ, including three by knockout and two by submission. Parsons made his Bellator MMA debut in April 2014, scoring a knockout win over Tim Bazer just four seconds into the second round.
Brazil’s Neves Jr. has compiled an incredible career mark of 30-0 despite being just 20 afọ. Mpi professionally ebe 2011, mgbe ọ dị 17 afọ, Neves Jr. already owns a pair of Bellator MMA victories by TKO, as he downed Poppies Martinez in the first round of a September 2014 matchup and finished Josh Arocho in the second round of an April 2014 zoo.
“Bellator: Halsey vs. Grove” - Friday, Ka 15, Pechanga amalite & Cha cha, Temecula, Calif.
Main Kaadị (9 p.m. NA)
Bellator Middleweight Mbụ Ọgụ: Champ Brandon Halsey (8-0) vs. Kendall Grove (21-14)
Bellator apụta Bantamweight Ọgụ: Eduardo Dantas (16-4) vs. Mike Richman (18-5)
Bellator apụta Ìhè Heavyweight Ọgụ: Virgil Zwicker (13-4-1) vs. Razak Al-Hassan (12-4)
Bellator apụta Welterweight Ọgụ: Fernando Gonzalez (23-13) vs. Curtis Millender (7-1)
Mbido Kaadị (7 p.m. NA)
Bellator Welterweight Prelim Ọgụ: Jesse Juarez (22-9) vs. Ricky Rainey (10-3)
Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Ọgụ: Joe Taimanglo (20-6-1) vs. Antonio Duarte (18-5)
Bellator Featherweight Prelim Ọgụ: Jordan Parsons (10-1) vs. Julio Cesar Neves Obere. (30-0)