ALL OF ITALY GOES WILD FOR THEIR HERO ALESSIO SAKARA AFTER KNOCKOUT VICTORY

Credit: Bellator MMA

TORINO, LTALIS. (Plaub Hlis Ntuj 15, 2016) – An electric, packed house was on hand Saturday night to bear witness to Bellator MMA’s inaugural international event, "Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Souza," at Italy’s largest indoor arena, The Pala Alpitour. The venue, which housed several events during the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, provided an incredible atmosphere for the historic card.

Nyob rau hauv lub ntsiab kev tshwm sim ntawm yav tsaus ntuj, Patricky "Pitbull" Freire (16-7) welcomed Kevin Souza (15-5) to Bellator MMA with a unanimous decision loss (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). The matchup between the two Brazillians was well contested, as Souza took the fight on short notice after replacing Derek Liaj tebbecause of injury only a week ago. “Pitbull” spent much of the bout trying to figure out his opponent’s unorthodox style, but in the third and final round, “Pitbull” was able to score a couple solid shots and a takedown to cement his position on the scorecards.

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?

Few fighters can inspire a nation the way that Rome’s Alessio Sakara (18-11) had his Italian countrymen rooting for him tonight. The support paid off, as “Legionarius” got the better of Brian Rogers (12-9) in a slugfest for the ages. Crisp, precise, power-punches connected with Rogers putting him on the canvas, forcing the TKO stoppage at 2:29 of round two and making Sakai’s Bellator debut one to remember.

DIVISION ON LOCK? MCKEE’S GOT THE KEY

One of MMA’s hottest prospects, A.J. McKee (4-0) defeated Milan’s Danilo Belluardo (5-2) in front of his home crowd on Friday. Although the audience was raucous in support for Belluardo, they cheered with great appreciation for McKee’s performance and sportsmanship following his victory. During his fight against J.T. Donaldson at "Bellator 147: Thomson vs. Villaseca," McKee was cut above the eye, the sight of his own blood seemed to cause the 20-year-old to hit the turbo button. Similarly tonight, McKee was on the wrong side of an accidental low blow and after a short resting period, “Mercenary” came out swinging with a torrid pace, ultimately connecting with a left kick to the ribs of Belluardo that sent him falling to the mat. The referee gave him a moment to defend himself but McKee rained down an efficient flurry of ground and pound, earning the TKO at 2:44 of the very first frame. Sending a message to Scott Coker and the heev deep Bellator featherweight division that he means business, McKee said in his post-fight interview: “If you ain’t got the belt, I ain’t got my eye on you.”

A STAR IS BORN IN ANASTASIA YANKOVA

Anastasia Yankova (3-0) quickly fought her way into a full mount against Anjela Pink (0-1) and applied a slick armbar submission to hand Pink a loss in her professional debut at 1:35 ntawm cov lus qhib puag ncig. The young Russian striker has had the Italian fans clamoring to see her in action all week long, and had them on their feet celebrating her first-round victory. Yankova has now finished all of her professional MMA fights via submission and after the bout made it clear that she will be in action sooner, es tsis tom qab, “I promise to come back soon and have my second fight in Bellator, Yankova said. “It is really great to be a part of Bellator, I feel really happy.”

HOMETOWN HEROES IMPRESS IN BELLATOR DEBUT

Two Italian competitors who regularly compete with Oktagon, Daniele Scatizzi (7-2) thiab Daniele Miceli (2-1) kicked things off at "Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Souza” with a fast paced featherweight scrap. Scatizzi was able to secure a dominant position on Miceli’s back, sinking his hooks in and raining down unanswered strikes, forcing referee “Big John” McCarthy to call a stop to the action at 3:20 of round one and declaring Rome’s Scatizzi victorious by TKO.

Complete Weigh-In Photos Here

TORINO, LTALIS. (Plaub Hlis Ntuj 15, 2016) – After Friday’s weigh-ins at the Turin Palace Hotel, all of the "Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Souza” competitors are set to enter the cage inside of Italy’s largest indoor arena, The Pala Alpitour. The event airs on SPIKE tag kis, Saturday, Plaub Hlis Ntuj 16 ntawm 10 p.m. THIAB/PT.

The mixed martial arts portion of Bellator MMA’s first event overseas will also include the promotional debut of Italian fan-favorite Alessio Sakara (17-11), uas ntsib Brian Rogers (12-8) in a light heavyweight matchup and one of MMA’s most promising young prospects, A.J. McKee (3-0), uas fights Danilo Belluardo (5-1) at 145-pounds.

Tsis tas li ntawd, Anastasia Yankova (2-0) will make her promotional debut against Anjela Pink in MMA flyweight action and Oktagon competitorsDaniele Miceli (2-0) thiab Daniele Scatizzi (6-2) will round out the MMA card with a featherweight showdown.

Main Card: (Live on SPIKE – 10 p.m. THIAB/PT)

Kevin Souza (70.3 kg / 155.2 lbs.) vs. Patricky Freire (70.5 kg / 155.2 lbs.)

Alessio Sakara (92.25 kg / 203.9 lbs.) vs. Brian Rogers (93.05 kg / 205.3 lbs.)

Danilo Belluardo (66.05 kg / 145.4 lbs.) vs. A.J. McKee (65.95 kg / 145.5 lbs.)

Anjela Pink (58.65 kg / 129.3 lbs.) vs. Anastasia Yankova (59.35 kg / 130 lbs.)

Daniele Miceli (76.10 kg / 167.5 lbs.) vs. Daniele Scatizzi (76.2 kg / 168.2 lbs.)

Raug Monica, XWS LI. (Plaub Hlis Ntuj 11, 2016) – Injuries to both Derek Liaj teb thiab John Teixeira have forced Bellator MMA to find replacements to compete against brothers Patricky "Pitbull" Freire (15-7) thiab Patricio "Pitbull" Freire (24-3) on Plaub Hlis Ntuj 16 thiab 22 feem.

Raws li ib tug tshwm sim, the Scott Coker-led promotion has put its newest free agent acquisition to work immediately, with the news that Kevin Souza (15-4) will compete against Patricky at 155-pounds, in the first fight of his freshly inked multi-fight contract during the main event of "Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Souza.”

Meanwhile, in the co-main event of "Bellator 153: Henderson vs. Koreshkov," Patricio will now fight the tenacious Henry Corrales (12-2), who agreed to face the former Bellator MMA Featherweight Champion on less than two weeks notice.

"Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Souza” will also include the promotional debut of Italian fan-favorite Alessio Sakara (17-11), uas ntsib Brian Rogers (12-8) in a light heavyweight matchup, while one of MMA’s most promising young prospects, A.J. McKee (3-0), fights Danilo Belluardo (5-1) at 145-pounds. Tsis tas li ntawd, Anastasia Yankova (2-0) will make her promotional debut against Anjela Pink in MMA flyweight action and Oktagon competitors Daniele Miceli (2-0) thiab Daniele Scatizzi (6-2) will round out the MMA card with a featherweight showdown.

"Bellator 153: Henderson vs. Koreshkov” is also brimming with must-see mixed martial arts action as well, with the promotional debut of Benson Henderson (23-5), who challenges Andrey Koreshkov (18-1) for the 170-pound strap, Brennan Ward (13-3) goes to battle tiv thaiv “Cyborg” Santos (20-16), Michael "lom" Nplooj ntawv (9-0) ntsej muag Jeremie Holloway (7-1), thiab Brent Primus (6-0) meets “Toninho Furia” (27-5).

"Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Souza” airs on SPIKE Saturday, Plaub Hlis Ntuj 16 ntawm 10 p.m. ET / PT, thaum lub sij hawm "Bellator 153: Henderson vs. Koreshkov” airs at a special start time of 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. I, which is immediately followed by the debut of "Bellator kickboxing: Torino " ntawm 11:00 p.m. ET / PT.

Fresh off an emphatic knockout of Ryan Couture ntawm "Bellator 148: Daley vs. Uhrich” to kickoff 2016, Patricky “Pitbull” will look to extend his current winning streak when he takes on the debuting Kevin Souza.

A member of the Blackzilians, the 31-year-old has been victorious in 10 ntawm nws lub xeem 11 fights as a professional and put together an impressive 3-1 run with the UFC. The multi-time, post-fight bonus award winner has a knack for the spectacular, nrog 10 finishes coming in the opening round and 13 tawm ntawm 15 victories ending before reaching the judges’ scorecards. The Salvador native has competed exclusively at 145-pounds, but due to the fight being on short notice, Souza will step up and compete against “Pitbull” ntawm khaub-ncaws nyias.

Henry Corrales continues his run of never turning down a fight in Bellator MMA, after agreeing to fight Patricio “Pitbull.” The fight will be Corrales’ third in the Viacom-owned promotion, after bouts against current featherweight titlist Daniel Straus and newly re-signed contender Emanuel Sanchez. A former King of the Cage bantamweight champion, “OK” has finished 10 ntawm nws 12 wins as a pro.

Sau kom tiav "Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Souza” Main Card:

Bellator MMA Lightweight Main Event: Patricky "Pitbull" Freire (15-7) vs. Edimilson “Kevin” Souza (15-4)

Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Alessio Sakara (17-11) vs. Brian Rogers (12-8)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Feature Bout: A.J. McKee (3-0) vs. Danilo Belluardo (5-1)

Bellator MMA Flyweight Feature Bout: Anastasia Yankova (2-0) vs. Anjela Pink (Debut)

Bellator MMA Featherweight feature bout: Daniele Miceli (2-0) vs. Daniele Scatizzi (6-2)

Sau kom tiav "Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson "Card Main:

Bellator MMA Welterweight ntiaj teb Title Bout: Andrey Koreshkov (18-1) vs. Benson Henderson (23-5)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Co-Main kev tshwm sim: Patricio "Pitbull" Freire (24-3) vs. Henry Corrales (12-2)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Feature Bout: Brennan Ward (13-3) vs. Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos (20-16)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Feature Bout: Michael Page (9-0) vs. Jeremie Holloway (7-1)

Bellator MMA Hnav Feature Bout: Brent Primus (6-0) vs. Gleristone "Toninho Furia" Santos (27-5)

Hais txog Bellator MMA:

Bellator MMA yog ib tug uas Mixed Martial Arts lub koom haum featuring ntau ntawm qhov zoo tshaj plaws neeg tua hluav taws nyob rau hauv lub ntiaj teb no. Nyob rau hauv cov kev coj ntawm qub tub rog sib ntaus pab txhawb Scott Coker, Bellator yog muaj rau ze li ntawm 500 lab tsev thoob ntiaj teb nyob rau hauv dhau 140 lub teb chaws. Nyob rau hauv lub tebchaws United States, Bellator yuav pom nyob rau hauv ntsia hlau loj, lub MMA TV thawj coj. Bellator MMA yog dub ntawm ib tug thawj pab neeg uas muaj xws li kev lag luam sab saum toj cov tub txawg nyob rau hauv TV lawm, nyob kev tshwm sim orchestration, fighter txoj kev loj hlob / kev sib raug zoo, venue ceev, sponsorship creation / kev loj hlob, thoob ntiaj teb daim ntawv tso cai, marketing, advertising, tshaj tawm thiab commission kev sib raug zoo. Bellator yog raws li nyob rau hauv Santa Monica, California thiab uas los ntawm kev lom zem loj heev Viacom, lub tsev mus rau lub ntiaj teb premier lom zem hom uas txuas nrog audiences los ntawm yuam cov ntsiab lus nyob rau hauv TV, tsab ntawv tsa suab duab, hauv internet thiab mobile platforms.

Hais txog ntsia hlau loj:

Ntsia hlau loj yog muaj nyob rau hauv 98.7 lab tsev thiab yog ib tug faib ntawm Viacom Media tes hauj lwm. Ib tug unit ntawm Viacom (Nasdaq: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media tes hauj lwm yog ib tug ntawm lub ntiaj teb uas creators ntawm programming thiab cov ntsiab lus nyob rau tag nrho tawm platforms. Spike’s internet address is spike.com thiab mus txog-rau-tus-feeb thiab archival xovxwm ntaub ntawv thiab duab, mus saib cov ntsia hlau loj tus xovxwm site ntawm spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @SpikeTVPR for the latest in breaking news updates, qab-lub-scenes cov ntaub ntawv thiab cov duab.

About Oktagon:

Carlo Di Blasi created Oktagon in 1996. At its beginning the show was dedicated to free fight, the name that was given initially to MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). Other disciplines such as Kickboxing, Muay Thai and Savate were gradually added from the early 2000’s onwards. During the last 20 years Oktagon has reached a huge popularity, both in Italy and abroad, creating many superstars in the process including Bellator welterweight Paul Daley as well as The Petrosyan brothers (Giorgio thiab Armen), Robin Van Roosmalen, Valentijn Overeem, Rico Verhoeven thiab Artem Levin.