Лос-Анджэлес— BELLATOR MMA has announced that its fifth participant for the New Year’s Eve spectacle against RIZIN Fighting Federation opponents will be No. 10-ranked lightweight, Gadzhi Rabadanov(18-4-2), taking on 27-year-old Japanese standoutKoji Takeda(15-3) in a compelling matchup between two competitors riding high on the strength of consecutive victories.
A first-of-its-kind blockbuster co-promotion, BELLATOR MMA vs. RIZINtakes place inside the Saitama Super Arena in Japan on Saturday, Снежні 31, and can be seen in the United States on SHOWTIME at 8 p.m. ET/PT on New Year’s Eve.
Rabadanov versus Takeda will join a star-studded five-fightBELLATOR MMA vs. RIZINасноўнай карты, which is stacked from top to bottom with current and former champions competing in the four-sided ring under RIZIN’s unique rules. Headlining the event will be a dream matchup between RIZIN lightweight championRoberto “Satoshi” de Souza(14-1) against No. 3 BELLATOR pound-for-pound talentAJ “Mercenary” McKee(19-1), with BELLATOR and RIZIN featherweight championsПатрысіо Pitbull(34-5) іKleber Koike(31-5-1) co-headlining the must-see event.
Former BELLATOR championsJuan “The Spaniard” Archuleta(26-4) іKyoji Horiguchi(30-5) will round out the unparalleled main card, facing off with RIZIN’sSoo Chul Kim(18-6-1) іHiromasa Ougikubo(25-6-2), адпаведна.
Gadzhi Rabadanov, 29, signed with BELLATOR in 2021 after capturing the Eagle FC lightweight title, and has made an immediate impact on the promotion’s remarkably deep lightweight division. He announced his arrival in thunderous fashion atBELLATOR 263with an emphatic viral knockout of Daniel Carey, which he followed up with back-to-back dominant unanimous decision victories over Jay Jay Wilson and Bobby King in 2022. The product of the renowned Club Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov’s School in Dagestan and the prestigious American Kickboxing Academy, Rabadanov’s pedigree is world-class. On New Year’s Eve, Rabadanov will look to continue building upon his momentum with an impressive performance against Koji Takeda.
“It is a childhood dream come true to fight in Japan at the legendary Saitama Super Arena,” said Rabadanov. “I’m very excited and I know I have a tough opponent, who always leaves everything in the ring. Expect a masterpiece from me, it will be a memorable fight.”
A former DEEP lightweight champion, Japan’sKoji Takedahas been an active fighter since his 2017 прафесійны дэбют. Takeda boasts a compelling case for inclusion on this historic fight card, winning seven of his last ten and three of his last four outings under the RIZIN and DEEP banners. Takeda is also familiar with BELLATOR foes; he has previously fought Spike Carlyle and submitted Zach Zane by armbar, both of whom fought recently for the Scott Coker-led promotion. Takeda will look to add a third straight win to his resume against the highly-touted Rabadanov in his hometown of Saitama, Японія, снежань 31.
BELLATOR MMA VS. RIZIN MAIN CARD:
ЧАС ДЛЯ ШОЎ
Субота, Снежні 31 — 8 PM ET/PT
Lightweight Non-Title Main Event: AJ McKee(19-1) супрацьRoberto de Souza(14-1)
Featherweight Non-Title Main Event: Патрысіо Pitbull(34-5) супрацьKleber Koike(31-5-1)
Bantamweight Feature Bout: Juan Archuleta(26-4) супрацьSoo Chul Kim(18-6-1)
TOP FEATHERWEIGHT CONTENDERS CAT ZINGANO AND PAM SORENSON WILL BATTLE ON PRELIMINARY CARD, ALONG WITH PIVOTAL WELTERWEIGHT CLASH BETWEEN DEREK ANDERSON VS. GOITI YAMAUCHI
TOP PROSPECTS ROMERO COTTON, CODY LAW, ROMAN FARALDO ALSO SET FOR ACTION
Анёлы -A plethora of fantastic fighters armed with world-title aspirations have joined the stackedБЕЛАТАР ММА 276: Borics vs. Burnellcard on Saturday, Сакавіка 12. SHOWTIME will televise the mammoth main card live from inside the Family Arena in St. Чарльз, Мо, на9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
Former title challenger and No. 2 месца-Джон Солтэрам (18-5), as well as undefeated BELLATOR MMA No. 3-месцаJohnny Eblen(10-0), and women’s No. 2 полулегком вагаCat Zingano(12-4) hope to take the next step toward BELLATOR MMA gold as they join the four co-headline brawlers currently ranked among the upper echelon of their respective divisions.
Featured among the magnificent MMA melees will be three of the top-ten middleweights, five undefeated and one unblemished amateur, four top-two contenders, and ten fighters ranked along with BELLATOR MMA’s elite.
У галоўным падзеі вечара, Adam Borics (17-1) іMads Burnell(16-3), two featherweights currently tied at No. 2 in the official BELLATOR MMA rankings, will square off for a future shot at the BELLATOR 145-pound world title. У са-бой прыкметах, former BELLATOR Light Heavyweight Champion, 13-time BELLATOR veteran, і Няма. 2-месцаФіл Дэвіс (23-6, 1 Паўночная Караліна) will open his 2022 campaign against No. 4 Julius Anglickas(10-2), who most recently challenged for the 205-pound title. Дадаткова, the main card will spotlight an international lightweight extravaganza as undefeated New Alliance Jiu-Jitsu team memberJay-Jay Wilson (8-0) of Auckland, Новая Зеландыя, moves up in weight to meet Dagestan, Расіі ўGadzhi Rabadanov(16-4-2), who is coming off a first-round knockout in his promotional debut atБЕЛАТАР ММА 263 у ліпені 2021.
Prior to the consequential co-featured contests, a pair of top middleweights will round out the main card as Salter and Eblen square off for a shot at the winner of the upcoming world title bout pitting 185-pound ChampionГегард Мусасиagainst No. 1-месца Austin Vanderford на БЕЛАТАР ММА 275later this month in Dublin, Ірландыя.
Armed with an 8-2 BELLATOR record, Salter, a 15-year pro MMA veteran out of Nashville, Tenn., holds the promotional record for most submissions in BELLATOR MMA middleweight history, and has stopped 17 з яго 23 праціўнікі. Nicknamed “Diamond Hands” due to his love for crypto currency and willingness to hold onto his investments, Eblen is coming off a 71-second annihilation of Collin Huckbody atBELLATOR MMA 272у снежні 2021. The six-time BELLATOR MMA veteran and American Top-Team product, who recently signed a six-fight BELLATOR contract extension, has secured six opening-round stoppages, including two of his three 2021 праціўнікі.
In addition to the magnificent main card, a veritable cornucopia of pulsating preliminary punch ups will commence the preeminent night of action, including a Minnesota midwestern melee pitting former UFC title challenger and Winona, Ад., native Zingano against No.7-ranked lightweightПэм Сорэнсан(9-4) of Blaine, Ад.
Set to make her third straight BELLATOR MMA appearance with aspirations of challenging BELLATOR MMA Women’s Welterweight World ChampionКрыс Кібарг, Zingano has had a decorated fighting career. The former NCAA Division III All-American wrestler became the first mother to compete in the UFC and initial woman to capture the company’s “Fight of the Night” award, counting victories over Miesha Tate, Аманда Нуньес, Marion Reneau, and Gabrielle Holloway. Нядаўна, “Alpha” was featured in the series “Double Duty” that chronicled the attempts to maintain a balance between the daily responsibilities of parenthood and earning a living as a pro athlete.
A former Invicta FC women’s featherweight champion, Sorenson started kickboxing after the passing of her best friend. After vacating her crown and requesting a release from Invicta in July 2021, the Minneapolis mauler signed a multi-fight deal with BELLATOR MMA in mid-2021. Soon after joining the pioneering company, the 35-year-old recorded a hard-fought split decision over Roberta Samad atБЕЛАТАР ММА 264 у Ункасвилль, Канэктыкут.
Also featured will be a bruising brawl pitting two hard-hitting heavyweights with seven career stoppages apiece as No. 8-месцаAlex “Eazy” Polizzi (9-1) of Madison, Wisc., clashes with Team Pitbull’sJose “Guru” Augusto (7-3, 1 Паўночная Караліна). Дадаткова, Сан - Дыега, Халіф. роднай, 11-time BELLATOR MMA veteran, і Няма. 6-месца“Barbaric” Derek Anderson(17-4, 1 Паўночная Караліна) will mix it up with submission specialist, BELLATOR Brazilian bruiser, and Japanese-bornGoiti Yamaguchi (26-5), in a worldwide welterweight war.
Акрамя таго, added toБЕЛАТАР ММА 276: Borics vs. Burnellis a memorable middleweight match pitting undefeated, Ня. 6-ranked 185-pounder and owner of three consecutive stoppagesRomero Cotton (5-0) of Hutchinson, Канзас, who will bravely battle the horrors of“The Boogeyman”Lance Wright (5-2). Акрамя таго, former Division II All-American wrestler and fantastic featherweightКодзі Лоў(5-0), fresh off his third opening-round finish, strives to avoid being scared off by“Phantom”Johnny Soto (5-2) Эскондидо, Халіф.
Continuing the unforgettable night of amazing action, undefeated welterweight and American Top-Team memberРаман Фаральда (6-0) will make his fourth consecutive promotional appearance when he challenges BELLATOR MMA rookieKelvin Rayford (5-3), while local combatantJordan Howard (10-5) of Jefferson City hopes to thrill the Missouri faithful against Athens, Illinois’ ownTrevor Ward(5-5). Two flyweights will test their skills as well, каліDiana Avsaragova(4-0) of Russia welcomesAshley Deen (5-6) to BELLATOR. Нарэшце, a Show-Me State lightweight showdown between BELLATOR beginnerDan Busch (4-1) makes his sixth straight Missouri appearance by confronting St. Louis’Josh Augustine (5-2).
The thrilling preliminary fights will stream live on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV beginning at6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.
Субота. Сакавіка 12 // БЕЛАТАР ММА 276: Borics vs. Burnell //The Family Arena // Вуліца. Луіс
Бясплатна. Мая 6 // BELLATOR PARIS: Бадер супраць. Kongo 2 // Accor Arena // Paris, FRA
Бясплатна. Мая 13 // BELLATOR LONDON: Amosov vs. MVP // Арэна SSE, Уэмблі // Лондан
****
Пра БЕЛАТОР
BELLATOR MMA - гэта вядучая сусветная арганізацыя змешаных адзінаборстваў, у якой удзельнічаюць многія з лепшых байцоў свету. Пад кіраўніцтвам ветэрана Прамоўтэр Скот Кокер, Мерапрыемствы BELLATOR праходзяць у буйных гарадах свету і іх можна ўбачыць па тэлебачанні 160 краін з даступнай аўдыторыяй больш за мільярд чалавек. У Злучаных Штатах, BELLATOR можна ўбачыць на SHOWTIME. BELLATOR складаецца з выканаўчай каманды, у якую ўваходзяць вядучыя прафесіяналы індустрыі ў галіне тэлевізійнай вытворчасці, у прамым эфіры аркестроўка падзея, развіцця баец / адносіны, Месца правядзення закупкі, стварэнне спонсарства / развіццё, міжнароднага ліцэнзавання, маркетынг, рэклама, публічнасць і камісійныя адносіны. BELLATOR знаходзіцца ў Галівудзе, Халіф. і належаць забаўляльным гіганцкім ViacomCBS, Пачатак у свеце прэм'ера забаўляльных брэндаў, якія злучаюць з аўдыторыяй праз пераканаўчага зместу праз тэлебачанне, кінафільм, онлайн і мабільных платформаў.