Tag Archives: Gabriel Varga

Bellator, kickboxing, MMA, Paramount Network

OFFICIAL RESULTS & PHOTOS FOR BELLATOR MILAN, BELLATOR 230 AND BELLATOR KICKBOXING 12

October 15, 2019 FNU47 Leave a comment

**Complete Fight Night Photos Here**

*Bellator 230: Carvalho vs.* *Nemkov* Fight Card:

**Vadim Nemkov** (11-2) defeated **Rafael Carvalho** (16-4) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:56 of round two

**Dragos Zubco** (3-1) defeated **Hesdy Gerges** (0-2) via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

**Kirill Sidelnikov** (12-6) defeated **Domingos Barros** (6-1) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

**Walter Pugliesi** (5-2) defeated **Andrea Fusi** (8-5) via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

**Nicolo Solli** (3-0) defeated **Dan Cassell** (4-4-1) via submission (triangle choke) at 3:15 of round one

*Bellator Milan: Manhoef vs.* *Bahati* Fight Card:

**Melvin Manhoef** (32-14-1, 2 NC) defeated **Yannick Bahati** (9-5, 1 NC) via KO (strikes) at 2:29 of round one

**Alessio Sakara** (24-13, 2 NC) defeated **Canaan Grigsby** (8-8) via TKO (strikes) at 0:23 of round one

**Stefano Paterno** (13-3-1) defeated **Ashley Reece** (8-2) vis unanimous decision (30-27, 29-27, 29-27)

**Rafael Macedo** (10-4, 1 NC) defeated **Kane Mousah** (12-3) via split decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29)

*Bellator Kickboxing 12: Varga vs. Faustino* Fight Card:

**Gabriel Varga** (18-6) defeated **Cristian Faustino** (31-12-2) via unanimous decision (50-45 x3) to retain Bellator Kickboxing featherweight title

**Chingiz Allazov** (60-3, 1 NC) defeated **Sudsakorn Sor Klinmee** (287-53-4) via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

**Luca Cecchetti** (24-5) defeated **Alex Avogadro** (46-6-3) via TKO (doctor stoppage) at 2:09 of round one

**Shan Cangelosi** (35-10-1) defeated **Kevin Ross** (33-12) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

**Yuri Bessmertny** (45-20-2) defeated **Giuseppe De Domenico** (51-10) via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

**Jade Jorand** (1-0) defeated **Silvia La Notte** (66-18-4) via KO (kick) at 0:12 of round two

**Endy Bonat** (32-10-1) vs. **Kebrom Neguse** (33-2-2) ruled a majority draw (28-28, 28-28, 29-28)

**Taras Hnatchuk** (12-0-1) defeated **Giacomo Licheri** (7-1) via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

**Luca Mameli** (9-2) defeated **Pawel Szymanski** (15-14-2) via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

Please visit Bellator.com for more information.

****

Bellator, kickboxing

BELLATOR DEBUTS IN MILAN, ITALY ON SATURDAY, OCT. 12 WITH STACKED EVENT FEATURING DUAL-MMA CARDS AND THE RETURN OF BELLATOR KICKBOXING

August 3, 2019 FNU47 Leave a comment

FORMER CHAMP RAFAEL CARVALHO MEETS VADIM NEMKOV IN MAIN EVENT OF PARAMOUNT NETWORK’S BELLATOR 230

BELLATOR EUROPEAN SERIES SEES MELVIN MANHOEF TAKE ON YANNICK BAHATI IN BELLATOR MILAN HEADLINER

**Plus, Gabriel Varga Defends His Bellator Kickboxing Featherweight Title Against Cristian Faustino At *Bellator Kickboxing 12* and Rome’s Alessio Sakara Looks to Entertain the Italian Crowd**

**LOS ANGELES** – Bellator returns to Italy for the seventh time on Saturday, Oct. 12 with a unique event worthy of three separate billings. The MMA and kickboxing action will all emanate from Allianz Cloud (Ex Palalido) in the heart of Milan for one incredible night of combat sports.

The Paramount Network (and DAZN simulcast) portion of the card will be headlined by former middleweight titleholder **Rafael Carvalho** (16-3) squaring off withVadim Nemkov (10-2) in a light heavyweight affair as part of the *Bellator 230: Carvalho vs. Nemkov* broadcast. *Bellator 230* will air on a tape-delay in the U.S. at9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.

Additionally, the fifth installment of the Bellator European Series, *Bellator Milan: Manhoef vs. Bahati*, will feature an explosive 205-pound matchup betweenMelvin Manhoef (31-14-1, 2 NC) and **Yannick Bahati** (9-4, 1 NC) that will stream live on the Bellator Mobile App in the U.S at **5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT**. *Bellator Milan*will air LIVE at 10 p.m. BST on Channel 5 in the U.K. Also on the card, Italian MMA legend and Bellator ambassador **Alessio Sakara** (20-13, 2 NC) takes on light heavyweight **Canaan Grigsby** (8-7) in a special feature bout.

Opening the evening’s action will be *Bellator Kickboxing 12: Varga vs. Faustino*, a card anchored by current Bellator Kickboxing featherweight championGabriel Varga (17-6) defending his title against Palermo, Italy’s **Cristian Faustino** (48-18), while the co-main will also see **Chingiz Allazov** (55-3, 1 NC) compete in a 158-pound catchweight bout against **Sudsakorn** (289-54-4). *Bellator Kickboxing 12* will kick off the action live on the Bellator Mobile App at **11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT**. Additional bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets for the entire night of action are on sale now and are available at Bellator.com and Bellator.it.

Hailing from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, the 33-year-old Carvalho will make his second appearance of the year, following an impressive win over **Chidi Njokuani** just last month. Since signing with Bellator in 2014, the American Top Team-fighter has collected seven victories, highlighted by his middleweight championship win over Brandon Halsey, which he later followed with three successful title defenses. Standing opposite the Brazilian knockout artist will be fellow international powerhouse Vadim Nemkov, as the 27-year-old Russian will look to add to his current five-fight winning streak. Since making his professional debut in 2013, the former Sambo World Champion and **Fedor Emelianenko**-protégé has strung together 10 victories over a dozen bouts, with eight knockouts and eight first round finishes highlighting his resume.

Making his eighth appearance for Bellator, Melvin Manhoef has built a name for himself over the course of a 24-year career that has seen him finish 28 of his 31 victims via knockout, including 25 in the first round and eight within the opening minute of action. Fighting out of Amsterdam, the versatile 43-year-old also has 38 career kickboxing wins under his belt, making him one of the most experienced and dynamic fighters in the business. With three wins and a pair of impressive knockouts since joining Bellator, “No Mercy” hopes to find his way back into title contention with a win over the recently signed Bahati. “Black Mamba” enters the Bellator cage for the second time of his career, hoping to duplicate the success he had in May when he finished Amir Dadovic in the opening round of *Bellator Birmingham*. The 29-year-old middleweight will be making the jump up in weight class to challenge what will undoubtedly be the toughest task of his eight-year career in Manhoef.

Gabriel Varga is fresh off an emphatic win in his mixed martial arts debut, a fight he finished with a jumping knee and punches at *Bellator 224.* Now, the Toronto-native returns to the sport where he made his name and became the inaugural Bellator Kickboxing 145-pound champion. The 34-year-old Canadian has tallied three knockout wins over a four-fight run, which includes championship victories over **Kevin Ross** and Shan Cangelosi. Hailing from Palermo, Italy, Faustino will enter the kickboxing ring with the support of his country behind him. The 29-year-old Italian competes out of Pro Fighting Sempre Avanti Bologna and holds almost 60 fights to his name. Now, he has a shot at Bellator Kickboxing gold when he competes on Oct.12.

Fighting out of Minsk, Belarus, Chingiz Allazov will be competing under the direction of Bellator Kickboxing for just the second time in his eight-year career, where the 26-year-old phenom has earned 55 victories over a 59-bout stretch. Having already defeated Klinmee in Italy just last year, the former K-1 Super Middleweight Champion will try to replicate the victory in an exciting rematch. Hailing from Pattaya, Thailand, the 32-year-old Sudsakorn Sor Klinmee will make his Bellator Kickboxing debut on Oct. 12. The reigning Thailand and World Kickboxing Network Muay Thai welterweight world champion also hopes to add to his extensive professional resume, which includes 289 wins and 74 knockouts.

Born in Rome, Sakara will return to his home country for the sixth time since signing with Bellator in 2016. When fighting in Italy under the promotion, “Legionarius” has amassed three victories, all of which ended in a knockout. The 37-year-old former world title contender has earned 20 career victories, including 16 finishes and 14 knockouts, making him one of the most dangerous 205-pound athletes on the roster. Tasked with the opportunity to spoil Sakara’s homecoming is 39-year-old Oklahoman Canaan Grigsby, who is also known for his ability to put his adversaries away early in the fight. With seven of his eight career victories coming by way of knockout, including four first round-finishes, “Super Beast” will be looking for the biggest win of his seven-year professional career when he steps inside the Bellator cage for the first time.

**Updated *Bellator 230: Carvalho vs.* *Nemkov* Fight Card:**

*Light Heavyweight Main Event:* **Rafael Carvalho** (16-3) vs. **Vadim Nemkov** (10-2)

**Updated *Bellator Milan: Manhoef vs.* *Bahati* Fight Card:**

*Light Heavyweight Main Event:* **Melvin Manhoef** (31-14-1, 2 NC) vs. **Yannick Bahati** (9-4, 1 NC)

*Light Heavyweight Feature Event:* **Alessio Sakara** (20-13, 2 NC) vs. **Canaan Grigsby** (8-7)

*Welterweight Preliminary Bout:* **Andrea Fusi** (8-4) vs. **Walter Pugliesi** (4-2)

**Updated *Bellator Kickboxing 12: Varga vs. Faustino* Fight Card:**

*Kickboxing Featherweight World Title Main Event:* **Gabriel Varga** (17-6) vs. **Cristian Faustino** (48-18)

*158-Pound Catchweight Co-Main Event:* **Chingiz Allazov** (55-3, 1 NC) vs. **Sudsakorn Sor Klinmee** (289-54-4)

*Featherweight Bout:* **Enderson Bonat** (21-9) vs. **Kebrom Neguse** (33-2-2)

*Card subject to change.

Please visit Bellator.com for more information.

Bellator, DAZN, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, Paramount Network

FULL FIGHT RESULTS & PHOTOS FOR BELLATOR 211 & BELLATOR KICKBOXING 11

December 4, 2018 FNU47 Leave a comment

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Bellator 211 Photos Here

Bellator 211: Sakara vs. Kauppinen Results:

Kent Kauppinen (11-4) def. Alessio Sakara (23-13, 2 NC) via KO at 1:10 of round 1

Domingos Barros (6-0) def. Hesdy Gerges (0-1) via TKO at 2:53 of round 1

Pedro Carvalho (9-3) def. Luca Vitali (11-5) via sub. (guillotine) at 0:43 of round 1

Alen Amedovski (8-0) def. Ibrahim Mane (7-2) via KO at 0:12 of round 1

Kiefer Crosbie (5-0) def. Orlando D’Ambrosio (7-4) via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

Giorgio Pietrini (15-4-1) def. Nemanja Milakovic (5-4) via KO at 0:20 of round 1

Andrea Fusi (7-4) def. Walter Pugliesi (4-1) via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)

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Bellator Kickboxing 11 Photos Here

Bellator Kickboxing 11: Varga vs. Cangelosi Results:

Gabriel Varga (17-6) def. Shan Cangelosi (34-10-1) via KO at 2:42 of round 1 to retain championship

Raymond Daniels (35-3) def. Zakaria Laaouatni (10-4) via majority decision (29-28 x2, 29-29)

Yuri Bessmertny (42-19-2) def. Karim Ghajji (99-16-1) via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27 x2)

Gabriele Casella (20-2-1) def. Dani Traore (21-4) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

Younes Rahmouni (14-4-1) def. Tiziano Campus (15-5-1) via majority decision (29-28 x2, 28-28)

Christian Zahe (58-24-7) def. Samuel Toscano (28-12-3) at 2:20 of round 1

Bellator Kickboxing 11 Preliminary Card Results:

Sabir Temirkhnov (13-4) def. Matteo Costa (18-7-2) via TKO at 0:39 of round 2

Giacomo Licheri (6-0) def. Filippo Solheid (43-18-8) via split decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29)

Matteo Di Luca (24-9-2) def. Giacomo D’Aquino (22-3-8) via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)

Please visit Bellator.com for more information.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Paramount Network

OFFICIAL BELLATOR 203: PITBULL VS. WEICHEL 2 RESULTS & PHOTOS

July 16, 2018 FNU47 Leave a comment

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Full Bellator 203 Photos // Credit: Bellator/Lucas Noonan

Bellator 203 Scorecards

Bellator 203 Official Results:

Patricio “Pitbull” (27-4) def. Daniel Weichel (39-10) via split decision (49-46, 48-47, 47-48)

*“Pitbull” retains Bellator featherweight world championship

Alessio Sakara (20-12, 2 NC) def. Jamie Sloane (8-5, 1 NC) via TKO (strikes) at 1:19 of round one

Andrey Koreshkov (21-2) def. Vaso Bakocevic (33-18-1) via KO at 1:06 of round one

Alen Amedovski (6-0) def. Will Fleury (4-1) via KO at 1:39 of round one

Maxim Radu (9-1) def. Simone La Preziosa (3-5) via TKO (strikes) at 4:50 of round one

Michele Martignoni (4-0) def. Simone D’Anna (4-2) via KO (head kick) at :06 seconds of round one

*Martignoni ties record for fastest KO in Bellator history

Bellator, kickboxing, Paramount Network

PHOTOS FROM TODAY’S MONUMENTAL BELLATOR 203 AND BELLATOR KICKBOXING 10 PRESS CONFERENCE FROM ROME’S CAPITOL HILL

July 13, 2018 FNU47 Leave a comment

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CLICK HERE FOR ADDITIONAL PHOTOS // CREDIT: BELLATOR/LUCAS NOONAN

BELLATOR’S FIRST EVENT IN THE ETERNAL CITY TAKES PLACE THIS SATURDAY, JULY 14 FROM IL CENTRALE LIVE ROMA – FORO ITALICO

ROME – Bellator fighters and officials gathered today at Piazza del Campidoglio (Rome’s Capitol Hill) in advance of the company’s first event in The Eternal City, which takes place at il Centrale Live Roma – Foro Italico this Saturday, July 14.

Fans tuning in Saturday evening are in store for a double main event featuring a rematch between Patricio “Pitbull” (26-4) and Daniel Weichel (39-9) for the featherweight title, as well as Italy’s most famous mixed martial artist, Alessio Sakara(19-12), taking on Jamie Sloane (8-3) at light heavyweight.

Bellator Kickboxing will also be on display, as featherweight champion Kevin Ross (45-13) defends his crown against Gabriel Varga (21-6) and international sensation Giorgio Petrosyan (85-2-2) takes on Chingiz Allazov (53-2).

Bellator 203 will be broadcast Saturday, July 14 free on Paramount Network at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT and will be immediately followed by Bellator Kickboxing 10. Limited tickets remain and are on sale now at Bellator.com.

Updated Bellator 203 Fight Card:

Featherweight World Title Bout: Patricio “Pitbull” (26-4) vs. Daniel Weichel (39-9)

Light Heavyweight Feature Event: Alessio Sakara (19-12, 2 NC) vs. Jamie Sloane (8-4, 1 NC)

Welterweight Main Card Bout: Andrey Koreshkov (20-2) vs. Vaso Bakocevic (33-17-1)

Middleweight Main Card Bout: Alen Amedovski (5-0) vs. Will Fleury (4-0)

Lightweight Main Card Bout: Simone La Preziosa (3-4) vs. Maxim Radu (8-1)

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Simone D’Anna (4-1) vs. Michele Martignoni (3-0)

Updated Bellator Kickboxing 10 Main Card:

Featherweight World Title Bout: Kevin Ross (45-13) vs. Gabriel Varga (15-6)

Lightweight Feature Bout: Giorgio Petrosyan (82-2-2, 1 NC) vs. Chingiz Allazov (56-2)

Featherweight Main Card Bout: Gaston Bolanos (11-1) vs. Domenico Lomurno (31-8)

Women’s Flyweight Main Card Bout: Martine Michieletto (21-11-3) vs. Gloria Peritore (13-2-1)

200-lb. Catchweight Main Card Bout: Mattia Faraoni (27-4) vs. Raffaele Vitale (57-9)

Updated Bellator Kickboxing 10 Preliminary Card:

183-lb. Catchweight Preliminary Bout: Gabriele Casella (18-2-1) vs. Alex Negrea (11-5)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Davide Armanini (29-1) vs. Fatmir Gordi (23-3)

Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Antonio Campagna (26-15-3) vs. Florenzo Pesare (31-9)

Flyweight Savate Bout: Leonardo Caputi (13-8-4) vs. Tarik Totss (3-10-2)

*Card subject to change

Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.

Bellator, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

RAFAEL CARVALHO RETAINS BELLATOR MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD TITLE WITH DOMINANT PERFORMANCE

December 10, 2017 FNU47 Leave a comment

COMPLETE RESULTS, PHOTOS, VIDEO & QUOTES FROM BELLATOR 190 & BELLATOR KICKBOXING 8 IN FLORENCE, ITALY

ALSO, BELLATOR SET FOR HISTORIC ROME DEBUT JULY 7, 2018

FLORENCE, Italy – A sold out crowd was on hand for Bellator’s return to the Nelson Mandela Forum in Florence, Italy to cheer on their national hero, Alessio Sakara, in his bid for the middleweight title at Bellator 190. However, reigning champion Rafael Carvalho emerged victorious in his third defense of the belt with yet another exciting performance. With the victory, Carvalho is now tied with Alexander Shlemenko for most title defenses in promotional history.

Additionally, Bellator has announced plans for a summer return to Italy in the country’s capital city of Rome on July 7 with an event that will air on the soon-to-launch Paramount Network. The date marks the company’s first trip to Rome, after hosting multiple events in both Torino and Florence.

“After the success of our events in Torino and Florence, Italy over the last two years, we knew that it was time to do a show in Rome, a city rooted deep in combat sports history,” Bellator President Scott Coker said. “The Italian fans have shown their passion for the sport and we look forward to bringing a huge card to Rome next year on July 7.”

Additional details about the card, including matchups, ticket and broadcast details will be announced shortly.

Bellator 190: Carvalho vs. Sakara Results:

Rafael Carvalho (15-1) defeated Alessio Sakara (19-12, 2 NC) via KO at 0:44 of round one

Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1mimwbtlv7zjc8q/AAATYi5x1XR6AT9CWR9XW1aNa?dl=0

Quote: “I trained really hard for this fight. I made many sacrifices to get here and get ready for a tough fight with [Alessio] Sakara. With my preparation, I was able to get a good result quickly and I’m happy about that. I hurt my hand a little bit in the final sequence, maybe I punched the mat, but I hope to get back in the cage as soon as possible to continue defending my belt.”

Brandon Girtz (15-7) defeated Luka Jelcic (10-3) via TKO at 1:57 of round one

Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/42f9tpuq9tlmmo2/AAAVZtpCY5RiOtfhqwGxQ2oIa?dl=0

Quote: “I was just going out there to throw bombs and put him away quickly and that’s exactly what happened. That’s what I usually do. Training camp was great, I was able to actually prepare for my opponent and it worked out well. I’ve had a great experience out here in Italy, it has been a journey and I treated it like an adventure. It was my first time fighting out of the country so everything was an adjustment and I came out nine days in advance to get acclimated. I want another tough opponent. Luka [Jelcic] was a tough guy, he was no slouch whatsoever. I want another top guy, that’s why I’m here – to fight the top guys and that’s what I’ve been doing since I got here to Bellator.”

Alejandra Lara (7-1) defeated Lena Ovchynnikova (12-5, 1 NC) via rear-naked choke at 4:09 of round one

Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/j0e20cweikosmcr/AACc1OTFCsi6xmFNIxCRdFTwa?dl=0

Quote: “I was very excited for my Bellator debut and to be the first Colombian female in the promotion. I’ve been training incredibly hard, I felt that I was very well prepared for this fight. I just wanted to show the world how tough I am and I think I did that tonight. I spent half of my camp in Guadalajara with Alexa Grasso and Team Grasso there, and then I also went up to work with Roufusport Academy in Milwaukee to prepare for the fight. Both camps were amazing for me, and I learned a great deal, I just want to keep learning and competing. I am prepared for whatever is next. I look forward to big challenges in Bellator.”

Carlos Miranda (11-3) defeated Mihail Nica (6-1) via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)

Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/h2xekntid4tt03r/AAB1CBdvVX4cfuFA3FWKTDgva?dl=0

Gregory Babene (19-11) defeated Tony Zanko (1-5) via arm bar at 2:04 of round one

Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rqyfbyrdps1oejo/AABdgCAaFdb7u-MeN_ONq8ITa?dl=0

Video Highlights Here: http://qlnk.io/ql/5a2c8784e4b073ff34846f4f

Bellator Kickboxing 8 Results:

Raymond Daniels (13-3) defeated Giannis Boukis (27-2) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dacqyn8gk1t6ov1/AABXyk_AvcaG8WUVZM3bWLJTa?dl=0

Quote: “Speed is definitely my advantage every time I get in the ring, and it was no different tonight. First and foremost, I’d like to give all the glory to God, because through him, all things are possible. I’d like to thank my opponent for taking this fight. It’s an honor to come here and fight in front of the Italian people. This is an incredible country with beautiful people, beautiful food, beautiful wine, great history. This is a fighting country. I think I might have some Italian in my DNA because every time I come here my blood boils and I feel like I’m ready to spar, I’m ready to fight. To anyone who wants it: come on, take a number and stand in line. You have seen my highlight reel, if you want to be part of it – I promise you, I can make you famous.”

Joe Schilling (23-9) defeated Filip Verlinden (44-19-1) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/liprom6xnlsvco3/AABPJD0B3Pe8d_8Gm5LmbNYua?dl=0

Quote: “I’ve got to watch the replay again. I thought Filip did a really good job and I was really excited to be fighting somebody of his caliber. Going into the fight, I thought he was the toughest guy Bellator has given me. When we were both with my last promotion, we were both top three the entire time I was there. I knew he was going to be a tough opponent, that’s why there was no trash talk from either one of us, I think we were both ready for a great fight and we delivered. I honestly was pretty frustrated with my performance and after the fight I told Jimmy (Smith) that I thought he had won. Now I’m back here in the locker room and everyone is telling me that I’m crazy for that take. I’d love to fight him again and finish him off. Maybe for a world championship. That’d be nice. But for now, I’m excited to go enjoy my vacation.”

John Wayne Parr (98-32) defeated Piergiulio Paolucci (24-6-1) via TKO at 2:32 of round three

Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/er6m9gzbvk7knb5/AAAqbhlfJSLrXjwPsBMetIe9a?dl=0

Quote: “I’m very excited coming off of this performance. I thought my opponent was a bit awkward. I wanted to give him respect because I knew he had heavy hands. But once I felt that I could win, I started walking forward more and I threw a couple spinning back kicks just for fun, just to entertain. I had the one spinning heel kick that landed and thought that was pretty cool. I was pretty excited about that. I was just happy to get the stoppage really, because nobody wants to win by points. I’m inching closer to 100 victories and I’d love to hit that milestone here in such a major promotion like Bellator. Especially at my age of 41, being able to fight on the big stage is so surreal. I can’t believe that I’m still here competing in this sport that I love, and more than just competing, I’m being successful. I’ve got to thank Scott Coker, everyone at Bellator and Spike, and everyone that follows the sport for giving me the opportunity to do what I do. I’m really scared to be 41 and know that one day I’m going to have to retire, but right now, I’m having too much fun to stop.”

Hamza Imane (50-12-2) defeated Kevin Ross (45-13) via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)

Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tz29hlhly6x48b6/AAC3AugQrbNxNWFAQXtIvc-2a?dl=0

Gabriel Varga (14-5) defeated Roberto Gheorghita (30-7-3) via TKO at 2:49 of round two

Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7s75mm0hl33pzse/AAD-U3845d0GcdY83eBB0EM6a?dl=0

Video Highlights Here: http://qlnk.io/ql/5a2c8784e4b073ff34846f4f

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Bellator, kickboxing, Spike TV

BELLATOR MMA AND KICKBOXING RETURN TO THE NELSON MANDELA FORUM IN FLORENCE, ITALY ON SATURDAY, DEC. 9

November 22, 2017 FNU47 Leave a comment

ITALIAN ALESSIO SAKARA CHALLENGES RAFAEL CARVALHO FOR MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD TITLE AT BELLATOR 190

LOS ANGELES – Bellator returns to Florence, Italy on Saturday, December 9, when both Bellator MMA and Bellator Kickboxing, along with Oktagon, emanate from the Nelson Mandela Forum for another huge evening of combat sports action.

Bellator 190 will air free on SPIKE at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT and will be immediately followed by Bellator Kickboxing 8. Tickets for the event start at just €30 and are available at Bellator.com.

Bellator 190 will be headlined by current middleweight champ Rafael Carvalho (14-1), who will defend his title against Italy’s popular knockout artist, Alessio “Legionarius” Sakara (19-11, 2 NC). In addition, Brandon Girtz (14-7) takes on Luca Jelcic (10-2) at lightweight, while Mihail Nica (6-0) meets Carlos Miranda (10-3) in second lightweight clash. A women’s flyweight offering rounds out the card when Lena Ovchynnikova (12-4, 1 NC) battles Alejandra Lara (6-1).

Meanwhile, Bellator Kickboxing 8 boasts a pair of world champions in Raymond Daniels (12-3) and Kevin Ross (45-12) taking on Giannis Boukis (27-1) and Hamza Imane (49-12-2) respectively, in non-title fights. Other kickboxing stars are on display as Joe “Stitch ‘Em Up” Schilling (22-9) challenges Filipino Verlinden (44-18-1), Aussie legend John Wayne Parr (97-32) competes for the 130^th time versus Piergiulio Paolucci (24-5-1) and Canadian featherweight Gabriel Varga (13-5) rounds out the card in a matchup with Roberto Georghita (30-6-3).

Complete Bellator 190: Carvalho vs. Sakara Card:

Middleweight World Title Main Event: Rafael Carvalho (14-1) vs. Alessio Sakara (19-11, 2 NC)

Lightweight Main Card Bout: Brandon Girtz (14-7) vs. Luka Jelcic (10-2)

Women’s Flyweight Main Card Bout: Lena Ovchynnikova (12-4, 1 NC) vs. Alejandra Lara (6-1)

Lightweight Main Card Bout: Mihail Nica (6-0) vs. Carlos Miranda (10-3)

Preliminary Card:

Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Gregory Babene (18-11) vs. Tony Zanko (1-4)

Complete Bellator Kickboxing 8: Daniels vs. Boukis Card:

Welterweight Main Event (non-title): Raymond Daniels (12-3) vs. Giannis Boukis (27-1)

Middleweight Main Card Bout: Joe Schilling (22-9) vs. Filipino Verlinden (44-18-1)

161 lb. Catchweight Main Card Bout: John Wayne Parr (97-32) vs. Piergiulio Paolucci (24-5-1)

Lightweight Main Card Bout (non-title): Kevin Ross (45-12) vs. Hamza Imane (49-12-2)

Featherweight Main Card Bout: Gabriel Varga (13-5) vs. Roberto Gheorghita (30-6)

****

Bellator, kickboxing, Spike TV

KARIM GHAJJI RECLAIMS WELTERWEIGHT BELLATOR KICKBOXING WORLD TITLE; JORINA BAARS, RAYMOND DANIELS & JOE SCHILLING ALSO EMERGE VICTORIOUS

April 15, 2017 FNU47 Leave a comment

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS – CREDIT BELLATOR/LUCAS NOONAN

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY –

Official Bellator Kickboxing 6 Main Card Results & Quotes:

Karim Ghajji (98-13-1) defeated Zoltan Laszak (11-3) via split decision (50-45, 48-47, 46-49)

Karim Ghajji Quote:

“We prepared really hard for this fight. Everything that we set out to accomplish, we did. I know I could do even better, but you know in fights it doesn’t go exactly the way you want every time. In the first round when I slipped, I hurt my knee and it was extremely painful but I knew I had to dig down and do more and more to win this belt, which means everything to me,” Ghajji said. “This is the most beautiful day of my life. Like we say: ‘Hallelujah! I got my belt back.’ I felt a lot of pressure to get this belt back, and what an amazing sensation it is to win it back. I look forward to fighting the best fighters Bellator has to offer to confirm that I am the champ, but also, I’d like to compete in MMA. In France we have a lot of tough MMA fighters at our gym and my ground and pound is quite destructive. I would like to do this.”

Joe Schilling (21-9) defeated Alexandru Negrea (10-4) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Joe Schilling Quote:

“The fight was okay I was really surprised that he was so tough. He’s fought in Super Combat in Romania so he’s had a lot of tough European opponents that he’s fought against. Skill level I didn’t think he’s fought against the level of competition that I’ve competed against, but he did a really good job and he was really tough. He was trying to bait me into throwing with him and he’d try to catch me when I would come in, so I was trying to stay a lot more composed and show that I’m not that idiot that fought [Hisaki] Kato twice,” Schilling said. “I’ve made a lot of changes in my personal life. I’m a lot more focused and more serious and my goal tonight was to show the level of competitor and world class kickboxer that I am and I think I did that. Hats off to Alex, he did a great job. There’s not that many people who can take those kinds of shots for three rounds. I think the judges decision was a little ridiculous. I don’t think I’d have given him half of one round let alone a round. I think they gave him the second, which is silly. But, overall it was a good night, vacation starts now.”

Raymond Daniels (13-3) defeated Csaba Gyorfi (20-6) via KO at 0:36 of round three

Raymond Daniels Quote:

“Another opportunity to go out there and make a mark with that Bellator brand. I know my man Nick Diaz says: ‘Cut out all that spinning shit,’ but I think he means everybody but me,” Daniels said. “I’ve been training for many years in sport karate and the martial arts and you know it’s a lot like training to be a sniper so to speak. There’s holes and there’s windows and when your opponent gives you those holes you have to seize that opportunity. I saw that hole, I exposed it, and it happened to be with my spin kick which is one of my most powerful and devastating techniques. If I hit that mark with that kick it’s a home run, grand slam, I’m hitting it out of the park every time. I’ve been able to spar recently with several great MMA veterans like Rory MacDonald, Georges St. Pierre and Tyron Woodley and I’ve had a lot of fun training with those guys so I’m definitely interested in doing MMA again. It’s a lot of fun to go at it with small gloves because people can’t use the big gloves as a shield to block my shots. I want to seize this Bellator Kickboxing title and continue to help build this kickboxing brand because I know they’re investing a lot of time into it. So yea, I’m definitely interested in crossing that bridge and getting some MMA fights, but my main focus is to take home that kickboxing gold.”

Jorina Baars (41-0-3) defeated Irene Martens (20-10-2) via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-25)

Jorina Baars Quote:

“It was a good fight, I thought that Irene [Martens] was very tough. I had control from the very beginning of the fight and I kept it for all three of the rounds. I was a little disappointed in the first round but the second and third round I performed much better. She worked hard and moved a lot, so my strategy was to keep the pressure on her and try to put her in the corner and I think I succeeded at that,” Baars said after her win. “It was amazing to finally fight for Bellator. The organization is so professional. I’m looking forward to my future fights here and I hope to win the Bellator title.”

Gabor Gorbics (31-10) defeated Gabriel Varga (13-5) via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-30)

Gabor Gorbics Quote:

“I’m very happy with the win and I hope I continue to win here in Bellator,” Gorbics said. “I trained very hard for this. I’ve got a lovely family and team that helped me to prepare and I will get back in the gym on Monday to continue training.”

Bellator, mixed martial arts, Spike TV

BELLATOR MMA ANNOUNCES LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TOURNAMENT SEMI-FINAL MATCH-UPS FOR ‘BELLATOR MMA: DYNAMITE 1’

August 29, 2015 FNU47 Leave a comment

MUHAMMED ‘KING MO’ LAWAL TAKES ON LINTON VASSELL & PHIL DAVIS MATCHES UP AGAINST EMANUEL NEWTON

“Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” – Saturday, September 19 – SAP Center, San Jose, Calif.

Glory Vacant Light Heavyweight Title Fight: Saulo Cavalari (31-2) vs. Zack Mwekassa (13-2)

Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Fight: Phil Davis (13-3) vs. Emanuel Newton (25-8-1)

Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Fight: Linton Vassell (15-4-1) vs. Muhammed Lawal (15-4, 1 NC)

Glory Welterweight Feature Fight:Paul Daley (37-13-2 MMA/20-3 Kickboxing) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (24-13/1-2 Kickboxing)

Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Josh Thomson (20-8) vs. Mike Bronzoulis (18-8-1)

Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Alternate Bout: Francis Carmont (23-10) vs. Philipe Lins (9-1)

*Fight card subject to change

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 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, 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.

About GLORY:
Founded in 2012, GLORY is owned and operated by GLORY Sports International (GSI), a professional martial arts organization and television content provider that maintains offices in New York, Denver, London, Amsterdam, and Singapore. GLORY programming is seen in over 170 territories. GLORY kickboxing rules are comprised of a mix of several combat disciplines including Karate, Muay Thai, Tae Kwon Do and traditional Boxing. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @GLORY_WS, and visit us online at gloryworldseries.com.

About Spike:

Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

About SAP Center in San Jose

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, SAP Center at San Jose is the premier sports and entertainment venue in Northern California. Each year, SAP Center hosts approximately 175 events featuring professional and amateur athletes, Olympic athletes, Grammy award-winners, international recording artists, and a variety of performers who appeal to children and families alike. SAP Center at San Jose is home to the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League as well as the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League. For more information about SAP Center at San Jose and for a list of upcoming events, visit the SAP Center home page atwww.sapcenter.com.

Bellator, GLORY, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, Spike TV

BELLATOR MMA STANDOUTS PAUL ‘SEMTEX’ DALEY & FERNANDO ‘THE MENIFEE MANIAC’ GONZALEZ TRADE-IN THE 4-OUNCE MMA GLOVES FOR 10-OUNCE GLORY KICKBOXING GLOVES AT ‘BELLATOR MMA: DYNAMITE 1’ SEPTEMBER 19

August 11, 2015 FNU47 Leave a comment

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (August 10, 2015) – Furthering “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” as the premier combat sports event of 2015, Bellator MMA competitors Paul Daley and Fernando Gonzalez will set up shop inside the GLORY kickboxing ring and showcase their superior striking skills during the must-see Spike-televised main card, which emanates September 19 from the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.

The landmark spectacle will see both a Bellator cage and a Glory kickboxing ring on one arena floor at the same time — something that has yet to be seen in the combat sports landscape. In the evening’s main event, Tito Ortiz (18-11) will challenge undefeated Liam McGeary (10-0) for the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship.

Additionally, the previously announced fight card features two Glory kickboxing title fights featuring Zack Mwekassa(13-2, 12 KO) and Saulo Cavalari (31-2, 19 KO) for the vacant Glory Light Heavyweight Championship as well asGabriel Varga (26-2, 8 KO) defending his featherweight title against challenger Serhiy Adamchuck (29-5, 14 KO).

On the mixed martial arts side, Bellator MMA will conduct a four-man, one-night light heavyweight tournament to determine the No. 1 contender in the division that includes the promotional debut of Phil Davis (13-3), as well asEmanuel Newton (25-8-1), Linton Vassell (15-4-1) and the return of Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (15-4, 1 NC).

“Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” airs live and free on Spike at 9/8c. Tickets for the historic event start at just $30 and are on sale now at the SAP Center box office and are also available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com and Bellator.com.

“Glory has been a great partner for this event, bringing several world-class, championship kickboxing matches to the table,” said Bellator MMA President Scott Coker. “Daley and Gonzalez are two incredible strikers in our welterweight division, and we’re looking forward to seeing them lay it on the line with Glory gloves on their hands. It would be great to see the winner of this fight take on Glory’s welterweight champ Nieky Holzken in the future.”

“We’re thrilled to have athletes the caliber of Daley and Gonzalez testing their striking inside the ring” said GLORY CEO Jon Franklin. “Under GLORY rules, our fans know to expect non-stop action, and these two fighters that Bellator has selected are perfect fits. We’re expecting fireworks.”

This won’t be Daley’s first time entering a kickboxing ring. “Semtex” has intermittently taken kickboxing bouts throughout his nearly 13-year combat sports career, amassing a 20-3 record with 14 knockouts along the way. Most recently, the former Strikeforce competitor dispelled of Dennis Olson in MMA action at “Bellator 140: Lima vs. Koreshkov,” finishing his foe with strikes in the second frame. It’s no secret that the 32-year-old yearns for another shot at recent Bellator MMA signee Josh Koscheck, but first a very game Gonzalez stands in the way.

While Gonzalez may not have the kickboxing pedigree that his opponent owns, “The Menifee Maniac” was at one time the WBC National Muay Thai Cruiserweight champion. In addition, Gonzalez has amassed plenty of fights in what many consider the oldest of fighting disciplines: boxing. The 31-year-old doesn’t shy away from overcoming adversity inside the Bellator MMA cage and it should be no different inside the Glory kickboxing ring on September 19. In his last outing, Gonzalez finished Curtis Millender via guillotine choke, pushing his present winning streak in mixed martial arts to four.