Photo Credit: Bellator/Lucas Noonan – CLICK FOR FULL PHOTO GALLERY

BRISTOL, Conn. (Feb. 25, 2015) — Bellator MMA kicked off fight week for “Bellator: The British Invasion” on Wednesday with a very special event at the Bristol Boys and Girls Club that catered to high school wrestlers and mixed martial artists from all over Connecticut.

Prior to the official “Bellator: British Invasion” press conference, fans in attendance were treated to a very special Q&A session comprised of a panel of the biggest names of MMA’s past, present and future with MMA’s inventor Royce Gracie, MMA Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz and wrestling phenom Aaron Pico.

After the special Q&A, Bellator President Scott Coker and all 10 fighters scheduled for the televised portion of the event converged to preview the highly anticipated bouts.

The “Bellator: British Invasion” event takes place this Friday, Feb. 27 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. and airs LIVE and FREE on Spike TV.

A limited number of tickets for “Bellator: The British Invasion” are still available at Ticketmaster.com and Bellator.com.

Scott Coker, Bellator President:

“These guys are amazing world-class athletes, and you’re going to see some great fights Friday. We were in London a few months ago, and I can tell you that the people over there are really excited about these fights.”

Emanuel Newton:

“I’m the champion, and I’m planning to keep my belt. It doesn’t matter who I’m fighting – I’m going to keep my belt. I’ve been training smarter.”

Liam McGeary:

“There’s a whole lot more British fighters than just the guys who are here this week who are looking for the opportunity we have. I think we have something to prove for sure.”

“King Mo” Lawal:

“I’m a wrestler. I’ve wrestled all throughout my career, and I’m going to be successful Friday night. So I’m not going to change anything no matter who I’m going up against. I’m all Team America.”

“I’m a ‘moneyweight.’ If someone offers me a contract to fight, I’m going to take it. I’m a fighter – my job is to fight.”

Paul Daley:

“Being from England, fighting’s part of our culture. I’m a fighter, that’s it.”

“It’s a fight for us (British guys). Fighting’s just a part of our culture. The Americans see this as a sport, but we don’t treat it like that. I think I can speak for the rest of the British guys when I say that we’re not here to play a sport – we’re here to fight.”

Sokoudjou:

“I’m going to beat [Linton Vassell’s] ass.”

Brennan Ward:

“It’s great to be fighting at home.”

“I always love fighting in front of a packed house, and I’m sure I’ll be responsible for at least a few hundred tickets that are sold. It’s electric in there.

 

“Bellator: British Invasion” – Friday, February 27, Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Conn.

Main Card (9 p.m. ET)

Bellator Light Heavyweight Title Fight: Champ Emanuel Newton (25-7) vs. Liam McGeary (9-0)

Bellator Heavyweight Feature Fight: Cheick Kongo (22-9-2) vs. “King Mo” Lawal (14-4)

Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Paul Daley (35-13) vs. Andre Santos (37-9)

Bellator Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Linton Vassell (14-4) vs. Rameau Sokoudjou (16-12)

Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Brennan Ward (9-3) vs. Curtis Millender (7-0)

Preliminary Card (6:45 p.m. ET)

Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Fight: Matt Bessette (13-6) vs. Josh Laberge (9-4)

Bellator Heavyweight Prelim Fight: Josh Diekmann (15-5) vs. Raphael Butler (8-1-1)

Bellator Middleweight Prelim Fight: Tamdan McCrory (12-3) vs. Jason Butcher (8-1)

Bellator Welterweight Prelim Fight:  Neiman Gracie (2-0) vs. Bobby Flynn (4-2)

Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Fight: Marvin Maldonado (2-2) vs. Blair Tugman (6-5)

Dark Bout (approx. 11 p.m. ET)

Bellator Featherweight Dark Fight: Michael Mangan (2-0) vs. Dean Hancock (Pro Debut)

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WHAT:	Bellator Fan Fest at Dave and Busters Fans of all ages are invited to Dave and Busters in Manchester, CT to meet and get autographs from some of the greatest MMA fighters of all time. Fans will also have the opportunity to win tickets and great prizes, as well as snap a photograph with the Bellator ring girls.
WHERE:	Dave and Busters 100 Buckland Hills Dr. Manchester, CT
WHEN:	Thursday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. ET
WHO:	Widely considered to be the greatest MMA fighter of all time, Fedor Emelianenko is one of the most revered and respected fighters the sport has ever seen.  Stone-faced and quiet, Emelianenko boasted one of the most impressive unbeaten streaks in the history of the sport.  A multi-time World Champion in MMA and Sambo, Fedor returns to America for the first time in several years to participate in the “Bellator: British Invasion” fight week festivities. The name Gracie is synonymous with MMA, and that is largely in part to Royce Gracie, the man who is considered to have invented the sport as we know it today.  The winner of the first several UFC events, Gracie would dismantle multiple opponents in a single night, many of whom were much larger than him.  For many years there was no answer for the Gracie Jiu Jitsu technique that he brought into a fight.  Today, it’s hard to find an MMA fighter who hasn’t trained in the art of jiu jitsu. Tito Ortiz is an undisputed legend of the sport who still fights for Bellator. The former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion is one of the fiercest competitors the sport has ever seen.   With a rabid fan-base supporting him, his last fight at Bellator 131 against Stephan Bonnar drew over 2 million viewers! When Ken Shamrock participated in UFC 1, he already had three professional MMA bouts to his name. Much like the other legends, Shamrock is recognized internationally wherever he goes.  Shamrock competed in, and won championships at several fighting organizations including UFC, Pancrase, Pride, King of the Ring, as well as WWF and TNA.
FIGHT INFO:	Bellator MMA returns to The Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday, February 27 for “Bellator: The British Invasion” featuring four of the UK’s biggest and brightest MMA stars fighting on American soil. Light Heavyweight Champion Emanuel Newton defends his title against Liam McGeary in the headlining match, while “King Mo” Lawal meets Cheick Kongo in a heavyweight superfight.   Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased on Ticketmaster.com, Bellator.com or by visiting the Mohegan Sun Box Office.   FULL MEDIA FIGHT WEEK SCHEDULE 30 second event commercial spot

 

Bellator: British Invasion” – Friday, February 27, Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Conn.

Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Fight: Marvin Maldonado (2-2) vs. Blair Tugman (6-5)