Tag Archives: Mixed Martial Arts

Bellator, mixed martial arts, Spike TV

PROMOTIONAL DEBUT OF EWERTON TEIXEIRA COMPLETES THE MAIN CARD OF ‘BELLATOR 143: WARREN VS. DAVIS,’ WHEN HE FACES VINICIUS QUEIROZ

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THREE ADDITIONAL PRELIMINARY CONTESTS FEATURING PROSPECTS WITH A COMBINED RECORD OF 19-1

 

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (August 19, 2015) — A heavyweight tilt featuring feared striker Ewerton Teixeira (3-0) taking on Vinicius Queiroz (7-3) has been added to the main card of “Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis” at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas onSeptember 25.

 

Two lightweight tilts will also emanate from The Lone Star State, when Jose Flores (3-0) meets Guillermo Gonzalez (3-0) and Guilherme Farias da Costa (3-0) faces Jared Chaffe (4-1). A third preliminary bout features two undefeated welterweight prospects who also share a record of 3-0, when Bryce Mejia takes on Abdul Razak Alhassan.

Teixeira versus Queiroz completes the main card of “Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis,” which airs live on Spike at 8 p.m. CT. The three previously confirmed fights feature Joe Warren (12-4) taking on L.C. Davis (23-6) in the bantamweight headlining attraction, while the Bellator 143 co-main event will pit Joey Beltran (16-11, 1 NC) against top middleweight Kendall Grove (21-15) and Henry Corrales (12-1) battling Emmanuel Sanchez (10-2). Additional preliminary bouts will be announced shortly.

Tickets for “Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis,” which start at just $20, are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and the State Farm Arena box office. Doors for the event open at 5 p.m. CT local time, and the first contest takes place a half an hour later.

A black belt in Kyokushin karate, the 33-year-old Teixeira has been racking up titles in striking competitions for more than a decade. Teixeira reached the pinnacle of standup fighting in 2008, when he earned that year’s K-1 World Grand Prix in Fukuoka title and then fought his way to the K-1 World Grand Prix Final’s championship bout. Teixeira turned his attention to MMA in 2012, and has remained undefeated through his first three professional contests in the sport and is now ready to try his hand at MMA’s highest level.

 

Queiroz will be making his fourth appearance under the Bellator MMA banner when he enters the cage on September 25. A veteran of Ultimate Fighting Championship, “Spartan” has never allowed one of his seven professional victories to reach the judges’ scorecards. The Team Nogueira standout was slated to compete against Cheick Kongo at “Bellator 106: Chandler vs. Alvarez 2” but an injury derailed the tilt. After an inactive 2014, the 31-year-old will look to change the tide in 2015.

 

Further down the preliminary bouts, Jose Flores will make his Bellator MMA debut and look to keep his undefeated record intact in the process. The 27-year-old has finished all three of his fights on the regional circuit via submission. He will be going up against Gonzalez, who shares a perfect record through his first three professional bouts. Both fighters fight out of McAllen, TX, just a short drive from the State Farm Arena.

 

Another pair of talented local prospects will look to wow the home crowd when Guilherme Farias da Costa aims to stay unbeaten against Jared Chaffe, who most recently suffered the first loss of his professional career after the doctor stopped his fight due to a severe cut.

 

In another fight that will see someone’s undefeated record come to an end, San Diego’s Bryce Mejia will meet Abdul Razak Alhassan, who trains out of Arlington, TX.

 

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 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, 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:

Spike 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’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press.  Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

Fight Network, RFA

Fight Network Presents RFA 29: USA vs. Brazil  LIVE this Friday, Aug. 21 at 10 p.m. ET

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PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
TORONTO (Aug. 19, 2015) — Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents a live broadcast of RFA 29: USA vs. Brazil tonight at 10 p.m. ET, pitting top American prospects against top Brazilian prospects with current UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler and former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida serving as honorary coaches.
Fight Network’s live broadcast of RFA 29: USA vs. Brazil will air nationwide in Canada and globally in over 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The domestic U.S. broadcast airs on AXS TV.
Emanating from the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, RFA 29 will be headlined by an RFA featherweight title fight between top contenders Ricky Musgrave (14-4) and Raoni Barcelos (8-1).
“RFA 29 will have a USA vs. Brazil team concept that will feature some of the top MMA prospects from each country,” stated RFA president Ed Soares. “Robbie Lawler and Lyoto Machida will be the honorary coaches for each team. In the main event, Ricky Musgrave and Raoni Barcelos will also be competing for the vacant RFA featherweight title. This entire card is stacked and I can’t wait to see what happens.”
In the co-main event, South Dakota’s own Jordon Larson (6-1) will be tasked with facing Brazilian juggernaut Ackson Junior (5-0).
RFA 29 will also feature a trio of exciting bantamweight bouts, as Terrion Ware (13-4) meetsLeandro Higo (14-2), Joey Miolla (5-1) faces Pedro Falcao (6-1) and Matthew Lopez (5-0) risks his unblemished record against Kevin Clark (4-1). Rounding out the main card is a light heavyweight showdown between undefeated Devin Clark (4-0) and Dervin Lopez (7-2).
For a full listing of Fight Network’s broadcast schedule, please visit tv.fightnetwork.com, follow us on Twitter @fightnet, become a fan on Facebook and visit us on Instagram @fightnet.
For More Information Contact:
 
Fight Network
Chad Midgley
VP, Content
chad@fightnetwork.com
www.fightnetwork.com
 
Fight Network
Ariel Shnerer
Director, Programming & Communications
ariel@fightnetwork.com
www.fightnetwork.com
Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

DEXTER GETS SECOND CHANCE TO WIN GOLD IN A NEW WEIGHT CLASS

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Lewiston, Maine (August 19, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its nineteenth mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF XIX: HOMECOMING,” on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  That night, Team Irish’s Ricky Dexter (3-1) is scheduled to meet CJ Ewer (3-2) in an NEF MMA Amateur Welterweight Title eliminator.  Recently, Dexter was the guest on the NEF Podcast hosted by NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson.

 

A veteran of the United States Navy, Dexter joined Marcus Davis’s Team Irish gym after moving home to Bangor, Maine at the conclusion of his military service.  Eventually, Dexter took over the fitness program at the gym, now known as “207 Athletes.”  Dexter touched on his progression from joining the gym to becoming a trainer.

 

“I wanted to keep working out and keep in good shape,” said Dexter of his return home to Maine from military service.  “I figured I’d go work out with the guys at Team Irish.  I started doing their workout regimen.  I dabbled a little bit with MMA training.  Slowly I got more into it over time.  It was a good workout.  As time went on, I got better at it.  I got more addicted with the more I learned, with Marcus’s knowledge, I got addicted to it.  He hired me to run his fitness class.  After that, I figured I’d take a fight.  I was in pretty good shape.”

 

Earlier this year, Dexter engaged in a grueling slugfest with Cory Trial (1-1) at “NEF XVI.”  It was just Dexter’s second fight in the MMA cage.  The bout ended in a knockout victory for Dexter.  The highlight-reel knockout will, no doubt, be in the running for a nomination for “KO of the Year” at the “NEF 2015 Year-End Awards.”

 

“The first round I pretty much remember,” recalled Dexter.   “The second round I kind of went into a trance.  I don’t really remember much of it, just from watching the video.  When you get to that point your training takes over.  You kind of black out and, before you know it, you’re getting your hand raised.”

 

In all, Dexter finished his first three amateur bouts on his way to getting a shot at the NEF MMA Amateur Lightweight Championship at “NEF XVIII” this past June against Josh Harvey (4-1).  Dexter would lose the bout by first-round submission.  At “NEF XIX” on September 12, Dexter will have a chance to avenge that loss when he meets Havey’s Young’s MMA teammate CJ Ewer in a bout that will be a title eliminator for the NEF MMA Amateur Welterweight Championship.

 

“He’s a really good wrestler, a big guy,” Dexter said of Ewer.  “He looks like he’s pretty skilled.  He comes from a respected school in Young’s.  We all know what he’s gonna do, and we all know what I have to do.”

 

You can listen to the entire NEF Podcast interview atwww.NewEnglandFights.com/Podcasts/

 

For more information on the Team Irish Fitness Academy, please visit their website www.TeamIrishMMA.com.  You can also follow “207 Athletes” on Facebook to learn more about Ricky Dexter’s training program.

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF XIX: HOMECOMING,” takes place onSaturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets for “NEF XIX: HOMECOMING” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at 207.783.2009 x 525.  For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com.  In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

About New England Fights

 

New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

Global Proving Ground, mixed martial arts

GLOBAL PROVING GROUND ANNOUNCES 22ND LIVE MMA EVENT STACKED WITH PHILADELPHIA AREA’S FINEST FIGHTING TALENT ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24

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GPG 22 MARKS PROMOTION’S DEBUT AT NEW SPORTS COMPLEX IN MOUNT LAUREL, N.J.

PHILADELPHIA, PA. (August 18, 2015) –Global Proving Ground (GPG) announced today its 22nd live Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event, featuring a collection of the Philadelphia area’s top professional fighting prospects, on Saturday, October 24, live on Go Fight Live (www.GFL.tv), from the promotion’s all-new venue, the GPG Sports Complex, in Mount Laurel, N.J.

Tickets for GPG 22, which will be headlined by a flyweight (125 pounds) matchup between rising star Sean “Shorty Rock” Santella (13-5-1, 1 NC) of Whippany, N.J. and an opponent to be announced soon, are priced from $40 and are available for purchase at LocalMMATickets.com.

“We are excited to begin the next chapter in Global Proving Ground’s growth, in a new venue that can comfortably accommodate our rapidly expanding fanbase, and give spectators the exciting experience they look for when they attend a fight,” said Global Proving Ground President James J. Jefferson.

In the co-main event and first Global Proving Ground middleweight (185 pounds) championship bout in history, aggressive-minded, four-time Bellator veteran Jesus “Chavo” Martinez (9-6) of Philadelphia will square off with Tony Parker (11-11) of Fairfield, Ohio.  To date, all but 1 of Parker’s 11 career victories have come by way of submission.

Battle-tested veteran Dante Rivera (16-7) of Jackson, N.J. will battle an opponent to be determined in a 190-pound catchweight fight.

Local fan favorites Alec Hooben (2-2) of Pompton Lakes, N.J. and Tim Dooling (1-2) of Ewing, N.J. will also see action against opponents to be determined.

Additional main card matchups will be announced soon.

In preliminary bout action, unbeaten Peter “The Joker” Petties (2-0) of Columbia, Md. will lock horns with Matt “The Cat” DiMarcantonio (8-5) of Welland Ontario, Canada.  The 24-year-old Petties soared to internet fame when a video of his Aug. 23, 2014 amateur bout with Jeff Melvin, in which Petties unleashed a series of strikes that forced Melvin to vomit, went viral.

Josh Key (6-11) of Perth Amboy, N.J. will battle Eric “Atomic” Attard (4-6) of Welland, Ontario in a welterweight scrap.

In a meeting between two flyweights (125 pounds) making their respective, professional debuts, Gabe Ruiz (0-0) of Woodland Park, N.J. will take on Vladimir Kazbekov (0-0) of Welland, Ontario.

Doors at the venue will open for GPG 22 at 6 p.m. on October 24, and the first preliminary bout and live GFL.tv stream will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT.
mixed martial arts, NBC, World Series of Fighting

WSOF 23 PRELIMINARY FIGHT CARD COMPLETE WITH SEVEN BOUTS HIGHLIGHTED BY ISAAC VALLIE-FLAGG, CLIFFORD STARKS AND LEGION OF LOCAL PHOENIX AREA TALENT

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Preliminary fight card streams live on WSOF.com prior to
five-bout telecast on NBCSN on Friday, September 18

LAS VEGAS (August 18, 2015) –World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) announced today a stacked, seven-bout preliminary card for its “WSOF 23: Gaethje vs. Palomino II” world championship doubleheader mega-event at Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz. on Friday, September 18.

The preliminary fight card, which will stream live on WSOF.com prior to the five-bout, live NBCSN telecast of the event’s main card, is highlighted by the promotional debut of battle-tested road warrior Isaac Vallie-Flagg, the quick return of streaking Clifford “Big Cat” Starks, the U.S. debut of undefeated finisher Vagab Vagbov and a total of nine of the Phoenix area’s top professional prospects.

“This is a phenomenal assembly of up-and-coming talent from Phoenix as well as established veterans and rising stars from elsewhere around the U.S. and other parts of the globe,” said World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo.

“When we brought World Series of Fighting to the city of Phoenix for the first time earlier this year,” continued Sefo, “we discovered a considerable pool of talent.  We are excited to be able to put some of this talent back in action and to deploy several new faces that we feel have earned a shot to compete in the big leagues.”

Topping the preliminary bout card is a middleweight (185 pounds) matchup between Vagabov (19-0) of Dagestan, Russia and submission specialist Kelvin “The Mama’s Boy” Tiller (7-1) of Topeka, Kan.

Just six weeks after he shocked the world by pulling off an upset victory over Mike “MAK” Kyle in a matchup that he accepted on less than one week’s notice, Starks (12-2) of Tempe, Ariz. will re-enter the World Series of Fighting decagon cage and hunt for his fifth consecutive win when he faces another steep test in undefeated, former Bulgarian national wrestling champion Krasimir “The Wrestler” Mladenov (12-0), who is fighting out of Las Vegas.

Vallie-Flagg (15-7-1) of Santa Fe, N.M., a member of the famed Jackson-Winklejohn fight squad will make his debut under the World Series of Fighting banner in a lightweight (155 pounds) tilt against power puncher Estevan “El Terrible” Payan of Tempe.

Matthew “The Thunder From Down Under” Frincu (6-1) of Tempe via Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia will make his second start for World Series of Fighting, after scoring a devastating, second round (:14) KO on Eric Regan with a headkick at WSOF 19 on March 28.

Frincu, whose six career victories have all come by way of (T)KO or submission, will battle streaking Danny Davis, Jr. (11-8-1) of Las Vegas at welterweight (170 pounds).  Davis Jr. is a winner of his last five straight fights, including three World Series of Fighting matchups.

In one of two bantamweight (135 pounds) preliminary card bouts, Tempe-based rivalsAndres Ponce (1-0) and David Nuzzo (7-1) will go to war while, in the other, Randy Steinke (15-9-1) of Phoenix will face off with Joey “The Beast” Miolla (4-1) of Mesa, Ariz.

Leading off the preliminary fight card will be a lightweight scrap between Benny “El Hijo” Madrid (7-3) of Phoenix and Jeff Fletcher (11-10, 1 NC) of Ahwatukee, Ariz.

Priced from just $39.99, tickets for “WSOF 23: Gaethje vs. Palomino II” are on sale at the Comerica Theatre box office and online at WSOF.com and Ticketmaster.com.

In the main event of WSOF 23, undefeated, reigning World Series of Fighting Lightweight (155 pounds) Champion Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje (14-0) will collide for the second time with hard-hitting rival Luis “Baboon” Palomino (23-10), after the two engaged in an all-out war, which has already been touted as a “Fight of the Year” candidate, in the main event of WSOF 19 at Comerica Theatre.

In the co-main event and inaugural World Series of Fighting light heavyweight (205 pounds) championship bout, David Branch (16-3), the promotion’s reigning world middleweight (185 pounds) champion, will attempt to become the first two-division kingpin in World Series of Fighting history, when he faces off with Cinderella storyTeddy Holder (9-1), whose nine career wins have all come by way (T)KO or submission.

The live NBCSN telecast of “WSOF 23: Gaethje vs. Palomino II” begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

Doors at Comerica Theatre will open at 3 p.m. MT and the first preliminary bout will begin at 3:45 p.m.

MAIN CARD

World Series of Fighting Lightweight Championship Main Event:
Justin Gaethje (Champion) vs. Luis Palomino (Challenger)

World Series of Fighting Light Heavyweight Championship Co-Main Event:
David Branch vs. Teddy Holder

Bantamweight: Timur Valiev vs. Tito Jones
Catchweight (160 pounds): Phoenix Jones vs. Roberto Yong
Lightweight: Brian Foster vs. LaRue Burley

PRELIMINARY CARD

Middleweight: Vagab Vagabov vs. Kelvin Tiller
Middleweight: Clifford Starks vs. Krasimir Mladenov
Lightweight: Estevan Payan vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg
Welterweight: Matthew Frincu vs. Danny Davis, Jr.
Bantamweight: Andres Ponce vs. David Nuzzo
Bantamweight: Randy Steinke vs. Joey Miolla
Lightweight: Benny Madrid vs. Jeff Fletcher

About “World Series of Fighting” (WSOF)

“World Series of Fighting” (WSOF) is a world wide 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. Follow “World Series of Fighting” on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and “World Series of Fighting” President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.

ABOUT NBCSN

NBCSN, part of the NBC Sports Group, is dedicated to serving passionate sports fans. Now in more than 85 million homes, the Emmy Award-winning network is the cable television home of the Summer and Winter Olympics, National Hockey League (NHL) – including two games of the Stanley Cup Final — NASCAR, Premier League, Formula One, IndyCar, Tour de France, and America’s Cup. In addition, NBCSN features college football, college basketball, college hockey, cycling, outdoor programming, horse racing surrounding the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup, Ironman, the Dew Tour and USA Sevens Rugby. The network is also home to original programs such as NFL Turning Point, Pro Football Talk,The Dan Patrick Show, and NASCAR America. NBCSN is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.
Fight Network, Judo, kickboxing, mixed martial arts

FIGHT NETWORK MMA, JUDO & KICKBOXING PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (Aug. 17-23, 2015)

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(U.S. only schedule., excluding listings in blue.  For full Canadian schedule, please visit tv.fightnetwork.com from your region.)

Fight Network is a 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports. It airs programs focused on the entire scope of the combat sports genre, including live fights and up-to-the-minute news and analysis for mixed martial arts, kickboxing, professional wrestling, traditional martial arts, boxing, fight news, as well as fight-themed drama series, documentaries and feature films.
Below find highlights of this week’s programming:
Monday, Aug. 17
6:30 p.m. ET – Judo Havana Grand Prix 2014 Highlights – Highlights from the Judo Havana Grand Prix from Jun 3, 6-8, 2014 in Cuba.
7:00 p.m. ET – 5 Rounds – Fight Network’s John Ramadeen and Robin Black invite special guests to breakdown the weekend of MMA action.
7:30 p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.
Tuesday, Aug. 18
1:30 a.m. ET – XPTV – Coverage of regional U.S. professional and amateur MMA events.
6:00 a.m. ET – Toe 2 Toe with Phil Davis – In-depth sit-down interview with UFC light heavyweight star Phil Davis.
6:30 a.m. ET – Hip Show: Arena Combat – Tag-team MMA inside a 12m by 12m arenda with three-level obstacle structures.
4:00 p.m. & 10 p.m. ET — – 5 Rounds Today – Video podcast with John Ramdeen and Robin Black breaking down a wide variety of topics in the MMA world, including previews of upcoming events and all the latest rumors and headlines.
5:00 & 5:30 ET – Xtreme Fighting Championship – Florida-based pro MMA featuring top American prospects, international stars and UFC veterans.
8:00 p.m. ET – 5 Rounds – Fight Network’s John Ramadeen and Robin Black invice special guests to breakdown the weekend of MMA action.
8:30 p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.
9:00 p.m. ET — Fighting Spirit MMA Season 4 – Compilation of international fights from SFL, Legend, FFC, M-1 and others.
11:00 p.m. ET – Hard Knocks Fighting 41 – Featuring Rodney Wallace vs. Tyuta Sakurai and Keita Nakamura vs. Yoshiyuki Katahira from Feb. 28, 2015 in Tokyo, Japan.
Wednesday, Aug. 19
4:00 a.m. ET – Texas Fight Night – MMA action from Texas featuring the Lone Star State’s top prospects in the cage.
8:00 a.m. ET – Hard Knocks Fighting 41– Featuring Rodney Wallace vs. Misha Cirkunov from Jan. 30, 2015 in Calgary, Canada.
6:00 p.m. ET – Best of Cage Rage – Featuring classic fights from the UK-based Cage Rage organization with Anderson Silva, Antonio Silva, Victor Belfort, Paul Daley and others.
7:00 p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra: MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and feature.
7:30 p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.
8:00 p.m. ET – Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 49 – Featuring Bruno Carvalho vs. Cathal Oedred and Rosi Sexton vs. Sheila Gaff from Oct. 27, 2012 in Cardiff, Wales.
11:00 p.m. ET – MMA Meltdown with Gabriel Morency – Gabriel Morency breaks down all the happenings in MMA, discussing odds, predictions, plus special weekly guests and exclusive interviews.
11:30 p.m. ET – TakeDown Wrestling – Extensive coverage of amateur wrestling events, including the latest news, behind-the-scenes coverage from events and exclusive interviews.
Thursday, Aug. 20
1:30 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. ET – Ultimate Challenge MMA 21: Stand Your Ground – Featuring Oli Thompson vs. Mark Potter from June 25, 2011 in London.
6:00 p.m. ET – Championship Fighting Alliance – Pro MMA from Florida featuring the likes of Josh Sampo, Mike Kyle, John Howard, Sean McCorkie, Luis Palomino and others.
7:00 p.m. ET – Fighting Rookies – Aspiring kickboxers climb the ladder of success in the sport as rookies compete for a chance to become professionals and get experience needed to succeed at a higher level.
8:00 p.m. ET – Fight News Now: MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and features.
8:30 p.m. ET — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.
9:00 p.m. ET – M-1 Challenge 32 – Featuring Kenny Garner vs. Magomed Malikov, Mario Miranda vs. Artur Guseimov and Maxim Grishin vs. Joachim Christensen from May 16, 2012 in Moscow.
Friday, Aug. 21
12:00 a.m. ET – It’s Showtime Special – The world’s premier kickboxing organization featuring Badr Hari, Melvin Manhoef and Giorgio Petrosyan.
6:00 P.M. ET – M-1 Challenge – Pro MMA from Europe featuring top rising prospects and international stars.
7:00 p.m. ET – Fight News Now: MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and features.
7:30 p.m. ET — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.
8:00 p.m. ET – Toe 2 Toe with Sam Stoud – In-depth sit-down
interview with Canadian UFC lightweight contender Phil Davis.
8:30 p.m. ET – Hip Show: Arena Combat – Tag-team MMA inside a 12m by 12m arena with three-level obstacle structures.
9:00 p.m. ET – KSW 31: Materia vs. Drwal – Featuring Michal Materia vs. Tomasz Drwal, Mariusz Pudzianowski vs. Rolles Gracie and Goran Reljic vs. Attila Vegh from May 23, 2015 in Gdansk, Poland.
10:00 p.m. ET — UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Oliveira Prelims (CANADA ONLY) – LIVE preliminary fights from Saskatoon, Canada, featuring Sam Stout vs. Frankie Perez and Yves Jabouin vs. Felipe Arantes.
Saturday, Aug. 22
1:00 a.m. ET – Instinct MMA 4: Thatch vs. Grandmont – Featuring Brandon Thatch vs. Martin Grandmont and Thierry Quenneville vs. Luke Caudillo from June 29, 2012 in Montreal.
6:00 a.m. ET – Best of TKO – Featuring Ivan Menjivar vs. Jeff Curran from UCC 10 and Damacio Page vs. Thierry Quenneville from TKO 25.
7:00 a.m. ET – Best of Gladiator Challenge – Featuring Jake Shields vs. Robert Ferguson from Gladiator Challenge 7.
8:00 a.m. ET – Best of SportFight – Top quality MMA from the Pacific Northwest. Hosted by UFC veterans Matt Lindland and Chael Sonnen.
9:00 a.m. ET – Pancrase Classics – Classic pioneering MMA battles featuring Ken Shamrock, Frank Shamrock, Bas Rutten, Name Marquardt, Chael Sonnen and others.
3:00 p.m. ET – DEEP: 72 – Featuring Yuki Okano vs. Yuki Motoya vs. Jong Heon Chae from May 16, 2015 in Tokyo.
6:00 p.m. ET – UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Oliveira Weigh-Ins – LIVE coverage of official weigh-ins for UFC Fight Night: Halloway vs. Oliveira from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
9:00 p.m. ET – King of Kings: World Grand Prix Riga 20915 – Featuring a one-night, single-elimination light heavyweight tournament May 22, 2015 in Riga, Latvia.
11:00 p.m. ET – Inside Evolucao Thai – An inside look at the demise of the Brazilian Chute Academy and formation of Evolucao Thai in Canada.
Sunday, Aug. 23
12:00 a.m. ET – Fighting Spirit MMA Season 4 – Compilation of international fights from SFL, Legend, FFC, M-1 and others.
1:00 a.m. ET – Ring of Combat 49 – Featuring Andre Harrison vs. Jeff Lentz and Julio Arce vs. Jake Grigson from Sept. 19, 2014 in Atlantic City, NJ.
6:00 a.m. ET – Pancrase Classics – Classic pioneering MMA battles featuring Ken Shamrock, Frank Shamrock, Bas Rutten, Name Marquardt, Chael Sonnen and others.
11:00 a.m. ET – Best of ADCC – Featuring compilations of the greatest grappling matches ever held, featuring Tito Ortiz, Matt Hughes, Eddie Bravo, Fabricio Werdum, Marcelo Garcia, Ronaldo Souza and Royler Gracie.
12:00 p.m. ET – Elite Muay Thai: Thailand vs. Challenger – The biggest Muay Thai series in the world featuring premium international stand-up fighters taking on the renowned Thai National Team.
5:00 p.m. – USA Wrestling Weekly – Host Scott Casber gives weekly news and analysis centering around USA Wrestling, the sport’s national governing body, including interviews, features, and a look back at the past.
5:30 p.m. ET – Judo Baku Grand Slam 2015 Highlights – Highlights from the Judo Baku Grand Slam from May 8-10, 2015 in Azerbaijan.
6:00 p.m. ET — UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Oliveira Pre-Show – LIVE pre-fight coverage and analysis for UFC Fight Night: Halloway vs. Oliveira from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
6:00 p.m. ET – RFA 29: USA vs. Brazil (CANADA ONLY) – LIVE MMA action from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, featuring teams coached by Robbie Lawler and Lyoto Machida, with Ricky Musgrave vs. Raoni Barcelos in the main event for the RFA featherweight title.
11:00 p.m. ET – Enfusion Live #28: Cingel vs. El Boustati – Featuring Miko Cingel vs. Ibrahim Boustati for the -85kg world title from Zilina, Slovakia.
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Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

CROWSNECK BOUTIN: “IT’S ALWAYS FUN TO KNOCK PEOPLE OUT”

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Lewiston, Maine (August 17, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its nineteenth mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF XIX: HOMECOMING,” on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Featured on the professional portion of the card will be a light-heavyweight matchup between Crowsneck Boutin (1-0) and Mike “The Mustache” Hansen (2-2).  Both men are competing under NEF developmental deals.

 

Recently, Boutin was NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson’s guest on the NEF Podcast.  Boutin discussed, among other topics, growing up in Lubec, Maine, the upcoming bout with Hansen, and his recent signing to a multi-fight NEF development deal.  Boutin and Peterson touched on their first meeting some three-and-a-half years ago, shortly before Boutin made his amateur debut at “NEF III.”

 

“I was hanging out with a few buddies who got tickets to your (NEF) first event, so I went to that and it was the greatest thing,” recalled Boutin.  “I remember talking with people and then contacting you.  I really wasn’t doing anything at that time.  I was feeling kind of lost.  I was kind of clinging to the feeling of want.  I just wanted to do something.  Plus, I liked to fight and scrap.  I always watched the sport.  I guess it just all came together at that time.”

 

With no formal training, Boutin would lose his first bout.  Shortly thereafter, Peterson put Boutin in contact with coach Jon Pinette of the Choi Institute in Portland, Maine.  It is there that Boutin found his footing in the martial arts while, at the same time, forging strong friendships and relationships with teammates.

 

“It’s a pretty awesome atmosphere,” said Boutin of the Choi Institute.  “I’ve never stayed in one place very long my whole life, except for this place.  I don’t see myself leaving.  It’s a great atmosphere over here.  I called Jon.  I remember being really nervous to call Jon, I was thinking about this earlier, but he was really inviting… Everyone here has been really inviting, really supporting.  There’s a really good mix of people here.  We have young to old.  We have everything in between.  It’s a very accepting place to be.  It’s a great place to train.  Everyone gets along inside and outside the gym.”

 

Boutin made the decision to turn professional earlier this year after having competed in a total of 13 amateur fights.  He would defeat MMA Athletix head coach Ryan Cowette (2-3) in his debut.  In doing so, Boutin gained a measure of revenge as it had been Cowette’s protégé Brent Dillingham (1-1) who had handed Boutin his first loss in Boutin’s amateur debut at “NEF III.”  Boutin says that there really was no animosity between himself and Cowette, but the post-fight exchange between Boutin and Dillingham at “NEF III” in 2012 is still in the back of his mind.  He admits that he would love a rematch with Dillingham in the near future.

 

“As far as Brent Dillingham goes, he’s somebody I’d really like to fight soon at 205 if he can get in shape and meet me there,” Boutin declared.  “I’d love to have that fight sometime soon.”

 

Boutin will have his work cut out for him with Hansen on September 12 in Lewiston.  Hansen is an accomplished wrestler, having won a state championship for Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, Maine in 2004.  Boutin, however, is confident in his own abilities both standing and on the mat.

 

“I feel ready for wherever the fight goes,” said Boutin.  “If it stays on the feet, eventually over three rounds, I’m gonna try to knock him out.  It’s always fun to knock people out.  If it goes to the ground, I’ll prevail there.”

 

You can listen to the entire NEF Podcast interview atwww.NewEnglandFights.com/Podcasts/

 

For more information on the Choi Institute, please visit their websitewww.choishindo.com.

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF XIX: HOMECOMING,” takes place onSaturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets for “NEF XIX: HOMECOMING” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at 207.783.2009 x 525.  For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com.  In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

About New England Fights

 

New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, Spike TV

TWO WORLD TITLE FIGHTS HEADLINE ‘BELLATOR 145: VENGEANCE,’ WHEN PATRICIO ‘PITBULL’ FREIRE MEETS DANIEL STRAUS FOR THE FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP & WILL BROOKS FACES MARCIN HELD FOR LIGHTWEIGHT GOLD

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HOMETOWN FAVORITES MICHAEL ‘IRON’ CHANDLER & BOBBY ‘THE DOMINATOR’ LASHLEY WILL ALSO BE IN ACTION AT SCOTTRADE CENTER IN ST. LOUIS ONNOVEMBER 6

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (August 14, 2015) – Bellator MMA’s Featherweight Championship will be defended in a trilogy contest between incumbent titlist Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (24-2) and former champion Daniel Straus (23-6, 1 NC) when the two square off in the main event of “Bellator 145: Vengeance” at Scottrade Center in Saint Louis on November 6.

 

In a fight also worthy of main event billing, Will “Ill Will” Brooks (16-1) will look to defend his 155-pound belt when he meets submission specialist Marcin Held (21-3). Fans who tune-in to “Bellator 145: Vengeance” on Spike will also be treated to lightweight Michael Chandler (13-3) and heavyweight Bobby “The Dominator” Lashley (13-2) competing inside the Bellator MMA cage. Opponents for both fighters will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

The contests will take up four spots during the main card of “Bellator 145: ‘Vengeance,” which airs live on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream on Spike.com at 6 p.m. CT.

 

Tickets for “Bellator 145: ‘Vengeance,” which start at just $30, go on sale next Friday, August 21 at 10 a.m. on Ticketmaster.com and at the Ford Box Office at Scottrade Center, with a special Bellator Nation presale available on the 19th and 20th for fans using the code: FIGHT. Doors for the event open at 5:00 p.m. CT local time, and the first contest takes place one hour after.

 

“Following the success of ‘Unfinished Business’ in June, it was a no-brainer for us to make our return to the Scottrade Center and St. Louis before the year’s end. Once again, I look forward to working alongside Jesse Finney and his standout promotion Shamrock FC on putting together another must-see event,” Bellator MMA President Scott Coker said. “In addition to not one, but two world-class title fights, Michael Chandler and Bobby Lashley also being featured at ‘Vengeance’ brings a sense of hometown pride back to the outstanding fans of Missouri.”

 

Freire is a multi-time Bellator Featherweight Tournament winner who has only tasted defeat twice in his illustrious 26-fight career. Best known as “Pitbull,” the tenacious striker has finished 18 of his 24 wins and was most recently on the positive end of a devastating knockout of Daniel Weichel at “Bellator 138: Unfinished Business.” A black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, “Pitbull” owns victories over his “Bellator 145: Vengeance” opponent in their prior two battles.

 

After recovering from a devastating knee injury following his last meeting with Freire, Daniel Straus bounced back with a spectacular submission stoppage of Henry Corrales at “Bellator 138: Unfinished Business.” A member of American Top Team in Florida, the 31-year-old wants to reclaim the belt that he still considers to be his, which was made clear during his post-fight interview with Bellator MMA color commentator Jimmy Smith where he said: “Whoever holds the featherweight belt, I am coming to beat you up.”

 

A training partner of Straus at ATT, Brooks has been yearning to return to action since his unanimous decision victory over Dave Jansen at “Bellator 136: Brooks vs. Jansen.” The 28-year-old will be making his 10th appearance inside the Bellator MMA cage and competing in a bout where the lightweight title is on the line for the fourth consecutive time. The Chicago native currently sits at No. 6 on Sherdog.com’s official lightweight rankings.

 

At only 23-years-old, Held will officially cash-in the title shot earned from his Bellator Season 10 Lightweight Tournament Final victory at “Bellator 126: Shlemenko vs. Halsey.” A black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Held has earned titles at prominent grappling tournaments the likes of: ADCC, FILA and IBJJF. In his most recent Bellator MMA appearance, the Polish fighter finished Alexander Sarnavskiy via kneebar, pushing his career total of wins by way of submission to 12.

 

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 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, 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:

Spike 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’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press.  Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

 

About Scottrade Center:

Scottrade Center is a contemporary, 12-story glass and concrete structure located in the heart of downtown St. Louis. The home of the St. Louis Blues Hockey Club, Scottrade Center also features a full range of arena programming, including concerts, ice shows, family shows and other sporting events.

 

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

FULL FIGHT CARD ANNOUNCED FOR NEF XIX IN LEWISTON

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Lewiston, Maine (August 14, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its nineteenth mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF XIX: HOMECOMING,” on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Earlier today, the promotion announced the fight card for the event featuring a full slate of professional and amateur MMA matchups.

 

The event is aptly titled “Homecoming” as it will feature the returns of several athletes who have either been recently inactive or competing outside the NEF umbrella.  One such return will feature Darrius Heyliger (5-2) from Ithaca, New York.  Maine and the NEF cage became a home-away-from-home for Heyliger and several of his Bombsquad teammates during the early days of the promotion.  Heyliger competed regularly for NEF in 2012 and early 2013.  His last appearance in the cage was in May 2013 against Marcus “The Irish Hand Grenade” Davis (22-11) in the main event of “NEF VII.”  Heyliger will make his return on September 12 against Brandon Chagnon (5-4) of Sityodtong.

 

The professional side of the card will also feature the homecoming of Matt “Ken Doll” Denning (1-0) after a 10-month extended layoff from action.  Denning made his professional debut last November with a win over Derek Shorey (2-2).   He will return in front of his hometown crowd against Zenon “Ka-bar” Herrera(0-1).

 

Speaking of hometown fighters, Jesse “The Viking” Erickson (5-4), a native of neighboring Auburn, Maine, will look to extend his win-streak to three when he faces Ricky “Savage” Sylvester (2-1).  Sylvester’s previous appearance in NEF ended in controversy when many felt he held an armbar a little too long on Tollison Lewis (0-4).

 

On the amateur side of the card, Josh Harvey (4-1) is scheduled to headline in the first defense of his NEF MMA Amateur Lightweight Title.  Harvey will meet the stiff challenge of Ryan Dibartolomeo (4-2) from John Fain’s Team Triumph/Boston BJJ of Nashua, New Hampshire.  Harvey won the vacant title this past June with a first-round submission of Ricky Dexter (3-1).

 

The amateur portion of the card will also feature not one, but two women’s contests.  Young’s MMA of Bangor, Maine will be represented in both bouts with Angela Young (0-0) and Kira Innocenti (0-0) making their respective debuts.  Angela is the wife of Young’s MMA founder and head coach Chris Young.  She will meet Rachel Reinheimer (1-0) from Sityodtong while Innocenti will square off against Hannah Sparrell of First Class MMA.

 

The full fight card (subject to change and approval of the Combat Sports Authority of Maine):

 

PROFESSIONAL

265 Matt Andrikut 0-0 (Conviction Martial Arts) vs Artie Mullen 1-14 (Southern Maine MMA)

205 Michael Hansen 2-2 (Berserkers MMA) vs Crowsneck Boutin 1-0 (Choi Institute)

 

170 Darrius Heyliger 5-2 (Bombsquad) vs Brandon Chagnon 5-4 (Sityodtong)

 

155 Jesse Erickson 5-4 (CMBJJ) vs Ricky Sylvester 2-1 (Team Flo)

 

155 Matt Denning 1-0 (CMBJJ) vs Zenon Herrera 0-1 (Independent)

 

150 Derek Shorey 2-2 (Shatterproof Combat Club) vs Tollison Lewis 0-4 (CMBJJ)

 

135 Zech Lange 2-1 (Bombsquad) vs Jay Perrin 2-0 (Boston BJJ NH)

 

 

AMATEUR

205 Ryan Glover 1-1 (Berserkers MMA) vs Zak Bergeron 0-0 (CMBJJ)

 

200 Chaz Gray 0-1 (Young’s MMA) vs Dominique Bailey 0-0 (Independent)

 

200 Ian Milligan 0-0 (Team Kaze) vs Anthony Spires 0-0 (Independent)

185 Ruben Redman 1-2 (Independent) vs Nick Shea 1-0 (First Class MMA)

 

185 Caleb Farrington 2-0 (Team NEU) vs Jon McNeil 1-0 (Boston BJJ NH)

170 Ricky Dexter 3-1 (Team Irish) vs C.J. Ewer 3-2 (Young’s MMA)

 

170 Scott Godbois 0-0 (Berserkers MMA) vs Phil Pearson 0-0 (MMA Athletix)

 

155*Title Josh Harvey 4-1 (Young’s MMA) vs Ryan Dibartolomeo 4-3 (Boston BJJ NH)

 

155 Cory Trial 1-1 (Ruthless MMA & Boxing) vs Rafael Velado 0-0 (First Class MMA)

 

150 David Thompson (Shatterproof Combat Club) vs Jason Lachance 1-2 (MMA Athletix)

 

150 Kira Innocenti 0-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Hannah Sparrell 0-0 (First Class MMA)

145 Mike Pietersen 2-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Alex Johnson 2-2 (Ruthless MMA & Boxing)

140 Fred Lear 3-1 (Young’s MMA) vs Henry Clark 2-1 (Choi Institute)

135 Clifford Redman 0-2 (Independent) vs Wil Carrero 0-1 (MMA Athletix)

 

130 Angela Young 0-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Rachel Reinheimer 1-0 (Sityodtong)

 

125 Ryan Burgess 1-0 (Independent) vs Michael Crespo 3-2 (MMA Athletix)

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF XIX: HOMECOMING,” takes place onSaturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets for “NEF XIX: HOMECOMING” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at 207.783.2009 x 525.  For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com.  In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

About New England Fights

 

New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, Spike TV

HENRY ‘OK’ CORRALES RETURNS TO FIGHT EMMANUEL ‘EL MATADOR’ SANCHEZ AT BELLATOR 143 IN HIDALGO, TEXAS

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GLERISTONE ‘TONINHO FURIA’ SANTOS MAKES PROMOTIONAL DEBUT AGAINST JOHN ‘MACAPA’ TEIXEIRA

 

 

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (August 13, 2015) – Two featherweight contests pitting Henry “OK” Corrales (12-1) against Emmanuel “El Matador” Sanchez (10-2) and Gleristone Santos (27-4) making his Bellator MMA debut against John Teixeira (18-1-2) have been added to “Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis” at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas on September 25.

 

Corrales versus Sanchez will take place during the main card of “Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis,” which airs live on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. Meanwhile, Santos versus Teixeira will stream on Spike.com at5:30 p.m. CT during the stacked preliminary portion of the card.

 

Tickets for “Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis,” which start at just $20, are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and the State Farm Arena box office. Doors for the event open at 5 p.m. CT local time, and the first contest takes place 30 minutes later.

 

The two previously confirmed fights feature Joe Warren (12-4) taking on L.C. Davis (23-6) in main event bantamweight action, while the Bellator 143 co-main event will pit Joey Beltran (16-11, 1 NC) against top middleweight Kendall Grove (21-15). Additional bouts will be announced shortly.

 

Corrales was one half of an exciting back-and-forth fight against Daniel Straus at “Bellator 138: Unfinished Business.” The former King of the Cage titlist has finished 10 of his 12 victories as a professional before reaching the judges’ scorecards and has an extensive background when the fight hits the mat, learning the ways of Brazilian jiu-jitsu under famed practitioner, John De La O.

 

Following a hard fought battle against Pat Curran at “Bellator 139: Kongo vs. Volkov” in June, “El Matador” returns to the Bellator MMA cage three months later with revenge on his mind. A short notice injury replacement against Curran, the 24-year-old Roufusport standout impressed in his third bout under the Bellator banner. Now, the Milwaukee native will look to bounce back at the expense of Corrales on September 25.

 

Long considered one of Brazil’s top prospects, the 26-year-old Santos debuted in 2005 when he was just 16 years old and earned victories in his first nine professional bouts. Born in Campina Grande, Paraiba, Santos currently boasts a nine-fight winning streak and is an incredible 16-1 in his past 17 appearances.

 

Best known as “Macapa,” the 28-year-old will be making his third appearance under the Bellator MMA banner, and his second in 2015. The submission specialist, who trains at the world renown Nova Uniao camp, has been on the winning end of two consecutive closely contested split decision wins. The lone loss of Teixeira’s promising MMA career came against Hugo Viana in the UFC back in 2012.

 

Are these two contests a look at the future of the 145-pound division? Tune into “Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis” on Spike to find out.

 

Updated “Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis” Card

 

Main Card:

 

Bellator Bantamweight Feature Fight: Joe Warren (12-4) vs. L.C. Davis (23-6)

Bellator Middleweight Feature Fight: Joey Beltran (16-11) vs. Kendall Grove (21-15)

Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Henry Corrales (12-1) vs. Emmanuel Sanchez (10-2)

 

Preliminary Card:

Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Gleristone Santos (27-4) vs. John Teixeira (18-1-2)