Tag Archives: Mixed Martial Arts

M-1, M-1 Challenge, mixed martial arts, MMA

M-1 Challenge 66 Viktor Nemkov vs. Rashid Yusopov M-1 Challenge Light Heavyweight Championship May 27, 2016 * Orenburg City, Russia

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M-1 Challenge 66, Friday in Orenburg City, Russia
WATCH FREE ON M-1GLOBAL.TV
Friday, May 27 at 11 a.m. / 8 a.m. PT in U.S.A.
(L-R) – Viktor Nemkov & Rashid Yusopov
 
OFFICIAL WEIGHTS
MAIN EVENT – M-1 GLOBAL LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – 5 X 5
VIKTOR NEMKOV (23-5-0, M-1: 14-4-0) Champion, Russia by way of Kazakhstan 205 lbs. (93 kg)
vs.
RASHID YUSOPOV (6-2-0, M-1: 3-1-0), Challenger, Russia 204 lbs. (92.7 kg)
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
STEPHAN “T-800” PUETZ (13-2-0, M-1: 4-1-0), Germany 204 ½ lbs. (92.9 kg)
vs.
ANDREY SELEDTSOV (5-1-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Russia 205 lbs. 93 kg)
LIGHTWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
RAUL TUTARAULI (6-2-0, M-1: 3-0-0), Georgia 154 ½ lbs. (70.3 kg)
vs.
DAMIR ISMAGULOV (6-2-0, M-1: 3-1-0), Russia by way of Kazakhstan 154 ½ lbs. (70.3 kg)
 BANTWAMWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
JOSH RETTINGHOUSE (12-4-0, M-1: 0-0-0), United States 139 lbs. (63.3 kg)
vs.
VADIM ZHLOBICH (4-2-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Belarus 138 lbs. (62.7 kg)
 FEATHERWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
MIKHAIL KOROBKOV (9-0-1, M-1: 0-0-1), Russia 145 lbs. (65.8 kg)
vs.
TIMUR NAGIBIN (7-1-0, M-1: 2-0-0), Russia 144 ½ lbs. (65.7 kg)
FEATHERWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
ALEXANDER KRUPEMKIN (pro debut), Ukraine 131 LBS. (59.6 kg)
vs.
MOVSAR EVLOEV (2-0-0, M-1: 2-0-0) 136 lbs. (61.75 kg)
WHEN:             Friday, May 27, 2016
WHERE:           Orenburg City, Russia
PROMOTER:    M-1 Global
LIVE STREAM: FREE at www.m-1global.tv (Friday, May 27 at 11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT in USA) 
 


 
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Amateur MMA, boxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

NO MORE DRAWS; THERE MUST BE A WINNER IN NORTHEAST TITLE FIGHT

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Lewiston, Maine (May 25, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF) returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine onJune 18, 2016 with “NEF 24: PROMISED LAND.”  The fight promotion will put on another full night of mixed-martial-arts (MMA) cagefights and pro boxing bouts.  Earlier today, NEF executives announced the headline fight for the boxing portion of the fight card.  West Forks, Maine’s own Brandon “The Cannon” Berry (11-1-1) will put the Northeast Junior Welterweight Title on the line in a rematch against Detroit, Michigan’s James “The Motor City Bad Boy” Lester (10-9-1).

 

Berry and Lester met earlier this spring at “NEF 22” in Lewiston.  The six-round bout was ruled a majority draw on the judges’ scorecards.  This time around, however, NEF executives had a trick up their sleeves – add a seventh round to all but guarantee a winner.

 

Berry won the Northeast Junior Welterweight Title in October 2014 in Lewiston against West Virginia Toughman Champion Eric Palmer (4-3-3).  He has been the kingpin of the 140-pound division in the Northeast ever since.  The draw against Lester halted a three-fight win streak Berry had been on since returning from a shoulder injury last year.

 

“I think the main difference in a rematch between me and James will be more action,” Berry predicted.  “We both know what we bring to the table, we both enjoy pleasing the crowd, and we both want to win.  I think those are some key ingredients to a great matchup.  I have a lot of respect for James , his boxing ability, and what he brings to the table.  I was impressed with his speed, his all around toughness, and his ring generalship.  I’m excited to headline another card in Lewiston, and can’t wait for the crowd to enjoy my fight, along with a few other boxing matches that include some talented Maine boxers.  I hope that we can draw a big crowd and have a quality night of fights.  See you all on the 18th!”

 

“I’m most definitely looking forward to fighting in Maine again,” said Lester, a former top-ranked national amateur boxer.  “The fans there are awesome. I even gained a few fans from my last fight who’s been messaging me on a regular like a young guy by the name of Hunter Moore who messages me every week making sure I’m training hard for the rematch.”

 

Lester is a product of the world-famous Kronk Gym in Detroit where Thomas “Hitman” Hearns (61-5-1, 48 KOs), Oscar De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs), Lennox Lewis (41-2-1, 32 KOs) and Wladimir Klitschko (64-4, 53 KOs), among others, have prepared for world title bouts under legendary trainer, the late Emanuel Steward.  “The only thing that will be different this time is I will be in better condition. That was my only downfall last time. This time I’ll be able to box and stay on my toes for the tough pressure that Brandon brings.”

 

NEF returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine on June 18, 2016 with “NEF 24: PROMISED LAND.”  Tickets for “NEF 24” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at207.783.2009 x 525.

 

For more information on the events 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, MMA, Spike TV

RAFAEL CARVALHO STEALS SPLIT DECISION, RETAINING MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE IN ‘BELLATOR 155’ MAIN EVENT

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Complete Event Photos Here

BOISE, IDAHO (May 20, 2016) – Rafael Carvalho (13-1) defended his middleweight belt in controversial fashion at the CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho on Friday night, taking home a split decision win over at the expense of Melvin Manhoef (30-13).

The packed house was less than enthusiastic with the judges’ decision, which amounted to two 48-47 scores for Carvalho, while Manhoef took home one of the same tally.

With the victory, the 29-year old Brazilian is now 4-0 under the Bellator MMA umbrella and continues to ride his remarkable 13-fight winning streak.

BELLATOR KICKBOXING: ST. LOUIS ANNOUNCED

The first fight for “Bellator Kickboxing: St. Louis” has been announced in a rematch of sorts, pitting Joe Schilling against Hisaki Kato. When the two first met at “Bellator 139: Kongo vs. Volkov,” Kato stunned Schilling with a “Superman punch” knockout that many pundits considered to be the “2015 Knockout of the Year.” That was MMA, and this time the two will fight in a kickboxing match. A world champion kickboxer, “Stitch ‘Em Up” Schilling  will look for revenge against Kato, a karate striker.

Additional fights, including a main event matchup will be announced shortly.

The second event for the brand new Bellator Kickboxing promotion will take place on June 24, immediately following “Bellator: Dynamite 2” at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, and will air LIVE and FREE on SPIKE.

Featherweight Co-Main Event Ends in Unanimous Decision Victory for Pat Curran

It took all three rounds to determine a winner in the evening’s co-main event, but in the end, former two-time Bellator champion Pat Curran (22-7) emerged victorious with a unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) win over Georgi Karakhanyan (24-6-1). “Paddy Mike” connected with a great left hook that dropped Karakhanyan to the mat. The Chicago native relied heavily on his ground game in this one, consistently forcing Karakhanyan into uncomfortable positions and ultimately leading to the featherweight’s 12th win under the Bellator MMA fray.

Heavyweight Slugfest Ends in Draw for Dan Charles and Augusto Sakai

The evening’s second heavyweight feature fight was heavily overshadowed by multiple low blows from the foot of Augusto Sakai (9-0-1), leaving Dan Charles (10-3-1) curled over the canvas and gasping for air. In a bout that took every bit of 15 minutes, the judges’ scorecard concluded a majority draw (30-26 Charles, 28-28, 28-28), making it just the ninth in Bellator MMA history. Although the Brazilian Sakai remains undefeated, his nine-fight winning streak came to an end with the bittersweet finish at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho. For Charles, it was the third time in his five-year career that a fight went the distance and the first of his 14 bouts to end in a majority draw.

Alexis Dufresne Shocks MMA World With Submission Victory Over Marloes Coenen

In a highly-anticipated female catchweight bout, Alexis Dufresne (6-2) delivered one of the largest upsets of the year by finishing Dutch superstar Marloes Coenen (23-7) with an armbar submission 4:33 into the first round. Along with Miesha Tate, “Sneaky Zebra” becomes just the second fighter ever to force Coenen to tap out. Not far removed from the birth of her first child, the 25-year-old Dufresne was able to impress in her Bellator MMA debut, despite being a +500 underdog.

Gormley Outlasts Beltran in Heavyweight Opener

During the opening contest at “Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef,” Joey Beltran (17-13) and Chase Gormley (13-5) traded blows in what was a heavyweight dogfight that took all three rounds to claim a victor. In the end, it was Gormley that came out on top with the split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) win over “The Mexicutioner.” Gormley, a 32-year-old native of Los Angeles is now 7-0 when his fights go to the judges table. The win is his first with the Bellator MMA promotion and sixth of his last seven bouts.

Preliminary Card Results:

Vince Morales (4-1) defeated Hamilton Ash (3-2) via KO at 2:32 of round three

Joe Hamilton (4-0) defeated Tyler Freeland (3-1) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 0:22 of round one

Casey Johnson (5-0) defeated Brendon Raftery (4-3) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:16 of round two

Marcin Held (22-4) defeated Dave Jansen (20-4) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 2x)

Jesse Brock (22-8) defeated Olly Bradstreet (39-13) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:57 of round three

Will Noland (16-6) defeated Sean Powers (9-6) via KO (punches) at 3:29 of round one

Scott Thometz (10-5) defeated Josh Tyler (7-4) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-25, 30-25)

Veta Arteaga (2-0) defeated Jackie Vandenburgh (0-2) via unanimous decision (29-27, 30-27, 29-28)

 

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

ILIMA MACFARLANE SET TO FACE REBECCA RUTH DURING MAIN CARD OF ‘BELLATOR: DYNAMITE 2’

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IN ADDITION, GUILHERME ‘BOMBA’ MAKES PROMOTIONAL DEBUT AGAINST JORDAN DOWDY DURING STACKED PRELIMINARY CARD

 

 

SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (May, 20) – A women’s flyweight showdown between Ilima Macfarlane (3-0) and Rebecca Ruth (6-1) has been added to the main card of “Bellator: Dynamite 2” on June 24, at Scottrade Center in St. Louis.

The bout joins a main event that features a heavyweight bout between “Rampage” Jackson (36-11) and Satoshi Ishii (14-5-1), in “Rampage’s” first fight for the Scott Coker-led promotion since 2014. The evening’s co-main event will feature a lightweight title fight between former titlist Michael Chandler (14-3) and Patricky “Pitbull” (16-7). Also the main card, former NFL playerMatt Mitrione (9-5) makes his debut for Bellator MMA agaisnt Carl “Badwater” Seumanutafa (10-6).

MMA coach to stars the likes of entertainer Demi Lovato and New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett, Guilherme “Bomba” (7-3) makes his promotional debut when he takes on Shamrock FC standout Jordan Dowdy (3-1) on the Bellator.com-streamed prelims.

Tickets for “Bellator: Dynamite 2” are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and the Ford Box Office at Scottrade Center. Doors for the event open at 5 p.m. CT local time, and the first contest takes place one hour after.

“Bellator: Dynamite 2” airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream live on Bellator.com and The Bellator Mobile App.

Exactly like the groundbreaking inaugural “Dynamite” event this past September in San Jose, both a mixed martial arts cage and kickboxing ring will cover the floor at Scottrade Center, in St. Louis, giving fans in attendance the opportunity to see both iterations of combat sports on the same night.

Macfarlane enters this bout on a high note, earning victories in her first three professional fights. “The Ilimanator” has taken care of business since joining Bellator MMA, winning her first two fights with the promotion, including a first round armbar submission against Amber Tackett at “Bellator 148: Daley vs. Uhrich” in January. The 26-year-old San Diego native hopes to keep her winning streak alive against the more experienced Rebecca Ruth.

Hailing from Robertsville, Missouri, the elusive Rebecca Ruth went undefeated in 2015, winning all three of her matchups by technical knockout under the Shamrock Fighting Championships banner. Now, after emerging victorious in her 2016 and Bellator MMA debut, “Ruthless” enters the cage with a 6-1 career record and four-fight winning streak. Of her six career wins, five have come by way of knockout, with three of those knockouts delivered by Ruth in the first round. The 37-year-old flyweight will have her hands full when the much younger Ilima Macfarlane joins her in the cage on June 24.

 

Updated “Bellator: Dynamite 2” Fight Card:

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Main Event: Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (36-11) vs. Satoshi Ishii (14-5-1)

Bellator MMA Lightweight World Title Bout: Michael Chandler (14-3) vs. Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (16-7)

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Feature Bout: Matt Mitrione (9-5) vs. Carl Seumanutafa (10-6)

Bellator MMA Flyweight Feature Bout: Ilima-Lei Macfalane (3-0) vs. Rebecca Ruth (6-1)

 

Preliminary Card:

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Guilherme “Bomba” Vasconcelos (7-3) vs. Jordan Dowdy (3-1)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Kevin Engel (5-0) vs. Chel Erwin-Davis (3-1)

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Jordan Howard (9-3) vs Justin Robbins (14-17-1)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Joaquin Buckley (5-0) vs Chris Heatherly (9-3-1)

Bellator MMA 130-pound Preliminary Bout: Michelle Royer (1-0) vs Katy Collins (3-1)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Brad Jones (5-4) vs Tyler Claussen (2-0)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Jason Christeson (1-0) vs Jarrod Thomas (0-0)

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Lee Burns (2-0) vs. Byron Stevens (0-0)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Steven Mann (11-4) vs. Mike Estus (7-4)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Rashard Lovelace (3-0) vs. Garret Mueller (2-1)

Bellator MMA Strawweight Preliminary Bout: Nikki Smith (1-0) vs. Ashley Cummins (3-3)

Bellator Kickboxing Preliminary Bout: Elmir Kulosman (3-0) vs. Darryl Cobb (2-1)

Bellator Kickboxing Preliminary Bout: Tara Walker (4-3-1) vs. Mimi Kutzin (3-2)

mixed martial arts, MMA, World Series of Fighting

UNDEFEATED SENSATION PHIL HAWES SIGNS WITH WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING

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FORMER JUNIOR COLLEGE NATIONAL WRESTLING CHAMP
WILL DEBUT AGAINST JOSHUA KEY AT WSOF31
LIVE ON NBCSN AT 9 P.M. ET ON FRIDAY, JUNE 17
FROM MASHANTUCKET, CONN.

 

LAS VEGAS (May 20, 2016) –World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) has signed undefeated middleweight (185 pounds) prospect Phil Hawes (3-0) to an exclusive, multi-year promotional agreement.

A product of the famed Jackson-Winklejohn camp in Albuquerque, N.M., the 6-foot, 27-year-old Hawes who hails from Little Ferry, N.J., will make his promotional debut against Joshua “The Prince of MMA” Key (6-11, 2 NC) on the live, five-bout NBCSN telecast (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) of WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland, at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn. onFriday, June 17.

“Phil is one of the most exciting, young prospects in the sport of MMA, so we are excited to welcome him to the World Series of Fighting family, and we look forward to seeing how his career develops under our promotion,” said World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo.

The matchup with Key will be Hawes’ first start since 2014, his professional debut year when he ran to three straight victories, the first two by way of TKO and the third – a first round victory over Brandon Collins on October 18 – by way of armbar submission.

A 2009 junior college national wrestling champion for Iowa Central Community College, the alma mater of UFC champion and Jackson-Winklejohn teammate Jon “Bones” Jones, Hawes has been described by Jones as having“limitless” potential.

Priced from $39.99, tickets for WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland are on sale at WSOF.com and Foxwoods.com.

Doors at The Grand Theatre at Foxwoods Resort Casino will open at 5 p.m. ET, and the first preliminary card bout will begin at 6 p.m.

In the main event of the live NBCSN telecast, reigning world heavyweight champion Blagoy Ivanov (13-1) will risk his title against Josh “Cuddly Bear” Copeland (13-1).

In the lightweight (155 pounds) co-main event, superstars Jason “The Kansas City Bandit” High (19-5) and Mike “The Martian” Ricci (11-4) will square off with their division’s number one contender ranking at stake.

WSOF31: IVANOV VS. COPELAND
MAIN CARD (Live on NBCSN)

World Series of Fighting Heavyweight Championship Main Event:
Blagoy Ivanov (Champion) vs. Josh Copeland (Challenger)

Lightweight: Jason High vs. Mike Ricci
Welterweight:  John Howard vs. Thiago Meller
Featherweight: Luis Palomino vs. Sheymon Moraes
Middleweight:  Phil Hawes vs. Joshua Key

PRELIMINARY CARD (Live on WSOF.com)

Lightweight: Tom Marcellino vs. Devin Powell
Heavyweight: Juliano Coutinho vs. Justin Willis
Heavyweight: Tyler King vs. Lorenzo Hood
Welterweight: Robert Fonseca vs. Sean Lally
Lightweight: Bruce Boyington vs. Saul Almeida
Bantamweight: Rodrigo Almeida vs. Ben Pierre-Saint
Lightweight:  Sam Watford vs. Christian Torres

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

GET READY FOR SOME KICKBOXING WITH SMALL GLOVES!

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MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD TITLE BOUT BETWEEN RAFAEL CARVALHO AND MELVIN MANHOEF HEADLINES ‘BELLATOR 155’ TOMORROW NIGHT – LIVE AND FREE ON SPIKE

 

Complete Weigh-In Photos Here

 

BOISE, IDAHO. (May 19, 2016) –The official weigh-ins for “Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef”took place this afternoon in front of a packed house at the Knitting Factory here in Boise, ID. All competitors are now ready for action tomorrow at CenturyLink Arena, with the event airing LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.

 

Middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho (12-1) will defend his title against Dutch striking ace Melvin Manhoef (30-12-1) in the main event of a fantastic night of fights that also includes a co-main event between Pat Curran (21-7) and Georgi Karakhanyan (24-5-1), who square off in a featherweight scrap that has future title-shot implications written all over it. The main card also includes a women’s catchweight showdown between slick Dutch veteran Marloes Coenen (23-6) and Alexis Dufresne (5-2). Dufresne, who returns to action after a recent pregnancy and on short notice, missed the 146-pound weight limit, but the fight will proceed as planned.

 

“Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” will also feature a duo of heavyweight matchups with Joey Beltran (17-12) challenging Chase Gormley (12-5) and Dan Charles (20-3) looking to put an end to Augusto Sakai’s (9-0) unblemished record.

 

An undercard bout between Ricky Steele (5-0) and Eric Cronkhite (2-1) was cancelled when Cronkhite missed weight by nine pounds.

 

Very few tickets for the event remain, and are available at Bellator.com, the CenturyLink Arena Box Office or CenturyLinkArenaBoise.com.

Main Card: (Live on SPIKE – 9 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. CT)

 

Bellator MMA Middleweight World Title Fight: Rafael Carvalho (184.3) vs. Melvin Manhoef (185)

 

Bellator MMA Featherweight Co-Main Event: Pat Curran (145.6) vs. Georgi Karakhanyan (145.1)

 

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Feature Bout: Dan Charles (242.2) vs. Augusto Sakai (262.5)

 

Bellator MMA Catchweight Feature Bout: Marloes Coenen (145.6) vs. Alexis Dufresne (150.7)

 

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Feature Bout: Joey Beltran (236.8) vs. Chase Gormley (264.5)

 

Preliminary Card: (Bellator.com – 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CT)

 

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Tyler Freeland (137.4) vs. Joe Hamilton (135.4)

Bellator MMA Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Dave Jansen (155.9) vs. Marcin Held (155.9)

Bellator MMA Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Veta Arteaga (127.1) vs. Jackie Vandenburgh (122.7)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Hamilton Ash (145.8) vs. Vince Morales (144.9)

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Brendon Raftery (134) vs. Casey Johnson (134.9)

Bellator MMA Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Scott Thometz (155.7) vs. Josh Tyler (155.7)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Sean Powers (182.4) vs. Will Noland (185.6)

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Jesse Brock (135.7) vs. Olly Bradstreet (135.7)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

WSOF31: IVANOV VS. COPELAND PRELIMINARY BOUT CARD COMPLETE WITH SEVEN MATCHUPS

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PRELIMINARY BOUTS STREAM LIVE AT 6 P.M. ET
ON AN EMBEDDABLE VIDEO PLAYER ON WSOF.COM

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MAIN CARD
AIRS LIVE ON NBCSN AT 9 P.M. ET
FROM MASHANTUCKET, CONN. ON FRIDAY, JUNE 17

LAS VEGAS (May 19, 2016) –World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) today announced a complete, seven-bout preliminary fight card for its WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland world heavyweight championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event, live on NBCSN at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT from Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn. on Friday, June 17.

The WSOF31 undercard lineup includes the promotional debut of heavyweight knockout artist Lorenzo Hood (9-3), who will square off with fellow finisher Tyler “The Marauder” King (10-4).

The 6-foot-3, 27-year-old Hood of Chicago, Ill. is a former professional football player turned MMA wrecking machine who has notched all 9 of his professional victories by way of (T)KO in the first round of battle.

King, a 6-foot-5, 35-year-old resident of North Attleboro, Mass. has earned 8 of his 10 career wins via (T)KO or submission.  He is coming off a 51-second submission (heel hook) of Eric Bedard on April 16.

In another heavyweight contest, Juliano “Banana” Coutinho (7-2) of Cape Cod, Mass. via Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will look to secure his second straight victory when he faces off with Team AKA product Justin Willis (3-1) of San Jose, Calif.

Willis, who is riding a three-fight win streak, was originally slated to face Chris “Huggy Bear” Barnett on the main card portion of the bill.

Returning to the decagon cage for the fourth time, submission specialist Tom “Tommy Gunnz” Marcellino (7-4) of Amsterdam, N.Y. will take on Devin Powell (6-1) of South Berwick, Maine in one of three lightweight (155 pounds) matchups on the WSOF31 preliminary bout card.

Powell boasts won four straight fights, three by way of (T)KO or submission.

In welterweight (170 pounds) action, Robert Fonseca (10-3, 1 NC) of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil will seek his fourth consecutive victory when he squares off with Sean Lally (4-2) of Orleans, Mass.

Saul “The Spider” Almeida (18-6) of Boston, Mass. will make his third start in the decagon cage in a lightweight matchup with prolific power striker Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington of Bangor, Maine.

Thirty-year-old rising star Rodrigo “The Young Lion” Almeida of Woburn, Mass. will do battle with Ben Pierre-Saint (9-4) of Superior, Wisc. at bantamweight (135 pounds).

In the leadoff preliminary card fight, unbeaten Sam Watford (2-0) of Mount Vernon, N.Y. will face Christian “The Terminator” Torres (0-0) of Endicott, N.Y.

Priced from $39.99, tickets for WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland are on sale at WSOF.com and Foxwoods.com.

Doors at The Grand Theatre at Foxwoods Resort Casino will open at 5 p.m. ET, and the first preliminary card bout will begin at 6 p.m.

In the live NBCSN televised main event, reigning world heavyweight championBlagoy Ivanov (13-1) will risk his title against Josh “Cuddly Bear” Copeland (13-1) while, in the lightweight co-main event, superstars Jason “The Kansas City Bandit” High (19-5) and Mike “The Martian” Ricci (11-4) will square off with their division’s number one contender ranking at stake.

Elsewhere on the live NBCSN telecast, John “Doomsday” Howard (23-12) will make his highly-anticipated World Series of Fighting debut against submission expert Thiago “Minu” Meller (20-7) at welterweight.

In a featherweight (145 pounds) tilt between two prolific strikers, Luis “Baboon” Palomino (24-12) will battle former world championship challenger Sheymon Moraes (8-1).

ABOUT WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING
“World Series of Fighting” (WSOF) is a worldwide 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 and follow “World Series of Fighting” on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries.  WSOF and World Series of Fighting are registered trademarks of MMAWC, LLC.
Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

FAN-FAVORITE DREAM MATCH MORE THAN JUST FANTASY

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Lewiston, Maine (May 19, 2016) – Since long before the dawn of the internet, sports fans have debated the outcome of fantasy meetings between beloved teams and athletes.  What would happen if Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali met in their respective prime?  Could the ’96 Bulls beat the ’86 Lakers?  How would the bats of the ’27 Yankees fare against the starting rotation of the ’98 Braves?  In mixed-martial-arts (MMA), presumably because the sport is so young, fantasy matchups are usually separated by weight classes as opposed to time.

 

Such is the case with the professional middleweight bout recently signed by New England Fights (NEF) for the fight promotion’s June 18 event, “NEF 24: PROMISED LAND,” in Lewiston.  Jesse “The Viking” Erickson (6-5) will move up two weight classes to face Crowsneck Boutin (2-2) at 185-pounds.  It is a fight that fans of both popular athletes never imagined they would see, and now it is happening.

 

Jesse Erickson was unsuccessful in his attempt to capture the vacant NEF MMA Pro Lightweight Title last month at “NEF22.”  The loss to Devin Powell (6-1) put a halt to Erickson’s three-fight win streak.  The upcoming bout with Boutin offers not only a chance for redemption, but a chance for Erickson to fight without going through the rigors of a strenuous weight cut.

 

“Crowsneck is someone who always puts on a good show,” said Erickson.  “I’m excited for the challenge  and look forward to the cage door being locked with us inside.  I truly enjoy getting in that cage and this show I’ll be doing it without the misery of cutting weight.  Don’t miss this fight!”

 

After losing two-in-a-row in the MMA cage and coming up with a draw in a pro boxing bout, Crowsneck Boutin scored a big victory last weekend over Ruben Redman (0-1) in Hyannis, Massachusetts.  The win brought Boutin’s record back up to the .500 mark.  On June 18, he will have the opportunity to add another notch to the win column.

 

“The fight fever is aboard me,” said Boutin.  “I’ll be ready to battle.  Erickson is a bad ass, so I love this fight.  From my perspective, it appears that our dark towers is one in the same.”

 

NEF returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine on June 18, 2016 with “NEF 24: PROMISED LAND.”  Tickets for “NEF 24” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at207.783.2009 x 525.

 

For more information on the events 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.”

 

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL HIGHLIGHTS & DIGITAL VIDEO RECAP FOR ‘BELLATOR 155’

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CARVALHO AND MANHOEF MEET WITH MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE ON THE LINE THIS FRIDAY AT ‘BELLATOR 155’ – LIVE AND FREE ON SPIKE

 

 

CONFERENCE CALL HIGHLIGHTS

Bellator President Scott Coker, along with “Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” main and co-main event fighters Rafael Carvalho (12-1), Melvin Manhoef (30-12-1), Pat Curran(21-7) and Georgi Karakhanyan (24-5-1) all joined this afternoon’s official media conference call to promote this Friday’s event.

 

Scott Coker

“We’re excited to be in Boise, fighting at the Century Link Arena. I think this is a fight town that has been hungry for a big MMA promotion and we’re proud to be the first to do it. We’ve got a great middleweight world title fight between Carvalho and Manhoef… Carvalho is coming off of a big win with a KO over Brandon Halsey and undoubtedly this fight is going to have a bunch of fireworks between both of these guys.”

 

On the fight between Curran and Karakhanyan…

“I definitely think that this fight has some title implications but we always like to see how the fight pans out…honestly if this is something that’s exciting and a barn burner and if this fight can stand on its own feet, it very well could be.”

 

On if a Bellator bonus structure is going to come to fruition in the future…

“It is something we’re working on but we’re just a little bit different, because we’re a premium TV model so it’s something that has been considered, but right now it’s something that is still just in dialogue.”

 

Rafael Carvalho

“I am excited and really think this could be historical. It’s going to be a lot of strikes and it’s going to be a kickboxing fight with MMA gloves.”

 

“Every fight you’ve got to show what you got. In this fight, it’s going to be no different [now that I’m a champ]. I’m going to show everything I’ve got and I am always looking forward to the next fight.

“People recognize me more now and I have gained more respect now as the champion…Winning the belt for the first time is one thing, but the real deal is when you defend the belt and keep the belt. That’s when you become the real champion.

 

On overcoming challenges of living in Rio…

“There are good people as well as bad but the only thing that is going to dictate your future is you and how hard you work for it. It doesn’t matter where you live or what kind of clothing you wear, if you put your mind into it and are willing to work hard for it.

 

Melvin Manhoef

“I look forward to making a kickboxing with small gloves. I am prepared for anything so it doesn’t matter what’s going to happen. I am looking forward to being there and doing what I do best, which is the striking, so for me it’s very nice that he wants to do the kickboxing in the cage with me.

 

Do you feel like people are counting you out heading into this fight?

“I don’t know what people are thinking but it all depends on what me and my team think and the fans who are supporting me think. I feel like the fight is still in me and I showed it at my last fight. I trained real hard for this fight and my goal is to show it again that you cannot count me out… You know my fight style; I do everything to knock people out so I am glad if [Carvalho] wants to make a kick boxing fight out of it.”

 

What would winning the Bellator title mean to you?

“It means a lot, with all of the hard work and a lot of people writing me off, but I think this is like a new era or new beginning for me and I could become a world champion. I think that being a fighter that’s been in the business so long, it has been an achievement already.”

 

Pat Curran

“I am really excited to step in there on Friday and put on a dominant performance. I have made a lot of changes in my life, in my camp and everything is falling into place right now and I’m excited to showcase that on Friday.”

 

Do the stakes of this fight change for you as they would for a title?

“I feel like every fight at this point in your career, especially in this division is do-or-die and if you win you’re going to get that much pull-through coming or having the chance to fight for the title again and I feel like over and over George and I have been that much closer to another title shot.”

 

Georgi Karakhanyan

“I can’t wait for Friday night. I am going out there with nothing to lose, just going 100 percent and fighting my fight and come out with a victory.”

 

On this being a potential title eliminator and going up against two-time champ Curran…

“I know everybody is talking about the title but to me I don’t think about that, right now I have a good opponent in front of me with Pat Curran, a former champion and I can’t ask for a better opponent than him. I am very excited, I cannot wait and I am ready to put on a great show and I’m for sure coming out with my hands right.”

 

On coming back from surgery and making adjustments…

“I treat everything the same, I got about five surgeries last year and the last surgery was just a meniscus tear but after that, Bellator took good care of me. They put me in a very good rehab place and I’ve started my training and feel 100 percent.”

 

DIGITAL RECAP

 

“Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” emanates from CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho airs LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 9e/8c. In preparation for the event, Bellator’s digital team has put together captivating new content, which you can view by clicking on the images below. Tune in to Bellator’s YouTube page for an inside look and more exclusive footage at what’s still to come.

 

 

Champions: Rafael Carvalho – The middleweight champion does NOT listen to the naysayers; he finds a way to win. Jimmy Smith breaks it down.

  

Foundations: Melvin Manhoef – Melvin Manhoef only knows one way to fight…All in! Either way somebody is going lights out. Jimmy Smith breaks it down.

 

 

Foundations: Marloes Coenen – Marloes Coenen  is a level above her competition, the MMA Pioneer show it every time she steps into the cage. Jimmy Smith explains.

  

What to Watch: Carvalho vs. Manhoef – This is for the Middleweight Championship! Rafael Carvalho and Melvin Manhoef will be a battle between masters of two opposing disciplines. Jimmy Smith and Manny Rodriguez break it all down.

 

 

What to Watch: Held vs. Jansen – Marcin Heldis a monster on the mat and Dave Jansen will have to find a way to negate that submission game. Jimmy Smith breaks it down.

  

What to Watch: Curran vs. Karakhanyan – There is a special energy in the Featherweight division. The competition is stiff and the winner will be in title contention while the loser may be put in the back of a long line of contenders. Jimmy Smith and Manny Rodriguez explain.

 

 

Rolling With Jimmy – The Bellator Featherweight takes a ride in Jimmy Smith’s 1969 Plymouth Barracuda. He shares how it feels to be in a stacked division and his desire to fight the best in the world.

 

 

FIGHT INFO:           A middleweight championship matchup between Rafael Carvalho (12-1) and Melvin Manhoef (30-12-1) will serve as the evening’s main event of “Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho, Friday, May 20.

 

In addition, the main card features two of Bellator MMA’s top featherweights, with Pat “Paddy Mike” Curran (21-7) and Georgi “Insane” Karakhanyan (24-5-1) squaring off in the co-main event.Alexis “Sneaky Zebra” Dufresne (21-4) will make her promotional debut after agreeing to a late addition bout against Dutch submission specialist Marloes “Rumina” Coenen (23-6) in female featherweight action. There will also be multiple heavyweight bouts featured on the main card, with Dan Charles (10-3) taking on undefeated Augusto Sakai (9-0) and Joey Beltran (17-12) facing off against Chase Gormley (12-5).

 

Tickets for “Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” are going fast and can be purchased at the CenturyLink Arena Box Office or CenturyLinkArenaBoise.com, as well as Bellator.com. The event airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while the can’t-misspreliminary card airs live on Bellator.com and The Bellator Mobile App.

 

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

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

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

 

TICKTES ON SALE NOW AT THEO2.CO.UK

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Updated “Bellator 158: London” Fight Card

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

Preliminary Card:

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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