All photos by: Bellator MMA/Eric Coleman

TEMECULA, California. (Tej zaum 15, 2015) – While Brandon “Heev nyuj” Halsey (9-0) can no longer say he’s Bellator MMA’s Middleweight World Champion, he’s still managed to show his talent with a one-sided destruction of proven veteran Kendall “Lub Spyder” Grove (21-15).

 

The contest served as the feature main event of Friday tus “Bellator: Halsey vs. Grove” card at Pechanga Resort & Twv txiaj yuam pov nyob rau hauv Temecula, California.

 

Halsey nearly finished the fight in the early going, moving to an arm-triangle choke that would have finished a lesser opponent, but Grove somehow battled through the effort. Tseem, it was a one-sided round for the former champ.

 

Grove was able to avoid such a precarious position in the second, but he was still forced to be on the defensive throughout most of the frame. With a high-paced wrestling attack, Halsey simply pushed his way to the floor and enjoyed top position for almost the entirety of the round.

 

The pattern continued as the fight wore on, with Halsey simply overpowering his opponent and constantly earning himself the dominant position. Grove briefly threatened with an armbar in the fourth frame, but Halsey simply yanked his limb free and pounded away with punches shortly after until he earned the TKO win at the 2:25 mark of the frame.

 

The undefeated Halsey, who was stripped of the Bellator MMA Middleweight World Title for failing to make weight, will look to again earn the belt in his next appearance.

 

“I was my own worst enemy. It was how I performed. He didn’t throw anything at me that I wasn’t ready for. I was just trying to tough through the injury. I had to tough it out and come out with the victory,” Halsey said.

 

“Obviously, you want to be as dominant as possible. I just felt like I couldn’t explode through my combinations or explode through the fight and finish how I wanted to. But like I said, you’ve got to deal with adversity, and I did it the best I could,” Halsey continued.

 

“I learned my lesson. I thank Bellator. I apologize to the commission. It’s unprofessional not to make weight. Tsis excuses, but anybody knows that it’s hard to cut weight with an injury. The belt’s just a decoration, so I’m still the champ in my eyes. No one has taken the belt from me.”

 

In the night’s co-main event, former Bellator MMA Bantamweight World Champion Eduardo “Dudu” Dantas (17-4), of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, took a step toward another shot at the title with a hard-fought decision victory over the hard-hitting Mike “Lub Tubrog nkoj” Richman, of Rose Mount, Los ntawm.

 

While Richman showed excellent takedown defense throughout the 15-minute affair, Dantas’ work rate helped him earn the favor of the judges. Constantly pressing and looking to bring the fight to the floor, Dantas was able to just edge out Richman on the cards, 29-28 according to all three officials.

 

“I went out there and fought the way I trained to fight,” Dantas said after the win. “I knew Mike Richman was going to come with everything, but I wanted to win this fight and get back to the title. The only fight that makes sense next is for the title.

 

In a welterweight contest, Fernando “Lub Menifee cov neeg vwm Flash” Gonzalez (24-13), of Menifee, California., scored a thrilling, come-from-behind victory over “Curtious” Curtis Millender (7-2), ntawm San Bernardino, California.

 

With Millender enjoying a six-inch height advantage, the smaller Gonzalez struggled to score points in the first two rounds. But when the fight hit the floor in the third, Gonzalez latched onto a guillotine choke and earned a tap from his opponent at the 1:14 ntawm qhov kawg puag ncig.

 

“Kuv 4-0 txoj cai tam sim no,” Gonzalez said after the win. “That’s one step closer to the title, and I’m excited to get in there and mix it up with whoever is next.”

 

With the result, Gonzalez now boasts four-straight Bellator MMA victories and put himself in line for a potential shot at the promotion’s Welterweight Title.

 

In the night’s first main-card matchup, undefeated prospect Darrion “The Wolf” Caldwell (7-0), of Rahway, N.J., used a superior wrestling game to outwork more experienced opponent Rafael “Morcego” Silva (22-5), of Lajes, Brazil, en route a unanimous-decision victory.

 

With Caldwell scoring takedowns throughout the matchup, Silva looked for submissions when available, but he simply couldn’t find the necessary hold to work past his opponent’s defense. Es tsis txhob, Caldwell kept his pressure high, and judges awarded him the fight, 29-28 rau tag nrho peb cov ntawv teev lus.

 

After the victory, Caldwell made it clear he’s clearing his way to a shot at the Bellator MMA World Title.

 

“I don’t think there are any fighters out there as explosive as me at 135 phaus, or as fast,” Caldwell said. “Nws thiaj li, I’ll be able to prove that.”

 

In the night’s final preliminary bout, Guam’s Joe Taimanglo (21-6-1) scored a third-round knockout of Mexico’s Antonio Duarte (18-6).

 

Tsis tas li ntawd, featherweight prospect Jordan Parsons (11-1), ntawm San Diego, California., earned a third-round decision win over the previously undefeated Brazilian Julio Cesar Neves Jr. (30-1).

 

Nyob rau hauv ib lub teeb Heavyweight contest, Virgil Zwicker (14-4-1), of Temecula, California., earned a first-round knockout win over Razak Al-Hassan (12-5), ntawm Milwaukee, Wisc.

 

And in the night’s first fight, Ricky “Lub Sniper” Rainey (11-3), of Gastonia, N.C., earned a second-round knockout win over Jessie Juarez (22-10), ntawm Torrance, California.

Brandon Halsey (9-0) def. Kendall Grove (21-15)

Eduardo Dantas (17-4) def. Mike Richman (18-6 )

Fernando Gonzalez (24-14) def. Curtis Millender (7-2)

Darrion Caldwell (7-0) def. Rafael Silva (22-5)

Hais txog Bellator MMA

Bellator MMA yog ib tug uas Mixed Martial Arts lub koom haum featuring ntau ntawm qhov zoo tshaj plaws neeg tua hluav taws nyob rau hauv lub ntiaj teb no. Nyob rau hauv cov kev coj ntawm qub tub rog sib ntaus pab txhawb Scott Coker, Bellator yog muaj rau ze li ntawm 400 lab tsev thoob ntiaj teb nyob rau hauv dhau 120 lub teb chaws. Nyob rau hauv lub tebchaws United States, Bellator yuav pom nyob rau hauv ntsia hlau loj, lub MMA TV thawj coj. Bellator MMA yog dub ntawm ib tug thawj pab neeg uas muaj xws li kev lag luam sab saum toj cov tub txawg nyob rau hauv TV lawm, nyob kev tshwm sim orchestration, fighter txoj kev loj hlob / kev sib raug zoo, venue ceev, sponsorship creation / kev loj hlob, thoob ntiaj teb daim ntawv tso cai, marketing, advertising, tshaj tawm thiab commission kev sib raug zoo. Bellator yog raws li nyob rau hauv Santa Monica, California thiab uas los ntawm kev lom zem loj heev Viacom, lub tsev mus rau lub ntiaj teb premier lom zem hom uas txuas nrog audiences los ntawm yuam cov ntsiab lus nyob rau hauv TV, tsab ntawv tsa suab duab, hauv internet thiab mobile platforms.

 

Hais txog ntsia hlau loj:

Ntsia hlau loj yog muaj nyob rau hauv 98.7 lab tsev thiab yog ib tug faib ntawm Viacom Media tes hauj lwm. Ib tug unit ntawm Viacom (Nasdaq: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media tes hauj lwm yog ib tug ntawm lub ntiaj teb uas creators ntawm programming thiab cov ntsiab lus nyob rau tag nrho tawm platforms. Ntsia hlau loj lub Internet chaw nyob yog www.spike.com thiab mus txog-rau-tus-feeb thiab archival xovxwm ntaub ntawv thiab duab, mus saib cov ntsia hlau loj tus xovxwm site ntawm http://www.spike.com/press. Raws li peb ntawm Twitter spiketvpr rau qhov tseeb nyob rau hauv tawg xov xwm tshiab, qab-lub-scenes cov ntaub ntawv thiab cov duab.

TEMECULA, California. (Tej zaum 14, 2015) – All twenty-six athletes competing at tag kis tus "Bellator: Halsey vs. Grove” event were happy to rehydrate after stepping on the scales at today’s official weigh-in, which took place at the Cabaret Theatre inside the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California.

"Bellator: Halsey vs. Grove,"Uas airs nyob thiab free rau ntsia hlau loj ntawm 9 p.m. THIAB / 8 p.m. I, features a main event between Brandon "Phaw" Halsey (8-0) and well-respected veteran Kendall “Da Spyda” Grove (21-14). The incumbent champion failed to hit the required mark of 185-pounds. Raws li ib tug tshwm sim, Grove is the only fighter who can leave the event as the champion, if Halsey does manage to win, he will be forced to vacate the belt.

Nyob rau hauv lub co-ntsiab kev tshwm sim, a bantamweight battle will go on as planned between former 135-pound champion Eduardo "Dudu" Dantas(16-4) and a streaking Mike “The Marine” Richman (18-5), despite Richman missing weight.

In a critical welterweight battle between two hometown fighters, Cinderella Man Fernando "Lub Menifee cov neeg vwm" Gonzalez (23-13) looks to continue his hot streak against a young Curtis “Curtious” Millender (7-1).

Nyob rau hauv lub qhib televised bout ntawm yav tsaus ntuj, one of MMA’s most promising prospects Darrion "Tus Hma" Caldwell (6-0), looks to keep his record unblemished against a tough Rafael “Morcego” Silva (22-4), who has only suffered one defeat in his last 15 xaus

NYEM QHOV NO RAU TXHUA Weigh-HAUV DUAB

Main Card (9 p.m. THIAB)

 

Bellator Middleweight Title sib ntaus: Champ Brandon Halsey (188.1 lbs.) vs. Kendall Grove (184.9 lbs.)

 

Bellator Bantamweight sib ntaus: Eduardo Dantas (135.2 lbs.) vs. Mike Richman (139.8 lbs.)

 

Bellator Welterweight sib ntaus: Fernando Gonzalez (170.9 lbs.) vs. Curtis Millender (170.8 lbs.)

 

Bellator Bantamweight sib ntaus: Darrion Caldwell (135.7 lbs.) vs. Rafael Silva (135.7 lbs.)

Preliminary Card (7:45 p.m. THIAB)

Bellator Middleweight sib ntaus: Benji Radach (186 lbs.) vs. Ben Reiter (186 lbs.)

 

Bellator Bantamweight sib ntaus: Joe Taimanglo (136.2 lbs.) vs. Antonio Duarte (135.1 lbs.)

 

Bellator Featherweight sib ntaus: Jordan Parsons (145.5 lbs.) vs. Julio Cesar Neves Jr. (146 lbs.)

 

Bellator Light Heavyweight Fight: Virgil Zwicker (206.7 lbs.) vs. Razak Al-Hassan (205.6 lbs.)

 

Bellator Welterweight sib ntaus: Jesse Juarez (171 lbs.) vs. Ricky Rainey (170.7 lbs.)

 

Bellator Featherweight sib ntaus: A.J. Jenkins (146 lbs.) vs. Arlene Blencowe (145.8 lbs.)

 

Bellator Hnav sib ntaus: Steve Kozola (155.8 lbs.) vs. Ian Butler (155.2 lbs.)

 

Bellator Bantamweight sib ntaus: Shawn Rev (135.4 lbs.) vs. Rolando Perez (135.3 lbs.)

 

Bellator Bantamweight sib ntaus: John Yoo (135.4 lbs.) vs. Albert Morales (134.4 lbs.)

 

Hais txog Bellator MMA

Bellator MMA yog ib tug uas Mixed Martial Arts lub koom haum featuring ntau ntawm qhov zoo tshaj plaws neeg tua hluav taws nyob rau hauv lub ntiaj teb no. Nyob rau hauv cov kev coj ntawm qub tub rog sib ntaus pab txhawb Scott Coker, Bellator yog muaj rau ze li ntawm 400 lab tsev thoob ntiaj teb nyob rau hauv dhau 120 lub teb chaws. Nyob rau hauv lub tebchaws United States, Bellator yuav pom nyob rau hauv ntsia hlau loj, lub MMA TV thawj coj. Bellator MMA yog dub ntawm ib tug thawj pab neeg uas muaj xws li kev lag luam sab saum toj cov tub txawg nyob rau hauv TV lawm, nyob kev tshwm sim orchestration, fighter txoj kev loj hlob / kev sib raug zoo, venue ceev, sponsorship creation / kev loj hlob, thoob ntiaj teb daim ntawv tso cai, marketing, advertising, tshaj tawm thiab commission kev sib raug zoo. Bellator yog raws li nyob rau hauv Santa Monica, California thiab uas los ntawm kev lom zem loj heev Viacom, lub tsev mus rau lub ntiaj teb premier lom zem hom uas txuas nrog audiences los ntawm yuam cov ntsiab lus nyob rau hauv TV, tsab ntawv tsa suab duab, hauv internet thiab mobile platforms.

 

EASY TWEET: Hard-hitting MMA vet @benjyradach returns to face undefeated former @PennWrestling star @BenReiterMMA Tej zaum 15 #Bellator

 

Raug Monica, California. (Tej zaum 7, 2015) – One of MMA’s hardest-hitting pioneers will return to action for the first time since 2010, raws li Benji “Lub rab chais” Radach(21-6) has agreed to replace an injured A.J. Matthews (7-3) in a middleweight preliminary fight against Ben “Lub Hunter” Reiter (15-0-1).

 

The new addition again finalizes a full nine-bout preliminary card scheduled in support of four main-card contests at “Bellator MMA: Halsey vs. Grove.”

 

The night’s featured matchups include undefeated Bellator MMA World Middleweight Champion Brandon “Heev nyuj” Halsey (8-0) tiv thaiv towering Hawaiian scrapper Kendall “Lub Spyder” Grove (21-14), former Bellator MMA World Champion Eduardo “Dudu” Dantas (16-4) vs. Mike “Lub Tubrog nkoj” Richman (18-5), welterweights Fernando “Lub Menifee cov neeg vwm Flash” Gonzalez (23-13) vs. “Curtious” Curtis Millander (7-1) thiab bantamweights Darrion “The Wolf” Caldwell (6-0) vs. Rafael “Morcego” Silva (22-4).

 

“Bellator: Halsey vs. Grove” yuav siv sij hawm qhov chaw nyob rau Friday, Tej zaum 15, ntawm Pechanga Resort & Twv txiaj yuam pov nyob rau hauv Temecula, California. The night’s main card airs live on Spike TV at 9 p.m. THIAB (6 p.m. PT hauv zos lub sij hawm), thaum ntej bouts kwj rau Spike.com.

 

Daim pib rau “Bellator: Halsey vs. Grove,” uas pib ntawm cia li $50, uas tam sim no rau cov muag khoom nyob rau ntawm lub Pechanga.com thiab cov Pechanga Resort & Twv txiaj yuam pov thawv chaw ua hauj lwm.

 

Qhov rooj rau “Bellator: Halsey vs. Grove” qhib ntawm 4 p.m. PT hauv zos lub sij hawm, thiab cov thawj contest yuav siv sij hawm qhov chaw 45 feeb tom qab.

 

Fighting professionally since 2001, Radach fought for many of MMA’s biggest promotions, including Strikeforce, EliteXC, the International Fight League and the UFC. Seventeen of Radach’s 21 career wins have come by knockout, and he makes no secret of his intentions when he enters the cage. Boasting past clashed with MMA notables such as Brian Foster, Gerald Harris, Matt Horwich, Chris Leben, Gustavo Machado, Murilo “Ninja” Rua and Scott Smith, ntawm lwm tus neeg, Radach put his fighting career on hold in 2010, as he addressed a variety of nagging injuries. Tam sim no mas zoo tu qab tso, Radach looks to make a successful return to action.

 

Radach now meets a top undefeated prospect and former UPenn wrestling star Reiter, who fights for the second time under the Bellator MMA banner after spending much of his early career in Peru.

 

“Bellator: Halsey vs. Grove” - Friday, Tej zaum 15, Pechanga Resort & Twv txiaj yuam pov, Temecula, California.

Main Card (9 p.m. THIAB)

 

Bellator Middleweight Title sib ntaus: Champ Brandon Halsey (8-0) vs. Kendall Grove (21-14)

Bellator Featured Bantamweight sib ntaus: Eduardo Dantas (16-4) vs. Mike Richman (18-5)

Bellator Featured Welterweight sib ntaus: Fernando Gonzalez (23-13) vs. Curtis Millender (7-1)

Bellator Featured Bantamweight sib ntaus: Darrion Caldwell (6-0) vs. Rafael Silva (22-4)

Preliminary Card (7:45 p.m. THIAB)

 

Bellator Middleweight Prelim sib ntaus: Benji Radach (21-6) vs. Ben Reiter (14-0)

Bellator teeb Heavyweight Prelim sib ntaus: Virgil Zwicker (13-4-1) vs. Razak Al-Hassan (12-4)

Bellator Bantamweight Prelim sib ntaus: Joe Taimanglo (20-6-1) vs. Antonio Duarte (18-5)

Bellator Featherweight Prelim sib ntaus: Jordan Parsons (10-1) vs. Julio Cesar Neves Jr. (30-0)

Bellator Welterweight Prelim sib ntaus: Jesse Juarez (22-9) vs. Ricky Rainey (10-3)

 

Tsaus bouts (approx. 11 p.m. THIAB)

 

Bellator Hnav Tsaus Prelim: John Yoo (0-0) vs. Albert Morales (1-0)

Bellator Hnav Tsaus Prelim: Shawn Rev (3-1) vs. Rolando Perez (7-4)

Bellator Hnav Tsaus Prelim: Steve Kozola (5-0) vs. Ian Butler (1-1)

Bellator Hnav Tsaus Prelim: A.J. Jenkins (17-5) vs. Arlene Blencowe (5-4)