Bellator 40: Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 1:56 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Apr 092011
 

Nick Thompson (white shorts) will represent the first fighter beyond the journeyman level that Ben Askren has faced and likely the first person to have the experience to handle his one-dimensional wrestling game. (Photo courtesy of Rob King and Sherdog)

Oklahoma gets a second dose of Bellator Fighting Championships when the organization returns to the Sooner State for Bellator 40 tonight with a main event superfight between welterweight champion Ben Askren (7-0) and UFC, bodogFIGHT, Strikeforce, Sengoku, and Elite XC veteran “The Goat” Nick Thompson (38-12). Askren will have his hands full with this seasoned fighter, and Thompson is coming to fight for the 15 minutes that three of Askren’s four Bellator bouts have lasted. Opening the night for the champ will be the second pair of semi-final tournament bouts.  Welterweight semi-finalists step in first as  Brent Weedman (18-5) takes on former UFC and Strikeforce fighter and former IFL Welterweight Champion “The Thoroughbred” Jay Hieron (17-4) with the winner moving on to face undefeated Judo Olympian Rick Hawn (11-0) in the  tournament finals. Then former semi-pro boxer and heavy handed striker Lloyd Woodard (11-0) takes on Strikeforce veteran and quick finisher Michael Chandler (6-0) in the lightweight semi-finals with the winner slated against ”Pitbull” Patricky Freire (3-0). Overall the night should promise another evening of excellent Bellator action for the fans. Continue reading »

Share

Bellator 35: The Aftermath

 Posted by at 9:17 PM  Bellator, Features, MMA News  No Responses »
Mar 072011
 

"The Thoroughbred" Jay Hieron (pictured), Rick Hawn, Brent Weedman, and Lyman Good all emerged victorious at Bellator 35 and move on to the Season 4 Welterweight Tournament semi-finals. (Photo courtesy of Dave Mandel and Sherdog)

Bellator Fighting Championships (BFC) made its major cable network debut last Saturday on MTV2 with Bellator 35. Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino hosted the Welterweight Tournament quarter-final match-ups, a night that had three bouts that went the distance and one that seemed to be stopped prematurely due to referee miscommunication during a submission hold. The Bellator Season 4 premier was an excellent display of match making and mixed martial arts prowess overall and served well in its mission to remind MMA fans why they tune in every Saturday to see the BFC tournament contests. Continue reading »

Share

Spilled Bag of Fights: 17 Fights & Charlie Sheen

 Posted by at 5:37 PM  Spilled Bag of Fights  2 Responses »
Mar 072011
 

Feast or Famine. Such is life. Such is MMA. I think over the last week there were about 738 fights. UFC on Versus: Kampmann vs. Sanchez, Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson, Bellator 35 aka The Welterweight Tournament, Chicago Cagefighting Championship with lovable Twitter Smartass/Badass Felice Herrig and the venerable legend and fan favorite Jens “Lil Evil” Pulver headlining.  GASP! That’s too much, Billy!! ( From Buffalo 66 http://twitpic.com/4784p3 ) See, now you’re all in on my references. And yes, for the record, I shot that from my TV & uploaded it, just so you would get the reference. I love you that much… Well, either that or I was just procrastinating. Tomato – Tomahto.

So what do I do? Do I focus on a few key fights and ignore everything else or do quick thoughts on everything? Decisions, decisions. Damn, the new season of The Ultimate Fighter is coming up soon and I’ll have that to add to everything else to write about. I need a nap. Continue reading »

Share

Bellator 35 Quick Results

 Posted by at 3:52 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Mar 052011
 

In the Bellator 35 main event, "The Assassin" Chris Lozano (left) took on former Bellator Welterweight Champion "Cyborg" Lyman Good (right) and was defeated via Unanimous Decision. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)


—Main Card: Strikeforce Welterweight Tournament Bouts (MTV 2)—

Jim Wallhead vs. Rick Hawn: Hawn via Unanimous Decision, Round 3, 5:00 (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Anthony Lapsely vs. Jay Hieron: Hieron via Technical Submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 1, 3:59

Chris Lozano vs. Lyman Good: Good via Unanimous Decision, Round 3, 5:00 (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Brent Weedman vs. Dan Hornbuckle: Weedman via Unanimous Decision, Round 3, 5:00 (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Continue reading »

Share

Bellator 35 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Welterweight Bracket

 Posted by at 10:14 PM  Bellator, MMA Gospel Young Guns, MMA News  No Responses »
Mar 042011
 

MMA Gospel Young Gun Chris Lozano (red shorts) will be tested against fellow striker and former Bellator Welterweight Champion Lyman Good. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

Bellator Fighting Championships returns to the spotlight on MTV2 this Saturday with its Season Four Welterweight Tournament. Hosting the event is Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino, home of the well regarded Tachi Palace Fights. The tournament brackets are stacked with talent, new and old, and hold a prized shot at Bellator’s welterweight gold currently held by Ben Askren (7-0) for the overall winner at the season’s end. The card will also host a preliminary card that features highly regarded female striker and Bellator champion “The Warrior Princess” Zoila Frausto (8-1) against Karina Hallinan in a rematch of the fight that started both women’s careers as well as a trio of bouts that focus on some of the area’s top local talent. The fights on everyone’s minds, however, are the four first round tournament bouts that will see one former Bellator champion, one UFC veteran, two undefeated rising stars, and four veterans of the regional MMA scene battle it out for their chance at Bellator glory. Continue reading »

Share

Bellator Kicks Off Season 4 Welterweight Tournament This Saturday at Bellator 35

 Posted by at 9:01 PM  Bellator, MMA Gospel Young Guns, MMA News  No Responses »
Feb 282011
 

(Photo courtesy of Bellator)

Bellator Fighting Championships returns to the spotlight with its Season 4 Welterweight Tournament this Saturday night at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino. The fight card also plays host to several Local Feature Fights and will mark the promotion’s debut on its new home television network, MTV2. Continue reading »

Share