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Multiple High-Profile Fights Added to Both Nights of BELLATOR MMA’s Hawaii Double-Header on April 21 and 22

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BELLATOR 295 MAIN CARD GETS AN UPDATED MAIN CARD START TIME OF 11 P.M. ET/8 P.M. PT

FRIDAY’S SHOW IS FREE TO ALL FIRST RESPONDERS, MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES, WHILE TICKETS FOR SATURDAY’S EVENT ARE CURRENTLY ON SALE

LOS ANGELES – The two main cards for BELLATOR MMA’s annual doubleheader on the Hawaiian island of Oahu are complete with the addition of today’s confirmed bouts. 

Honolulu’s Neal S. Blaisdell Arena will play home to a pair of events on back-to-back nights with BELLATOR 294 taking place Friday, April 21 and BELLATOR 295 taking place Saturday, April 22. 

BELLATOR 294: Carmouche vs. Bennett 2 – Friday, April 21

Main card airs live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT/4 p.m. local HST

BELLATOR 294: Carmouche vs. Bennett 2 on Fridayhas two new main card contests, bringing Friday’s slate to five fights in total. Former BELLATOR bantamweight title challenger and No. 5-ranked Danny Sabatello (13-2) will return to action for the first time since his shot at the world championship, when he competes against Marcos Breno (15-2), who surprised many people when he bested Josh Hill on the scorecards in his BELLATOR debut. A welterweight contest pitting Levan Chokheli (11-2) and American Top Team’s Michael Lombardo (13-3) is also official for the SHOWTIME-aired portion of the event.

The preliminary card for BELLATOR 294 currently features four fights, including No. 4-ranked heavyweight Tyrell Fortune (12-3), who looks to get back to his winning ways against Russia’s Sergei Bilostennyi (10-2). No. 5-ranked light heavyweight Alex Polizzi (10-2) returns to the BELLATOR cage and will compete against a streaking Karl Moore (11-2), who holds the No. 8 ranking. A lightweight tilt between five-fight BELLATOR veteran Killys Mota (14-3) and promotional newcomer Kenneth Cross (13-3) is official, as is a 145-pound bout between Oregon’s Cris Lencioni (10-3) tangling with Blake Smith (7-3). Rounding out the preliminary card is a middleweight affair between Colorado’s Anthony “Sugafoot” Adams (9-3) and Tajikistan’s Sharaf “Sherkhan” Davlatmurodov (18-4-1).

The card is headlined by a Women’s Flyweight World Championship main event rematch pitting current champion and U.S. Marine Liz Carmouche (18-7) against No. 4 ranked flyweight challenger, DeAnna Bennett (13-7-1). In the evening’s co-main event, No. 6-ranked heavyweight and Minnesota National Guardsman Tim Johnson (15-9) will compete against Said Sowma (8-4). A women’s featherweight contest featuring former UFC title challenger Sara McMann (13-6), who makes her highly anticipated BELLATOR debut against former No. 1 contender, Arlene Blencowe (15-9).

Friday night’s event is being held in honor of America’s Military, Veterans and First-Responders, all of whom are eligible to attend the event with a guest for free entry the day of with valid proof of ID. Free admission is based on a limited capacity and available on a first come-first serve basis.

The BELLATOR 294 preliminary card will stream live on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT/2 p.m. HST. The complete bout listing for both events can be found below.

BELLATOR 295: Stots vs. Mix – Saturday, April 22

Updated Start Time – Main card airs live on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT/5 p.m. local HST

The main card for Saturday’s BELLATOR 295: Stots vs. Mix event has also been sweetened with the addition of homegrown BELLATOR talent and No. 3-ranked Aaron Pico (10-4), who returns from his highly publicized shoulder injury to square off against Brazil’s Otto Rodrigues (13-1), who makes his BELLATOR debut.

The preliminary portion of Saturday’s event also features multiple new, high-profile additions confirmed including a marquee bout pitting two top-ten contenders against each other at featherweight, when No. 6-ranked Mads Burnell (16-4) tests his skills against No. 7-ranked Justin Gonzales (14-1). No. 8-ranked Ilara Joanne (11-6) meets fellow Brazilian Bruna Ellen (6-4) in a women’s flyweight contest, and a welterweight tilt between Alexey Shurkevich (13-5) and Japan’s Masayuki Kikuiri (8-2-1). 

BELLATOR 295 on Saturday is main evented by the Finals of the BELLATOR Bantamweight World Grand Prix, which will see current Interim Champion Raufeon Stots (19-1) face No. 2-ranked Patchy Mix (17-1). In the co-main event, the pride of Honolulu, No. 3-ranked Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (12-2) looks to defend home turf against Japan’s No. 2-ranked Kana Watanabe (11-1-1). Also, at 125-pounds, former BELLATOR World Champion Kyoji Horiguchi (31-5) moves down a division to welcome former UFC Title Challenger Ray Borg (16-5) to the Paramount-owned promotion.

Tickets for BELLATOR 295: Stots vs. Mix are on sale now and are available at Ticketmaster and Bellator.com.

The BELLATOR 295 preliminary card will stream live on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV beginning at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT/1 p.m. HST. The complete bout listing for both events can be found below.

BELLATOR 294: CARMOUCHE VS. BENNETT 2 MAIN CARD:

Friday, April 21 – live on SHOWTIME

10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT/4 p.m. HST (local)

Flyweight World Title Bout: C-Liz Carmouche (18-7) vs. #4-DeAnna Bennett (13-7-1)

Heavyweight Co-Main Event: #6-Tim Johnson (15-9)vs. Said Sowma (8-4)

Featherweight Bout: #2-Arlene Blencowe (15-9) vs. Sara McMann (13-6)

Bantamweight Bout: #5-Danny Sabatello (13-2) vs. Marcos Breno (15-2)

Welterweight Bout: Levan Chokheli (11-2, 1 NC) vs. Michael Lombardo (13-3, 1 NC)

BELLATOR 294: CARMOUCHE VS. BENNETT 2 PRELIMINARY CARD:

BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel | Pluto TV

8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT/2 p.m. HST (local)

Light Heavyweight Bout: #5-Alex Polizzi (10-2) vs. #8-Karl Moore (11-2)

Lightweight Bout: Killys Mota (14-3) vs. Kenneth Cross (13-3)

Heavyweight Bout: #4-Tyrell Fortune (12-3, 1 NC) vs. Sergei Bilostennyi (10-2)

Featherweight Bout: Cris Lencioni (10-3) vs. Blake Smith (7-3)

Middleweight Bout: Anthony Adams (9-3) vs. Sharaf Davlatmurodov (18-4-1)

BELLATOR 295: STOTS VS. MIX MAIN CARD:

Saturday, April 22 – live on SHOWTIME

11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT/5 p.m. HST (local)

Bantamweight World Grand Prix Final: IC-Raufeon Stots (19-2) vs. #2-Patchy Mix (17-1)

Flyweight Bout: #3-Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (12-2) vs. #2-Kana Watanabe (11-1-1)

Featherweight Bout: #3-Aaron Pico (10-4) vs. Otto Rodrigues (13-1)

Flyweight Bout: Kyoji Horiguchi (31-5) vs. Ray Borg (16-5)

BELLATOR 295: STOTS VS. MIX PRELIMINARY CARD:

BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel | Pluto TV

7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT/1 p.m. HST (local)

Featherweight Bout: #6-Mads Burnell (16-4) vs. #7-Justin Gonzales (14-1)

Lightweight Bout: Yancy Medeiros (16-8, 1 NC) vs. Charlie Leary (17-13-1)

Featherweight Bout: Kai Kamaka III (10-5-1) vs. Adli Edwards (9-2)

Flyweight Bout: #9–Sumiko Inaba (5-0) vs. #7-Veta Arteaga (7-4)

Featherweight Bout: Keoni Diggs (10-2) vs. Weber Almeida (7-1)

Lightweight Bout: Bobby King (12-5) vs. Aalon Cruz (10-4)

Heavyweight Bout: Davion Franklin (5-1) vs. Kasim Aras (7-1)

Flyweight Bout: #8-Ilara Joanne (11-6) vs. Bruna Ellen (6-4)

Welterweight Bout: Alexey Shurkevich (13-5) vs. Masayuki Kikuiri (8-2-1)

*Card subject to change.

Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.

Updated schedule of BELLATOR events – click links for updated fight cards

Fri. Mar. 31 // BELLATOR 293: Golm vs. James // Pechanga Resort Casino // Temecula, CA

Fri. Apr. 21 // BELLATOR: 294: Carmouche vs. Bennett 2 // Blaisdell Arena // Honolulu, HI

Sat. Apr. 22 // BELLATOR: 295: Stots vs. Mix // Blaisdell Arena // Honolulu, HI

Fri. May 12 // BELLATOR 296: Mousasi vs. Edwards // Accor Arena // Paris, France

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Showtime

BELLATOR MMA RETURNS TO OAHU FOR AN EXPLOSIVE TWO-NIGHT DOUBLEHEADER APRIL 22-23

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SATURDAY, APRIL 23 – BELLATOR 279 
BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD GRAND PRIX QUARTERFINALS
Champion Sergio Pettis vs. Raufeon Stots
Patchy Mix vs. Kyoji Horiguchi
 
PLUS, BELLATOR FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Champion Cris Cyborg vs. Arlene Blencowe 2
 And Hawaii’s Ilima-Lei Macfarlane vs. Justine Kish
 
DETAILS FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 22 TO BE ANNOUNCED
 
LOS ANGELES – BELLATOR MMA has announced its return to the Hawaiian island of Oahu, where Honolulu’s Neal S. Blaisdell Arena will play home to an extremely stacked duo of events on back-to-back nights Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23.
 
Friday night’s BELLATOR 278 will be a special event free for current military, veterans, and first responders. Matchups and additional details for the event will be announced shortly.
 
Saturday night’s BELLATOR 279 will feature the launch of the highly anticipated one-million-dollar BELLATOR Bantamweight World Grand Prix. The headliner will see current bantamweight world champion Sergio Pettis (22-5) take on No. 3-ranked Raufeon Stots (17-1), while the co-main event features a rematch between the greatest female mixed martial artist of all time, Cris Cyborg (25-2, 1 NC) and Australia’s No. 1-ranked Arlene Blencowe (15-8), who will look to claim gold in her third attempt at a world title.
 
Saturday’s BELLATOR 279: Pettis vs. Stots / Cyborg vs. Blencowe 2 will air live on SHOWTIME at 4:30 p.m. HST local time, 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT. The preliminary fights will stream live on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV beginning at 2 p.m. HST local time, 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
 
Tickets for Saturday night’s BELLATOR 279: Pettis vs. Stots / Cyborg vs. Blencowe 2 go on sale this Friday, March 11 and can be purchased through Bellator.com, as well as Ticketmaster.com or the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena Box Office. A special presale will take place on Thursday, March 10.
 
Also scheduled for a return to action, Honolulu’s own former Women’s Flyweight World Champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (11-1) will return home to compete against Justine Kish (7-5) as the No. 1 ranked women’s flyweight looks to start her journey back to a world title in the same arena two of the most memorable BELLATOR main events in recent memory took place. Opening the four-fight main card is another BELLATOR Bantamweight World Grand Prix quarterfinal matchup between No. 2-ranked bantamweight Patchy Mix (15-1) and former BELLATOR and Rizin Bantamweight World Champion Kyoji Horiguchi (29-4).
 
Current BELLATOR Bantamweight World Champion Sergio “The Phenom” Pettis sits at No. 7 on the promotion’s pound-for-pound list. He successfully defended his belt for the first time against former BELLATOR 135-pound titleholder Kyoji Horiguchi with a “knockout of the year” style finish at BELLATOR 272 in December. The hard-hitting Midwesterner out of Milwaukee originally captured the crown by outpointing former champion Juan Archuleta. The younger brother of former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis will be in for one of the toughest fights of his career when he takes on Raufeon Stots. Stots, who used to train alongside Pettis for several years, has been flawless since making his promotion debut in December 2019. He most recently scored a dominant unanimous decision victory over Magomed Magomedov at BELLATOR 264.
 
Featherweight world champion and top-ranked women’s pound-for-pound fighter Cris “Cyborg” has made three straight title defenses including a second-round submission of Arlene Blencowe in 2020, which surprisingly is the lone submission victory of her storied career. The Brazilian native who currently fights out of Las Vegas, Nev. is a “Grand Slam Champion” having won belts in four different organizations. She sports 20 wins by finish with victories over elite competition including Holly Holm, Leslie Smith (twice), Gina Carano and aims to further her legacy as the greatest women’s mixed martial artist of all time in the rematch versus Blencowe. Australia’s Blencowe is BELLATOR’s No. 6 pound-for-pound female fighter and the No. 1 ranked featherweight. She has won five of her last six fights and earned her shot at the world title rematch with a unanimous decision over Pam Sorenson at BELLATOR 271 in November.
 
Currently BELLATOR’s No. 2 ranked bantamweight, Patchy Mix recently defeated James Gallagher via submission in his last outing at BELLATOR 270 in Dublin. Mix has made a name for himself in the BELLATOR cage by displaying impressive submissions and his lone professional loss came to former champion Juan Archuleta. He now faces Horiguchi, another former world champion who hails from Takasaki, Japan. The American Top Team prodigy Horiguchi became a simultaneous, two-promotion champion in 2019 after he upset then-BELLATOR champion Darrion Caldwell while also holding the RIZIN Championship. After he was forced to relinquish his BELLATOR title due to an injury, Horiguchi nearly got his hands back on BELLATOR’s title but was stopped by current champion Sergio Pettis in December. The No. 5 ranked bantamweight now aims to get back in the winning column and recapture his belt, along with the million-dollar prize that awaits the winner of the BELLATOR Bantamweight World Grand Prix.           
 
BELLATOR MMA 279: Pettis vs. Stots / Cyborg vs. Blencowe 2 Main Card:
Saturday, April 23 – live on SHOWTIME
10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT/4:30 p.m. HST (local)
 
Bantamweight World Title Bout: C-Sergio Pettis (22-5) vs. #3-Raufeon Stots (17-1)
Featherweight World Title Bout: C-Cris “Cyborg” (25-2, 1 NC) vs. #1-Arlene Blencowe (15-8)
Flyweight Bout: #1-Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (11-1) vs. Justine Kish (7-5)
Bantamweight World Grand Prix Bout: #2-Patchy Mix (15-1) vs. #5-Kyoji Horiguchi (29-4)
 
*Card subject to change.
 
Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.
 
Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Showtime

2022 is the Year of the BELLATOR Bantamweight World Grand Prix

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HIGHLY ANTICIPATED EIGHT-MAN TOURNAMENT SET TO DETERMINE 135-POUND WORLD CHAMPION AND $1 MILLION DOLLAR GRAND PRIZE WINNER

YEARLONG TOURNAMENT BEGINS IN FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR, EXCLUSIVELY ON SHOWTIME

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             WATCH TONIGHT’S ANNOUNCEMENT BY CLICKING HERE

LOS ANGELES – It was officially announced at tonight’s BELLATOR 272: Pettis vs. Horiguchi event that next year’s prestigious BELLATOR World Grand Prix will take place in the promotion’s incredibly stacked bantamweight division. The winner of tonight’s 135-Pound World Championship fight between Sergio Pettis and Kyoji Horiguchi will defend their title next year in the Bantamweight World Grand Prix featuring a gauntlet of the eight best athletes the weight class has to offer.

In addition to both Pettis and Horiguchi, the Bantamweight World Grand Prix is set to feature former divisional champion Juan Archuleta, No. 2 ranked-Raufeon Stots, No. 3 ranked-Patchy Mix, No. 4 ranked-Magomed Magomedov, No. 5 ranked-Leandro Higo, and No. 6 ranked-James Gallagher, who will all vie for the right to be named the next BELLATOR Bantamweight World Champion and take home a grand prize of one-million-dollars.

First-round matchups and additional details such as dates, locations and tournament alternates will be revealed soon.

All tournament bouts will be five-round contests and will be telecast in the United States exclusively on SHOWTIME.

Former BELLATOR Bantamweight World Champion Kyoji Horiguchi enters tonight’s contest unranked due to inactivity within the promotion. Official BELLATOR Rankings will be updated and distributed on Monday, Dec. 6.

Champion – Sergio Pettis (21-5):

Fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc., Sergio Pettis captured the BELLATOR bantamweight crown in May 2021 by outpointing former champion Juan Archuleta in a fast-paced contest at BELLATOR 258. During a nearly six-year, 14-fight UFC stint, the Roufusport-product competed in both the flyweight and bantamweight classes, collecting nine victories and a pair of “Fight of the Night” honors against Alex Caceres and Matt Hobar in 2014. Prior to his UFC tenure, Pettis, the younger brother of former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, earned world titles in Resurrection Fighting Alliance’s flyweight division and North American Fighting Championship’s 135-pound class. Following a trio of impressive triumphs over some of the division’s elite, BELLATOR’s bantamweight champion is set to protect his belt and an unblemished 3-0 promotional mark entering the tournament.

Former BELLATOR Bantamweight Champion – Kyoji Horiguchi (29-3):

Hailing from Takasaki, Japan, the 31-year-old Kyoji Horiguchi is the reigning RIZIN bantamweight champion who notoriously became a simultaneous, two-promotion champion in 2019 after taking down and upsetting then-BELLATOR champion Darrion Caldwell at Madison Square Garden. Unfortunately, an injury would force Horiguchi to relinquish his BELLATOR title in 2019, and he now looks to reclaim his belt in a main event clash with current champion Sergio Pettis at BELLATOR 272. While with RIZIN, the American Top Team-product amassed an impressive 10-1 promotional mark, highlighted by eight finishes and five first-round knockouts. Additionally, more than half of Horiguchi’s career victories have come via knockout. Now, after reclaiming his RIZIN bantamweight strap and avenging only his third loss in 32 outings with a highlight-reel, opening-round knockout over Kai Asakura on New Year’s Eve 2020, the Japanese sensation fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla., aims to get his hands back on BELLATOR’s title

No. 1 Ranked Bantamweight – Juan Archuleta (25-3):

With the Bantamweight World Grand Prix set, former BELLATOR World Champion and No. 1-ranked Juan Archuleta sees a clear path toward regaining the 135-pound crown. Armed with 25 professional victories, including 12 by way of K.O. or submission, the “Spaniard” has no issues stopping opponents inside the BELLATOR cage. The former four-division King of the Cage world champion, who holds victories over Patchy Mix, Henry Corrales, and Ricky Bandejas, strives to keep that trend going throughout the Grand Prix.

No. 2 Ranked Bantamweight – Raufeon Stots (17-1):

Considered one of the world’s best 135-pound fighters, Raufeon “Supa” Stots has been in the title conversation since his 2019 BELLATOR debut. Currently riding a nine-fight winning streak, the No. 2-ranked bantamweight has defeated some of BELLATOR’s finest, including Magomed Magomedov and Josh Hill, by smothering opponents with top-tier grappling ability. Sporting a near-perfect 17-1 record, the Roufusport product and two-time NCAA Division II Champion now has an opportunity to compete for a long-awaited crown.

No. 3 Ranked Bantamweight – Patchy Mix (15-1):

Set to make his sixth promotional appearance under the BELLATOR umbrella, the pride of Angola, N.Y., has collected two-first round submission victories while compiling a 4-1 record with the Scott Coker-led promotion. The 28-year-old Buffalo, N.Y. native looks to build off his most recent win at BELLATOR 270 over James Gallagher in his opponent’s hometown of Dublin, Ireland, last month. Prior to his time with BELLATOR, Mix dominated the competition while on the regional scene by collecting nine of his 15 professional victories, including five first-round finishes. Now, the submission specialist will face the toughest challenge of his career, a shot at the tournament’s $1 million prize and BELLATOR’s 135-pound strap.

No. 4 Ranked Bantamweight – Magomed Magomedov (18-2):

After capturing belts in different organizations, Dagestani phenom Magomed Magomedov hopes to add to his collection by taking home BELLATOR gold. Amassing an impressive 18-2 career record with 12 via finish, “Tiger” has made a swift impact on the BELLATOR 135-pound division since his December 2020 promotional debut by climbing to No. 4 in the rankings. Possessing both a blistering pace and superior grappling, Magomedov has the potential to be a nightmare matchup for anyone in the BELLATOR Bantamweight World Grand Prix.

No. 5 Ranked Bantamweight – Leandro Higo (21-5):

After dropping in weight to 135-pounds, Leandro Higo has been on a tear by winning three consecutive fights and putting the entire bantamweight division on notice. Under the tutelage of the famed Pitbull Brothers camp, the Brazilian is coming off a hard-fought, split-decision victory over former Bantamweight World Champion Darrion Caldwellat BELLATOR 259 in May 2021. As 12 of Higo’s 21 pro victories have come by submission, the entire bracket knows that the No. 5-ranked bantamweight will not be an easy out.

No. 6 Ranked Bantamweight – James Gallagher (11-2):

Hailing from Strabane, Ireland, one of MMA’s brightest young fighters strives to notch his 12th career victory in a tournament stacked with 135-pound talent. Following a finish over Anthony Taylor at BELLATOR 169 in December 2016 and a pair of first-round submissions the following year, “The Strabanimal” has tallied four victories over his past six contests, including three first-round finishes and a highlight reel 35-second win at BELLATOR 227. Poised for the biggest test of his young career, the former SBG Ireland-product aims to shed the shadow of former training partner, Conor McGregor, and add to his own legacy with a shot at BELLATOR bantamweight gold.

Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.

****

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Showtime

Official Fight Night Results, Quotes & Photos for BELLATOR MMA 264: Mousasi vs. Salte

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COMPLETE FIGHT NIGHT PHOTOS HERE – (PLEASE CREDIT: BELLATOR MMA / LUCAS NOONAN)
 
POST-FIGHT VIDEO INTERVIEWS HERE  
 
c-Gegard Mousasi (48-7-2) defeated #1-John Salter (18-5) via TKO (punches) at 2:07 of round three
 
Gegard Mousasi following retaining his middleweight title:
 
“He’s a southpaw so everything is more difficult. It was a little bit more difficult to get my punches in, but other than that I felt good. I’m way stronger than people think. Maybe I look skinny but I’m a lot stronger and physically I was the stronger guy in there. On top, I felt like I could just pressure him, put my weight on him and hurt him with my punches. Make him feel the pressure. It was a five-rounder so in my mind, I’m saying ‘Okay, don’t do everything now because we can go five.’”
  
Andrey Koreshkov (24-4) defeated #10-Sabah Homasi (15-10) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
 
Andrey Koreshkov following his return to the BELLATOR MMA Cage:
 
“I try to show everybody that I’m here, I can compete, and I can beat anyone. I think I’m one of the top fighters in this division. In my opinion, I must fight with somebody for the third, second or first place. I’m open to anybody. It doesn’t matter. Neiman Gracie, Jason Jackson, Paul Daley, Michael “Venom” Page – anybody!”
  
#4-Raufeon Stots (17-1) defeated #3-Magomed Magomedov (18-2) via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
 
Raufeon Stots following his impressive victory:
 
“I’ve never claimed to be the best wrestler in MMA, but y’all better stop sleeping on my wrestling. I’m a two-time national champion for a reason. Ain’t nobody stopping me in the wrestling division. I’m the best wrestler in the division.”
 
#7-Davion Franklin (4-0) defeated Everett Cummings (15-1) via KO (punches) at :21 of round one
 
Davion Franklin has his sights set on fellow BELLATOR heavyweight Cheick Kongo:
 
“I was just thinking about putting him out. Getting him out in the first round. That was my goal this whole time. I learned just to keep going. By the way, I heard Cheick Kongo commented under Everett Cummings’ Instagram post saying that Everett’s gonna’ tap me out. Hey Cheick Kongo, step up, you’ll get done the same way, if not worse.”
 
Khadzhi Bestaev (11-4) defeated Ty Gwerder (5-3) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
 
Khadzhi Bestaev had this to say following a successful BELLATOR debut:

“He was bigger than me and very tough, but I knew he was going to gas out. He started gassing out in the second or third round, but I’m still surprised by the decision. I thought it was a draw or maybe a split-decision. But I have to see the fight. In my head, he kicked and punched me so many times so hats off to him. He didn’t give up. I just dropped him a couple of times and that was the difference.”
 
Preliminary Card: 
Pam Sorenson (9-3) defeated Roberta Samad (5-1) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Jeffrey Glossner (3-2) defeated Sebastian Ruiz (2-4) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28-29-28)
Jon McNeil (1-0) defeated Orlando Mendoza (0-1) via TKO (punches) at 3:57 of round three
 
Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.
 
About BELLATOR
BELLATOR MMA is a leading global mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter 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. In the United States, BELLATOR can be seen on SHOWTIME. BELLATOR 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 Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant ViacomCBS, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.
Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA

BELLATOR MMA 263: PITBULL VS. MCKEE VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

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 FULL PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO HERE
 
LOS ANGELES – June 17, 2021 – BELLATOR MMA’s Featherweight and Lightweight World Champion Patricio Pitbull (32-4) and undefeated top-ranked challenger AJ McKee (17-0) previewed their must-watch Featherweight World Grand Prix Final and 145-pound title fight during a virtual press conference Wednesday. Both fighters’ head coaches, Eric Albarracin of Team Pitbull Brothers, and Antonio McKee of Team Bodyshop, also chimed in with a look at the final preparations both fight camps are taking as we approach the massive event.
 
BELLATOR 263: Pitbull vs. McKee will emanate from the Forum in Inglewood, Calif., and will air live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Tickets for the event go on sale tomorrow, Friday, June 18 at BELLATOR.com and Ticketmaster.com.
  
Here is what the fighters and their coaches had to say Wednesday:
 
Patricio Pitbull, BELLATOR Featherweight World Champion & BELLATOR Lightweight World Champion
 
“I’m a little bit older and faster than the rest of my division and I’m going to use this in my favor. (22:47)
 
“Of all the opponents I’ve faced, AJ is the most dangerous, and I know that. With that being said, I know that I’m going to win this fight and prove his father wrong. (26:18)
 
“At the beginning of his career, he faced very low-level guys. He has a few wins over tough opponents, but he’s never fought anyone like me. He claims that he is ready for me, but he isn’t, and he’ll learn that very quickly in front of his home crowd.” (38:48)
 
AJ McKee, No. 1 Ranked BELLATOR Featherweight & Featherweight World Grand Prix Finalist 
 
“It’s been a great journey and this is something I’ve dreamed of my entire career. Like I said, I’ve been calling Pitbull’s name since I first stepped into that cage and he’s ignored me, pretending like he doesn’t know who I am. At the end of the day, there is nowhere else for him to run and he has to look me in my eyes. I’m looking forward to it. Everyone says I haven’t been tested and I agree. But, when you do see me get tested, a whole different animal will come out. (23:22)
 
“After I beat Pitbull and become the face of BELLATOR, we can run it back for that second belt too. Becoming champ-champ is something that I said I was always going to do, and that I will do. I went through the trials and tribulations of not wanting to fight, to then having my passion for this come back and me seeing all my goals be within reach. It’s going to be fun, especially after the long break due to my knee surgery. I can’t wait to get in there again. The Mercenary does one thing: he signs the contract and then takes the person out. (24:22)
 
“I’ve been preparing for this fight for six years because Pitbull has been at the top for so long. Once again, I have a foot longer reach on him, so he has to come to me. He says he is training with gold medal wrestlers, but I will do the same thing to him that I did to Pat Curran and Darrion Caldwell. I’m comfortable off my back. Just because he’s Brazilian, that doesn’t mean anything in terms of Jiu jitsu. I have that evolved Jiu jitsu and that’s what I get people with when they don’t see it coming.” (31:45)
 
Scott Coker, BELLATOR President
 
“We’re excited to be back in California and we are excited to be back in the Forum, a place where we have had so many great fights. It’s going to be an amazing event. My staff is excited and the fighters are excited. When you think about live sports, it needs fans. We got a taste of it last week at the Mohegan Sun, which has been an amazing partner for us, but it’s time to travel and get back to what BELLATOR does best. That is putting on great fights touring from city-to-city, starting with this amazing fight on July 31. (4:10)
 
“This is the fight that everyone wanted to see. We have so many amazing athletes in this division that we went through the lottery system for matchups, which provided us with amazing fights. But at the beginning, I was wishing that the final would be McKee versus Pitbull. When we signed McKee, he had zero fights to his name. Now, look at where he is today. Back then, Pitbull was our champion and obviously still is today, so this fight is the “OG” vs. the new guard and we’ll have to see what happens.” (5:13)
 
Eric Albarracin, Team Pitbull Brothers Head Coach
 
“Patricio’s had a bullseye on his back since he became the champ in 2014, when he beat Pat Curran and this run has gone exactly as we planned. We were the matchmakers, we sent Darrion Caldwell to the other side of the bracket to take out some of the young bucks and he did. Then, AJ took him out and here we are. I think this is the perfect matchup for the finals. We have a young, up-and-coming, undefeated fighter and the pound-for-pound best fighter on the planet, Patricio Pitbull. This is going to be the greatest fight in BELLATOR history. (7:20)
 
“Even at 17-0, AJ is still very young in the game. He’s very unpredictable. But, at the end of the day it’s Pitbull who is the pound-for-pound best on the planet, it’s Pitbull who is the double champ, it’s Pitbull who has the best coaches in the game and they don’t know how to prepare for that.” (8:18)
 
Antonio McKee, Team Bodyshop Head Coach
 
“I lived a different life, one where it wasn’t all good. I was dealing with a lot of stuff that a lot of African American men deal with. No mother and no father, growing up in the streets of Los Angeles. It was what it was, but I made the right decisions and never got caught for anything that I did that could have put me away for the rest of my life and found my drive and motivation through my son. The things that AJ would say as a kid, like ‘Daddy if you die, can I die with you?’ I didn’t care about living and I didn’t have a problem with killing either. And then one day AJ says ‘Dad, whatever you do and wherever you go, I want to come with you.’ I was ready to clock out, but then I realized that I needed to be here for him. He had nothing but me, so that gave me the drive and the strength to find a better way out.
 
“I made it this far, did my thing as a wrestler and was the best in the world. I did what I was doing, but I didn’t have the right mindset, so I had to check my mental and learn how to be a respectable human being. Once I did that, things started to shift for me and now here we are. I did things to keep AJ in private school, not to buy cars, music, and jewelry. I did it all to pay for his school tuition.” (14:36)
Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Showtime

Featherweight World Champion Patricio Pitbull Meets AJ McKee in the BELLATOR Featherweight World Grand Prix Finals on Saturday, July 31 — Live on SHOWTIME

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BELLATOR 263 TAKES PLACE AT THE FORUM IN LOS ANGELES ON SATURDAY, JULY 31 – LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

TICKETS FOR THIS MASSIVE EVENT GO ON SALE TOMORROW AT BELLATOR.COM

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LOS ANGELES — And then there were two…

What began with 16 featherweight athletes vying for a one-million-dollar grand prize and the BELLATOR Featherweight World Championship has been narrowed to the greatest BELLATOR athlete in the history of the promotion Patricio Pitbull (32-4) and the company’s best-ever homegrown fighter in No. 1 ranked AJ McKee (17-0).

The culmination of the BELLATOR Featherweight World Grand Prix takes place Saturday, July 31 at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., and marks the company’s first domestic event hosted away from “The Fightsphere” since February 2020.

BELLATOR 263: Pitbull vs. McKee airs live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and tickets for the event go on sale this Friday, June 18 at BELLATOR.com and Ticketmaster.com with a pre-sale taking place on Thursday.

“This is without a doubt going to be the biggest BELLATOR fight of all time,” said BELLATOR President Scott Coker. “AJ McKee has been calling for a shot at Pitbull’s title since his very first professional victory inside our cage six years ago. Now he’s finally getting the opportunity to realize his dream of becoming a world champion against the winningest fighter in BELLATOR history. For Pitbull a win over McKee in this tournament final would be a statement piece to add to his long list of accolades and legacy as the best 145-pounder on the planet.” 

One half of the vaunted Pitbull Brothers duo, Patricio has long been considered the crown jewel of BELLATOR MMA, where he sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings. Holding a remarkable record of 32-4 with wins over elite competition including the likes of Pat Curran, Juan Archuleta, Daniel Weichel (x2) and most recently a second triumph over Emmanuel Sanchez, the 33-year-old stands alone as the featherweight king. Additionally, he was able to capture the Lightweight World Championship in a 2019 contest opposite Michael Chandler, becoming only the second BELLATOR athlete to hold two titles simultaneously. With 23 finishes in 36 professional fights, Pitbull has shown time and time again that he possesses the well-rounded skillset required to reign over multiple weight classes.

With a perfect record of 17-0, AJ McKee has exceeded the lofty expectations placed on him since his professional debut at the ripe age of 20-years-old. With an even six knockouts and six submissions, the now-26-year-old McKee has shown a knack for securing finishes—and fast—with nine coming in the first round. “Mercenary” has earned dominant victories over every man who has opposed him including former champions Pat Curran, Georgi Karakhanyan, and Darrion Caldwell, who McKee submitted most-recently with a rare, modified neck crank that was later dubbed the “McKee-otine.” Finally, the Long Beach native will face the man he has called for since signing with BELLATOR, as he takes on Patricio Pitbull in the much-anticipated Featherweight World Grand Prix Final.

The preliminary portion of the event streams live at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel, as well as Pluto TV and features former featherweight title challenger and No. 2 ranked Emmanuel Sanchez (20-5) versus Denmark’s No. 8 ranked Mads Burnell (15-3), a bantamweight tilt between No. 3 ranked Magomed “Tiger” Magomedov (18-1) and No. 4 Raufeon “Supa” Stots (16-1) and a lightweight affair pitting undefeated Usman Nurmagomedov (12-0) against Manny Muro (12-6).

BELLATOR 263: Pitbull vs. McKee Main Card:

Saturday, July 31 – Live on SHOWTIME

10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT 

Featherweight World Title Main Event: C-Patricio Pitbull (32-4) vs. #1-AJ McKee (17-0)

Preliminary Card:

BELLATOR MMA YouTube Channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube Channel | Pluto TV

7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT

Featherweight Bout: #2-Emmanuel Sanchez (20-5) vs. #8-Mads Burnell (15-3)

Bantamweight Bout: #3-Magomed Magomedov (18-1) vs. #4-Raufeon Stots (16-1)

Lightweight Bout: Usman Nurmagomedov (12-0) vs. Manny Muro (12-6)

*Card subject to change.

Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.

Grappling

Gordon Ryan & Lachian Giles power BJJ Fanatics to Team title in inaugural Kinektic grappling tournament

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ANAHEIM, Calif. (August 19 2019) – Former ADCC World and IBJJF Nogi World champion,Gordon “The King” Ryan, and ADCC Asia champion and Oceania gold medalist, Lachian Giles, were beasts this past Friday night in Anaheim, California, at the inaugural Kinektic submission grappling, one-night tournament, leading their team, BJJ Fanatics, to the coveted title.

UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports, streamed all the action live from Anaheim Business Expo Center.

The Kinektic team formatted event featured four competing squads, each comprised of five world-class grapplers, in a tournament consisting of semifinals and a championship final.  The one-night Kinektic tournament consisted of bouts with eight-minute time limits. Losers of the semifinal matches were eliminated; as well as fighters whose matches ended in draws. Teams with five members eliminated were forced out of the competition.  

A feature unique to Kinektic Grappling is that the order in which athletes compete was not predetermined. There were thirty seconds between each bout and each team captain was responsible for strategically deciding which team member participated next. All members of each team must compete at least once. Team captains had the option to compete for their team; Craig Jones (Team BJJ Fanatics) and Chris “Lights Out” Lytle (Team Lights Out Urban Achievers) did so for their respective teams.

Kinektic is the brainchild of UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber, Las Vegas entrepreneur and boxing promoter Keith Veltre, and award-winning announcer Sean Wheelock.

“We are all very happy with our first Kinektic grappling event right across the board,” Veltre said.  “Many of the best grapplers in the world put on a great show.  The fans there were really into it and we’ve received a lot of positive feedback from grappling fans all around the world who watched on UFC FIGHT PASS.  We’re already talking about our next Kinektic event.”

Joining Ryan and Giles on triumphant Team BJJ Fanatics were ADCC Trials bronze medalistNicky Rodriguez, who won one championship final match, IBJJF World Champion Edwin Najmai and world-class grappler Jones.

Giles, a native of Australia, used a heel hook to defeat four of his five opponents in the semifinals — former UFC Heavyweight Champion Rico Rodriguez, Polaris Welterweight Champion Mansher “Munch” Khera, Grapplers Quest Champion and BJJ black belt Will Weed, and former UFC welterweight Lytle — in addition to using an armbar to beat former WEC Middleweight Champion Joe “Diesel” Rigg.

In the other semifinals team competition, Team SUG, captained by UFC veteran and MMA media personality Chael Sonnen, defeated Team Lionheart, captained by UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith.  Jorge “Jorjas” Rodrigues used an armbar to defeat Pan-American gold medalist Scott Morton, ADCC US Trials gold medalist Enrico “Teen Phenom” Cocco took care of LFA veteran and BJJ black belt Gabriel “Zangrief” Barbosa Checco with a heel hook, and former UFC veteran athlete and PFL light heavyweight Ronny Markes defeated Greco-Roman Wrestling World Champion Joe “The Baddest Maon on the Planet” Warren by way of an arm-triangle, advancing SUG to the championship final.

New Jersey based Ryan, who was a late replacement for injured Jake Shields, closed the show for Team BJJ Fanatics in the championship final, displaying all his vast skills to defeat, in order:  Checco (kimura), IBJJF World Championships bronze medalist Rafael Domingos(rear-naked choke), and Guilherme “Bomba” Vasconcelos (guillotine)

Two-time NCAA, Division II All-American wrestler Raufeon “Supa” Stots and Anthony “El Toro” Birchak grappled to a hard-fought draw in the SuperFight.  The two grapplers fought during the 8-minute regulation period as well as a 3-minute overtime

Official results below (individual winners e listed in capital letters:

SEMIFINALS

Team BJJ Fanatics vs. Team Lights Out Urban Achievers

LACHIAN GILES (BJJ Fanatics) heel hook (2:18) Mansher Khera (Light Out Urban Achievers)

(Khera eliminated)

LACHAIN GILES heel hook (5:27) Will Weed (Light Out Urban Achievers)

(Weed eliminated)

LACHIAN GILES armbar (3:40) Joe Riggs ((Lights Out Urban Achievers)

(Riggs eliminated)

LACHAIN GILES heel hook Chris Lytle (Light Out Urban Achievers)

(Lytle eliminated)

LACHIAN GILES heel hook Rico Rodriguez (Lights Out Urban Achievers)

(Rodriguez eliminated)

Team BJJ Fanatics advanced to championship final, Team Lights Out Urban Achievers

Team SUG vs. Team Lionheart

Brian Sparrow (Lionheart) Draw (8:00) Guilherme Vasconcelos (SUG)

(Sparrow and Vasconcelos eliminated)

JORGE RODRIGUEZ (SUG) armbar (5:36) Scott Morton (Lionheart)

(Morton eliminated)

Jorge Rodrigues (SUG) Draw (8:00) James Brasco (Lionheart)

(Rodrigues and Brasco eliminated)

ENRICO COCCO (Lionheart) heel hook (5:13) Rafael Domingos

(Domingos eliminated)

Enrico Cocco Draw (8:00) Gabriel Barbosa Checco

(Cocco and Checco eliminated)

RONNY MARKES (SUG) arm triangle (3:25) Joseph Warren (Lionheart)

Team SUG advanced to championship final, Team Lionheart eliminated)

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

NICKY RODRIGUEZ (BJJ Fanatics) heel hook (7:23) Jorge Rodrigues SUG)

(Rodrigues eliminated)

Nicky Rodriguez (BJJ Fanatics) Draw (8:00) Ronny Markes (SUG)

(Rodriguez and Markes eliminated)

GORDON RYAN (BJJ Fanatics) kimura (1:25) Gabriel Barbosa Checco (SUG)

(Barbosa eliminated)

GORDON RYAN (BJJ Fanatics) rear-naked choke (5:48) Rafael Domingos (SUG)

(Domingos eliminated)

GORDON RYAN (BJJ Fanatics) guillotine (1:27) Guilherme Vasconcelos (SUG)

(Vasconcelos eliminated)

BJJ FANATICS WON TEAM TITLE

SUPER FIGHT

Raufeon Stots Draw (11:00) Antony Birchak

INFORMATION:

Twitter: @Kinektic1, @UFCFightPass, @UrijahFaber, @PaigeVanZant, @SeanWheelock, @Keith_Veltre, @ChaelSonnen, @LionheartASmith, @Crslytle

Instagram: @UFCFightPass, @UrijahFaber, @PaigeVanZant, @Sean_Wheelock, @KeithVeltre

Facebook: @UFCFightPass, @UrijahFaber, @PaigeVanZant, @SeanWheelock, @KeithVeltre

Grappling, MMA, UFC

RAUFEON STOTS- ANTHONY BIRCHAK SUPER FIGHT ANNOUNCED FOR INAUGURAL KINEKTIC SUBMISSION GRAPPLING EVENT AUGUST 16 IN ANAHEIM, CA

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Streaming Live and Exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS®

LAS VEGAS (August xx, 2019) – Kinektic has announced a world-class SuperFight between Raufeon “Supa” Stots and Anthony “El Toro” Birchak will provide chief support for the inaugural Kinektic submission grappling tournament on Friday, August 16, in Anaheim, California.

All the action will be streamed exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports, live from Anaheim Business Expo Center.

All Kinektic team formatted events will feature four competing squads, each comprised of five world-class grapplers, in a tournament consisting of semifinals and a championship final.  A grappling Super Fight, featuring additional participants not already competing in the tournament, will be held between the final semifinals match and championship final

On Aug. 16th in Anaheim, the Stots vs. Birchak SuperFight will be contested at 155-pounds, showcasing a pair of grapplers currently competing in Legacy Fighting Alliance.

Houston-based Stots was a two-time NCAA, Division II All-American wrestler at the University of Nebraska in Kearney.  The 30-year-old Stots has a 12-1 professional mixed-martial-arts record. 

Birchak, fighting out of Tucson, Arizona, also was a Div. 2 collegiate wrestler at Pima Community College and Grand Canyon University.  He has competed in the UFC, Bellator and Rizen FF, compiling a 15-6 MMA record.

Co-founded by UFC® Hall of Famer Urijah Faber, Las Vegas entrepreneur Keith Veltre, and award-winning combat sports announcer Sean Wheelock, Kinektic is a unique, tournament-style promotion that will feature athletes from various combat sports disciplines, including mixed martial arts, grappling, jiu-jitsu, wrestling, and more.  

“August 16th promises to deliver an exciting, action-packed night,” Veltre said.  “Delivering some of the biggest names in the sport will no doubt make an impression with fans.”

The captains of the four star-powered teams are UFC veteran and MMA media personality Chael Sonnen (Team SUG); world-class grappler Craig Jones (Team BJJ Fanatics); UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith (Team Lionheart); and former UFC welterweight Chris Lytle (Team Lights Out Urban Activities). Team Captains had the option to compete for their team, Jones and Lytle are competing for their respective teams.

Joining Jones on Team BJJ Fantatics are UFC athlete and former Strikeforce Welterweight World Champion Jake Shields, ADCC Trials bronze medalist Nicky Rodriguez, IBJJF World Champion Edwin Najmi, and ADCC Asia and Oceania gold medalist Lachlan Giles.

Veteran UFC athlete and former WEC Middleweight Champion Joe Riggs, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Rico Rodriguez, Polaris Welterweight Champion Mansher Khera, and Grapplers Quest Champion and BJJ black belt Will Weed join Lytle on Team Lights Out Urban Achievers.

Team SUG has veteran UFC athlete and ADCC gold medalist Vinny Magalhaes, former WSOF Featherweight Champion Alexandre Almeida, former UFC veteran athlete and PFL light heavyweight Ronny Markes, IBJJF World Championships bronze medalist Rafael Domingos, and LFA veteran and BJJ black belt Gabriel Checco.

Former Bellator Featherweight and Bantamweight Champion, and Greco-Roman Wrestling World Champion, Joe Warren, Pan-American gold medalist Scott Morton, ADCC US Trials gold medalist Enrico Cocco, IBJJF No-gi World Champion James Brasco, and Fight 2 Win Champion Brian Sparrow comprise Team Lionheart.   

Faber, who also serves as Kinektic’s Vice President of Business Development, will be the mat-side and backstage interviewer. Joining Faber will be UFC women’s flyweight Paige VanZant, who is the lead color commentator, and play-by-play announcer Wheelock. 

BJJ Fanatics vs. Lights Out Urban Achievers and Team SUG vs. Team Lionheart are the semifinals matchups with the winners meeting on the same night in the championship final.

The one-night tournament consists of bouts with eight-minute time limits. Losers of the semifinal matches are eliminated; draws result in the elimination of both athletes; and the first team with five members eliminated will be out of the competition.  The surviving team will be declared the winner. A feature unique to Kinektic 

Grappling is that the order in which athletes compete is not predetermined. There are thirty seconds between each bout and each team captain will be responsible for strategically deciding which team member will participate next. All members of each team must compete at least once.

Tickets are priced at $65.00 (VIP), $50.00 Reserved) and $30.00 (General Admission), and available to purchase by going online to: http://tickets.ticketforce.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=1656.

For more information about the event, please visit:

Twitter: @Kinektic1, @UFCFightPass, @UrijahFaber, @PaigeVanZant, @SeanWheelock, @Keith_Veltre, @ChaelSonnen, @LionheartASmith, @Crslytle

Instagram: @UFCFightPass, @UrijahFaber, @PaigeVanZant, @Sean_Wheelock, @KeithVeltre

Facebook: @UFCFightPass, @UrijahFaber, @PaigeVanZant, @SeanWheelock, @KeithVeltre

About UFC FIGHT PASS® UFC FIGHT PASS® is the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports. Since launching in 2013, FIGHT PASS is now available in more than 200 countries and territories. FIGHT PASS provides its members with unlimited access to exclusive, live UFC FIGHT PASS Prelims; live mixed martial arts and combat sports from around the world; original series and historical programming; special features, in-depth interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and up-to-the minute reports on the world of combat sports. FIGHT PASS subscribers also have 24/7 access to the world’s largest fight library, featuring more than 17,000 bouts from dozens of combat sports organizations, as well as every fight in UFC history. Fight fans can access FIGHT PASS on personal computers, iOS and Android mobile devices, Apple TV, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, and Sony TVs with Android TV. For more information, please visit https://www.ufcfightpass.com.

LFA, mixed martial arts, MMA

LFA RETURNS TO DALLAS  WITH  CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLEHEADER

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LFA 55 – JOHNS vs. YANEZ
 
 
MAIN EVENT:
TOP UNDEFEATED PROSPECT
MILES JOHNS
vs.
KNOCKOUT ARTIST

ADRIAN YANEZ

BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE 
 

CO-MAIN EVENT:
 
REGIONAL QUEENPIN
SARAH “TOO SWEET” ALPAR
vs.
PANAMANIAN SUPERSTAR
JOSELYNE “LA PANTERA” EDWARDS

WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE 
 
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30th LIVE on AXS TV

THE BOMB FACTORY in DALLAS, TEXAS
Tickets are on sale NOW through TheBombFactory.com

 

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – LFA CEO Ed Soares announced today that the promotion will crown a bantamweight king and queen with a championship doubleheader when the promotion returns to Dallas in November.

 

 

The main event of LFA 55 will feature a bantamweight title fight when top undefeated prospect Miles Johns battles fellow top contender Adrian Yanez for the vacant title. The co-headliner will feature a women’s bantamweight title fight when regional queenpin Sarah “Too Sweet” Alpar” faces Panamanian superstar Joselyne “La Pantera” Edwards for the inaugural title. LFA 55 – Johns vs. Yanez takes place this Friday, November 30th at The Bomb Factory in Dallas, Texas. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT

 

 

“I am excited to bring a championship doubleheader to the birthplace of LFA,” stated Soares. “We will crown a bantamweight king and queen when we return to Dallas on November 30th. Miles Johns and Adrian Yanez are two of our most talented prospects. They will meet for the vacant bantamweight title in the main event of LFA 55.  We will also crown the inaugural women’s bantamweight champion when Sarah Alpar faces Joselyne Edwards in the co-headliner of LFA55.”

 

 

 

Tickets for LFA 55 – Johns vs. Yanez are available for purchase NOW at TheBombFactory.com.

 

 

 

Johns (7-0) heads into this title fight looking to punctuate what has been a sterling career to this point. The Kansas native, who now calls Dallas home, will get the chance to win LFA gold and run his record to 8-0. That would position him as the undisputed top bantamweight prospect in the world. The powerhouse known as “Chapo” earned his fearsome nickname for his ruthless demeanor inside the Octagon. The 24-year-old Fortis MMA standout has won his last three fights for LFA and Legacy FC (before the merger), which includes a statement submission win over fellow top undefeated prospect Eric Ellington at LFA 40. Johns will now up the ante looking for a title winning performance in his first headlining bout for the promotion at LFA 55.

 

 

 

Yanez (7-2) is a Houstonian and fellow LFA standout that will be looking to play spoiler in a long sporting rivalry between Dallas and Houston, which is known as the I-45 Rivalry. Yanez, like Johns, gew up in the promotion. After enjoying a fantastic amateur career for Legacy FC (before the merger), Yanez continued his success as a pro. That includes winning his last two fights for LFA in emphatic fashion. They were the types of fights that coaches, fans, and promoters recognize as special moments in a young fighter’s career. The moments where a fighter transforms from a once promising prospect into a legit title contender. The 24-year-old Metro Fight Club standout now looks to take the next obvious step by becoming champion at LFA 55.

 

 

 

Alpar (7-4) has been a force in women’s MMA since making her professional debut seven and a half years ago. The Oklahoman known as “Too Sweet” has been anything but sweet to her opposition. The 27-year-old most recently earned a regional title by stopping top Paraguayan prospect Pamela Boveda Aguirre via first round TKO. The win gave Alpar two regional titles to go along with a marquee win over Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger earlier in her career. Jones-Lybarger went on to fight for the UFC after wining RFA gold. Alpar will now look to pave a similar path. That journey begins with a shot at the inaugural LFA women’s bantamweight title at LFA 55.

 

 

 

Edwards (8-1) is widely considered the top women’s bantamweight prospect in Latin America. “La Pantera” has been unbeatable over the last three years, which includes seven consecutive wins. The 23-year-old has seven stoppage victories in her eight career wins, which includes a 57-second TKO win over Bellator vet Jessica Middleton in May and a second round armbar win over RFA vet Brenda Gonzales last month. The two wins also earned her a pair of regional titles. Now that Edwards and Alpar are both champ-champs on the regional scene, they will look to go all-in with the inaugural LFA women’s title and #1 women’s bantamweight prospect status on the line.

 

 

 

Currently Announced Main Card (Televised on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT):

 

 

 

Main Event | Bantamweight Title Bout (135 lb)

– Miles Johns (7-0) vs. Adrian Yanez (7-2)

 

 

 

Co-Main Event | Women’s Bantamweight Title Bout (135 lb)

– Sarah Alpar (7-4) vs. Joselyne Edwards (8-1)

 

 

 

Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)

– Raufeon Stots (10-1) vs. Levi Mowles (10-3)

 

 

 

Welterweight Bout (170 lb)

– Ramiz Brahimaj (7-1) vs. Justin Patterson (10-4)

 

 

 

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 150 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.

 

 

 

LFA 55 will be the seventh LFA event to take place in the City of Dallas. It will also be the fourteenth time that LFA has traveled to “The Lone Star State” of Texas. The entire main card of LFA 55 will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

 

 

 

Please visit LFAfighting.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.

LFA, mixed martial arts, MMA

LFA RETURNS TO MINNESOTA  WITH LIGHTWEIGHT SHOWDOWN LFA 41 – MOISÉS vs. PETERSON

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MAIN EVENT:

THE FINAL RFA LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION

THIAGO MOISÉS

vs.

“THE ADMINISTRATOR”

JEFF PETERSON

 

 

 

LIGHTWEIGHT SHOWDOWN

 

 

FRIDAY, JUNE 1st LIVE on AXS TV

 

 

 

LIVE at the MINNETONKA BALLROOM

inside the new 

MYSTIC LAKE CENTER

 

 

 

PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA

 

 

 

Tickets are on sale NOW through MysticLake.com

 

 

 

 

HOUSTON, Texas – Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) CEO Ed Soares announced today that LFA will return to Minnesota on the first day of June with a lightweight showdown between the final RFA lightweight champion and a surging upset artist.

 

 

 

The main event of LFA 41 will feature the return of the final RFA lightweight champion Thiago Moisés when he faces the division’s biggest upset machine Jeff “The Administrator” Peterson. LFA 41 – Moisés vs. Peterson takes place Friday, June 1st at the Minnetonka Ballroom inside the new Mystic Lake Center in Prior Lake, Minnesota. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

 

 

 

“I am excited to bring LFA back to the Minnetonka Ballroom inside the state of the art Mystic Lake Center”, stated Soares. “We brought four LFA events to Mystic Lake last year. LFA 41 will be the second of four live nationally televised MMA events to take place inside Mystic Lake’s new world-class facility in 2018. Mystic Lake has been a great partner and will now host the return of Thiago Moisés when he faces Jeff Peterson on June 1st.”

 

 

 

Tickets for LFA 41 – Moisés vs. Peterson are available for purchase NOW at MysticLake.com.

 

 

 

Moisés (9-2) recently turned 23-years-old, but has long been considered one of the most exciting lightweight prospects in the world. The Brazilian dynamo submitted Javon Wright in his RFA debut at RFA 28. The win earned Moisés a shot at RFA gold in his next outing at RFA 35. Moisés used this opportunity to secure one of the most memorable submission wins in MMA history. He executed an electrifying and ultra-rare Helicopter Armbar to submit David Castillo. The submission made him the second youngest champion in RFA history, went viral on the internet, and earned him a nominee for “Submission of the Year” at the annual World MMA Awards.

 

 

 

Moisés then defended his RFA lightweight title twice. The first title defense came against Jamall Emmers at RFA 38. The win came with UFC President Dana White sitting cageside and was featured on the seventh episode of Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight. The second title defense came against Zach Freeman in Freeman’s hometown at RFA 44. During that fight, Moisés broke his hand. The American Top Team product still managed to cruise to a Unanimous Decision victory, but he missed nearly a year of action waiting for his surgically repaired hand to heal. Moisés then re-injured his hand vying for the inaugural LFA lightweight title last summer at LFA 17. Now the BJJ black belt is back and ready to remind the world, that when he is at 100%, he is the top lightweight prospect in the world.

 

 

 

Peterson (9-4) is currently riding an impressive six-fight win streak and hasn’t tasted defeat in over three years. However, the Alliance MMA product really started to make a name for himself last year after signing with LFA. Peterson did this by winning all three of his fights for the promotion against heavily favored opposition. The first win came against top undefeated prospect Bobby Lee via Unanimous

Decision at LFA 12. The second win came against local fan favorite Brandon Jenkins via Split Decision at LFA 20. The third and biggest win came against longtime Bellator star and fellow U.S. Marine Mike Richman via Unanimous Decision in the co-main event of LFA 29.

 

 

 

 

Now the 28-year-old known as “The Administrator” will be looking to add the final RFA lightweight champion to his list of upsets. This is the next necessary step he will need to take if the Peterson regime plans on taking over as the new ruling administration atop the LFA lightweight division. He has gotten to this point by defying the odds. Peterson has administered his rugged, no-nonsense style of fighting to upset an undefeated prospect, a local favorite, and a popular vet. Now he will up the ante by facing his biggest test to date. When the opening betting odds are released for this fight, expect Peterson to once again be the underdog. He wouldn’t want it any other way. That is where he thrives. A devil dog, seen as an underdog, in a prime time headlining fight is a scary thing. Oorah.

 

 

 

 

Currently Announced Main Card (Televised on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Main Event | Lightweight Bout (155 lb)

– Thiago Moisés (9-2) vs. Jeff Peterson (9-4)

 

 

 

 

 

Co-Main Event | Lightweight Bout (155 lb)

– Killys Mota (10-0) vs. Bobby Lee (8-1)

 

 

 

 

 

Featherweight Bout (145 lb)

– Nate Jennerman (11-3) vs. Kevin Croom (18-8)

 

Welterweight Bout (170 lb)

 

 

 

– Ben Neumann (12-5) vs.  Bobby Cooper (14-7)

 

 

 

 

 

Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)

– Raufeon Stots (9-1) vs. Emeka Ifekandu (6-0)

 

 

 

 

 

In September 2016, RFA and Legacy FC officials announced that they would be merging to form LFA. This new powerhouse promotion would serve as the premier developmental organization in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) starting in January 2017. RFA and Legacy FC have launched the careers of over 130 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC.

 

 

 

 

LFA 41 will be the seventh LFA event to take place in the state of Minnesota. RFA and Legacy FC hosted a combined nine events in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” before the merger. Six of those events took place under the RFA banner inside the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel. The entire main card of LFA 41 will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

 

 

 

 

Please visit LFAfighting.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.