Tag Archives: Mixed Martial Arts

FULL FIGHT CARDS AND BROADCAST DETAILS FOR THIS WEEKEND’S BELLATOR DOUBLEHEADER ON PARAMOUNT NETWORK & DAZN

December 20, 2019 FNU47 Leave a comment

**JOSH BARNETT AND RONNY MARKES HEADLINE *BELLATOR & THE USO PRESENT: SALUTE THE TROOPS* ON FRIDAY, DEC. 20**

*BELLATOR 236* ON SATURDAY, DEC. 21 SEES ILIMA-LEI MACFARLANE DEFEND HER WORLD TITLE AGAINST KATE JACKSON

**LOS ANGELES** – The full slate of bouts for Bellator’s return to Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii this Friday, Dec. 20 and Saturday, Dec. 21 is official with a stacked doubleheader featuring something for every mixed martial arts fan.

*Bellator and the USO Present: Salute the Troops* will air on Paramount Network on Friday, December 20 at 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT. The entire event will also stream on DAZN, while preliminary bouts will stream on Bellator.com, DAZN and globally on the Bellator Mobile App.

*Bellator 236: Macfarlane vs. Jackson –* one of the star-powered, year-end highlights of fight season on DAZN – will stream Saturday, December 21 live exclusively on DAZN at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com, DAZN and globally on the Bellator Mobile App.

The main event of Friday’s card on Paramount Network will see a heavyweight headliner, featuring the Bellator debuts of former world champion **Josh Barnett** (35-8) and **Ronny Markes** (19-7). Rounding out the stacked main card will see another Bellator debut, as **Erik Perez** (19-6) enters the cage to meet Hawaii’s own **Toby Misech** (11-7), former flyweight No. 1 contenders **Alejandra Lara** (8-3) and **Veta Arteaga** (5-3) return to action and Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix participant **Tywan Claxton** (5-1) takes on the undefeated prospect out of Maili, Hawaii, **Braydon Akeo** (3-0). Also, undefeated teammate of A.J. McKee **Joey Davis** (6-0) returns to the Bellator cage when he faces the “Big Island’s” 29-fight MMA veteran, **Chris Cisneros** (19-10).

The prelims for *Bellator and the USO Present: Salute the Troops* will feature an appearance from undefeated Bay Area-fighter fighter **Cass Bell** (4-0), as well as undefeated Hawaiian prospect **Ty Gwerder** (4-0).

A mere 24-hours later, *Bellator 236* will take place exclusively on DAZN and will be headlined by a flyweight world title bout between Honolulu’s **Ilima-Lei Macfarlane** (10-0) and England’s **Kate Jackson** (11-3-1). The co-main event is a quarterfinal matchup of the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix with **A.J. McKee** (15-0) taking on **Derek Campos** (20-9.).

In addition, recently signed Bellator welterweight **Jason Jackson** (10-4) of Hollywood, Fla. returns to the Bellator cage on short notice to take on **Kiichi Kunimoto** of Osaka, Japan. **Juliana Velasquez** (9-0) looks to remain undefeated with Bellator when she meets **Bruna Ellen** (10-6) at flyweight, while local Hawaiian standouts **Cheyden Leialoha**(7-1) and **Nainoa Dung** (3-0) go to battle against **Raufeon Stots** (12-1) and Zach Zane (13-9), respectively, to complete the main card.

***Bellator and the USO Present: Salute the Troops*** **Main Card:**

**Paramount Network & DAZN**

10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT/5 p.m. HST

*Heavyweight Main Event:* **Josh Barnett** (35-8) vs. **Ronny Markes** (19-7)

*Bantamweight Main Card Bout:* **Toby Misech** (11-7) vs. **Erik Perez** (19-6)

*Flyweight Main Card Bout:* **Alejandra Lara** (8-3) vs. **Veta Artega** (5-3)

*Featherweight Main Card Bout:* **Tywan Claxton** (5-1) vs. **Braydon Akeo** (3-0)

*Welterweight Main Card Bout:* **Joey Davis** (6-0) vs. **Chris Cisneros** (19-10)

**Preliminary Card:**

**DAZN, Bellator.com & the Bellator Mobile App**

8:45 p.m. ET/7:45 p.m. CT/3:45 p.m. HST

*Bantamweight Preliminary Bout:* **Cass Bell** (4-0) vs. **Pierre Daguzan** (5-3, 1 NC)

*Middleweight Preliminary Bout:* **Ty Gwerder** (4-0) vs. Joseph Creer (6-1-1)

*180-Pound Contract Weight Preliminary Bout:* **Hunter Ewald** (Pro Debut) vs. **Brysen Bolohao** (0-1)

*Bellator 236: Macfarlane vs. Jackson* Main Card:

**DAZN**

10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT/5 p.m. HST

*Flyweight World Title Bout:* **Ilima-Lei Macfarlane** (10-0) vs. **Kate Jackson** (11-3-1)

*Featherweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal Bout:* **A.J. McKee** (15-0) vs. **Derek Campos** (20-9)

*Welterweight Main Card Bout:* **Jason Jackson** (10-4) vs. **Kiichi Kunimoto** (20-8-2, 1 NC)

*Flyweight Main Card Bout:* **Julianna Velasquez** (9-0) vs. **Bruna Ellen** (5-2)

*Bantamweight Main Card Bout:* **Raufeon Stots** (12-1) vs. **Cheyden Leialoha** (7-1)

*Lightweight Main Card Bout:* **Nainoa Dung** (3-0) vs. **Zach Zane** (13-9)

**Preliminary Card:**

**DAZN, Bellator.com & the Bellator Mobile App**

8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT/3:30 p.m. HST

*Lightweight Preliminary Bout:* **Keoni Diggs** (7-0) vs. **Scotty Hao** (4-2)

*Featherweight Preliminary Bout:* **Kai Kamaka III** (5-2) vs. **Spencer Higa** (7-10)

*Lightweight Preliminary Bout:* **Dustin Barca** (3-0) vs. **Brandon Pieper** (11-13)

*Welterweight Preliminary Bout:* **Ben Wilhelm** (3-0) vs. **Keali’i Kanekoa** (2-2)

*Bantamweight Preliminary Bout:* **Swayne Makana Lunasco** (Pro Debut) vs. **Kaylan Gorospe** (Pro Debut)

*Flyweight Preliminary Bout:* **Nate Yoshimura** (Pro Debut) vs. **Chas Dunhour** (0-1)

*Card subject to change

Please visit Bellator.com for more information.

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

SURGING WELTERWEIGHTS WILL MEET AT NEF 42 IN PORTLAND

December 20, 2019 FNU47 Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Portland, Maine (December 16, 2019) – New England Fights (NEF) will hold its next mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF 42: Symphony of Destruction,” on Saturday, February 8, 2020 at Merrill Auditorium in Portland. Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of an amateur welterweight fight to the card. Mike “Boogaloo” Bezanson (4-0) is scheduled to face Greg Ishihara (2-1) at a fight weight of 170 pounds.

Undefeated Mike Bezanson returned to NEF this past September after more than a three-year absence from cage competition. Bezanson, known for his flashy striking style and showmanship during fights, handed Jason Landry (2-1) his first loss at “NEF 40” in Orono, Maine. It took Bezanson only 41-seconds to pick up the technical knockout victory. He went on to capture a title in New Hampshire with a fourth-round knockout just weeks later. Bezanson has finished all four of his previous opponents with his striking prowess. He represents Team Kaze based in Lancaster, New Hampshire.

“In 2020, I have to do some belt shopping—the one I currently hold is getting lonely and needs some friends,” said Bezanson. “I’ll make sure the tickets are worth buying!”

Since losing his debut to Jordan Norman (2-1) last April, Greg Ishihara has been on a roll, winning his last two MMA bouts in the NEF cage and a Muay Thai Kickboxing fight in Vermont. Last month, Ishihara picked up his most recent win against Dylan Williams (0-3) with a knee to the body just over a minute into the first round at “NEF 41” in Portland. Ishihara represents Recon Fitness based in Westbrook, Maine.

“NEF has always treated me well,” noted Ishihara. “It means a lot to me – to be able to compete here in Maine. The NEF staff is always professional making for a great experience. I look forward to competing inside the NEF cage in 2020. I’m excited for this upcoming fight with Mike. He’s flashy and his movement is impressive. This fight will give me the opportunity to display the full range of my skill set. I’m diligent in my preparation and I take pride in my work and performance. My goal is to hold the NEF title at 170-pounds and defend it.”

New England Fights’ next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 42: Symphony of Destruction,” will take place on Saturday, February 8, 2020 at Merrill Auditorium in Portland, Maine. Tickets are on sale now at www.PortTix.com.

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 fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

CALEB AUSTIN AND DILLON HENRY TO MEET IN FLYWEIGHT MATCHUP AT NEF 42

December 15, 2019 FNU47 Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Portland, Maine (December 13, 2019) – New England Fights (NEF) will hold its next mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF 42: Symphony of Destruction,” on Saturday, February 8, 2020 at Merrill Auditorium in Portland. Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of an amateur flyweight fight to the card. Caleb “Dr. Feelgood” Austin(3-0) will meet Dillon Henry (0-3) at a fight weight of 125 pounds.

Undefeated Caleb Austin returned to NEF this past fall after more than two years. It took Austin just over a minute to pound out a victory over Cory Richards (0-1) at “NEF 40” in September. In November, Austin went into the second round with Ryan Fogg (0-1) before picking up another technical knockout win. With current amateur flyweight champion Nate Boucher (6-3) turning pro at “NEF 42,” Austin will be considered one of the top contenders to the vacant strap should he get past Henry.

Success in athletics is nothing new to Caleb Austin. He put together an impressive record of 208-11 wrestling for Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, Maine and won state titles at 126 pounds his junior and senior years. The Lewiston Sun Journal named Austin the “Wrestler of the Year” in 2017. After graduation, Austin continued wrestling while attending the University of Southern Maine. He currently represents Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ) of Lewiston, Maine.

“The amount of support that I’ve received since September when I made my return to the MMA cage has been humbling,” said Austin. “I’m in the gym and running every single day with February on my mind. Going 2-0 this fall season was great, but I’ve got bigger things in front of me for 2020. I will win the NEF Flyweight Championship next year and Dillon Henry is just the next obstacle in front of me on my way toward that goal. I want to win more quickly and more cleanly every time I get in the cage. It’s an honor every time I get to fight in front of the NEF fans—and I can’t wait to do it again at the Merrill Auditorium on February 8th.”

Dillon Henry comes to the cage on February 8 looking for the first win of his amateur career. Henry debuted last February against the aforementioned Nate Boucher who already had six fights under his belt at the time. This past September Henry competed against Stephen Desjardins who came into that bout as a seven-fight veteran. Henry was getting the upper hand against Desjardins until he dislocated his own shoulder throwing a punch in the first round. He currently represents First Class MMA of Brunswick, Maine.

“I was going say a lot, but life can take unexpected turns and you start fighting for new reasons,” said Henry. “I look forward to February 8th, enough said.”

“A fighter is more than his record and Dillon Henry is a great example of that,” noted NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson. “Dillon is always taking tough fights with the goal of getting better as an amateur so that he can eventually make his mark as a pro. Caleb is his next challenge and I’m certain that Dillon will bring the fight and make this a fun one for us as fans. Caleb came in quickly made an impact over the fall season. Can he continue his undefeated streak to start off a new year and a new decade? We’ll find out February 8th.”

About New England Fights

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

TOP RANKED LIGHTWEIGHT RETURNS TO NEF CAGE AGAINST DECORATED ARMY RANGER

December 15, 2019 FNU47 Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Portland, Maine (December 12, 2019) – New England Fights (NEF) will hold its next mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF 42: Symphony of Destruction,” on Saturday, February 8, 2020 at Merrill Auditorium in Portland. Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of an amateur lightweight fight to the card. Mohammad Al Kinani (7-1) will take on Justin Middleton (1-0) at a fight weight of 155 pounds.

Mohammad Al Kinani is currently the number-one-ranked lightweight amateur in all of New England MMA. He last appeared in the NEF cage in November 2018. Al Kinani holds a perfect record of 3-0 with the promotion and has finished all three opponents in the first round via technical knockout. One of the top prospects in the region, Al Kinani represents Evolution Athletix based in Saco, Maine.

“I’m excited as always to fight in Portland,” noted Al Kinani. “It’s different fighting in Portland. I have a lot to prove against Justin Middleton February 8th at Merrill Auditorium. Be ready to see a different animal to start up the New Year. Portland is my town – my territory.”

Justin Middleton burst onto the NEF fight scene with an upset victory over Jon Assam (1-2) last month at “NEF 41” in Portland. Middleton came into the bout as the underdog as it was both his debut against the more experienced Assam and Assam represented an established fight team while Middleton was an independent competitor. He submitted Assam via rear-naked choke in the first round. Middleton is a longtime, distinguished, and heavily-decorated Army Ranger that served the United States proudly in Iraq.

“I’m honored to have such a seasoned and accomplished opponent so early in my career,” said Middleton. “I know that it’s going to be a challenge, and I will be training accordingly. 155 is the optimum performance weight for me, and I will be coming with everything I’ve got. I’m sure Mo and I will give the fans a war.”

About New England Fights

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

FOURTH PRO BOUT ANNOUNCED FOR FEBRUARY 8 MMA EVENT IN PORTLAND

December 11, 2019 FNU47 Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Portland, Maine (December 10, 2019) – New England Fights (NEF) will hold its next mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF 42: Symphony of Destruction,” on Saturday, February 8, 2020 at Merrill Auditorium in Portland. Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of a professional catchweight fight to the card. Nate “Backpack” Boucher will make his professional debut against “Sleepy” Norman Fox (0-1) at a fight weight of 130-pounds.

2019 was a banner year for Boucher. He finished his amateur career with a stellar 6-3 record and captured NEF’s amateur flyweight title at “NEF 41” last month in what would be his final amateur fight. Boucher has won his last four fights in a row – all by first round rear-naked choke submission. Shortly after his title victory, Boucher engaged in a heated exchange on Facebook with Fox who challenged Boucher to enter the pro ranks to fight him. Boucher was quick to accept the challenge. He currently represents Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ) of Lewiston, Maine.

“I closed out 2019 by doing exactly what I said I was going to do,” stated Boucher. “I went 3-0 and won the New England Fights Amateur Flyweight Title. I planned on taking time off to focus on my unborn child’s arrival. However, Norman had quite a mouthful to say and asked for the fight. So, I did what fighters do and took the fight immediately. Norman is in for a long night on February 8th. I hope for his sake that he fully prepares for this. The way I see it, I was given a gift to kick off my pro career. Thank you to Cure Cannabis and the rest of my loyal sponsors and supporters for helping me get to this point in my career—I look forward to the next level with all of you.”

Norman Fox returns to the NEF cage after a four year hiatus from competition. He was last seen at “NEF 21” in February 2016 in a losing effort in his professional debut. Fox went 4-2 as an amateur, finishing his opponents in all four of his wins. Fox is currently a member of First Class MMA based in Brunswick, Maine.

“Nate is one-dimensional,” declared Fox. “All he can do is wrestle. If he doesn’t immediately shoot for a takedown, he will as soon as my hands touch his face. I’m dangerous everywhere. If he does get the fight to the ground, he will regret it.”

The catchweight bout joins an already star-studded lineup on the professional portion of the card. Previously announced for “NEF 42” is a five-round professional lightweight title fight between former NEF champion and World Series of Fighting veteran Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington (17-11) and WEC and UFC veteran Josh “The Fluke” Grispi (14-5). Another lightweight fight announced for “NEF 42” will feature two Maine fan-favorites as reigning NEF Professional Featherweight Champion Josh “Hook On” Harvey (7-0-1) puts his undefeated record on the line against Jesse “The Viking” Erickson (9-8) in a non-title encounter. And Bellator veteran Dominic “Domnation” Jones (2-3) and Carl Langston (0-4) will square off in a professional featherweight contest.

LFA, mixed martial arts, MMA

LFA SIGNS INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION DEAL WITH FIGHT GLOBE

December 11, 2019 FNU47 Leave a comment

Las Vegas, NV – LFA has signed an international distribution deal with FIGHT GLOBE to distribute its content to the international public as announced by the industry leader for independent distribution of MMA and kickboxing content. FIGHT GLOBE will distribute LFA’s content outside of the United States and Canada, allowing an international audience to experience MMA in its purest form.

“I am excited to announce the partnership between LFA and FIGHT GLOBE,” stated Ed Soares, CEO of LFA. “LFA is the world’s #1 premier developmental organization in MMA and FIGHT GLOBE is one of the world’s largest independent distributors of MMA content. This will help grow the LFA brand on a global scale, while giving our fighters worldwide visibility.”

FIGHT GLOBE is a worldwide leader for the distribution of MMA and kickboxing content with offices located in The Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, and Malaysia. It owns, manages, and distributes television media rights with a sterling reputation among sports federations, promoters, and rights holders from around the world. FIGHT GLOBE represents some of the most influential combat sports events from all over the globe.

“We are very excited for this new partnership with LFA,” stated Sabine Kesseler, CEO of FIGHT GLOBE. “LFA is one of the Top MMA promoters in the United States with a great roster of professional fighters. Plus, their event production is always on point and we are very proud to work with them.”

In 2017, RFA and Legacy FC merged to form LFA, the premier developmental organization in Mixed Martial Arts. The combined forces of LFA launched the careers of over 170 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC. In May 2018, the promotion joined the London Trust Media Holdings group of companies. In November 2019 the promotion announced a broadcast partnership with UFC FIGHT PASS®.
Please visit LFA.com for bout updates and information. LFA is on Facebook at Legacy Fighting Alliance. LFA is also on Instagram at @LFAfighting and Twitter at @LFAfighting.

About LFA:LFA 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. LFA was formed by the powerhouse merger between RFA and Legacy FC. LFA presents live Mixed Martial Arts events on a monthly basis around the United States to markets including Atlanta, Minneapolis, Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Based in Las Vegas, NV, LFA is one of the most active and respected MMA organizations in the fastest growing sport in the world. About FIGHT GLOBE:FIGHT GLOBE (FightGlobe.com), an Athletic Sports Group company, is the number one independent distributor of MMA and kickboxing content worldwide. It owns, manages and distributes television media rights and has established an exemplary track record in distributing TV and media rights for sports federations, promoters and rights holders. FIGHT GLOBE represents some of the most popular and influential combat sports events from all over the globe. Annually FIGHT GLOBE distributes over 300 live combat sports programming, ancillary fight sports content and hundreds of hours of archived content to broadcasters, in more than 150 countries across the world reaching 1 billion-plus households.About LONDON TRUST MEDIA:London Trust Media is a diversified business focused on the Internet and media industries – bringing the Internet back to its original state and bringing power back to the people. London Trust Media runs the leading no-log VPN service provider in the world Private Internet Access (PIA) as well as Kore Asian Media, Linux Journal, freenode, Snoonet, JOG, BlockExplorer, and Provocateur. Please visit their website at londontrustmedia.com for more information.