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Bellator 69 Main Card: Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 5:51 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
May 172012
 

Ron Sparks (red trunks) will return to the Bellator cage Friday night to pit his size and knockout power against Kevin Asplund. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

It’s back to Cajun country as Bellator returns to the L’Auberge du Lac Casino and Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana with a loaded card featuring heavy hitters and dynamic finishing artists. Season 6 Middleweight Tournament finalist and owner of 23 first-round (T)KOs “Big Rig” Maiquel Falcao (30-4) will face submission specialist “Sweet Swede” Andreas Spang (8-1). Lighting fast French import “Psycho” Karl Amoussou (14-4) takes on “The Caveman” David Rickels (10-0) in a welterweight semi-final match-up that will determine who will face “The Beast” Bryan Baker (19-3) later this season. Former female tournament finalist and long-time top female fighter in the world “Mega Megu” Megumi Fujii (25-1) steps back into the Bellator cage after a lengthy hiatus to face the recharged and surging “JAG” Jessica Aguilar (13-4). Kentucky countryboy “The Monster” Ron Sparks (8-1) hopes to make a successful return to the bayou as he welcomes Brutaal fight veteran “Concrete” Kevin Asplund (15-1) and his 15-fight win streak to the Bellator cage. Continue reading »

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Bellator 68 Main Card: Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 2:33 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
May 102012
 

Marius Zaromskis (black trunks) will make his Bellator debut in a long-awaited rematch against Waachiim Spiritwolf. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

It’s another stop in Atlantic City, New Jersey this Friday night as Caesars Hotel and Casino hosts the Bellator Season 6 Featherweight Tournament finale between former Sengoku 145lbs. king “The Monster of Rio” Marlon Sandro (22-3) and seasoned Bellator veteran Daniel Straus (19-4). Both men are making their second appearance in the tournament finals. Bantamweight semi-final number one goes down in the co-main event as WEC veteran “Loro” Macros Galvao (11-5) faces submission expert “T-Train” Travis Marx (19-3). Two UFC veterans will face off in a light heavyweight special feature fight as “The Silverback” Seth Petruzelli (14-6) battles “The Fury” Carmello Marrero (14-5). Starting off the main card on MTV2 is a rematch that has been brewing since November 2010 when their Strikeforce bout was ruled a No Contest, as DREAM Welterweight Champion “The Whitemare” Marius Zaromskis (16-6) locks horns with Wacchiim Spiritwolf (9-9) for a second time. Continue reading »

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Bellator 67: The Aftermath

 Posted by at 8:02 AM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
May 052012
 

Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler (blue gloves) stamped out Akihiro Gono's (red gloves) hopes for a successful Bellator debut, TKOing the JMMA star in less than a minute. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

Casino Rama and the Canadian fans of Ontario welcomed Bellator and its warriors with open arms for Bellator  67 Friday, May 4 and in return the fighters gave them a show. The main event featured the Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler (10-0), fresh off his fourth-round submission win against former champion and top lightweight Eddie Alvarez (22-3), taking on the most experienced opponent of his career in Japanese superstar Akihiro Gono (32-18-7). Two welterweight semi-finalists faced off in an all-out war as “Killa B” Ben Saunders (13-5) and former middleweight finalist “The Beast” Bryan Baker (18-3) tangled. Heavyweight finishers from two different worlds clashed as submission specialist “Polish Pitbull” Damian Grabowski (16-1) took on knockout artist “Bad Man” David Huckaba (17-5) and Canada’s own finishing machine, “The Real Deal” Ryan Ford (18-4), made his Bellator debut against Brazilian prestige fighter “Sapo” Luis Santos (50-8) in a welterweight match-up that started of the main card for MTV2. Continue reading »

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Bellator 67 Main Card: Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 6:58 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
May 032012
 

The "Polish Pitbull" Damian Grabowski (black trunks) is known for his aggressive style and will use that style to his distinct advantage at Bellator 67. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

It’s back to Rama, Ontario, Canada for a second time as Bellator 67 docks at Casino Rama tomorrow night. Returning to the cage to begin his newly minted championship reign is relentless lightweight king Michael Chandler (9-0). Chandler will take on the most experienced fighter of his career when he welcomes long-time Japanese superstar and Pancrase, Shooto, PRIDE, Sengoku, and UFC veteran Akihiro Gono (32-17). One of the Season 6 Welterweight Tournament semi-finals will take place as finishing machine  ”Killa B” Ben Saunders (13-4) takes on the reborn giant “The Beast” Bryan Baker (17-3). MFC veteran and Edmonton native “The Real Deal” Ryan Ford (17-4) makes his Bellator debut against powerhouse “Sapo” Luis Santos (50-7). Two-time Bellator veteran “Polish Pitbull” Damian Grabowski (15-1) returns to Bellator against heavy-handed newcomer “Bad Man” Dave Huckaba (17-4). Continue reading »

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Bellator 66: The Aftermath

 Posted by at 2:05 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Apr 212012
 

Former Bellator lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez earned a TKO victory over JMMA star Shinya Aoki in their main event bout, a rematch three years in the making. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

Bellator Fighting Championships made its debut in Cleveland, Ohio with Bellator 66. Friday night’s stacked card was filled with explosive warriors, four Season 6 tourney semi-finals match-ups, and a rematch three years in the making. Submission specialist Brent Weedman (21-7) duked it out with Brazilian kickboxer Thiago Michel Pereira Silva (10-3) and Judo Olympian Rick Hawn (12-1) faced the tough “Cupcake” Lloyd Woodard (12-1) to determine who would meet in the 155lbs. tournament finals. Four middleweights faced off in the 185lbs. tournament semi-finals as Russian boxer “Slava” Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (16-1) locked horns with Brazilian powerhouse “Big Rig” Maiquel Falcao (29-4) and Ohio’s knockout artist “The Predator” Brian Rogers (9-3) faced late replacement “Sweet Swede” Andreas Spang (7-1). Since New Year’s Eve 2008 fans have chanted for the rematch of former Bellator lightweight king Eddie Alvarez (22-3) and DREAM Lightweight Champion “Tobikan Judan” Shinya Aoki (30-5). That match finally happened inside the Bellator cage for last night’s main event, and disappoint it did not. Continue reading »

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Bellator 66 Main Card: Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 6:27 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Apr 192012
 

Judo Olympian Rick Hawn (right) was nothing short of dominant in his 155lbs. debut in March, however his Bellator 66 match-up may prove to be a more substantial challenge versus the large, heavy-handed Lloyd Woodward. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

It was New Year’s Eve 2008 when former Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez (22-3) submitted to a crippling Heel Hook by Japanese superstar “Tobikan Judan” Shinya Aoki (30-5) just 92 seconds into their K-1 event “Dynamite!! 2008″ match-up, crowning Aoki the inaugural WAMMA lightweight champ. Over three years have passed and the rematch will finally take place in the Bellator cage this Friday night. Bellator 66 at the I-X Center in Cleveland, Ohio will host not only one of the most sought after rematches in lightweight history but also a stacked card of Season 6 tournament semi-final match-ups in both the middleweight and lightweight divisions. Ohio’s own “The Predator” Brian Rogers (9-3) brings his knockout power against a last-minute replacement in MFC and Strikeforce veteran ”Sweet Swede” Andreas Spang (7-1). Russian fighting sensation “Slava” Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (16-1) takes on the powerful “Big Rig” Maiquel Falcao (29-4). Colorful yet dangerous “Cupcake” Lloyd Woodard (12-1) takes on former Judo Olympian Rick Hawn (12-1) in one of two 155lbs. semi-final bouts, the second being Thiago Michael Pereira Silva (10-2) and Brent Weedman (19-7), which will take place on the event’s undercard hosted by Spike.com.

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UFC 145 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Mark Bocek vs. John Alessio

 Posted by at 6:48 PM  MMA News, UFC  1 Response »
Apr 162012
 

Fight-finishing MMA veteran John Alessio (blue gloves) returns to the UFC Saturday night to face top lightweight prospect and submission specialist Mark Bocek. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

The UFC returns to Atlanta, Georgia this Saturday with perhaps the most hyped title fight of the year featuring training-partners-turned-bitter-rivals, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “Bones” Jon Jones (15-1) and “Suga” Rashad Evans (17-1-1). Young prospect “Ares” Rory MacDonald (12-1) takes on English striker “Beautiful” Che Mills (14-4) in the UFC 145 co-main event. Returning to the Octagon searching for victory is IFL veteran “Big” Ben Rothwell (31-8) versus confident knockout artist “The Hybrid” Brendan Schaub (8-2) in a heavyweight scrap. Former UFC featherweight title challenger “The Machine” Mark Hominick (20-10) steps into the cage against “The Filipino Phenom” Eddie Yagin (15-5) with both men in a must-win situation. Starting up the Pay-Per-View action is Canadian submission expert Mark Bocek (10-5) welcoming fellow countryman and WEC, UFC, and MFC veteran “The Natural” John Alessio (34-14) back to the Octagon. Alessio, a long-time welterweight, has found a new home at lightweight and will look to show the fans, Dana White, and all of the 155lbs. division that he is here to stay, while Bocek looks to prove that his name belongs in the mix of top lightweight contenders. With both men having a lot to gain and a lot to lose from this fight, the main card opener is sure to entertain. Continue reading »

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Bellator 65 Main Card: Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 7:33 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Apr 122012
 

Alexis Vila (right) has the speed and power to end his foe's night early, but should be fail to pull the trigger, he risks being dragged into the later rounds where Luis Nogueira has the advantage. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

Bellator hits the Jersey Shore again this Friday night with a four-fight main card and a golden belt on the line at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. The Bellator 65 main event sees bantamweight champ “Fun Size” Zach Makovsky (14-2) take on Season 5 tournament winner, 22-year-old “Dudu” Eduardo Dantas (13-2), in Makovsky’s first ever title defense. “The Polar Bear” Cole Konrad (8-0) was scheduled to put his heavyweight strap on the line against “The American Soldier” Eric Prindle (7-1), but Prindle was struck by a last-minute injury and the title bout has been rescheduled for Bellator 70. The second 145lbs. tournament semi-final match-up will take place as well when Daniel Straus (18-4) faces the underdog and upset artist Mike Corey (12-2) with the winner to face  former Sengoku champion Marlon Sandro (22-3) in the finale. WEC veteran and Bellator tough man “Loro” Marcos Galvao (10-5) takes on the colorful wrestler “Wild” Ed West (17-6) in a Season 6 Bantamweight Tournament Quarter-Finals match-up while the opposing bracket sees returning Season Five 135lbs. finalist “The Exorcist” Alexis Vila (11-1) face Bellator veteran “Betao” Luis Alberto Nogueira (12-2). Continue reading »

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UFC on Fuel 2 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Brad Pickett vs. Damacio Page

 Posted by at 7:11 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Apr 092012
 

Brad Pickett (left) will face fellow WEC veteran Damacio Page in a main card-opening bantamweight bout that may very well serve as both competitors' last chance to impress the Zuffa brass. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The UFC returns from over a month-long hiatus this Saturday to stake its claim in the city of Stockholm, Sweden for its second event to be broadcast on Fuel TV. Headlining the event is a light heavyweight match-up between Sweden’s own “The Mauler” Alexander Gustafsson (13-1) and wrecking machine Thiago Silva (14-2-1). Former USMC and war hero “All-American” Brian Stann (11-4) returns to battle against another warrior in Rome, Italy’s “Legionarius” Alessio Sakara (15-8) in a middleweight bout. United Glory, Sengoku, and Shooto veteran “The Great” Siyar Bahadurzada (20-4) makes his UFC debut against Brazilian bad boy Paulo Thiago (14-3). Top featherweight “The Gun” Diego Nunes (17-2) welcomes powerful kickboxer Dennis Siver (19-8) to the 145lbs. division. TUF 7 alum “The Darkness” DaMarques Johnson (15-9) faces England’s “The One” John Maguire (17-3). Bantamweights “The Angel of Death” Damacio Page (15-6) and “One Punch” Brad Pickett (20-6) have the honor of starting off the stacked main card to showcase one of the UFC’s newest divisions in what will likely be a fight not only for a victory, but also to maintain employment with the Zuffa promotion. Continue reading »

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Bellator 64: The Aftermath

 Posted by at 8:26 AM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Apr 072012
 

Marlon Sandro (pictured) defeated young Brazilian bomber Alexandre Bezerra in the Bellator 64 co-main event, and moves on to the featherweight tourney finals. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

It was a successful launch for Bellator’s Season 6 Bantamweight Tournament with two action packed chess matches of fights opening up the main card at Friday night’s Bellator 64 event held at the The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Promotional debutees 20-year-old Brazilian finishing machine “Ratinho” Rodrigo Lima (10-1) and DEEP and Shooto veteran “Iron” Hiroshi Nakamura (15-5) started off the 135lbs. tourney with a competitive three-round affair, followed up by a match between submission expert “T-Train” Travis Marx (19-3) and former Shooto champion Masakatsu Ueda (15-2). Featherweight “Monster of Rio” Marlon Sandro (22-3) took on fellow countryman “Popo” Alexandre Bezzera (13-2) and his blazing eight-fight win streak for a spot in the tourney finals. In the main event, Bellator Welterweight Champion “Funky” Ben Askren (10-0) made his second title defense against former MFC king and Season 5 tournament champion “The Phenom” Douglas Lima (21-5). Continue reading »

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Bellator 64: Main Card Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 5:40 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Apr 052012
 

Aggressive striker and former MFC champ Douglas Lima (top) will prove a worthy challenger to current Bellator Welterweight Champion Ben Askren's title in the Bellator 64 main event. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

On Friday, April 6 Bellator Fighting Championships makes the trek North to Windsor, Ontario, Canada to present Bellator 64 live on MTV2 from The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor. Undefeated Bellator Welterweight Champion and former Olympic wrestler “Funky” Ben Askren (9-0) takes on his most dangerous opponent to date in former MFC king and Season 5 welterweight tourney champion “The Phenom” Douglas Lima (21-4) with the 170lbs. title on the line. Season 6 Featherweight Tournament semi-final match-up number one pits former Sengoku 145lbs. champion Marlon Sandro (21-3) against a close friend in “Popo” Alexandre Bezerra (13-1) to determine who will take one of two spots in the finals. Two bouts in the latest bantamweight tournament’s quarter-finals open up the main card as “T-Train” Travis Marx (18-3) takes on Shooto veteran Masakatsu Ueda (15-1) and undefeated WOCS veteran “Ratinho” Rodrigo Lima (10-0) fights DEEP and Shooto journeyman “Iron” Hiroshi Nakamura (14-5). Continue reading »

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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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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: 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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