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Tag Archives: Hideo Tokoro
‘THE BADDEST MAN ON THE PLANET,’ JOE WARREN, SET FOR MAIN EVENT CLASH AGAINST L.C. DAVIS AT BELLATOR 143 IN HIDALGO, TEXAS ON SEPT. 25
JOEY ‘THE MEXICUTIONER’ BELTRAN TAKES ON KENDALL ‘DA SPYDER’ GROVE IN CO-MAIN EVENT
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (August 11, 2015) – Joe Warren’s (12-4) road to reclaim the Bellator MMA Bantamweight Championship will begin on Friday, September 25 against L.C. Davis, (23-6) when the two meet at the promotion’s debut at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas.
In addition, Joey Beltran (16-11, 1 NC) will face Kendall Grove (21-15, 1 NC) in an explosive middleweight encounter.
The contests serve as the headlining and co-headlining bouts of “Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis,” which airs live on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream on Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET.
Tickets for Bellator 143, which start at just $20, go on sale this Friday, August 14 at Ticketmaster.com and the State Farm Arena box office, with a special Bellator Nation presale available on the 12th and 13th for fans using the code: Bellator. Doors for the event open at 5:00 p.m. CT local time, and the first contest takes place shortly after. Additional bouts will be announced shortly.
“Mixed martial arts has a rich history in the state of Texas and Bellator looks forward to returning to the Lone Star State for the first time since 2012 with a stacked card in tow,” Bellator MMA President Scott Coker said. “Joe Warren has been itching to get back in action and return to the 135-pound title chase, while L.C. Davis has momentum on his side since his ‘Fight of the Year’ caliber matchup against Hideo Tokoro in March. I’m truly looking forward to it.”
Warren is a two-division champion who also served as a coach during the inaugural season of “Fight Master.” In addition to his win over the current bantamweight champion Marcos Galvao, the Olympic-caliber wrestler has defeated an impressive list of fighters including Georgi Karakhanyan, Patricio Freire, and Eduardo Dantas since taking up the sport of mixed martial arts in 2009.
Davis was one half of arguably the best MMA contest thus far in 2015 when he faced Hideo Tokoro at “Bellator 135: “Warren vs. Galvao 2.” The former World Extreme Cagefighting and Affliction standout has nearly double the amount of fight experience than “The Baddest Man on the Planet” boasts, and has emerged victorious in seven of his last eight professional contests.
It’s safe to assume that whoever emerges the winner on September 25th will have plenty to say about whether their next bout should come with championship gold on the line.
Since entering the Bellator MMA fray in 2013, Beltran has competed against some of the best light heavyweights the promotion has to offer, with matchups against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Vladimir “The Janitor” Matyushenko, Emanuel “The Hardcore Kid” Newton. After transitioning to middleweight at “Bellator 136: Brooks vs. Jansen” in April, “Mexicutioner” emerged victorious from an enthralling encounter against Brian “The Predator” Rogers with the majority decision.
The San Diego, Calif., native has finished 13 of his 16 victories as a professional and will look to extend his current winning streak when he returns to the Bellator MMA cage.
Competing professionally since 2003, Grove has been involved in some epic matchups, including his most recent effort against Brandon Halsey at “Bellator 137: Halsey vs. Grove” in May. At only 32-years-old, “Da Spyder” hopes that a win against another prolific striker like Beltran will serve him well in his pursuit of Bellator MMA gold.
Will the high-towering Hawaiian manage to submit Beltran for only the second time in his mixed martial arts run? If there is anyone capable of such a feat, it’s the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt accredited Grove.
Injury delays Eduardo Dantas vs. Mike Richman at “Bellator MMA: Warren vs. Galvao”
L.C. Davis vs. Hideo Tokoro promoted to Spike TV-televised co-main event
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (March 10, 2015) – A Mike Richman injury has delayed a highly anticipated bantamweight matchup with former Bellator MMA World Champion Eduardo Dantas at this month’s “Bellator MMA: Warren vs. Galvao” event. However, Bellator MMA officials have promoted a previously announced gem from the preliminary card, as a 135-pound contest between L.C. Davis
(22-6) vs. Hideo Tokoro (32-27) will now take center stage as the co-main event on the evening’s Spike TV-televised main card.
Dantas (16-4) vs. Richman (18-5) will be rescheduled at a later date.
“Bellator: Warren vs. Galvao” takes place on Friday, March 27, at WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Okla. The night’s televised main card, featuring Bellator MMA Bantamweight World Champion Joe Warren vs. top contender Marcos Galvao, airs live on Spike TV (9 p.m. ET).
A seven-bout preliminary card streams live on Spike.com (6:30 p.m. ET).
Tickets for “Bellator: Warren vs. Galvao,” which include VIP Seating for just $75, are currently on sale at Ticketmaster.com and Bellator.com.
Davis, of Kansas City, Mo., is a nine-year veteran of the sport who is currently 6-1 in his past seven appearances, including a pair of wins under the Bellator MMA banner. He faces 14-year Japanese veteran Tokoro, a longtime mainstay in his native country who now makes his Bellator MMA debut.
“Bellator: Warren vs. Galvao” – Friday, March 27, WinStar World Casino, Thackerville, Okla.
Main Card (9 p.m. ET)
Bellator Bantamweight Title Fight: Champ Joe Warren (12-3) vs. Marcos Galvao (16-6-1)
Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Fight: L.C. Davis (22-6) vs. Hideo Tokoro (32-27)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Francis Carmont (22-10) vs. Guilherme Viana (6-1)
Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Ryan Couture (9-3) vs. Dakota Cochrane (18-7)
Preliminary Card (6:30 p.m. ET)
Bellator Welterweight Prelim Fight: Sean Holden (2-1) vs. Tim Roman (2-1)
Bellator Middleweight Prelim Fight: Neal Ewing (5-0) vs. Logan Nail (1-0)
Bellator Featherweight Prelim Fight: Emmanuel Sanchez (9-1) vs. Alejandro Villalobos (17-3)
Bellator Featherweight Prelim Fight: Stephen Banaszak (3-4) vs. Brad Mitchell (4-1)
Bellator Flyweight Prelim Fight: Klayton Mai (6-1) vs. Xavier Siller (5-3)
Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Fight: J.P. Cole (2-2) vs. Geo Pacurariu (8-4)
Swing Bout
Bellator Heavyweight Prelim Fight: Rashad Coulter (4-1) vs. Jeremiah O’Neal (13-24)
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 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 Spike TV:
Spike TV 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 TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press.
“Bellator: Warren vs. Galvao” gets eight new matchups, including L.C. Davis vs. Hideo Tokoro, Emmanuel Sanchez vs. Alejandro Villalobos
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (March 5, 2015) – The 12-bout lineup for Bellator MMA’s return to WinStar World Casino is now complete with the addition of an eight-fight preliminary lineup.
The new matchups include bantamweights L.C. Davis (22-6) vs. Hideo Tokoro (32-27), featherweights Emmanuel “El Matador” Sanchez (9-1) vs. Alejandro Villalobos (17-3), welterweights Sean Holden (2-1) vs. Tim Roman (2-1), middleweights Neal Ewing (5-0) vs. Logan Nail (1-0), heavyweights Rashad Coulter (4-1) vs. Jeremiah O’Neal (13-24), featherweightsStephen “The Fear” Banaszak (3-4) vs. Brad Mitchell (4-1), flyweights Klayton Mai (6-1) vs.Xavier “Young Guns” Siller (5-3) and bantamweights J.P. Cole (2-2) vs. Geo Pacurariu (8-4).
The new bouts make up the Spike.com-streamed preliminary card (6:30 p.m. ET) of “Bellator: Warren vs. Galvao,” which takes place on Friday, March 27, at WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Okla. The night’s televised main card, featuring Bellator MMA Bantamweight World Champion Joe Warren vs. top contender Marcos Galvao, airs live on Spike TV (9 p.m. ET).
Tickets for “Bellator: Warren vs. Galvao,” which include VIP Seating for just $75, are already on sale at Ticketmaster.com and Bellator.com.
Davis, of Kansas City, Mo., is a nine-year veteran of the sport who is currently 6-1 in his past seven appearances, including a pair of wins under the Bellator MMA banner. He now meets 14-year Japanese veteran Tokoro, a longtime mainstay in his native country who now makes his Bellator MMA debut.
Sanchez, a 24-year-old Roufusport fighter from Milwaukee, Wisc., made his Bellator MMA debut in October 2013 and scored a first-round submission win over Stephen Banaszak. He currently boasts a five-fight winning streak that includes four first-round stoppages. He now meets Costa Rican fighter Villalobos, who is 11-1 in his past 12 fights and has earned 16 of his 17 career wins by stoppage, including nine knockouts and seven submissions.
Coulter, of Dallas, Texas, has earned all four of his career victories by way of knockout, though his lone career loss came by way of submission. That could prove a key factor when he meets O’Neal, of Palestine, Texas, who owns 11 of his 13 career victories by tapout.
Holden, of Dallas, Texas, earned victory in his first two career outings but now looks to rebound from a February 2014 submission loss. He now faces Roman, of Greenville, Texas, who has taken an exact opposite career path, losing his professional debut but since bouncing back with back-to-back victories.
The undefeated Ewing, of Dallas, Texas, has earned all five of his career wins by way of stoppage, including three submissions and two knockouts. He now faces Nail, of Sherman, Texas, who earned a TKO win in his February 2014 debut and now looks to build on that result.
Banaszak, of Bells, Texas, is a three-time Bellator MMA veteran who has yet to go to a judges’ decision in seven professional contests. He now faces Mitchell, of Dallas, Texas, who makes his Bellator MMA debut on the strength of a two-fight winning streak.
Mai, of Dallas, Texas, is a grappling ace who’s earned five of his first six career wins by submission and who has yet to fight to a judges’ decision. His opponent, Siller, of Abilene, Texas, has been equally active in his career, also ending every fight – win or lose – before the final bell.
Cole, of Frisco, Texas, and Romanian import Pacurariu, who now lives and trains in Dallas, Texas, each make their Bellator MMA debut.
“Bellator: Warren vs. Galvao” – Friday, March 27, WinStar World Casino, Thackerville, Okla.
Main Card (9 p.m. ET)
Bellator Bantamweight Title Fight: Champ Joe Warren (12-3) vs. Marcos Galvao (16-6-1)
Bellator Bantamweight Feature Fight: Eduardo Dantas (16-4) vs. Mike Richman (18-5)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Francis Carmont (22-10) vs. Guilherme Viana (6-1)
Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Dakota Cochrane (18-7) vs. Ryan Couture (9-3)
Preliminary Card (6:30 p.m. ET)
Bellator Heavyweight Prelim Fight: Rashad Coulter (4-1) vs. Jeremiah O’Neal (13-24),
Bellator Welterweight Prelim Fight: Sean Holden (2-1) vs. Tim Roman (2-1)
Bellator Middleweight Prelim Fight: Neal Ewing (5-0) vs. Logan Nail (1-0)
Bellator Featherweight Prelim Fight: Emmanuel Sanchez (9-1) vs. Alejandro Villalobos (17-3)
Bellator Featherweight Prelim Fight: Stephen Banaszak (3-4) vs. Brad Mitchell (4-1)
Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Fight: L.C. Davis (22-6) vs. Hideo Tokoro (32-27)
Bellator Flyweight Prelim Fight: Klayton Mai (6-1) vs. Xavier Siller (5-3)
Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Fight: J.P. Cole (2-2) vs. Geo Pacurariu (8-4)
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 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 Spike TV:
Spike TV 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 TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press.