Tag Archives: Josh Koscheck

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

BELLATOR 172 COMPETITORS TAKE US BEHIND THE SCENES PRIOR TO SATURDAY NIGHT’S SHOWDOWN AT SAP CENTER IN SAN JOSE

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SAN JOSE, CALIF. (Feb. 16, 2017) – We are just days away from one of the most highly anticipated heavyweight battles in Bellator MMA history, as Fedor Emelianenko (36-4, 1 NC) and Matt Mitrione (11-5) headline a massive main card at Bellator 172. Once again, Bellator’s digital team has put together a collection of exclusive new content in preparation of Saturday’s festivities at SAP Center. If you’re searching for a deeper look inside these competitors’ road to the main event, join us as we explore some fantastic behind-the-scenes footage available now on Bellator’s dynamic YouTube page.

 

The Legend of Fedor’s Sweater

Fedor’s monumental career goes hand-in-hand with his “Glorious Sweater of Absolute Victory.” Adam Carolla and others chime in on the Russian slugger’s mysterious attire.

 What to Watch: Fedor vs. Mitrione

Bellator 172 features a must-watch heavyweight main event between Fedor Emelianenko and Matt Mitrione, but before the two meet inside the cage Jimmy Smith covers what’s at stake.

 

Backstage With Fedor Emelianenko

Let’s go backstage with one of the game’s greatest and take a closer look at the initial signing that took place at the promotion’s last event in San Jose at Bellator 165.

 Sit Down With Matt Mitrione

Heavyweight superstar Matt Mitrione sits down with us to discuss his upcoming main event showdown with the legendary Fedor.

 

In Focus: Josh Thomson

We take a closer look at Josh Thomson’s story and close relationship with Bellator MMA President Scott Coker in the latest edition of In Focus.

 

FIGHT INFO:                     The evening’s main event features a highly anticipated heavyweight slugfest pitting the legendary Fedor Emelianenko (36-4, 1 NC) against Matt Mitrione (11-5).

 

San Jose’s own Josh Thomson (22-8, 1 NC) returns to the Bellator MMA cage to take on veteran knockout artistPatricky “Pitbull” (16-8) in a lightweight co-main clash. Fans can also experience a heavyweight feature fight pittingCheick Kongo (25-10-2) against British phenom Oli Thompson (17-9) and a female flyweight fight pairing Veta Arteaga (2-1) against Brooke Mayo (Debut). Lastly, a welterweight showdown pitting Josh Koscheck (17-10) againstMauricio Alonso (12-7, 1 NC) rounds out the Spike-televised main card action.

 

Bellator 172: Fedor vs. Mitrione airs live and free on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream live on Bellator.com and The Bellator Mobile App. Very few tickets remain and they can be purchased at the SAP Center Box Office, as well as Ticketmaster.com and Bellator.com.

 

Complete Bellator 172: Fedor vs. Mitrione SPIKE-Televised Main Card:

Heavyweight Main Event: Fedor Emelianenko (36-4, 1 NC) vs. Matt Mitrione (11-5)

Lightweight Feature Fight: Josh Thomson (22-8, 1 NC) vs. Patricky “Pitbull” (16-8)

Heavyweight Feature Fight: Cheick Kongo (25-10-2) vs. Oli Thompson (17-9)

Flyweight Feature Fight: Veta Arteaga (2-1) vs. Brooke Mayo (Debut)

Welterweight Feature Fight: Josh Koscheck (17-10) vs. Mauricio Alonso (12-7, 1 NC)

 

Bellator.com-Streamed Preliminary Card:

Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Anatoly Tokov (24-2) vs. Francisco France (13-4-1)

Welterweight Prelim Bout: James Terry (18-9) vs. J.C. Llamas (8-5)

Lightweight Prelim Bout: Nikko Jackson (1-1) vs. Cesar Gonzalez (0-1)

Featherweight Prelim Bout: Juan Cardenas (1-0) vs. Luis Vargas (0-1)

Welterweight Prelim Bout: Dominic Sumner (1-0) vs. Abraham Vaesau (1-0)

Flyweight Prelim Bout: Anthony Do (4-1) vs. Bobby Escalante (4-5)

Flyweight Prelim Bout: Matt Ramirez (1-2) vs. Jeremy Murphy (3-3)

Lightweight Prelim Bout: J.J. Okanovich (3-1) vs. Zach Andrews (5-1)

Featherweight Prelim Bout: Abner Perez (Debut) vs. Gaston Bolanos (Debut)

Featherweight Prelim Bout: Justin Tenedora (Debut) vs. Roque Reyes (0-3)

Middleweight Prelim Bout: Martin Sano (4-2) vs. Diego Herzog (4-2)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

JOSH KOSCHECK RETURNS TO THE CAGE AGAINST MAURICIO ALONSO AT SAP CENTER IN SAN JOSE ON FEB. 18

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MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT FEATURING ANATOLY TOKOV AGAINST FRANCISCO FRANCE ADDED TO THE PRELIMINARY CARD

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. (January 31, 2017) – A welterweight bout pitting Josh Koscheck (17-10) against Mauricio Alonso(12-7, 1 NC) has been added to the Spike-televised main card of Bellator 172: Fedor vs. Mitrione at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. on February 18, 2017.

 

In addition, recently signed Russian star Anatoly Tokov (24-2) is set to square off against Francisco France (13-4-1) in a middleweight clash that will be featured on the Bellator.com-streamed undercard, while a previously announced main card bout between Adam Piccolotti and Brent Primus has been cancelled after Piccolotti has been forced to withdraw due to an undisclosed injury.

 

Bellator 172: Fedor vs. Mitrione will be broadcast live and free on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and the Bellator Mobile App. Tickets for the event are on sale now at the SAP Center Box Office as well as Ticketmaster.com.

 

Koscheck will be making his highly anticipated Bellator MMA debut after signing with the Viacom-owned promotion in 2015. Prior to the signing, “Kos” competed under the UFC banner for nearly a decade, compiling 15 wins and nine finishes. Now, the 39-year-old Dethrone Base Camp product hopes to soar to the top of Bellator MMA’s stacked welterweight class and add to his impressive resume of 17 career victories. Never one to mince words, Koscheck has made it clear that he hopes to once again meet Paul Daley inside the cage, but first, the Fresno, Calif. native must get through Alonso on Feb. 18 when he returns to action on Spike.

 

Hailing from Parana, Brazil, Alonso will be making his second appearance under the direction of Bellator MMA and first in the welterweight division since 2014. The 36-year-old enters the bout riding a recent string of success, earning victories in each of his last two contests and seven of his last 10 dating back to 2010. Of his 12 career wins, Alonso has finished his opponent five times, including four knockouts. Alonso will look to build off of an undefeated 2016 campaign when he competes on Feb 18.

 

Under the tutelage of the legendary Fedor Emilianenko, Tokov has strung together an impressive resume of his own, where from 2012 to 2016, the prospect was riding a streak of 17 consecutive wins. The 26-year-old Russian is known to end fights early and often, finishing his opponent in 19 of his 24 career wins, including nine first round finishes. If Tokov is going to continue to blossom on the Bellator roster, he will have to defeat his opponent on Feb. 18 first.

 

Hailing from Gilbert, Arizona, 18-fight veteran France enters the bout having won six of his last eight contests, including one draw and five finishes. The 33-year-old submission specialist will be making his third appearance under the Bellator MMA banner and first in nearly a year at Bellator 172. “Kiko” brings with him one of the most dynamic ground games in the division, finishing 12 of his 13 victims via submission; displaying a wide array of devastating techniques, including rear-naked and arm-triangle chokes, arm bars, and kimuras.

 

Updated Bellator 172: Fedor vs. Mitrione Main Card:

Heavyweight Main Event: Fedor Emelianenko (36-4, 1 NC) vs. Matt Mitrione (11-5)

Lightweight Co-Main Event: Josh Thomson (22-8, 1 NC) vs. Patricky “Pitbull” (16-8)

Heavyweight Feature Bout: Cheick Kongo (25-10-2) vs. Oli Thompson (17-9)

Welterweight Feature Bout: Josh Koscheck (17-10) vs. Mauricio Alonso (12-7, 1 NC)

 

Preliminary Bouts:

Middleweight Preliminary Fight: Anatoly Tokov (24-2) vs. Francisco France (13-4-1)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: James Terry (18-9) vs. David Douglas (9-6)

Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Nikko Jackson (1-1) vs. Cesar Gonzalez (0-1)

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Juan Cardenas (1-0) vs. Luis Vargas (0-1)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Danasabe Mohammed (5-1) vs. Carlos Rocha (9-4)

Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Anthony Do (4-1) vs. Bobby Escalante (4-5)

Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Matt Ramirez (1-2) vs. Jeremy Murphy (3-3)

Lightweight Preliminary Bout: J.J. Okanovich (3-1) vs. Paradise Vaovasa (5-1)

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Justin Tenedora (Debut) vs. Roque Reyes (0-3)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

‘BELLATOR 158: LONDON’ DELIVERS – OFFERING KNOCKOUTS, SUBMISSIONS & POKE BALLS

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Complete Event Photos Here

 

LONDON — (July 16, 2016) – Douglas Lima (27-6) and Paul Daley (38-14-2) had been bound to cross paths throughout their Bellator MMA tenures, and on Saturday night at The O2 in London, the welterweight battle finally came to a head.

The main event of “Bellator 158: London” pitted the former 170-pound titlist against “Semtex,” an Englishman who has been on a tear since coming back into the fray. Over the course of 15 minutes, the two warriors ripped into each other’s bodies, rocking their foe with shots and scoring takedowns. Much to the chagrin of Daley’s hometown faithful, Lima got the better of Daley, earning a unanimous decision of (30-27 x3). With the win, Lima, eyes a rematch with Andrey Koreshkov, the man who took his title nearly a year ago.

Matt Mitrione Moves to 2-0 Under the Bellator MMA Umbrella

Matt Mitrione (11-5) returned to the Bellator MMA cage fresh off his victory at “Bellator: Dynamite 2” and finished Oli Thompson (17-9), winning his second fight in three weeks. “Meathead” and the former Britain’s strongest man winner went toe-to-toe for the better part of two rounds, but at 4:21 in the second frame, Mitrione turned the lights out for Thompson. Now, Mitrione moves ever closer to a shot at the vacant heavyweight belt, something he hopes to claim before the end of 2016.

 

Michael Page’s Knee Catches Itself A ‘Cyborg’

It’s rare when antics following a fight upstage a flying knee knockout, but Michael Page (12-0) managed to do just that with his second round finish of Evangelista “Cyborg” (21-19) on Satuday night in London. The ending came at 4:31 of the second frame, when Cyborg shot for a takedown but was caught in the head with a knee that sent him sprawling to the mat.

 

After that, “Venom” continued to do what he does best – entertain.

Click here to watch the post-fight celebration everyone is talking about.

Francis Carmont Submits Opponent in Opening Round

In light heavyweight action, Francis Carmont (25-11) defeated Lukasz Klinger (7-3) via submission to bounce back from his defeat at the hands of Phil Davis. The end came at 3:54 of the opening frame, when Georges St. Pierre’s training partner used the D’Arce choke to make his opponent tap out.

James Gallagher is 19-Years-Old & is a “Strabanimal”

 

In the opening contest of “Bellator 158: London” James Gallagher (4-0) kept his undefeated record intact, cruising to a unanimous decision victory against Mike Cutting (6-6). “The Strabanimal” did all he could to have an action-packed Bellator MMA debut, but Cutting – who missed weight on Friday – relentlessly circled the cage, avoiding as much toe-to-toe combat as possible. In the end, it didn’t matter, as the 19-year-old cruised to a unanimous 30-27 victory.

Preliminary Card Results: 

James Mulheron (9-1) defeated Neil Grove (12-8-1) via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-26)

Michael Shipman (9-1) defeated Dom Clark (7-10) via submission (Anaconda Choke) R1

Pietro Menga (13-0) defeated Spencer Hewitt (12-11) via knockout (punch) at :41 of R1

Luiz Tosta (8-4-1) and Dean Garnett (7-0-1) fought to majority draw

Jason Radcliffe (9-2) defeated Jack Mason (29-16-1) via knockout (knee) at :14 of R1

Manuel Garcia (28-19) defeated Alex Reid (11-10-1) via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)

Danny Mitchell (18-7) defeated C.J. Meeks (5-2) via submission (twister) 4:25 of R1

Nathanial Wood (9-3) defeated Chase Morton (6-3) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:59 of R3

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

INJURY TO LINTON VASSELL CAUSES MAIN CARD SHIFT, LUKASZ KLINGER NOW FACES FRANCIS CARMONT ON JULY 16

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NEIL GROVE STEPS UP ON SHORT NOTICE TO FIGHT JAMES MULHERON

 

LONDON — (July 5, 2016) – An injury to Linton Vassell (16-5, 1 NC) has derailed “The Swarm’s” summer plans of competing in front of his fellow Englishmen against Francis Carmont (24-11) during the main card of “Bellator 158: London,” which will take place onJuly 16 inside one of the world’s most popular venues, The O2 in London, England. Instead, Carmont will now fight Lukasz Klinger (7-2) at 205-pounds.

 

One of the card’s featured preliminary fights has also changed, with the news that the always-exciting James Mulheron (8-1) will now enter the cage to fight London native Neil Grove(12-7).

 

In addition to these newly announced bouts, fans will also have the pleasure of watching the always-entertaining British sensation Paul Daley (38-13-2), as he prepares to put on a show for his hometown fans against former welterweight world champion and knockout specialist,Douglas Lima (26-6). Michael “Venom” Page (10-0) aims to continue his raging pace and remain unbeaten when he challenges himself against MMA veteran “Cyborg” Santos (21-17). Rounding out the televised action, Matt Mitrione (10-5) will return after his emphatic win last month to face “Britain’s Strongest Man” Oli Thompson (17-8) in a heavyweight beater, andJames Gallagher (3-0) takes on Mike Cutting (6-5).

 

In the United Kingdom, “Bellator 158: London” will be broadcast on SPIKE UK from 9 – 10 p.m. BST and Channel 5 from 10 p.m. – midnight BST. Meanwhile in America, the card will air live and free on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

 

Tickets start at only £40.00 and are on sale now at TheO2.co.uk or The O2 Box Office.

 

Hailing from Paris, France, the 34-year-old Carmont will be making his first appearance of 2016 and fourth under the Bellator MMA umbrella. Carmont had strung together a couple wins before his most recent appearance at “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1.” After winning his first bout of the evening, Carmont replaced an injured Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal on just a few minutes’ notice, to face a formidable Phil Davis in the tournament final, where he was defeated. Now, “Limitless” looks to upset Klinger during the main card of “Bellator 158: London.”

 

A native of Przemysl, Poland, Klinger has been competing professionally since 2013 and taken fights almost exclusively in the United Kingdom. The 32-year-old went nearly three years without suffering his first loss as a pro, amassing finishes in all seven of his victories. “Hitman” has laced up the gloves once already in 2016, and now looks to impress in his Bellator MMA debut when he faces Carmont on July 16 at The O2 in London.

 

“Bellator 158: London” Fight Card

 

Bellator MMA Welterweight Feature Bout: Douglas Lima (26-6) vs. Paul Daley (38-13-2)

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Feature Bout: Matt Mitrione (10-5) vs. Oli Thompson (17-8)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Feature Bout: Michael Page (10-0) vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (21-17)

Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Feature Bout: Francis Carmont (24-11) vs. Lukasz Klinger (7-2)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Feature Bout: James Gallagher (3-0) vs. Mike Cutting (6-5)

 

Preliminary Card:

 

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: James Mulheron (8-1) vs. Neil Grove (12-7)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Michael Shipman (8-1) vs. Lee Chadwick (21-12-1)

Bellator MMA Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Pietro Menga (12-0) vs. Spencer Hewitt (12-10)

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Luiz Tosta (9-2) vs. Dean Garnett (7-0)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Jason Radcliffe (8-2) vs. Jack Mason (29-15)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Chase Morton (6-2) vs. Nathaniel Wood (8-3)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Alex Reid (11-9-1) vs. Manuel Garcia (27-19)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: C.J. Meeks (4-1) vs. Danny Mitchell (17-7-1)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

‘BELLATOR 158: LONDON’ NOW FEATURES TWO OF THE GAME’S TOP HEAVYWEIGHT SLUGGERS WITH THE ADDITION OF MATT MITRIONE-OLI THOMPSON

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B158_1920x1080_mitrione_thompson

 

 

LONDON — (July 1, 2016) – Fresh off his emphatic knockout victory over Carl Seumanutafa at “Bellator: Dynamite 2,” former NFL player Matt Mitrione (10-5) has cleared medical testing and will now face “Britain’s Strongest Man” winner Oli Thompson(17-8) during the main card of “Bellator 158: London,” which will take place on July 16 inside one of the world’s most popular venues, The O2 in London, England.

 

In addition, fans will also have the pleasure of watching the always-entertaining British sensation Paul Daley (38-13-2), as he prepares to put on a show for his hometown fans against Brazilian knockout specialist Douglas Lima (26-6). Michael “Venom” Page (10-0) aims to continue his raging pace and remain unbeaten when he challenges himself against MMA veteran “Cyborg” Santos (21-17), and Linton Vassell (16-5), who returns to action against Francis Carmont (24-11).

 

In the United Kingdom, “Bellator 158: London” will be broadcast on SPIKE UK from 9 – 10 p.m. BST and Channel 5 from 10 p.m. – midnight BST. Meanwhile in America, the card will air live and free on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

 

Tickets start at only £40.00 and are on sale now at TheO2.co.uk or The O2 Box Office.

 

The 37-year-old Mitrione will enter the Bellator cage for the second time under a month, after knocking out Seumanutafa (10-6) in his promotional debut on June 24, in a journey that was brilliantly documented by Chuck Mindenhall.  A native of Indianapolis, “Meathead” joined the Bellator MMA team as one of the highest profile free agent acquisitions ever, carrying with him a talented athletic background that includes stints in the NFL with the New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings. Mitrione is a 14-time UFC veteran that is known for ending fights early and violently, with nine of his ten victories coming by way of knockout and six of them ending in the first round.

 

A resident of East Sussex, England, Thompson will be making his Bellator MMA debut after 25 career fights amongst the heavyweight division’s elite. “The Spartan,” who solidified himself as “Britain’s Strongest Man” in 2006, is looking to build off an impressive 2015 campaign, in which he emerged victorious in all five of his bouts, including two first round knockouts. Since making his professional debut in 2009, Thompson has fought under the direction of multiple regional promotions, and the UFC. At 36 years of age, he will undoubtedly make the most important appearance of his career when he takes center stage in front of thousands of hometown fans in the main event of “Bellator: London” on July 16.

 

“Bellator 158: London” Fight Card

 

Bellator MMA Welterweight Feature Bout: Douglas Lima (26-6) vs. Paul Daley (38-13-2)

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Feature Bout: Matt Mitrione (9-5) vs. Oli Thompson (17-8)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Feature Bout: Michael Page (10-0) vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (21-17)

Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Feature Bout: Linton Vassell (16-5) vs. Francis Carmont (24-11)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Feature Bout: James Gallagher (3-0) vs. Mike Cutting (6-5)

 

Preliminary Card:

 

Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Michael Shipman (8-1) vs. Lee Chadwick (21-12-1)

Bellator MMA Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Pietro Menga (12-0) vs. Spencer Hewitt (12-10)

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Luiz Tosta (9-2) vs. Dean Garnett (7-0)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Jason Radcliffe (8-2) vs. Jack Mason (29-15)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Chase Morton (6-2) vs. Nathaniel Wood (8-3)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Alex Reid (11-9-1) vs. Manuel Garcia (27-19)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: C.J. Meeks (4-1) vs. Danny Mitchell (17-7-1)

 

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

JAMES GALLAGHER-MIKE CUTTING SET TO FACE OFF IN FEATHERWEIGHT MAIN CARD BOUT AT ‘BELLATOR: LONDON’ ON JULY 16

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LONDON — (June 20, 2016) – A featherweight matchup pitting top Irish MMA prospect James Gallagher (3-0) against Mike Cutting (6-5) has been added to the main card of “Bellator 158: London,” which emanates from the world’s most popular entertainment venue, The O2 in London, England, on July 16.

 

The fight adds to a main card that features a welterweight fight between Douglas Lima (26-6) and British superstar Paul Daley (38-13-2). In addition, British Phenom Michael “Venom” Page (10-0) will look to remain unbeaten in a welterweight slugfest when he takes on MMA veteran “Cyborg” Santos (21-17) and a light heavyweight bout pitting Linton Vassell (16-5) against Francis Carmont(24-11) round up the main card of what amounts to a stacked Bellator MMA international event.

 

In the United Kingdom, “Bellator 158: London” will be broadcast on SPIKE UK from 9 – 10 p.m. BST and Channel 5 from 10 p.m. – midnight BST. Meanwhile in America, the card will air live and free on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

 

Tickets start at only £40.00 and are on sale now at TheO2.co.uk or The O2 Box Office. Additional bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

July 16 marks the Bellator MMA debut of Gallagher, a 19-year-old featherweight prospect, who recently joined the promotion in April. A native of Northern Ireland, the undefeated Gallagher is a teammate of Conor McGregor and has received consistent praise from many top athletes in his highly acclaimed gym of SBG Ireland. Gallagher has begun his professional career with three consecutive victories, all of which have concluded by way of submission in the opening frame. He will look to build on his budding young career when he challenges “Gip” next month at The O2 in London.

 

A native of Hampshire, England, Cutting will have a unique opportunity to put on a show in front of his fellow countrymen while also making his Bellator MMA debut on July 16. “Gip” began his career under the direction of a local promotion in 2010, emerging victorious with a first round rear-naked choke submission over Mike Taylor. A submission specialist, Cutting has since gone on to collect six professional wins, all of which have come by way of submission and three have ended in the opening frame. The British featherweight has his eyes set on putting an end to his opponent’s unblemished mark when the two square off at this highly anticipated event at The O2 this summer.

 

Updated “Bellator 158: London” Fight Card

 

Bellator MMA Welterweight Bout: Douglas Lima (26-6) vs. Paul Daley (38-13-2)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Bout: Michael Page (10-0) vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (21-17)

Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Bout: Linton Vassell (16-5) vs. Francis Carmont (24-11)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Bout: James Gallagher (3-0) vs. Mike Cutting (6-5)

 

Preliminary Card:

 

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Bout: Mark Godbeer (11-2) vs. James Mulheron (8-1)

Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: Michael Shipman (8-1) vs. Lee Chadwick (21-12-1)

Bellator MMA Prelim Flyweight Bout: Pietro Menga (12-0) vs. Spencer Hewitt (12-10)

Bellator MMA Prelim Bantamweight Bout: Luiz Tosta (9-2) vs. Dean Garnett (7-0)

Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: Jason Radcliffe (8-2) vs. Jack Mason (29-15)

Bellator MMA Prelim Featherweight Bout: Chase Morton (6-2) vs. Nathaniel Wood (8-3)

Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: Alex Reid (11-9-1) vs. Manuel Garcia (27-19)

Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: C.J. Meeks (4-1) vs. Danny Mitchell (17-7-1)

 

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

Updates to ‘Bellator 158: London’ Event

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LONDON (June 9, 2016) – Arguably England’s two top welterweights, Paul “Semtex” Daley(38-13-2) and Michael “Venom” Page (10-0) have each been assigned new opponents for the upcoming “Bellator 158: London” event. Former welterweight world champion Douglas Lima (26-6) has agreed to fight Daley after an undisclosed injury forced Josh Koscheck to withdraw from the highly anticipated matchup. In addition, gritty Brazilian veteran Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (21-17) will step in for Fernando Gonzalez to fight undefeated British superstar Page.

 

 

The main card also features a light heavyweight contest between local hotshot Linton “The Swarm” Vassell (16-5) and Francis “Limitless” Carmont (24-11) as well as a heavyweight slugfest pitting Mark Godbeer (11-2) against James Mulheron (8-1) in a British brawl that you do not want to miss.

 

We will have to wait a little longer for the highly anticipated faceoff between Daley and Koscheck. The 33-year-old now directs his attention to “The Phenom” as he looks to add to his five fight winning streak. A native of Nottingham, England, “Semtex” has recorded wins in nine of his last ten fights, with eight of those victories ending in a knockout. A four fight veteran of Bellator MMA, Daley has put his stamp on the welterweight division, posting a 4-0 record with three knockouts, including his most recent first round finish of top contender Andy Uhrich in the main event of “Bellator 148: Daley vs. Uhrich.”

 

After originally being slated for the co-main event of “Bellator 156: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” onJune 17, Lima has been given the opportunity to take his talents overseas and challenge Daley in a welterweight thriller. In his first 10 appearances under the Bellator MMA fray, the 28-year-old Brazilian has collected eight wins, seven of which have come by way of knockout. A former champion of Bellator’s stacked 170-pound division; Lima has continuously proven his worth with highlight reel victories over former Bellator MMA veterans the likes of Rick Hawn, Ben Saunders (twice) and Bryan Baker. With past winning streaks of nine, six, and five, Lima’s most recent string of victories consisted of five consecutive knockouts over the span of three years. “The Phenom” will look to begin another streak of success when he challenges “Semtex” Daley on his home turf on July 16.

 

Having made his professional debut in 1997, “Cyborg” Santos is undoubtedly one of the most experienced MMA athletes in the game today. The 38-year-old Brazilian veteran has amounted 21 victories over his illustrious career, highlighted by his 12 knockouts, 10 of which came in the first round. In his Bellator MMA debut, “Cyborg” stunned an electric Connecticut crowd when he delivered a first round win over Brennan Ward via heel hook submission at“Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson.” Before signing a multi-fight contract with Bellator MMA this year, Santos also made four appearances under the Strikeforce banner from 2009 to 2011. “Cyborg” will have to prepare for one of the most feared fighters in the sport of MMA, when he meets the undefeated “MVP” in his home country on July 16.

 

With an unblemished record of 10-0, “MVP” remains one of the brightest young stars in the world of MMA. Page received a new opponent, with the news that “Cyborg” Santos would replace Fernando Gonzalez in one of the evening’s welterweight feature fights. The 29-year-old London native has a knack for finishing his challengers in the early stages of the bout, collecting nine first round victories with only one fight reaching the judges’ scorecards. “Venom” thoroughly impressed in his 2016 debut, when he forced budding star Jeremie Holloway into an Achilles lock submission just 2:15 into the first round in their clash at“Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson.” It will be more of the same for the knockout specialist Page, as he will enter the cage on July 16 with the full intention of adding to his impressive tally of first round finishes.

 

“Bellator 158: London” will be broadcast free on SPIKE UK and Channel 5 in the United Kingdom, while in America the card will air FREE on SPIKE. Exact broadcast details for the event will be revealed in the near future. Tickets are on sale now and start at only £40.00. They are available at TheO2.co.uk or The O2 Box Office.

 

Updated “Bellator 158: London” Fight Card

 

Bellator MMA Welterweight Bout: Douglas Lima (26-6) vs. Paul Daley (38-13-2)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Bout: Michael Page (10-0) vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (21-17)

Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Bout: Linton Vassell (16-5) vs. Francis Carmont (24-11)

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Bout: Mark Godbeer (11-2) vs. James Mulheron (8-1)

 

Preliminary Card:

 

Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: Michael Shipman (8-1) vs. Lee Chadwick (21-12-1)

Bellator MMA Prelim Flyweight Bout: Pietro Menga (12-0) vs. Spencer Hewitt (12-10)

Bellator MMA Prelim Bantamweight Bout: Luiz Tosta (9-2) vs. Dean Garnett (7-0)

Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: Jason Radcliffe (8-2) vs. Jack Mason (29-15)

Bellator MMA Prelim Featherweight Bout: Chase Morton (6-2) vs. Nathaniel Wood (8-3)

Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: Alex Reid (11-9-1) vs. TBD

Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: C.J. Meeks (4-1) vs. Danny Mitchell (17-7-1)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

CIVIL WAR IN THE UK AS NORTH VERSUS SOUTH IN A HEAVYWEIGHT CLASH BETWEEN MARK GODBEER & JAMES MULHERON AT ‘BELLATOR: LONDON’ AT THE O2 ARENA ON JULY 16!

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MULTIPLE UNDERCARD BOUTS ANNOUNCED & SET TO SHOW OFF SOME OF UK’S TOP UP-AND-COMERS

 

TICKTES ON SALE NOW AT THEO2.CO.UK

LONDON (May 17, 2016) – A heavyweight match-up between Mark ‘The hand of’ Godbeer (11-2) and James Mulheron (8-1) will kick off the televised portion of the highly anticipated “Bellator: London” card when the promotion arrives at the O2 Arena in London on July 16.  The collision course that the two big men are on will divide the British fans in attendance as the three-round attraction sees Northern UK go head to head with Southern UK, with both men looking for the big KO.

 

The newly-announced scrap joins a star-studded event that features Kimbo Slice (6-2) taking on James Thompson (20-16) and Josh Koscheck (17-10) against Paul “Semtex” Daley (38-13-2). Additional matchups include a light heavyweight pairing between Linton “The Swarm” Vassell (16-5) and Francis “Limitless” Carmont (24-11) and British welterweight highlight reel Michael “Venom” Page (9-0) versus Fernando Gonzalez (25-13).

 

Several preliminary matchups have been revealed, including former Big Brother winner Alex Reid (10-9-1-1), who has been scheduled to fight against an opponent to be announced later.

 

After scoring a TKO victory this past Saturday, Godbeer comes into this fight hot on a three-fight winning streak. The exciting heavyweight is known to leave it all on the line, as evidenced by the fact that he has never let a fight go to the judge’s scorecards. For Godbeer it is a welcome second chance with the Bellator promotion. “I personally think Bellator is one of the leading organisations there is today; it’s a great honour to fight for them once again. Last time I fought off of the back of an 18 month lay-off due to a big injury and feel I wasn’t myself, so I’m glad to get another chance to show them the real me.”

 

Both Godbeer and Mulheron are hard-hitting heavyweights with great cardio and athleticism and share a common fight strategy: knock the other guy out. Mulheron won a regional title with the M4TC promotion, and will be competing in Bellator for the first time. “I don’t really go into fights with a game plan,” said Mulheron. “I go in with an open mind. I think every fighter needs to be able to adapt in fights but everyone who watches me knows I come to fight and this fight will be no different.”

 

In the United Kingdom, the event will be broadcast free on SPIKE UK and Channel 5, while in America the card will air FREE on SPIKE. Exact broadcast details for “Bellator 158: London” will be revealed in the near future. Tickets for the event are on sale now and start at only £40.00. They are available at TheO2.co.uk or The O2 Box Office.

 

Updated “Bellator 158: London” Fight Card

 

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Main Event: Kimbo Slice (6-2) vs. James Thompson (20-16)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Co-Main Event: Josh Koscheck (17-10) vs. Paul Daley (38-13-2)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Bout: Michael Page (9-0) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (25-13)

Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Bout: Linton Vassell (16-5) vs. Francis Carmont (24-11)

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Bout: Mark Godbeer (11-2) vs. James Mulheron (8-1)

 

Preliminary Card:

 

Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: Michael Shipman (8-1) vs. Chris Widmer (5-1)

Bellator MMA Prelim Flyweight Bout: Pietro Menga (12-0) vs. Spencer Hewitt (12-10)

Bellator MMA Prelim Bantamweight Bout: Luiz Tosta (9-2) vs. Dean Garnett (7-0)

Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: Jason Radcliffe (8-2) vs. Jack Mason (29-15)

Bellator MMA Prelim Featherweight Bout: Chase Morton (6-2) vs. Nathaniel Wood (8-3)

Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: Alex Reid (11-9-1) vs. TBD

Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: Bola Omoyele (8-4) vs. Lee Chadwick (21-12-1)

Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: C.J. Meeks (4-1) vs. Danny Mitchell (17-7-1)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

‘MVP’ LOOKING TO SQUASH BEEF WITH FERNANDO GONZALEZ AT THE O2 IN LONDON ON JULY 16

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LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT BETWEEN LINTON ‘THE SWARM’ VASSELL AND FRANCIS ‘LIMITLESS’ CARMONT ALSO OFFICIAL

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (April 22, 2016) – The recently announced international tentpole event, “Bellator 158: London,” now features two additional mouth-watering matchups during the event’s main card, with today’s addition of Michael “Venom” Page (10-0) versus Fernando Gonzalez (25-13) in a welterweight bout at The O2 in London. “MVP” is fresh off a first-round submission during the main card of “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson” tonight and now sets his sights on impressing in his home country.

In addition, the stacked main card now also features a light heavyweight pairing between Linton “The Swarm” Vassell (16-5) and Francis “Limitless” Carmont (24-11). The two new contests join an event that already features Kimbo Slice (6-2) taking on James Thompson (20-16) and Josh Koscheck (17-10) against Paul “Semtex” Daley (38-13-2). Additional contests will be announced shortly.

In the United Kingdom, the event will be broadcast free on SPIKE UK and Channel 5, while in America the card will air FREE on SPIKE. Exact broadcast details for “Bellator 158: London” will be revealed in the near future. Tickets for the event are on sale now and start at only ￡40.00. They are available at TheO2.co.uk or The O2 Box Office.

As was showcased tonight at “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson,” mixed martial arts fans and pundits alike would be hard-pressed to find a striker — or submission specialist — as dynamic as Page. Other than his win against Jeremie Holloway, look no further than his previous outings against Charlie Ontiveros, or his 65-second knockout of Rudy Bears for explosive examples. But, now “Venom” looks to strike against Gonzalez, who is no stranger to being the underdog when he enters the Bellator MMA fray. A proud son of London, England, the 29-year-old Page has only reached the judges’ scorecards once in his nine professional outings. “MVP” will enter the cage at The O2 in London with an unblemished record, hometown support and momentum, all on his side.

Gonzalez, a 32-year-old Menifee, Calif. is looking to build upon his split decision victory over Gilbert Smith at “Bellator 151: Warren vs. Caldwell” and add to his impressive five-fight winning streak. A veteran of the Scott Coker-founded Strikeforce promotion, as well as World Extreme Cagefighting, Gonzalez has been competing professionally since 2003 and was originally slated to fight “MVP” in March, but the fight fell through when the Englishman withdrew due to injury. Now, Gonzalez looks to solidify himself as the No. 1 contender to the crown at 170-pounds and prove that he truly is the stiffest test Page has faced in his 10-fight career.

Vassell is fresh off of a victory over Bellator’s Emanuel Newton in a bout that went the distance at the record-shattering event that was“Bellator 149: Shamrock vs. Gracie.” Vassell has now won 11 of his last 13 fights and will be chomping at the bit to get back in the cage in front of his hometown fans. Vassell joins Thompson, Daley and Page on a card that features a strong contingent of British talent as the card continues to grow.

Hailing from Paris, France, the 34-year-old Carmont will enter the cage for the first time in 2016 and fourth under the Bellator MMA umbrella. In his most recent appearance, at the tournament-style “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1,” Carmont replaced an injured Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, who was forced to drop out after suffering a rib injury earlier in the event. After winning his first bout of the evening, “Limitless” surrendered a loss to Phil Davis in the final round of the tournament-style contest. Now, “Limitless” looks to upset the hometown faithful during the main card of “Bellator 158: London.”

Updated “Bellator 158: London” Fight Card:

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Main Event: Kimbo Slice 6-2) vs. James Thompson (20-16)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Co-Main Event: Josh Koscheck (17-10) vs. Paul Daley (38-13-2)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Bout: Michael Page (10-0) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (25-13)

Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Bout: Linton Vassell (16-5) vs. Francis Carmont (24-11)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

BELLATOR MMA SET FOR ACTION AT O2 ARENA IN LONDON ON JULY 16 WITH KIMBO SLICE-JAMES THOMPSON, JOSH KOSCHECK-PAUL DALEY IN TOW

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MICHAEL ‘VENOM’ PAGE, LINTON ‘THE SWARM’ VASSELL ALSO SET TO COMPETE

 

 

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (April 18, 2016) – It was the most-watched fight in the history of mixed martial arts with 7.28 million viewers, and on Sunday night Bellator MMA President Scott Coker joined ESPN’s SportsCenter to officially announce that Kimbo Slice (6-2) and James Thompson (20-16) are going to run it back inside the world famous O2 Arena in London on July 16 during the main event of “Bellator 158: London.” The tentpole event also features another highly anticipated rematch in the co-main event — when a grudge match nearly six years in the making boils over as Josh Koscheck (17-10) takes on Paul “Semtex” Daley (38-13-2).

 

In the United Kingdom, the event will be broadcast free on SPIKE UK and Channel 5, while in America, the card will air free on SPIKE. Exact broadcast details for “Bellator 158: London” will be revealed in the near future.

 

Tickets for “Bellator 158: London,” go on sale this Friday, April 22, with a Bellator Nation presale running thisThursday, April 21. Tickets starting at £40.00 will be available at TheO2.co.uk or The O2 Box Office.

 

In addition, a pair of English natives will also be in action on July 16, when Michael “Venom” Page (9-0) and Linton “The Swarm” Vassell (16-5) face yet-to-be-announced opponents. London’s Page, also known as “MVP,” will be competing during the main card of “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson” this Friday, live and free on Spike at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT.

 

Fresh off his performance in the main event of “Bellator 149: Shamrock vs. Gracie,” the record-shattering card that generated 3.5 million viewers, Slice returns to action against the man he previously defeated back in 2008. It’s without question that Slice, a member of American Top Team in his home state of Florida, is one of the most must-see competitors in the sport of mixed martial arts, as it’s become increasingly clear fans can never truly expect what will happen when the brawler enters the Bellator cage.

 

“The Colossus” will likely have a sold-out O2 Arena strongly in his corner, being that he hails from Bristol, England and hasn’t fought on home turf since 2010. Thompson, 37, has been calling for a rematch with Slice since their infamous meeting nearly eight years ago and would like nothing more than to bounce back from a recent string of bad luck with a win against a name the likes of the former YouTube sensation. Thompson’s resume already features wins against Dan Severn, Don Frye and Bobby Lashley, amongst others.

 

In the card’s co-main event, Koscheck will make his promotional debut a little over a year after signing with Bellator MMA. Its pained the Fresno native to be out of action for so long, especially after being forced to withdraw from a headlining spot in his hometown against Matt Secor at “Bellator 148,” a card that “Semtex” went on to main event. It was there that the seeds for a rematch were cemented even further, as Daley trashed “Kos” in front of his partisan fans, pushing the 38-year-old to return.

 

While Daley may have the results as of late to upstage his foe, Koscheck owns a victory over the Brit in their first meeting, which Daley followed with an infamous punch after the bell that changed the trajectory of his career. Now, with nine wins in his last ten fights, Daley returns home to put an end to a moment in his profession that has cast a shadow over most of his success, while Koscheck looks to prove that their first meeting was no fluke.

 

These two momentous matchups are set to take place on July 16 at the legendary 20,000-seat O2 Arena, as Kimbo Slice-James Thompson II and Josh Koscheck-Paul Daley II emanate from the United Kingdom, and there’s no other place to watch the action unfold than FREE on Spike.

 

Updated “Bellator 158: London” Fight Card

 

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Main Event: Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson (6-2) vs. James Thompson (20-16)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Co-Main Event: Josh Koscheck (17-10) vs. Paul Daley (38-13-2)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Bout: Michael Page (9-0) vs. TBA

Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Bout: Linton Vassell (16-5) vs. TBA