Bellator 63: The Aftermath

 Posted by at 12:03 PM  Bellator  No Responses »
Mar 312012
 

Karl Amoussou (right), Bryan Baker, David Rickels, and Ben Saunders are the four men moving on to represent the 170lbs. division in the Bellator Season 6 tourney semi-finals. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

The welterweights went to war last night at the popular Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut in front of a welcoming crowd. Eight men entered the Bellator circle as part of the Season 6 Welterweight Tournament Quarter-Finals, but only four were allowed to move up the ladder to the semi-finals. “Killa B” Ben Saunders (13-4) took on “Smash Mode” Raul Amaya (9-1) in the opening tournament match-up. “The Caveman” David Rickels (10-0) put his undefeated record on the line against veteran “Mata Ele” Jordan Smith (17-3). Former 185lbs. tourney contender “The Beast” Bryan Baker (17-3) faced Brazilian fight ciruit journeyman and Bellator newcomer “Indio” Carlos Alexandre Pereira (33-10) in a battle of the strongmen of the 170 lbs. division. In the main event MMA Gospel Young Gun and Bellator gladiator “The Cleveland Assassin” Chris Lozano (9-3) took on M-1 veteran “Pyscho” Karl Amoussou (14-4) in a bad blood fight that finally came to a head when they faced off in the cage. Continue reading »

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UFC: A Future Without Pay-Per-View?

 Posted by at 4:47 PM  Features, MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Mar 302012
 

UFC President Dana White has made mention in recent weeks of the promotion's future potentially without Pay-Per-View, but fans shouldn't jump on that bandwagon just yet. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

Amid the ever-growing host of lawsuits against streaming sites and their users that pirate UFC events, UFC President Dana White has in recent weeks mentioned a handful of possible futures for the MMA promotion’s future on television. While he has stated that the format of major events on Pay-Per-View supplemented by free TV prelims,  The Ultimate Fighter, and free-on-TV minor events such as UFC on FX cards will likely remain in place for some time, both the UFC boss and the fans have kicked around several alternatives, some of which may render online piracy of the PPV events moot if not eliminate the damage they cause altogether. Among these have been ideas where Pay-Per-Views can be purchased in a subscription service similar to the way major sports leagues allow fans to purchase out-of-market games with products like NFL Sunday Ticket or NHL Center Ice and even a complete departure from the PPV arena into a totally broadcast/cable TV approach. From a quick outside glance, either of these options appears to be an easy fix that is win-win for the UFC and the fans, but even when the details fans can’t possibly know about the behind-the-scenes business aspects of making such deals work are taken out, there still are several drawbacks that come with such arrangements. For instance, while putting every fight on “free TV” may sound like a huge win for the fans, there are some benefits of the PPV format that are taken for granted because the UFC has always been a Pay-Per-View first product. Continue reading »

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Bellator 63, Season 6 Welterweight Tournament Quarter-Finals Live Results

 Posted by at 3:52 PM  Bellator  2 Responses »
Mar 302012
 

(Photo courtesy of Bellator)

—MAIN CARD (on MTV2)—

Season 6 Welterweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Chris Lozano vs. Karl Amoussou: Amoussou via Submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 1, 2:05

Season 6 Welterweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Ben Saunders vs. Raul Amaya: Saunders via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00

Season 6 Welterweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Bryan Baker vs. Carlos Pereira: Baker via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29), Round 3, 5:00

Season 6 Welterweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
David Rickels vs. Jordan Smith: Rickels via TKO (Punches), Round 1, 0:22 Continue reading »

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Bellator 63, Season 6 Welterweight Tournament Quarter-Finals: Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 2:06 PM  Bellator, MMA Gospel Young Guns, MMA News  No Responses »
Mar 292012
 

"The Beast" Bryan Baker (black trunks) has the wrestling abilities to completely control his Bellator 63 bout if he so chooses. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

It’s back to the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut Friday night for another Bellator tournament bracket to get underway, this time with eight explosive welterweights hitting the cage for Bellator 63. Featuring a returning cast of warriors that have literally rocked the Bellator cage with their previous performances, the tourney also includes several newcomers more than willing to step up and engage in the firefights Bellator’s tournaments have become known for, all in the hopes of getting a shot at championship gold. Brazilian journeyman with nearly 45 fights to his credit “Indio” Carlos Alexandre Pereira (33-9) makes his Bellator debut against former WEC and Bellator 185lbs. contender turned oversized welterweight, “The Beast” Bryan Baker (16-3). Submission specialist and Bellator veteran “The Caveman” David Rickels (9-0) meets well-rounded promotion newcomer “Mata Ele” Jordan Smith (17-2), who steps in as a late replacement for UFC veteran Brian Foster (18-5). Season 5 Welterweight Tournament finalist “Killa B” Ben Saunders (12-4) is slated to pit his lethal striking and BJJ credentials against undefeated finishing machine “Smash Mode” Raul Amaya (9-0). The main event features original MMA Gospel Young Gun and heavy-handed Bellator 170lbs. tournament vet “The Cleveland Assassin” Chris Lozano (9-2) teeing off against former 185lbs. French wrecking machine “Psycho” Karl Amoussou (13-4), in a fight that has had both men chomping at the bit for weeks. As in previous seasons, the Bellator welterweight tourney match-ups are sure to add a few more clips to the promotion’s highlight reels. Continue reading »

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Bellator 62: The Aftermath

 Posted by at 3:29 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Mar 242012
 

Brent Weedman (top) made a successful 155lbs. debut and is one of four fighters moving on in the Bellator lightweight tourney. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

Friday night the Bellator Season 6 Lightweight Tournament Quarter-Finals went down at the Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas. Eight men entered the cage for the Bellator 62 main card on MTV2, just half of which left as victors and with a ticket to the semi-finals in hand. The 155lbs. tourney boasted several familiar faces as well as new faces teeing off in a quartet of bouts that had the crowd on their feet and the commentators flabbergasted. ”Cupcake” Lloyd Woodard (12-1) took on the elder of the “Pitbull” brothers in Patricky Freire (10-3). Former 170lbs. tournament finalist and Judo Olympian Rick Hawn (12-1) made his debut at lightweight against Brazilian force Ricardo Tirloni (14-2). Another former welterweight tournament contender, Brent Weedman (19-7), made his 155lbs. debut against JJ Ambrose (17-4). “The Brazilian Bomber” Rene Nazare (10-2) and Thiago Michel Pereira Silva (10-2) kicked off the tournament as the opening match. Though the intended Bellator 62 main event – a twice-rescheduled rematch between ”Big Monster” Thiago Santos (10-1) and “The American Soldier” Eric Prindle (7-1) to determine the Bellator Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament Champion – was scratched due to Santos missing weight by nearly 13lbs, the lightweights brought the heat for the third event of Bellator’s sixth season. Continue reading »

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Bellator 62, Season 6 Lightweight Tournament Quarter-Finals Live Results

 Posted by at 5:13 PM  Bellator, MMA News  1 Response »
Mar 232012
 

(Photo courtesy of Bellator)

—MAIN CARD (on MTV2)—

Season 6 Lightweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Lloyd Woodard vs. Patricky Freire: Woodard via Submission (Kimura), Round 2, 1:46

Season 6 Lightweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Rick Hawn vs. Ricardo Tirloni: Hawn via TKO (Punches), Round 1, 2:36

Season 6 Lightweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Rene Nazare vs. Thiago Michel Pereira Silva: Silva via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29), Round 3, 5:00

Season 6 Lightweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
JJ Ambrose vs. Brent Weedman: Weedman via Submission (Von Flue Choke), Round 2, 3:26

Continue reading »

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Bellator 62, Season 6 Lightweight Tournament Quarter-Finals: Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 3:03 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Mar 222012
 
Rene Nazare (black shorts) will face one of his toughest Bellator tests to date against deadly striker Thiago Michel Pereira Silva. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

The Lone Star State will host the third event of Bellator’s sixth season in Laredo, Texas at the Laredo Energy Arena. A restocked tournament of eight   lightweight warriors are ready to go to battle for a shot at newly minted champion Mike Chandler (9-0), and the third-time’s-the-charm scheduled meeting of heavyweights “Big Monster” Thiago Santos (10-1) and “The American Soldier” Eric Prindle (7-1) is set for the main event. Bellator veteran “The Brazilian Bomber” Rene Nazare (10-1) faces knockout artist Thiago Michel Pereira Silva (9-2). Former welterweight tough man Brent Weedman (18-7) drops down to a new weight of 155lbs. to welcome newcomer and rising star JJ Ambrose (17-3). Olympic Judo powerhouse Rick Hawn (11-1) moves down to a more natural weight for his frame and looks to hand Brazilian Ricardo Tirloni (14-1) his first loss since 2008. The co-main event features two power punchers with a knack for nasty battles as “Pitbull” Patricky Freire (10-2) faces fellow iron chinned striker “Cupcake” Lloyd Woodard (11-1). Tomorrow night only four competitors will move onward in the lightweight tournament, and either Prindle or Santos will rise to challenge “The Polar Bear” Cole Konrad (9-0) for the heavyweight crown. Undoubtedly all ten fighters on the Bellator 62 main card will put everything on the line to join those ranks. Continue reading »

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