JOSH BARNETT MAKES HIS BELLATOR DEBUT AGAINST RONNY MARKES IN HEAVYWEIGHT MAIN EVENT ON PARAMOUNT NETWORK
LOS ANGELES –To honor the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, Bellator MMA has once again partnered with the USO to present a special live event free for the troops, along with their friends and families, pa Lachisanu, December 20. Emanating from Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii, this unique show will be headlined by a heavyweight bout featuring the Bellator debuts of “The Warmaster”Josh Barnett (35-8) ndipo Ronny Markes (19-7).
For a second year, the USO and Bellator team up to honor the men and women who fight for our freedom and to bring entertainment and a piece of home to service members based in Hawaii during the holiday season. Izi Salute the Troopsevent will bring Bellator athletes and personalities to the military community and provide a live free event as a thank you for their sacrifices and dedication to our country, especially for those who are separated from family and home during the holidays. Much like last year, Bellator and the USO will also partner for a week of special events in Hawaii leading up to the big weekend of exciting fights on December 20 ndipo 21.
As the leading military support organization, the USO strengthens America’s military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country, throughout their service to the nation. This holiday season, hundreds of thousands of service members will remain on duty, away from home. The USO, through its programs, services and entertainment tours, is committed to bringing a piece of home to our nation’s service men and women. MMA fans and military supporters can help keep troops strong and connected to home by visitingwww.USO.org/Holidaysand by using the hashtag#USOHolidayswhen sharing how they have helped the USO’s critical mission to make the holidays special for our military heroes.
Bellator and the USO Present: Salute the Troopswill air on Paramount Network on Friday, December 20 pa 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT. The entire event will also stream on DAZN, while preliminary bouts will stream onBellator.comand globally on theBellator Mobile App. Details for exclusive ticket distribution will be announced in the coming days.
This unforgettable night will be part of an historic weekend culminating with the previously announcedBellator Hawaii: Macfarlane vs. Jackson lachiwelu, December 21. This highly-anticipated fight card includes undefeated Bellator women’s flyweight champIlima-lei Macfarlanedefending her title againstKate Jackson, ndipo A.J. McKee kutenga Derek M'mindain a quarterfinal matchup of the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix.
After signing with Bellator in April, former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett will make his return to MMA competition for the first time since 2016. A second-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Barnett has remained prevalent in the combat sports realm, competing in jiu-jitsu events, promoting and performing at his own professional wrestling shows and working as a color commentator for New Japan Pro Wrestling. Barnett is no stranger to the devoted MMA fanbase in Hawaii, fighting for regional Hawaiian promotion Superbrawl in 1999 ndipo 2000, a stint that included three fights in one night to win the Superbrawl 13 heavyweight tournament. One of the top heavyweights of all-time, the Strikeforce, Kunyada, UFC, K-1, NJPW, Pancrase, and Affliction mainstay owns victories over legendary stars, including Dan Severn (2×), Semmy Schilt (2×), Randy Couture, Mark Hunt, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Pedro Rizzo, Sergei Kharitonov, Frank Mir, Roy Nelsonand Andrei Arlovski.
Fighting professionally since 2007, Ronny Markes will join the Bellator ranks following 26-fights all over the globe including three wins in UFC. Competing for a majority of his nearly 13-year career at middleweight, the 31-year-old will now lace up the gloves as a Bellator heavyweight. Hailing from Natal, Brazil, Markes is coming off a TKO victory in June, and will add another big-name fighter to his list of opposition, a list that includes fights against Yoel Romero, Thiago Santos, Aaron Simpson and Paulo Filho.
Kusinthidwa Bellator and the USO Present: Salute the TroopsFight Card:
Heavyweight Main Event:Josh Barnett (35-8) vs. Ronny Markes (19-7)
Tampa, Fla. (October 31, 2019) –United Fight Alliance (UFA),a Sports, Media and Entertainment Company comprised of fight promotions across the country and abroad, has signed a distribution agreement withNBC Sports Bostonto expand its existing distribution onNBC Sports Chicago, Washington, Philadelphia, California ndipoNorthwest. Beginning in November, Combat Sports fans can now watch UFA’s one-hour programming, which features intense fights from the best names and up-and-coming fighters in MMA, Nkhonya, Muay Thai, Lethwei, Kickboxing and more, throughout the New England area.
UFA’s CEOJay Adams anati, “I grew up in Boston, so this is a bit of a homecoming and a real treat for me. I got my start in sports broadcasting at WBZ-TV and was very lucky to work under the tutelage of elite anchors, reporters and producers including Al Miller, Mike Dowling, Bob Neumeier and the New England Sports Grand Pooh-Bah himself, Bob Lobel. With the Pats, Bruins, Celtics and Sox, New England Sports Fans are used to the best and that’s just what we plan on bringing them!“
United Fight Alliance’s debut program on NBCS Boston airs thisLoweruka, November 2ndat 11pm ET. UFA will typically air Saturdays at 10pm or 11pm ET subject to the live event schedule. UFA averages over 130 hours of airing time a month throughout the US and with the addition of NBC Sports Boston UFA will now reach over 79 million households domestically.
NBC Sports Bostonreaches more than 4 million households in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Programming includes theBoston Celtics, New England Revolution,Arbella Early Edition, Boston Sports Tonight, Celtics Post Up, Talkin’ Baseball, Monday Night Patriots, Quick Slants, New England Tailgate, Football Day in New England including pre and post-game programs surrounding all Patriots games, CAA football, basketball and more.
NBC Sports Californiabroadcasts regional coverage of professional and college sports events throughout Central and Northern California and offers live coverage of MLB’s Oakland Athletics, NBA’s Sacramento Kings and NHL’s San Jose Sharks. The network also airs select MLS San Jose Earthquake games.
NBC Sports Northwestserves all of Washington State and Oregon and is the 24/7 exclusive home of the Portland Trail Blazers. The network also provides in-depth coverage of the region’s most prominent teams including the Seattle Seahawks, Oregon Ducks and Oregon St. Beavers.
NBC Sports Chicagois the regional sports home of the Blackhawks (NHL), Bulls (NBA), Cubs (MLB), White Sox (MLB), along with providing extensive coverage of the Bears (NFL) and additional locally focused collegiate/preps programming.
NBC Sports Washingtonis the official sports network of the NHL’s Washington Capitals, NBA’s Washington Wizards, NFL’s Washington Redskins and ACC. NBC Sports Washington – the leading multiplatform sports media organization serving the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia – delivers more than 400 live events per year, along with Emmy Award-winning news, analysis and entertainment programming.
NBC Sports Philadelphia presents live game coverage and original programming to nearly three million viewers in the Philadelphia area, Kum'mwera New Jersey ndi Delaware. The network features the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, NBA a Philadelphia 76ers, MLB a Philadelphia Phillies, plus has extensive coverage of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Bellator is a leading global mixed martial arts and kickboxing promotion featuring many of the best athletes in the world. Motsogoleredwa ndi msirikali wakale nkhondo kulimbikitsa Scott Coker, Bellator events take place in major cities worldwide and can be seen on television in over 160 countries to an available audience of over one billion people. Mu United States, Bellator can be seen on both Paramount Network and DAZN, the world’s first truly dedicated LIVE sports streaming service. Bellator is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, moyo chochitika orchestration, womenya chitukuko / anagona, bwaloli zogula, zothandizira chilengedwe / chitukuko, mayiko kupereka malayisensi, malonda, otsatsa, zafalitsidwa ndi ntchito anagona. Bellator is based in Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, kunyumba kwa dziko la Premier zosangalatsa zopangidwa kuti kugwirizana ndi omvera mwa kuyenera okhutira kudutsa TV, filimu, Intaneti ndi mafoni nsanja.
About Paramount Network:
Paramount Network is a premium entertainment destination that pushes the limits of story-telling with bold original scripted and non-scripted series. Inspired by over a century of cinema, Paramount Network is where today’s brightest stars bring the experience of the big screen to every screen with stories that are immersive, inclusive, and deeply personal.
About DAZN:
DAZN is the largest global sports streaming platform in the world. Since launching in 2016, DAZN has expanded across four continents with the app currently available for download in the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Japan and Brazil. In the U.S., DAZN has made its mark as an attractive alternative to pay-per-view within the combat sports industry. The platform features big fights from Matchroom Boxing, Golden Boy Zokwezedwa, GGG Zokwezedwa, Bellator MMA, the World Boxing Super Series and Combate Americas, all for one affordable price, on any device – including smart TVs, mafoni a m'manja, Miyala, games consoles and PCs. DAZN also features live MLB action each day of the season with its new daily show, ChangeUp. The much-anticipated daily program The Pat McAfee Show launched in September.
SAITAMA SUPER ARENA TO HOSTBELLATOR JAPAN SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29 – LIVE ON PARAMOUNT NETWORK
TICKETS ON SALE NOVEMBER 3
Los Angeles– For the first time in the organization’s history, Bellator travels to Japan and the iconic Saitama Super Arena for an historic event, monga Fedor Emelianenko(38-6, 1 NC) ndipo Quinton "akufalikira" Jackson(38-13) square off in a long-awaited heavyweight showdown. Bellator Japan: Fedor vs. Akufalikira, powered by RIZIN, takes place Sunday, December 29 and will air LIVE on Paramount Network.
Matikiti Bellator Japan: Fedor vs. Akufalikira go on sale November 3. Additional bouts are expected to be announced in the coming days.
“For Bellator’s debut in Japan, we wanted to bring a massive event and fighters that the Japanese fans really connect with,” said Bellator President Scott Coker. “Given the vast history of martial arts and MMA in Japan, and especially at Saitama Super Arena, this will be a very special show that no one will want to miss.This will, unquestionably, be a monumental event for Bellator and I am looking forward to the moment that Fedor and ‘Rampage’ walk out to a crowd that has known them since their careers began. I would also like to thank RIZIN for their help in making this event a possibility and we look forward to working together in the near future to showcase the best talent each organization has to offer.”
Fighting out of Stary Oskol, Belgorod Oblast, Russia, Fedor Emelianenko returns to Japan following a successful run in the Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix earlier this year, where he earned consecutive first-round knockouts overChael Sonnen ndipo Frank Mir. A former PRIDE FC Heavyweight Champion and PRIDE 2004 Heavyweight World Grand Prix Champion, “The Last Emperor” returns to where his career started. Often referred to as “The GOAT” by fans around the world, his career resume stands as one of the most impressive in the history of the sport with victories over Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mirko Cro Cop, Mark Hunt, Mark Coleman and Andrei Arlovski, ndi zina zotero. Ndi 29 career victories ending via finish, the punching power and world-class Sambo of the stoic Russian could result in yet another defining moment in his illustrious career.
An eight-fight veteran of Bellator, “Rampage” Jackson’s legendary career has seen him compete against some of the top names in the sport, generating a loyal army of fans along the way. The former PRIDE and UFC champion is the proud owner of many epic highlight reel slams and knockouts that he has racked up throughout his epic battles with the likes of Chuck Liddell, Dan Henderson, "King Mo" Lawal, Kevin Randleman and, perhaps most-notably, his four-fight series with Wanderlei Silva. The Memphis, Tennessee-native has long been seen as an icon to MMA fans around the globe and has openly voiced a desire to face Fedor in front of a Japanese crowd before his career comes to an end. Tsopano, the two legends will finally meet inside the Bellator cage on December 29 at the famed Saitama Super Arena.
Kusinthidwa Bellator Japan: Fedor vs. Akufalikira Fight Card:
Heavyweight Main Event: Fedor Emelianenko (38-6, 1 NC) vs. Quinton "akufalikira" Jackson (38-13)
Cuba Olympian & UFC Veteran Looks to Conquer BKFC Light Heavyweight Division
FILADEFIYA (October 8, 2019) – Former Olympian and UFC standoutHector Lombard has become the latest fighter to sign withBare Knuckle Fighting Championship(Mtengo BKFC) as he looks to make his mark in the biggest and best bare knuckle fights that the sport has to offer.
Lombard is the first-ever Olympian to sign with BKFC, having represented Cuba in judo in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
“I’ve wanted to fight for this amazing organization for a while and I’m excited that it’s all come together,” said Lombard, who will compete in the 185-pound light heavyweight division. “Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship is the next level of fighting and I am glad to be part of it.”
“Hector Lombard is one of the most devastating punchers in MMA history and we are looking for Hector to make a huge splash with BKFC,” said BKFC founder and president David Feldman. “Monga zimakupiza, I cannot wait to see how Hector does in the squared circle. He’s exciting and explosive. This is an incredible signing.”
Lombard also holds the distinction of being the first Bellator champion to sign with BKFC. He was the inaugural Bellator middleweight champion, winning the title in 2009. Lombard went 8 – 0 in Bellator with seven finishes, including a six-second knockout of UFC veteran Jay Silva in May of 2010.
Lombard relinquished the Bellator middleweight championship in 2012, when he moved to the UFC. In the UFC, Lombard fought a total of 12 nthawi, recording notable knockout wins against Rousimar Palhares and Nate Marquardt.
In his professional MMA career, Lombard tallied 34 yapambana, 22 of which have come by knockout or TKO. He is regarded as one of the hardest punching middleweights and welterweights in MMA history.
Lombard is from Cuba and moved to Australia after the 2000 Chilimwe Olympic. He now lives in Florida.
ZAMBIRI, BELLATOR’S FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD GRAND PRIX CONTINUES AS UNDEFEATED A.J. MCKEE MEETS DEREK CAMPOS IN FIRST QUARTERFINAL MATCHUP
Tickets on sale next Friday, Oct. 11
Los Angeles– For the second time in as many years, Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii will host the homecoming ofIlima-lei Macfarlane (10-0), as she puts her undefeated record and Bellator women’s flyweight title on the line against No. 1 contender Kate Jackson (11-3-1) in the main event on Saturday, Dec. 21, streamed exclusively on the DAZN app.
Kuphatikiza apo, Bellator Hawaiiwill feature the first quarterfinal matchup of Bellator’s Featherweight World Grand Prix, when the man with the longest winning streak in promotional history, A.J. McKee(15-0), takes on the always-excitingDerek M'minda (20-9) in the evening’s co-headliner.
Bellator: Macfarlane vs. Jackson –one of the star-powered, year-end highlights of fight season on DAZN – will stream live exclusively onDAZN pa 10 p.m. Opuma / 7 p.m. PT, while preliminary action will stream onBellator.com, DAZNand globally on theBellator Mobile App. Tickets go on sale next Friday, Oct. 11 and can be purchased through Bellator.com, as well as Ticketmaster.com or the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena box office. Additional bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.
Born and raised in Honolulu, current Bellator women’s flyweight champ Macfarlane made her pro debut in 2015 with a KO victory that went viral and has not looked back since, remaining undefeated in her career. With impressive victories overValerie Letourneaundipo Veta Arteaga, Macfarlane was the focal point of Bellator’s debut in Hawaii last year. A proud graduate of Honolulu’s Punahou High School in 2009, Macfarlane later attended San Diego State University, where she would go on to earn her Master’s degree in liberal arts and science with a focus on indigenous issues – a subject she remains passionate about, launching“The Ilimanator Scholarship”for indigenous girls last year. Now Ilima-Lei turns her focus to Kate Jackson, who will be looking to play the role of spoiler when she enters the Bellator cage on December 21.
A winner of seven of her last eight fights, Kate Jackson has earned her way to a title shot against the division’s inaugural champion. A competitor on the 23rd season ofChapamwamba Wankhondo, Jackson hails from Lostwithiel, Cornwall, England, and most recently defeatedLena Ovchynnikova mu London. Jackson made her Bellator debut in 2017 with a first round-victory over ofColleen Schneiderand would later go on to dominate Anastasia Yankova at historicBellator 200in front of her hometown crowd. Facing the biggest test of her career, Jackson looks to reign atop the flyweight division when she leaves Hawaii.
With an undefeated professional record of 15-0, including six knockouts and eight first round finishes, there doesn’t seem to be much more for the talent-oozing 24-year-old to prove to the MMA community before his name is routinely mentioned among the division’s elite. Fighting out of Long Beach, Calif., “Mercenary” is fresh off of a jaw-dropping performance that saw him finishGeorgi Karakhanyanin only eight seconds just moments after watching his father, Antonio mckee, collect a knockout victory in what was the first ever father-son duo to compete on the same card in the US. With all 15 of his career wins coming under the direction of the Scott Coker-led promotion, the Team BodyShop product has made it clear that he has his sights onPatricio “Pitbull”and his 145-pound belt, as he continues to build a strong argument as the new face of Bellator. Constantly looking for new records to break, McKee may have found the perfect match in Campos, as the two brawlers have combined for a remarkable 22 finishes over 36 ntchito kupambana.
Fighting out of Lubbock, Texas, Campos will be competing in the first of the four quarterfinal matchups in Bellator’s Featherweight World Grand Prix, following a decisive victory over former featherweight world championDaniel Straus pa Bellator 226this past September. The 31-year-old knockout artist is ready to build on his impressive professional record of 20-9, when he takes on undefeated superstar McKee on December 21. Always ready to trade blows, the heavy-handed veteran has spent much of his time competing in Bellator’s lightweight and welterweight divisions over the past six years of his career. Tsopano, “The Stallion” hopes to continue his impressive surge in the 145-pound class, as he prepares to go toe-to-toe with one of the most dangerous featherweights in the world. With a shot at one million dollars on the line, Campos will rely on his fearless fighting style and sound wrestling background if he wants to advance in what many have pinned as one of the most anticipated matchups in the second round.
Bellator Hawaii: Macfarlane vs. Jackson Main Khadi:
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 M'minda (20-9)
