Tag Archives: Jacob Duran

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA

KICKBOXING LEGEND DON “THE DRAGON” WILSON JOINS BELLATOR MMA ‘FAN FEST’ AT MARYLAND HEIGHTS’ DAVE & BUSTER’S ON THURSDAY, JUNE 23

Leave a comment

Wilson Joins Bellator MMA Moneyweight Fighter “King Mo” & Lightweight Contender Benson Henderson Join “Stitch” Duran as Well as MMA Legends Randy Couture, Wanderlei Silva at the Bellator MMA Fan Fest Prior toFriday’s “Bellator: Dynamite 2” Event at Scottrade Center

 

Event is exclusively for Bellator Nation members – Join Bellator Nation now

 

 

WHAT:                      Bellator Fan Fest at Dave & Buster’s

Fans of all ages are invited to Dave and Buster’s in Maryland Heights, MO. to meet and get autographs from some of the top names in all of mixed martial arts. Fans will also have the opportunity to win tickets and great prizes, as well as snap a photograph with the Bellator ring girls.

Fan Fest is exclusively for Bellator Nation Members only, becoming an official Bellator Nation Member is simple and FREE. Click here to register and RSVP to Fan Fest. If you are already a member of Bellator Nation you will receive an email invitation to RSVP.

 

WHERE:                   Dave & Buster’s

                                    13857 Riverport Dr.

Maryland Heights, Mo. 63043

 

WHEN:                      Thursday, June 23 at 8 p.m. CT

 

WHO:                        Widely considered the greatest kickboxing champion of all time, Don “The Dragon” Wilson is the only person to win 11 world kickboxing titles in three separate weight divisions. Along the way, he defeated 11 other world champions, 12 number one contenders, 15 champions on four continents and was the first kung-fu practitioner to become a kickboxing world champion. With a professional record of 72 wins, 5 losses and 2 draws — 48 coming by way of knockout — “The Dragon” parlayed his success in the ring to multiple high profile roles on the silver screen, notably the legendary “Bloodfist” series. Overall, Wilson has starred in 29 motion pictures and gained fans all across the globe with his tangible charisma. If you’re not familiar with some of the 5th-degree kickboxing black belt’s combat sports work, look no furtherthan this exciting highlight reel.

    

 

One of the most recognizable MMA fighters of all time, Hall of Famer Randy Couture transitioned nicely into the entertainment world after his fighting career, starring in several television shows and movies, most notably the Expendables franchise and Dancing with the Stars. Inside the cage, Couture was a fearless underdog, often defeating men with great size advantages. “The Natural” was a multi-time heavyweight and multi-time light heavyweight champion in the UFC.

 

“King Mo” has been a mainstay with Bellator MMA since 2013, fighting everyone both the light heavyweight and heavyweight division has to offer. This will be Lawal’s first appearance at one of Bellator MMA’s “Fan Fest” events, giving fans the opportunity to meet the explosive striker for the first time. After his recent main event bout with Phil Davis, “Mo” now sets his sights on other “Moneyweight” fights to satiate his thirst.

 

Benson Henderson has accomplished a great deal over the course of his 10-year professional career as a mixed martial artist.  A former WEC and UFC lightweight titlist, “Smooth” holds black belts in both Taekwondo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and also earned NAIA All-American honors in both 2005 and 2006. Multiple media outlets named Henderson the fighter of the year in 2012, and has been a part of several epic battles that have received “Fight of the Year” accolades: Donald Cerrone (2009), Anthony Pettis (2010), Frankie Edgar (2012), and Brandon Thatch (2015).

 

Having first fought in the sport almost twenty years ago, very few men have a more legendary resume than Wanderlei Silva. “The Axe Murderer” is a Pride and UFC veteran, who brings an intimidating and imposing presence with him every time he steps into the cage.  Currently one of the biggest free agents in the sport, Silva may soon return to action in hopes of adding to an already-impressive list of wins that include: Guy Mezger, Dan Henderson, Kazushi Sakuraba, Ricardo Arona, Kazuyuki Fujita, Michael Bisping, Cung Le, Brian Stann and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson twice

 

When watching any combat sports event, it’s odd not to see Jacob “Stitch” Duran as the professional cutman on duty. Recently, Bellator MMA was pleased to exclusively secure his services as cutman for the foreseeable future, after “Stitch” signed a multi-year contract with the Scott Coker-led promotion. “Stitch” is seen everywhere combat sports events take place, and played a vital role in the recent smash blockbuster, “Creed.”

 

FIGHT INFO:           “Bellator: Dynamite 2” takes place on Friday, June 24, and airs LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT and features a heavyweight main event of “Rampage” Jackson versus Satoshi Ishii. Tickets start at just $30 and are on sale now at Ticketmaster, and the Scottrade Center Box Office.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

‘STITCH’ DURAN SIGNS CONTRACT WITH REEBOK

Leave a comment

April Fools..Stich is not getting a Reebok shoe… He’s the New Undisputed Bellator Hand-Wrapping Champion.

 107_Mo_Lawal

Above: Stitch wraps the hands of “King Mo” Lawal at “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” (Credit: Bellator/Esther Lin)

 

SANTA MONICA (March 31, 2016) – When watching any combat sports event, it’s odd not to see Jacob “Stitch” Duran as the professional cutman on duty. Today, Bellator MMA is pleased to secure his services as its lead cutman for the foreseeable future, after “Stitch” signed a multi-year contract with the Scott Coker-led promotion.

 

Starting with “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson” on April 22 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in CT, the most famous cutman in the world will do everything in his power to get Bellator fighters prepped for entering the cage and helping them continue on once the bell rings, giving them “one more round.”

 

Stitch joins a great team of cutmen including Matt Marsden, Dean Lassiter and Paul Quiredos.

 

“Working with my old friend, Scott Coker and Bellator is a true honor,” said Duran. “I can’t wait to get started working for a great organization that respects their employees and truly makes their fighters the top priority!”

 

While working for Bellator, “Stitch” will not be prevented from seeking sponsors to wear and will also continue to work boxing events, with high profile clients the likes of Andre Ward, Vitali Klitschko and Wladimir Klitschko.

mixed martial arts, MMA, NBC, World Series of Fighting

WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING AND TALK2LEGENDS PARTNER TO PROVIDE AN UNRIVALED FAN-ATHLETE INTERACTION EXPERIENCE

Leave a comment

Chael Sonnen, Bas Rutten, Ray Sefo, Jon Fitch, Jake Shields and nearly 20 other MMA icons will be available for mobile video chats during WSOF27 on Saturday, Jan. 23, live on NBCSN

LAS VEGAS (January 21, 2016) –World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) and Talk2Legends (Talk2Legends.com) today announced an unprecedented partnership that will allow fans to chat live on their iPhone devices with some of their favorite Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) athletes and other celebrity talent, using the latter company’s new mobile app.

The partnership will commence on Saturday, Jan. 23 when over two dozen figures from the World Series of Fighting universe will be available for video chat sessions with fans during the WSOF27: Firmino vs. Fodor event that will air live on NBCSN at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT from the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.

Available for download in the App Store, the Talk2Legends app also allows fans to share completed chat sessions with friends on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

“The partnership between World Series of Fighting and Talk2Legends will enable a fan experience that is unmatched in sports, for a reasonable cost,” said Talk2Legends CEO Ryan Hermansky.

“On January 23, continued Hernansky, “fans will be able to simultaneously watch WSOF27 and get opinions from legends, such as Bas Rutten and Chael Sonnen, and world champions like David Branch and Marlon Moraes.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Talk2Legends and be able to give fans the opportunity to get to know their favorite fighters on a very personal, one-on-one basis,” said World Series of Fighting President, six-time world champion and two-time Hall of Famer Ray Sefo.

Using the Talk2Legends app, fans can purchase credits for video chat sessions, review the list of MMA celebrities that will be available for a five-minute, one-on-one video chat session on January 23, and book sessions based on the talent’s availability that is provided on screen.

The athletes and other celebrity participants have the option of donating revenue they earn in exchange for their participation, to a charity or non-profit foundation of their choice.

The following talent will be available for video chat sessions during WSOF27:

On-air and other talent

Chael Sonnen – Color commentator and retired MMA superstar
Bas Rutten – Color commentator and legendary MMA champion
Ray Sefo – World Series of Fighting President and six-time world champion
Jacob “Stitch” Duran – World Series of Fighting cutman and
Andrea Lowell – Playboy Radio hostess and World Series of Fighting round card girl
Joey Varner – World Series of Fighting roving reporter
Jazz Securo – World Series of Fighting ring announcer
Emily Miller – World Series of Fighting round card girl

World Series of Fighting athletes

David Branch – Reigning light heavyweight and middleweight champion
Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje – Reigning, undefeated lightweight champion
Lance Palmer – Reigning featherweight champion
Marlon Moraes – Reigning bantamweight champion
Jon Fitch – Welterweight superstar
Jake Shields – Welterweight superstar
Jason High – Lightweight superstar
Phoenix Jones – Lightweight rising star
Robbie “Problems” Peralta – Featherweight knockout artist
“Notorious” Nick Newell – Retired lightweight phenom
Mike “Mak” Kyle – Former light heavyweight championship challenger
Joseph Barajas – WSOF28 main event competitor
Patrick Walsh – Light heavyweight prospect
Clifford Starks – Middleweight star
Colton Smith – Lightweight standout and The Ultimate Fighter winner
Mike Corey – Featherweight star
Steve Kozola – Undefeated lightweight star

The Talk2Legends app is expected to be available for Android devices in February.

ABOUT WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING

“World Series of Fighting” (WSOF) is a worldwide premier professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering the best action-packed fights for fight fans by producing the best possible match-ups between elite fighters from around the world. For more information please visit WSOF.com and follow “World Series of Fighting” on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries.  WSOF and World Series of Fighting are registered trademarks of MMAWC, LLC.

 

martial arts, mixed martial arts

FIGHT NIGHT 11 QUICK RESULTS AND ‘DEAN’S LIST’ AWARDS

Leave a comment

                                                
Los Angeles, CA – With the legendary cut manJacob “Stitch” Duran wrapping the fighters’ hands at the University of MMA’s Fight Night 11, fists flew as hard and heavy as could be thrown. Both University of MMA title challengers upset the defending champions in knockout fashion. Kurt ‘The Hurt’ Eberhard (Saekson’s Muay Thai) shocked Albert Veloz (Cage Combat Academy) just 45 seconds into the first round to win the University of MMA featherweight championship. Similarly, Pious ‘Voodoo’ Enilolobo Jr. (BJMUTA/Flying Kick) put away Antonio Lopez (Saekson’s Muay Thai) with a big right hand to realize his dream of becoming the University of MMA lightweight champion.
All 34 fighters on the 17-match show put their hearts on the line and thrilled the crowd with exhaustive performances. In the end, the Dean’s List performance awards for Fight Night 11 are:
Fight of the Night: Damon Jacobs (Bas Rutten’s Elite MMA) vs. Remington Thorne (Saekson’s Muay Thai)
Knockout of the Night: Garik Mitchell (Team Lagarto)

Submission of the Night: Christopher Llanes (Team Quest)

Blue Chip Honors: Matheus Santos (MMAFC/Knockout Boxing Club)
The Dean’s List is sponsored by OTM Fight Shops and WSS, which have contributed $100 gift cards to the winners. In addition to the traditional Fight of the Night, Knockout of the Night, and Submission of the Night awards, Blue Chip honors is a special category to fighters who showed great showmanship, charisma and audience awareness.
Coming into Fight Night 11, everyone knew to keep an eye on Remington Thorne. His debut match, against the very veteran Michael’Blackjack’ Jackson (Systems Training Center), at Fight Night 10, was a fight of the night performance. Far fewer fans had any previous impression of Thorne’s opponent, the debutingDamon Jacobs (Bas Rutten’s Elite MMA Gym), but he wasted no time in filling in the blanks. Jacobs landed powerful combinations on Thorne early, leaving people to wonder how he was still standing. Thorne stayed in the fight, however, nearly finishing Jacobs with a rapid-fire flurry that was derailed by an unintentional illegal knee to the head. Despite the foul, both fighters continued another two rounds of explosive striking action which ignited fans’ rabid cheers. The crowd reaction made Jacobs-Thorne an easy choice for Fight of the Night.
With four KO of the Night candidates on the show, Garik Mitchell’s second-round head kick finish stood out from the pack. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, Mitchell’s match was his amateur MMA debut, which dictated both he and his opponent wear shin guards. To generate that power with guards speaks volumes to the strength and speed the young man brings to the cage.
Submission of the Night is often known to go for flashy or last second submissions butChristopher Llanes (Team Quest) showed impeccable technique and fight intelligence in securing the tapout. Llanes initiated a scramble with a great Greco Roman throw and immediately transitioned to an armbar. He quickly recognized he didn’t have it quite enough so he was able to adjust and get the tap against a very game opponent in Tim Barnard (Valhalla ETC).
One award unique to the University of MMA is their Blue Chip honors, which rewards not only a great athletic performance but also an entertaining and engaging stage presence. Not only did Matheus Santos’s (MMAFC) knockout a tough and unique opponent in Victor Pages (Systems Training Center), but he also displayed a captivating confidence in his post-fight interview, addressing his fans in both Portuguese and English. Santos’ overall showing, in the cage and on the mic, was the closest example of presenting the total package, thus earning him Blue Chip honors for Fight Night 11.
Looking forward, both Jackson and Flavian Pilgrim (CMMA) put on dominant performances that earned them championship fights at the next University of MMA event, Fight Night 12, tentatively scheduled for November 22nd. Pilgrim will take on new champion Enilolobo, Jr. for the University of MMA lightweight title, and Jackson will face recently-crowned Eberhard for the University of MMA featherweight belt.
Quick results for University of MMA: Fight Night 11:
1) 149 lbs. (3 x 2 min., shins) – RYAN AGUILAR (CMMA) def. OREN SHABO (Hayastan MMA Academy) via TKO, R1, 0:17
2) 130 lbs. (3 x 2 min., shins) – ERIC ARIAS (Yuma United MMA) def. STUART KOSH (Independent) via unanimous decision
3) 145 lbs. (3 x 2 min., shins) – MASON IACOBELLIS (Team Quest) def. ARDANY OLIVA (Systems Training Center) via TKO, R1, 0:51
4) 125 lbs. (3 x 2 min., shins) – ERICK PIERRE (Bas Rutten’s Elite Training Center) def. TIZOC FROESE (MMAFC) via unanimous decision
5) 150 lbs. (3 x 2 min., shins) – MICHAEL ‘BLACKJACK’ JACKSON (Systems Training Center) def. ANGEL PERLA (Team Quest) via unanimous decision
6) 137 lbs. (3 x 2 min., shins) – RICHIE MEISTER (BJMUTA/Eric Nolan’s Xtreme Training Center) def. SERGIO GONZALEZ (Yuma United MMA) via submission (triangle choke), R3, 1:12
7) 195 lbs. (3 x 2 min., shins) – CHRISTOPHER LLANES (Team Quest) def. TIM BARNARD (Valhalla Elite Training Center) via submission (armbar), R1, 1:16
8) 175 lbs. (3 x 2 min., shins) – CRISTIAN NAJERA (Guerilla Nation MMA) def. CHRIS ‘BABY BEAR’ RODRIGUEZ (Gracie Jiu Jitsu/Team Victory Muay Thai) via TKO, R1, 1:56
9) 145 lbs. (3 x 2 min., shins) – GARIK MITCHELL (Team Lagarto) def. STEVEN (KYLER) SCOTT (Team Quest) via KO, R2, 0:48
10) 230 lbs. (3 x 2 min., shins) – ANDRII VASYLENKO (BJMUTA) def. JULIUS WHITE (Independent) via submission, R1, 0:51
11) 157 lbs. (3 x 2 min., shins) – DAMON JACOBS (Bas Rutten’s Elite MMA Gym) def. REMINGTON THORNE (Saekson’s Muay Thai) via unanimous decision
12) 125 lbs. (3 x 2 min., shins) – MATHEUS SANTOS (MMAFC) def. VICTOR PAGES (Systems Training Center) via KO, R2, 1:58
13) 145 lbs. (3 x 2 min., shins) – BENITO MENDEZ (King Combat Sports) def. DAVID SECAIDA (Independent) via unanimous decision
14) 160 lbs. (3 x 2 min., shins) – FLAVIAN PILGRIM (CMMA) def. TROY HARDGROW (Independent) via split TKO, R2, 1:24
15) 205 lbs. (3 x 2 min., shins) – TRAVIS WILLIAMS (Elite Training Center) def. DAVID BOYKO (Bas Rutten’s Elite MMA) unanimous decision
UNIVERSITY OF MMA FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
16) 145 lbs. (3 x 3 min., no shins) – KURT ‘THE HURT’ EBERHARD (Saekson’s Muay Thai) def. ALBERT VELOZ (Cage Combat Academy) via KO, R1, 0:45
UNIVERSITY OF MMA LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
17) 155 lbs. (3 x 3 min., no shins) – PIOUS ‘VOODOO’ ENILOLOBO JR. (BJMUTA/Flying Kick) def. ANTONIO LOPEZ (Saekson’s Muay Thai) via KO, R2, 0:34