Tag Archives: Leandro Higo

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

FOLLOWING INJURY TO DARRION CALDWELL, LEANDRO HIGO RECEIVES TITLE SHOT AGAINST EDUARDO DANTAS AT BELLATOR 177 IN BUDAPEST ON FRIDAY, APRIL 14

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LOS ANGELES — (March 14, 2017) – Following an undisclosed injury to Darrion Caldwell, budding superstar Leandro “Pitbull” Higo (17-2) will now challenge current champion Eduardo “Dudu” Dantas (19-4) in a bantamweight world title fight at Bellator 177: Dantas vs. Higoinside the Budapest Sports Arena on April 14.

In addition, John “Macapa”(21-1-2) will face Daniel Weichel (38-9) in a featherweight contest and Lena Ovchynnikova (11-4) meets Helen Harper (4-1) at 125-pounds. Rounding out the Spike-televised MMA action will be a featherweight matchup pitting Hungarian-born Adam “The Kid” Borics (5-0) against Anthony “Pretty Boy” Taylor(1-2).

 

Bellator 177: Dantas vs. Higowill be broadcast on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while Bellator Kickboxing 6 will air immediately following the MMA portion of the event, beginning at 11pm ET/10pm CT.

 

Complete Bellator 177: Dantas vs. Higo Main Card:

Bantamweight World Title Bout: Eduardo Dantas (19-4) vs. Leandro Higo (17-2)

Featherweight Feature Bout: Daniel Weichel (38-9) vs. John “Macapa”Teixeira (21-1-2)

Flyweight Feature Bout: Lena Ovchynnikova (11-4) vs. Helen Harper (4-1)

Featherweight Feature Bout: Anthony Taylor (1-2) vs. Adam Borics (5-0)

Preliminary Card:

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Brian Moore (9-5) vs. Ludovit Klein (6-0)

Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Mate Kertesz (3-0) vs. Adam Polgar (10-8)

mixed martial arts, MMA, RFA

RFA RETURNS TO SOUTH DAKOTA IN APRIL WITH CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLEHEADER

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MAIN EVENT:  RAFAEL VIANA vs. DEVIN CLARK  LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE
CO-MAIN EVENT:
 LEANDRO HIGO vs.

JOEY MIOLLA
BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE
FEATURE FIGHT:
JORDON LARSON vs. BRIAN CAMOZZI
WELTERWEIGHT WAR
FRIDAY, APRIL 15TH, 2016 LIVE ON AXS TV
LIVE at the SANFORD PENTAGON in SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA
 
Tickets on Sale Now at Ticketmaster.com
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) president Ed Soares announced today that the RFA will be returning to South Dakota in April and is set to crown its first light-heavyweight champion and a new bantamweight champion. In the main event, Devin “Brown Bear” Clark will fight for a world title in his hometown against top Brazilian prospect Rafael “Gaucho” Viana. In the co-main event, Joey “The Beast” Miolla and Leandro “Pitbull” Higo will battle for the vacant bantamweight crown.
RFA 37 – Viana vs. Clark takes place Friday, April 15th at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT.
“I am excited to announce that the RFA will be bringing two world title fights to South Dakota in April,” stated Soares. “Rafael Viana and Devin Clark are undefeated and two of the top 205-pound prospects in the world. They will compete for the inaugural RFA light-heavyweight title in the main event of RFA 37. In the co-headliner, Joey Miolla and Leandro Higo will both return to the Sanford Pentagon to fight for the vacant RFA bantamweight title.”
Tickets for RFA 37 – Viana vs Clark are available for purchase through Ticketmaster.com. You can also support your favorite fighter buy purchasing your tickets through CageTix.com/RFA.
Clark (5-0) is the most successful 205-pound fighter in RFA history and is looking to become the promotion’s first light-heavyweight champion in front of his hometown crowd. Clark is an NJCAA wrestling champion and a Golden Gloves boxing champion that has quickly seen his name rise to the top of several MMA light-heavyweight prospect rankings.  The Lincoln High School graduate has earned over half of his career wins inside the RFA Octagon and will be looking for the biggest win of his career in the main event of RFA 37.
“It’s an honor to fight for the inaugural RFA light-heavyweight title in front of my hometown crowd in Sioux Falls,” stated Clark. “Becoming the first RFA light-heavyweight champion will mean even more to me since I get to do it against such a talented and tough opponent.”
Viana (6-0) is the older brother of Bellator star Guilherme Viana and he also trains alongside UFC star Glover Teixeira. He is a BJJ black belt and the reigning Shooto Brasil light-heavyweight champion. Viana, like Clark, has proven to be clinical with his finishing ability and is eager to fight outside of his native Brazil for the first time. His international debut will also be his first fight televised worldwide and Viana is looking to take full advantage of it.
“I am very honored to be given this opportunity,” stated Viana. “This will be my first international fight and it is a great honor to fight for the inaugural RFA light-heavyweight title. I will put on a great show for the fans at RFA 37.”
The co-main event of RFA 37 will culminate in crowning the third bantamweight champion in RFA history. The first two champions, Pedro Munhoz and Luke Sanders, went 4-0 in the RFA before signing with the UFC. The vacant RFA bantamweight title will be up for grabs between two men who made their RFA debut on the same card last summer in back-to-back bouts. Joey Miolla (8-1) and Leandro Higo (15-2) represented their home countries on the historic “USA vs. BRAZIL” event that took place last August at RFA 29. Both men were victorious that night and showed why they are two of the most highly-regarded 135-pound prospects in the sport. On Friday, April 15th, Miolla and Higo will face off inside the same building that they made their RFA debut last summer, but this time the winner will be walking away with RFA gold strapped around their waist.
RFA 37 will also feature one of South Dakota’s favorite sons as Jordon Larson (6-2) is set to return in the welterweight feature fight. Larson will be making his fourth appearance for the RFA in his hometown of Sioux Falls against Colorado native Brian Camozzi (5-2). Larson, who has been the recipient of three of the loudest ovations in RFA history, will once again make the walk to the RFA Octagon in front of his adoring hometown fans. He will face Camozzi, who is the younger brother of UFC star Chris Camozzi. The younger Camozzi brother made a huge statement in his RFA debut in January. He showcased his dynamic skill set by becoming the first person to finish Tyler Milner and he did it in less than one round.
RFA 37 – Viana vs Clark takes place Friday, April 15th at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Additional bouts on the main card and preliminary card of RFA 37 will be announced soon. This will be the promotion’s fourth event to take place in “The Mount Rushmore State” of South Dakota and it will be the fourth RFA event of 2016. The entire main card of RFA 37 will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT thisFriday, April 15th.
Please visit RFAfighting.com for bout updates and information. RFA is also on Facebook at Facebook.com/RFAfighting, Instagram at @RFAfighting, and Twitter at @RFAfighting.
mixed martial arts, RFA

RFA RETURNS TO THE LAND OF 10,000 LAKES WITH BLUMER vs HIGO

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                                         MAIN EVENT:
MELVIN “CAREER KILLER” BLUMER 
vs 
LEANDRO “PITBULL” HIGO
BANTAMWEIGHT SHOWDOWN
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH LIVE ON AXS TV
LIVE from  Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
 
Tickets on Sale Now at Ticketmaster.com 
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) president Ed Soares announced today that the promotion will return to Minnesota with RFA 32 – Blumer vs. Higo in November. The main event will feature a bantamweight showdown between two of the promotion’s most exciting prospects as Minnesota’s own Melvin “Career Killer” Blumer battles Brazilian dynamo Leandro “Pitbull” Higo. RFA 32 – Blumer vs. Higo will take place Friday, November 6th inside the Mystic Showroom in Prior Lake, Minnesota. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
“Melvin Blumer and Leandro Higo are both coming off huge wins over former RFA title challengers”, stated Soares. “I can’t wait to see what happens when these two step inside the RFA octagon together at RFA 32 in Prior Lake, Minnesota.”
Tickets for RFA 32 – Blumer vs. Higo are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com or the Mystic Box Office at952-445-9000  You can also support your favorite fighter by purchasing your tickets through CageTix.com/RFA.
Blumer (12-2) returns to the the building where he recorded a front-runner for “KO of the Year” this past March at RFA 24. He won his RFA debut with a scintillating back-hand KO over the iron-chinned MMA pioneer Jeff Curran. The KO came with just two seconds left in the first round in a manner that was just as shocking as it was telling. The significance of Blumer’s win was that it showed the world what the Upper Midwest has known for years… Melvin Blumer is a special talent that can finish a fight anywhere at any moment. Blumer is now ready to take the next step in his career by facing one of Brazil’s elite.
“I am more than happy to be in the main event for RFA where I can put the finishing touches on a stacked RFA 32 card,” stated Blumer. “I was at Leandro Higo’s last fight where he finished a guy that just went five rounds with the champ. I definitely don’t see this fight going the distance, but I do look forward to getting my hand raised against another tough and worthy opponent.”
Higo (14-2) made a statement in his RFA debut last month at RFA 29, that was similar to the significance of Blumer’s RFA debut. Just like Blumer, he finished an opponent who had just gone 5-rounds with an undefeated RFA champion in their most recent outing. Higo was able to submit Terrion Ware via Rear Naked Choke with just two seconds remaining in their fight. The win, also like Blumer, proved what Higo’s local fans in Brazil have been saying for years… Leandro Higo is one of the top up-and-coming fighters in MMA. Higo is now eager to face Blumer in a battle of two of MMA’s most exciting and promising bantamweight prospects.
“To headline RFA 32, an international show, is a great feeling,” Higo exclaimed. “I’m very happy to be a part of RFA and my main goal is to become the champion and no one will stop me from achieving that. After my last fight I met Melvin and his brother. I thought they were from another weight class because they’re too big, too strong. I even joked with Pedro Falcao like “Look at that Pedrinho, the size of the guys we’ll have to take down (laughs)”.
“We had a good interaction, although we don’t speak the same language, we had a good time. He seems to be a pretty cool guy, I like to think I’m one too myself, so it wasn’t difficult. I’m sure we’ll have a great duel, he’s coming from a big win, I’m coming from a big win, and I believe the winner of this fight will fight for the belt. Then we’ll have a new RFA champion and his name will be Leandro Higo.”
Also scheduled to fight at RFA 32 in the RFA’s return to Minnesota are three of the state’s biggest MMA stars. Former RFA welterweight champion Benjamin Smith (14-3), the identical twin brother of Melvin Blumer and the other half of the famed “Bash Brothers” Marvin Blumer (11-5), and the state’s top ranked lightweight Chad Curry (7-0) who has finished all seven of his fights. Smith, Blumer, and Curry are all slated to compete on the main card of RFA 32.
While Smith’s opponent will be announced soon, Blumer and Curry know who they will face at RFA 32. Blumer’s third fight in the RFA will come against fellow RFA vet Bill Kamery (13-4). Kamery has submitted his last three opponents and looks to continue that streak in his return to the RFA. Meanwhile, Curry will make his RFA debut against Landon Vannata (6-0) in a battle of undefeated lightweight prospects. Vannata was originally set to make his promotional debut at RFA 28 last month, but his opponent pulled out of the fight on the day of weigh-in. Vannata is now primed, ready, and eager to finally step foot in the RFA octagon.
The full RFA 32 fight card and further information regarding this event will be announced soon. RFA 32 will be the promotion’s third event to take place in the state of Minnesota. The entire main card of RFA 32 will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on Friday, November 6th.
Please visit RFAfighting.com for bout updates and information. RFA is also on Facebook at Facebook.com/RFAfighting, Instagram at @RFAfighting, and Twitter at @RFAfighting.
About RFA: RFA is a professional mixed martial arts promotion that gives rising stars and top contenders the opportunity to prove their talent to fans and leaders in the industry. The RFA presents live events on a monthly basis around the United States including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Milwaukee. RFA can be seen live in over 43 million homes nationally through its television deal with AXS TV. Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, RFA is one of the most active and respected MMA organizations in the fastest growing sport in the world. (The Octagon, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, UFC®, and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC. All rights reserved).

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