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boxing, FFC, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, MMA

Kickboxing Rocks The Dome at FFC 34

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Petje Retains FFC Lightweight Title After 5 Round War With Gazani

Photo: Bruno Gazani (left) takes a body kick from FFC Lightweight Kickboxing Champion Samo Petje (right)
 
Photo courtesy: Sergey Baranov/Final Fight Championship

 

Las Vegas, NV, (November 17, 2018) – The Main Event of “FFC 34” featured an unforgettable Kickboxing title bout that was filled with non-stop action for all five championship rounds.

 

 

 

Samo Petje (36-6-1) retained his FFC Lightweight Kickboxing Title by defeating a very game challenger, Bruno Gazani (60-7-0), by majority draw (47-47, 47-47, 46-48).

 

 

 

As advertised, these two warriors (Gazani and Petje) went toe-to-toe in a very entertaining Main Event that had no shortage of crowd-pleasing highlights and thrilling moments. Gazani came forward and pressed the action for most of the night, using his solid boxing skills to his advantage. Petje was able to counter with high knees and vicious body kicks that ultimately led to the majority decision victory. It looked as if Gazani had knocked Petje down in the fifth round but it was ultimately ruled as a slip.

 

 

 

The night’s Co-Main Event, was another war that featured two MMA Heavyweights standing and striking for three straight rounds. Tony “Hulk” Johnson (12-4-1) defeated D.J. “Da Protégé” Linderman (21-15-0) by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) in what was an absolute slugfest. Linderman suffered a large cut above his right eye early on in the fight and despite the constant stream of blood running down his face, he still decided to stand in the pocket and trade blows with Johnson.

 

 

 

Kevin “Thunderstorm” Johnson (6-1-0) went the distance with Isaac Luna (3-1-0) in their Super Lightweight Boxing bout. Keys won by unanimous decision (59-55, 58-56, 59-55) in an exciting fight where Luna kept coming forward and forcing Johnson to engage all night long. Johnson countered well and was able to use crisp combinations to get the decision.

 

 

 

In a Kickboxing Catchweight matchup, Meletis “Nightmare” Kakoubavas (33-7-0) caught Jermaine “J.J.” Soto (24-7-0) with a high right kick to the side of Soto’s head at the fifty-two second mark of round two of their three round fight. The fight was stopped after Soto rose to his feet from the canvas, resulting in a TKO victory for Kakoubavas.

 

 

 

The night began with Heavyweight Zac Cavender (1-0-0) winning his professional MMA debut with a first round TKO victory over Marius Cantoneru (0-2-0). Cavender’s ground and pound worked to perfection as a series of fists to the side of Cantoneru’s head caused the stoppage at the 2:30 mark of round one.

 

 

 

“FFC 34 promised to deliver action-packed fights, and as advertised, that is exactly what we delivered to our fans,” said FFC CEO/Founder, Orsat Zovko. “All of our fights, in every discipline, were competitive and that is what this Fight Dome experience is all about.”

 

 

 

“FFC 34” took place at its permanent home, “Fight Dome”, which is located at Caesars Entertainment’s Rio Las Vegas. The event aired nationwide on CBS Sports Network, and Claro Sports in Mexico and Latin America.

 

 

 

Final Fight Championship (FFC) is the first and only professional combat sports franchise offering fans a unique ‘multi-discipline’ experience (Boxing, Kickboxing and MMA), where every event culminates with a championship title bout. All FFC events take place inside “Fight Dome” at Caesars Entertainment’s Rio Las Vegas, the all-new mecca of combat sports.

 

 

 

 

Complete “FFC 34” MMA results below:

 

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULTS

 

 

 

(KICKBOXING) FFC LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Samo Petje (36-6-1), Ljubljana, Slovenia

Win by Majority Draw, 5 Rds. (47-47, 47-47, 46-48)

Bruno Gazani (60-7-0), Sao Paulo, Brazil

(Petje Retains FFC Middleweight Title)

 

 

 

(MMA) HEAVYWEIGHTS

Tony Johnson Jr. (12-4-1), Nashville, TN

Win by Unanimous Decision, 3 Rds. (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

D.J. Linderman (21-15-0), Yreka, CA

 

 

 

(BOXING) SUPER LIGHTWEIGHTS

Kevin Johnson (6-1-0), Las Vegas, NV

Win by Unanimous Decision, 6 Rds. (59-55, 58-56, 59-55)

Isaac Luna (3-1-0), El Paso, TX

 

 

 

(KICKBOXING) LIGHTWEIGHTS

Meletis Kakoubavas (33-7-0), Athens, Greece

Win by TKO, Referee Stoppage, (:52 – 2nd Rd.)

Jermaine Soto (24-7-0), Los Angeles, CA

 

 

 

(MMA) HEAVYWEIGHTS

Zac Cavender (1-0-0), Tooele, UT (Pro Debut)

Win by TKO, Punches, (2:30 – 1st Rd.)

Marius Cantoneru (0-2-0), Las Vegas, NV

 

boxing, FFC, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, MMA

Official Weights For “FFC 34” Multi-Discipline Event at Fight Dome

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Las Vegas, NV, (November 15, 2018) – The weights are official for “FFC 34 – Gazani vs. Petje”, a ‘multi-discipline’ (Boxing, Kickboxing and MMA) fight card, which takes place Friday night, November 16th, at “Fight Dome,” located at Caesars Entertainment’s Rio Las Vegas. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. (PST), the first bout is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. (PST).

 

 

 

A raucous crowd of combat sports fans gathered in front of the Fight Dome TV Studio, located in the Masquerade Village of Rio Las Vegas, to watch the “FFC 34” fighters make weight for Friday evening’s fight card.

 

 

 

“This will be an entertaining night of fights that is for sure,” said FFC CEO/Founder, Orsat Zovko. “Every fighter possesses a very fan-friendly style of fighting and they have all promised to deliver a show for the fans here at Fight Dome Las Vegas and the fans watching on CBS Sports Network.”

 

 

 

Final Fight Championship (FFC) is the first and only professional combat sports franchise offering fans a unique ‘multi-discipline’ experience (Boxing, Kickboxing and MMA), where every event culminates with a championship title bout. All FFC events take place inside “Fight Dome” at Caesars Entertainment’s Rio Las Vegas, the all-new mecca of combat sports.

 

 

 

Tickets are available for purchase at any Las Vegas Caesars Entertainment Box Office and TicketMaster.com. The ‘multi-discipline’ event will air nationwide on CBS Sports Network, and in Spanish, on Claro Sports in Mexico and Latin America. Check your local listings for more information.

 

 

 

For more information on FFC you can visit www.finalfightchampionship.com or follow FFC on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @FFCFighting.

 

 

 

Here are the official weigh-in results from “FFC 34 – Gazani vs. Petje”

 

 

 

(MMA) Heavyweight Division

Marius Cantoneru (0-1-0), Las Vegas, NV/Romania, 219 lbs.

Zac Cavender (Pro Debut), Tooele, UT, 212.4 lbs.

 

 

 

(Kickboxing) Catchweight Bout

Jermaine “J.J.” Soto (24-6-0), Los Angeles, CA, 153.8 lbs.

Meletis “Nightmare” Kakoubavas (32-7-0), Athens, Greece, 155.2 lbs.

 

 

 

(Boxing) Super Lighweight Division

Isaac “Blue” Luna (3-0-0), El Paso, TX, 143.4 lbs

Kevin “Thunderstorm” Johnson (5-1-0), Las Vegas, NV, 144 lbs.

 

 

 

(Co-Main Event – MMA) Heavyweight Division

D.J. “Da Protege” Linderman (21-14-0), Yreka, CA, 264.2 lbs.

Tony “Hulk” Johnson (11-4-1), Nashville, TN, 265.6 lbs

 

 

 

(Main Event – Kickboxing) FFC Lightweight Title Bout  

Bruno Gazani (60-6-0), Brazil, 154.4 lbs.

[Defending Champion] Samo Petje (35-6-1), Slovenia, 154.8 lbs.
Pictured in photo above (from left to right) Bruno Gazani, FFC CEO Orsat Zovko and Reigning FFC Lightweight Kickboxing Champion, Samo Petje (FFC 34 Main Event Fighters.)
 

Pictured in photo above (from left to right) DJ Linderman, FFC CEO Orsat Zovko, Tony “Hulk” Johnson (FFC 34 Co-Main Event)
 
Photos Courtesy of: Sergey Baranov/Final Fight Championship
boxing, kickboxing, MMA

FFC 32 NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS OFFICIAL MMA RESULTS

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PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
‘Gravedigger’ Buries ‘Badwater’ for FFC Title
 
‘AK-47’ Vanderford Remains Undefeated With KO at FFC 32
Shelton Graves (left) wins FFC Heavyweight Title by keeping Carl Seumanutafa (right) against the ropes.
Photo courtesy: Sergey Baranov/Final Fight Championship

 

 

Las Vegas, NV, (Oct. 20, 2018) – Sometimes things in life are simply quick and painless. Most of the fights at FFC 32 however, were actually quick and painful. Knockouts, let’s be honest, usually are quite painful.

 

 

 

Friday night’s Main Event was one of the only fights at FFC 32 (which was an all-MMA event) that did not end in a knockout. Shelton “Gravedigger” Graves (9-3-0) defeated Carl “Badwater” Seumanutafa (11-9-0) by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) to win the vacant FFC MMA Heavyweight Championship Title.

 

 

 

Graves did a great job of avoiding standing toe-to-toe with the knockout artist, Seumanutafa, spending most of the fight pressing the heavy-handed Samoan (Seumanutafa) up against the ropes and using knees to the body and a series of quick uppercuts to frustrate his opponent. The strategy worked, as Seumanutafa was frustrated with the constant pressure, which allowed Graves to keep him on the ropes and against the turnbuckle, taking away any opportunity for a Seumanutafa trademark knockout.

 

 

 

In the Co-Main Event, Undefeated Welterweight, Austin “AK-47” Vanderford (6-0-0), kept his unblemished record in tact when he rocked Emilson “The Amazonian Warrior” Freitas (7-3-0) with a nice left hand to the temple at the 1:38 mark of round one. Vanderford wins by KO for only the second time in his professional career.

 

 

 

Previously unbeaten Light Heavyweight, Ivan Erslan (6-1-0), was trying to stay undefeated as a professional but his opponent, Branko Busick (3-1-0) had other ideas. Busick sent Erslan to the canvas at the 4:41 mark of the second round with a solid left hand to the chin and it was all she wrote for Erslan. Busick picks up the first KO victory of his young career.

 

 

 

In the Lightweight division, as promised, it was a “grapplers paradise” for as long as it lasted… And it didn’t last very long. Brandon “Kiba” Ricetti (9-2-0) submitted Adam “Smash” Smith (11-10-0) by Arm Triangle at the 4:26 mark of the very first round. If you’re keeping score, all nine of Ricetti’s wins have come by submission.

 

 

 

FFC 32 took place at its permanent home, “Fight Dome”, which is located at Caesars Entertainment’s Rio Las Vegas. The event aired nationwide on CBS Sports Network.

 

 

 

Complete “FFC 32” MMA results below:

 

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULTS

 

 

 

FFC HEAVYWEIGHT MMA CHAMPIONSHIP

Shelton Graves (9-3-0), Baltimore, MD

Win by Unanimous Decision, 5 Rds. (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)

Carl “Badwater” Seumanutafa (11-9-0), San Francisco, CA

(Graves wins FFC Heavyweight Title)

 

 

 

WELTERWEIGHTS

Austin Vanderford (6-0-0), Portland, OR

Win by KO (Punch), 1:38 Rd. 1

Edmilson Freitas (7-3-0), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

 

 

 

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS

Branko Busick (3-1-0), Steubenville, OH

Win by KO (Punch), 4:41 Rd. 2

Ivan Erslan (6-1-0), Zagreb, Croatia

 

 

 

LIGHTWEIGHTS

Brandon Ricetti (9-2-0), Chico, CA

Win by Submission (Arm Triangle), 4:26 Rd. 1

Adam Smith (11-10-0), Spokane, WA

 

 

 

BANTAMWEIGHTS (Pro Debuts)

Brady Hiestand (1-0-0), Spokane, WA

Win by Unanimous Decision, 3 Rds. (29-26, 29-26, 29-26)

Corey Conway (0-1-0), Las Vegas, NV

boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, MMA

Heavyweight MMA Title Bout Headlines FFC 32THIS FRIDAY IN LAS VEGAS

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Shelton Graves takes on Tony Johnson for the FFC MMA Heavyweight Championship

LAS VEGAS, NV, (Oct. 16, 2018) – Final Fight Championship follows up its historical Las Vegas debut (on Oct. 12th) with a Heavyweight MMA title fight on Oct. 19th. “FFC 32” will be an all-MMA fight card featuring some of the most talented mixed martial artists in the country, and beyond.

 

 

 

In a clash between two hungry heavyweight sluggers, Shelton “The Gravedigger” Graves (8-3-0), Baltimore, MD will face Tony “Hulk” Johnson (11-4-1), Nashville, TN in the main event of “FFC 32”, which takes place Friday, Oct. 19th at Fight Dome Las Vegas located at Rio Las Vegas. Graves and Johnson will fight for the vacant FFC MMA Heavyweight Title.

 

 

 

In the night’s Co-Main Event, it will be another heavyweight bash between experienced wrestler, Rodney Wallace (26-16-1), Bamberg, SC, and Carl Seumanutafa (11-8-0), San Francisco, CA, a veteran muay thai competitor and the quintessential knockout artist.

 

 

 

In the welterweight division, Edmilson Freitas (7-2-0), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil takes on Austin Vanderford (5-0-0), Portland, OR. Branko Busick (2-1-0), Steubenville, OH battles Ivan Erslan (6-0-0), Zagreb, Croatia in the light heavyweight division, and in the lightweight division, Adam Smith (11-9-0), Langley, WA fights Brandon Ricetti (8-2-0), Chico, CA, to round out the main card.

 

 

 

“FFC 32” will air on CBS Sports Network, Friday evening, Oct. 19, check your local listings for more information.

 

 

 

During the undercard portion of the evening, welterweight Javahn Matthews, West Linn, OR will make his pro debut when he faces Jordan Christensen, Las Vegas, NV.

 

 

 

In their most recent event, “FFC 31 Night of Champions”, Final Fight Championship made history becoming the first combat sports promotion company to feature three different disciplines (boxing, kickboxing and MMA) in one fight card, all fights were for the title.

 

 

 

Tickets are available at any Las Vegas Caesars Entertainment Box Office, by calling 702-777-2782 or 855-234-7469 or online at Ticketmaster.com. For groups of 10 or more call 866-574-3851 or email EntertainmentGroupSales@Caesars.com.

 

 

 

For more information about Final Fight Championship, please visit finalfightchampionship.com, Facebook at Facebook.com/FFCFighting, and Follow on Instagram/Twitter @FFCFighting.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

CHEICK KONGO TAKES HOME MAJORITY DECISION IN MAIN EVENT OF ‘BELLATOR 161’

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AUSTIN, TEXAS — (September 16, 2016) — It took 15 minutes of heavyweight action during the main event of “Bellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson” to decide a winner between Cheick Kongo (25-10-2) and Tony Johnson (10-3), but in the end, it was “The Darkness” who emerged victorious via majority decision on Friday night.

The action between the two sluggers varied between heavy punches and elite wrestling, but the grappling of Kongo won out, as the 41-year-old got the better part of the action in the final ten minutes and began his newly signed extension with Bellator MMA on a high note.

The heavyweight title picture remains unclear, but if one thing’s certain, it’s that Kongo will have a claim to the strap when the promotion decides to put the title back on the line.

 

Guillotine Choke Fuels Joe Warren to Victory in Co-Main Event

 

Joe Warren (14-5) and Sirwan Kakai (12-5) traded blows for over ten minutes of heart pounding action in the evening’s co-main event, but it was Warren who finished on top after delivering a neck crank submission just 1:04 into the third round. After the win, the self-proclaimed “Baddest Man on the Planet” is now tied for second all-time in Bellator MMA victories with 12. The former two-division champion Warren has now won seven of his last nine contests and has once again proven why he belongs among the division’s elite. The loss marks the first time over Kakai’s eight-year career that he has been finished by an opponent.

Anastasia Yankova Outlasts Veta Arteaga in Flyweight Marathon

 

In a highly-anticipated women’s flyweight battle,  undefeated Russian Anastasia Yankova (4-0) came out on top against Veta Arteaga (2-1) via split decision. With the win the 25-year-old Yankova continued along her brisk path to stardom with a comeback performance that two out of three cage side judges saw in her favor. Yankova impressed in her first ever fight in the US, recording her fourth career victory and second with the Scott Coker-led promotion. The win is the first to go the distance for Yankova, with each of her initial three coming by way of submission. For Arteaga, the difficult judges’ decision leaves her with the first loss of her professional career.

Compelling Lightweight Opener Ends in Unanimous Decision win for Lubbuck’s Campos

During the opening contest at “Bellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson,” Texas’ own Derek Campos (17-6) scored a come-from-behind unanimous decision (29-28 x3) win over Dutch knockout artist Djamil Chan (12-3). After absorbing a devastating blow that sent him to the canvas early in the opening round of action, “The Stallion” quickly recovered and responded in a big way in rounds two and three. The 28-year-old Campos scored his second straight win and sixth since joining the Bellator MMA fray. For Chan, the loss ends an impressive run of seven consecutive victories over a dominant four-year stretch.

Preliminary Card Results:

Armando Villareal (1-0) defeated Tommy Burghardt (0-1) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:08 of round one

Sean Clements (1-0) defeated David Ramirez (0-1) via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27 2x)

Matt Mazurek (4-4) defeated Jose Guerra (0-3) via split decision (29-28, 30-27, 28-29)

Daniel Pineda (22-12) defeated Mark Dickman (11-3) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:07 of round three

Emily Ducote (4-1) defeated Kenya Miranda (2-3) via submission (armbar) at 4:37 of round two

Rey Trujillo (21-15) defeated Deuce King (15-18) via submission (reverse arm triangle) at 1:20 of round one

Garrett Scott (2-0) defeated Waylon Bronstrup (0-1) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 0:50 of round one

Nick Gonzalez (19-13) defeated Warren Stewart (11-23) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

PRELIMINARY ACTION FEATURING PROMOTIONAL DEBUT OF KENYA MIRANDA ADDED TO ‘BELLATOR 161’

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MARK DICKMAN-DANIEL PINEDA SET FOR FEATHERWEIGHT CLASH & MIDDLEWEIGHTS GREGORY BABENE-‘KIKO’ FRANCE READY FOR BATTLE ON SEPTEMBER 16

SANTA MONICA, CALIF (August 30, 2016) – A female flyweight bout pitting Kenya Miranda (2-2) against Emily Ducote (3-1) has been added to the preliminary portion of “Bellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson,” which takes place on September 16 at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, Texas.

In addition, featherweights Mark Dickman (11-2) and Daniel Pineda (21-12) have agreed to slug it out while Gregory Babene (17-11-1) and Francisco “Kiko” France (13-4-1) square off in a middleweight bout that will also be featured on the Bellator.com-streamed preliminary card.

The fights join a heavyweight main event pitting Cheick Kongo (24-10-2) against Tony Johnson (10-2) and a bantamweight showdown pitting Joe Warren (13-5) against Sirwan Kakai (12-4). In addition, a lightweight feature fight featuring Derek Campos (16-6) against Djamil Chan (12-2) and a female flyweight battle between Anastasia Yankova (3-0) and Veta Arteaga (2-0) will also highlight an electric main card.

“Bellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson” will air LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. Tickets for the event start at just $25 and can be purchased at Bellator.com, Ticketmaster, or the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park Box Office.

At 28, Miranda will be making her Bellator MMA debut when she steps into the cage on September 16. Since begining her professional career in 2014, Miranda has recorded a pair of wins, both of which came at the expense of opponent Natalia Cristina Silva. In her first career victory, the Brazilian prospect finished her challenger with a second round knockout and followed up the impressive performance with an equally splendid first round rear-naked choke submission. A native of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Miranda will look to prove she belongs with the world’s best when she meets her “Bellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson” opponent.

Ducote burst onto the Bellator MMA scene following a second-round rear-naked choke finish of Bruna Vargas at “Bellator 159: Caldwell vs. Taimanglo.” The win earned the the 23-year-old Oklahoma native an exclusive contract with the Scott Coker-led promotion, and was her third straight win in 2016 since dropping the opening bout of her young mixed martial arts career. Training out of American Top Team’s affiliate in OKC, “Gordinha” will look to keep the momentum going when she takes on another top Brazilian prospect on September 16.

At 32-years-old, Dickman has quietly climbed the ranks as one of MMA’s most consistent featherweights. After beginning his professional career 5-0, the Las Vegas native continued his hot start, emerging victorious in nine of his first 10 bouts. The knockout artist will be making his second appearance under the Bellator MMA umbrella, after defeating Thomas Diagnevia brutal third round knockout at “Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo.” Of his 11 professional victories, seven have come by way of KO, punctuated by three first round finishes. “Tricky” enters this fight having won six of his last seven bouts and his last two, as he tries to add to his career total and remain unbeaten since joining the Bellator MMA circuit.

Best known as a submission specialist, the 30-year-old Pineda has spent time with multiple local promotions as well as the UFC during his 33-fight career. Nicknamed “The Pit,” Pineda enters the cage having won three of his last four bouts and the opportunity to earn his first victory since joining the Bellator MMA fray. Hailing from Houston, Pineda will have the hometown edge over his opponent as the Scott Coker-led promotion will take its talented roster to Cedar Park and the H-E-B Center for the first time. Dating back to 2012, each of his last six wins has come by way of submission, with five of them occurring in the opening round of action. It’s worth noting that all 21 of Pineda’s wins have come by way of knockout or submission.

Hailing from Paris, France, 29-fight veteran Babene will be making his second appearance under the Bellator MMA banner. The 32-year-old “Blade” emerged victorious in his promotional debut earlier this year, when he defeated Brandon Farran with a first round rear-naked choke submission at “Bellator 150: Kongo vs. Spartan.” The French middleweight has amassed 17 career wins thus far, 14 of which have come by way of knockout or submission. Babene will face one of the stiffest tests of his career, as he prepares to face rising middleweight “Kiko” France.

France will be fighting for the third time under the direction of Bellator MMA, after earning a victory over Ben Reiter in his Bellator debut at “Bellator 146: Kato vs. Manhoef.” The 33-year-old nicknamed “Kiko” will also be making his 19th overall appearance in the cage, where he has accrued 13 professional wins; 12 of which have come by way of submission. The Gilbert, Arizona native is currently riding a hot streak, claiming victories in six of his last eight fights (including one draw). The veteran submission specialist will have his hands full, as he prepares to enter enemy territory and challenge Babene in his home state of Texas on September 16th.

Updated “Bellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson” Main Card:
Heavyweight Main Event: Cheick Kongo (24-10-2) vs. Tony Johnson (10-2)
Bantamweight Feature Bout: Joe Warren (13-5) vs. Sirwan Kakai (12-4)
Flyweight Feature Bout: Anastasia Yankova (3-0) vs. Veta Arteaga (2-0)
Lightweight Feature Bout: Derek Campos (16-6) vs. Djamil Chan (12-2)

Bellator.com-Streamed Preliminary Card:
Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Kenya Miranda (2-2) vs. Emily Ducote (3-1)
Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Mark Dickman (11-2) vs. Daniel Pineda (21-12)
Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Gregory Babene (17-11-1) vs. Francisco France (13-4-1)

About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 400 million homes worldwide in over 120 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA 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 Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

About Spike:
Spikeis available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

BANTAMWEIGHT STANDOUTS JOE WARREN AND SIRWAN KAKAI SET FOR BATTLE DURING CO-MAIN EVENT OF ‘BELLATOR 161’

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SANTA MONICA, CALIF (August 10, 2016) – A bantamweight showdown pitting Joe Warren (13-5) against Sirwan Kakai (12-4) has been added to the main card of “Bellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson,” which takes place on September 16 inside the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, Texas, and will air LIVE and FREE on SPIKE.

 

The bantamweight contest joins a heavyweight main event featuring Cheick Kongo (24-10-2) taking on Tony Johnson (10-2), and the U.S. debut of Anastasia Yankova (3-0), who meets Veta Arteaga (2-0). Additional contests will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

Tickets for “Bellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson” start at only $25 can be purchased at Bellator.com, Ticketmaster, or the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park Box Office. The event will air LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT.

A 15-fight veteran of Bellator MMA and champion in not one but two different weight classes, Warren enters the cage with an 11-4 mark under the Scott Coker-led promotion, including multiple streaks of five consecutive wins. Dating back to 2015, the 2006 Pan American and World Champion wrestler has made three consecutive appearances in Bellator’s main event, including an impressive unanimous decision victory over L.C. Davis at “Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis.” Hailing from Denver, Colorado, the “Baddest Man on the Planet” will look to become the first-ever fighter to knock out Kakai when the two meet in main card action on SPIKE.

 

Nicknamed “Zohan,” Kakai comes into the fight in search of his first career win under the Bellator MMA banner. At just 26 years of age, the Swedish submission specialist hopes to make a splash against the former two-division champion in Warren. Since making his professional debut in 2008, Kakai has recorded 12 wins as a pro, with half coming by way of submission. Prior to joining the Bellator MMA fray, Kakai made a splash fighting under the direction of the UFC, recording a unanimous decision victory over Danny Martinez in his promotional debut. Kakai now faces one of the most challenging opponents Bellator MMA’s stacked bantamweight division has to offer when he enters the cage on September 16 at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

 

Updated “Bellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson” Main Card:

Heavyweight Main Event: Cheick Kongo (24-10-2) vs. Tony Johnson (10-2)

Bantamweight Co-Main Event: Joe Warren (13-5) vs. Sirwan Kakai (12-4)

Flyweight Feature Bout: Anastasia Yankova (3-0) vs. Veta Arteaga (2-0)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

ANASTASIA YANKOVA PUTS UNDEFEATED RECORD ON THE LINE AGAINST VETA ARTEAGA ON SEPTEMBER 16AT ‘BELLATOR 161’

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SANTA MONICA, CALIF (August 4, 2016) – A flyweight bout pitting Anastasia Yankova (3-0) against Veta Arteaga (2-0) has been added to the SPIKE-televised portion of “Bellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson,” which takes place on September 16 at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, Texas.

The fight joins a main card that features a heavyweight main event pitting French phenom Cheick Kongo (24-10-2) against the streaking Tony Johnson (10-2). Additional main and preliminary contests will be announced shortly.

Doors for the event open at 7:45 p.m. CT local time and the first preliminary bout – which streams live on Bellator.com and The Bellator Mobile App — begins at 8:00 p.m. CT. Tickets for the event start at just $25 and can be purchased now at Bellator.com, Ticketmaster, or the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park Box Office.

The 25-year-old Yankova will make her second appearance of the year, after garnering the attention of the MMA world with an impressive promotional debut in Italy at “Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Souza.” The Russian submission specialist began her professional career 2-0, before earning her first victory under the direction of Bellator MMA with an impressive first round armbar victory. An avid artist outside of the cage, Yankova hopes to carve out her next masterpiece when she returns to action on Sept. 16.

Since making her professional debut earlier this year, Arteaga has strung together back-to-back wins, including a unanimous decision victory over Jackie Vandenburgh in her promotional debut at “Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef.” Thus far, each of Arteaga’s first two wins have gone to the judges’ table, leaving the 28-year-old Boise, Idaho native itching for her first career stoppage win.

 

Updated “Bellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson” Main Card:

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Main Event: Cheick Kongo (24-10-2) vs. Tony Johnson (10-2)

Bellator MMA Flyweight Feature Bout: Anastasia Yankova (3-0) vs. Veta Arteaga (2-0)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

EVERYTHING’S BIGGER IN TEXAS: HEAVYWEIGHTS CHEICK KONGO AND TONY JOHNSON HEADLINE ‘BELLATOR 161’

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NEWLY ANNOUNCED EVENT TAKES PLACE SEPTEMBER 16 AT H-E-B CENTER AT CEDAR PARK, TEXAS

 

 

SANTA MONICA, CALIF (July, 22) – Bellator MMA is heading back to the “Lone Star State,” where a heavyweight bout pitting Cheick Kongo(24-10-2) against Tony Johnson (10-2) will serve as the main event of “Bellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson,” which takes place on September 16 at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, Texas, and will air LIVE and FREE on SPIKE.

 

The Scott Coker-led promotion will be holding its first-ever event at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, which is just a short drive from Austin. Tickets for “Bellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson” starting at $25 can be purchased at Bellator.com, Ticketmaster, or the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park Box Office starting next Friday, July 29 with an exclusive Bellator Nation pre-sale running the Wednesday and Thursday prior. Additional contests will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

Hailing from Paris, Kongo will enter the cage for the ninth time under the direction of Bellator MMA and make his third consecutive appearance in a card’s main event. An 18-fight veteran of the UFC, Kongo hopes to add to his current two-fight winning streak and 6-2 mark since joining the Viacom-owned promotion back in 2013. Standing 6 foot 4, Kongo will have a noticeable height advantage over his shorter opponent. With half of his 24 career wins coming by way of knockout, Kongo will also attempt to finish Johnson for the first time of his professional career.

 

A native of North Platte, Nebraska, Johnson has strung together an impressive streak of three straight victories, including two in a row since re-joining the Bellator MMA fray. After making his professional debut in 2008, the 30-year-old made his Bellator MMA debut with a unanimous decision win over Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis at “Bellator 46.” Since challenging current UFC Champion Daniel Cormier in 2010, Johnson has gone 6-1 with three knockout finishes, including noteworthy victories over Alexander Volkov and most recently Raphael Butler, during“Bellator 148: Daley vs. Uhrich” earlier this year.

 

Updated “Bellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson” Main Card:

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Main Event: Cheick Kongo (24-10-2) vs. Tony Johnson (10-2)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

MATT MITRIONE CHOOSES BELLATOR MMA, SIGNING AN EXCLUSIVE, MULTI-FIGHT CONTRACT WITH THE PROMOTION

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SANTA MONICA (March 14, 2016) – Last week, top mixed martial art’s free agent Matt Mitrione (9-5) joined Ariel Helwani’s “MMA Hour” show and revealed that he had been fielding offers from multiple promotions, including a great bid he had received from Bellator MMA. In a very rare move, Helwani had Mitrione rejoin his popular talk show for a second straight week to announce that the paperwork has been finalized, making Mitrione the newest member of Bellator MMA’s heavyweight division.

 

“There comes a time in every athlete’s life, where the scenarios change and the landscape has eroded from what made you fall in love with it initially,” said Mitrione. “It has become that time for me. After a mutually beneficial free agency period, I’ve decided to move my career to Bellator. I’ve enjoyed almost every second of my career and unlike most that switch organizations due to being cut or no longer being able to perform at the sports highest levels, I am bringing a body and skillset that are only getting better and I cannot wait to test my abilities against the best Bellator has to offer.”

 

Lovingly referred to as “Meathead,” Mitrione is one of the few fighters to have started his professional career with the UFC without previously competing on the regional circuit. His 14-bout stint with that promotion began in 2009, where he faced formidable opponents the likes of: Kimbo Slice, Gabriel Gonzaga, Ben Rothwell, Derrick Lewis, Brendan Schaub, Roy Nelson, Shawn Jordan and Travis Brown amongst others.

 

Prior to competing in MMA, Mitrione earned a scholarship to play defensive tackle for the Purdue Boilermakers football team, not far from where he grew up in Springfield, Ill. After college, he played in the NFL for the New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings until 2005.

 

At the conclusion of his professional football career, the Shotokan Karate Black Belt focused all of his attention on the sport of MMA. Mitrione spent time training with Duke Roufus and the highly-respected Roufusport team before landing with the famed Blackzilians camp in Boca Raton, FLA, where he trains today.

 

The extremely popular and well-spoken Mitrione has allowed the judges to determine the result of his fight only twice, against Joey Beltran and Cheick Kongo, both of whom currently fight for Bellator MMA. His entertaining fighting style has earned him recognition with “Performance of the Night” (twice) and “Fight of the Night” accolades.

 

Prior to his last fight with his former promotion, Mitrione was forced to participate in a media session barefoot, as his shoes didn’t adhere to the strict company uniform policy. He will have no such problems at Bellator, where he is free to secure his own sponsors and keep his feet warm with the footwear of his choosing.

 

Bellator has been bolstering their heavyweight division as of late, and Mitrione becomes the second heavyweight free agent the promotion has signed in as many months, as Sergei Kharitonov joined the fray in February. The division is currently championed by Vitaly Minakov, and includes other top names like Slice, Bobby Lashley, Cheick Kongo, Vinicius “Spartan,” Tony Johnson, Justin Wren, Dan Charles and Augusto Sakai.