Chris Lozano Discusses Move to Jackson’s MMA, Berth in Bellator Season 6 Welterweight Tournament

 Posted by at 4:27 PM  Bellator, MMA Gospel Exclusives, MMA Gospel Young Guns, MMA News  No Responses »
Feb 112012
 

"The Cleveland Assassin" Chris Lozano (left) will make his third run at the Bellator 170lbs. tournament starting in March, this time under the tutelage of Greg Jackson and team. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

“The Cleveland Assassin” Chris Lozano’s (9-2) name is back on the Bellator welterweight tournament roster with the Ohio native looking to the make the third time a charm. The now 29-year-old Lozano made his Bellator debut in September 2010 with an impressive TKO victory over Yoshiyuki Yoshida (11-6). Six months later at Bellator 35, a three-round battle in favor of former Bellator champion “Cyborg” Lyman Good (11-2) ended Lozano’s hopes of advancing in the Season 4 welterweight tourney. Lozano followed up his first professional loss with a pair of first-round stoppage victories in the regional promotion North American Allied Fight Series (NAAFS) before being asked to return to the Bellator cage. The Bellator Season 5 Welterweight Tournament Quarter-Finals in September 2011 saw the “Assassin” shut down a seasoned veteran and top prospect in Brent Weedman (18-7) and move on to the semi-finals with the hopes of winning it all; heavy-handed eventual tournament champion “The Phenom” Douglas Lima (19-4) had something different in mind, however, and handed Lozano his first and only knockout loss to date. Continue reading »
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Good vs. Hawn, Freire vs. Imada Kick Off Bellator Season 4 Tournament Semi-Finals This Saturday at Bellator 39

 Posted by at 6:39 AM  Bellator, MMA News  1 Response »
Mar 312011
 

 

While Rick Hawn (right) defeated his last opponent with his hands, Lyman Good represents a whole other level of striker. Hawn will need to rely on his Judo to win his fight at Bellator 39. (Photo courtesy of Dave Mandel and Sherdog)

This Saturday night Bellator Fighting Championships takes the northeastern US by storm with Bellator 39 in Uncasville, Connecticut. Headlining the event is Bellator Lightweight Champion and top five 155lbs. fighter Eddie Alvarez (19-2) putting his belt on the line for the first time against No.1 contender and Season 2 tournament winner Pat Curran (12-3). Supporting the highly electric main event though is former Bellator Welterweight Champion “Cyborg” Lyman Good (11-1) fighting former Judo Olympian Rick Hawn (10-0) in the first match of Bellator’s Season 4 Welterweight Tournament semi-finals, and “Pitbull” Patricky Freire (2-0) will go to war with two-time tournament finalist and submission wizard Toby Imada (18-15) in Bellator’s first  Season 4 Lightweight Tournament semi-final fight. All four semi-finalists have one thing in mind: a shot at the tournament finals and owning Bellator gold, and with four hungry fighters ready to go, there’s no way Bellator 39 won’t deliver. Who will advance to the next round? Let’s take a look at how this Saturday night could unfold.  Continue reading »

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Spilled Bag of Fights: Pitbulls & Cupcakes

 Posted by at 7:41 PM  Spilled Bag of Fights  No Responses »
Mar 142011
 

So, the big news this week in MMA was that UFC parent company ZUFFA, LLC. purchased Strikeforce. Surprising, yes. I can only assume that this happened rather quickly since a secret that big doesn’t stay secret very long and no one seemed to have even heard rumors to this effect prior to the deal being announced by Dana White. However, considering the fact that contracts with fighters and deals with Showtime are already in place and Dana’s assertion that it’ll be “business as usual”, I don’t think we can expect to see any real changes or fallout for the immediate time being. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s an eventual merger but I think that’s at least a few years off. Still, I see why it’s a big deal. Zuffa now owns most of MMA – aside from DREAM and Bellator and the much smaller regional organizations. With so few options outside of the Zuffa umbrella can a fighter’s union be on the horizon for the future? I dunno, man… just thinking out loud. I don’t mean to piss off King Dana by any means. Just Nick Diaz needs to have his ADHD medicine (aka: weed) covered by a health care plan, not to mention Diego Sanchez’s face and Brandon Vera’s nose. Continue reading »

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Lyman Good vs. Rick Hawn Slated for Season 4 Welterweight Tournament Semi-Final Bout at Bellator 39

 Posted by at 11:36 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Mar 082011
 

Former Bellator Welterweight Champion Lyman Good must face and defeat Judo aficionado Rick Hawn to earn a spot in the finals of the Bellator Season 4 Welterweight Tournament. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Sherwood and Sherdog)

Just days after former Bellator Welterweight Champion “Cyborg” Lyman Good (11-1) and Olympian Judoka Rick Hawn (10-0) claimed decision victories over their opponents and continued on to the Bellator Season 4 Welterweight Tournament semi-finals, Bellator announced that the two victors will face each other to determine who moves on to the finals and takes on the winner of “The Thoroughbred” Jay Hieron (17-4) and (18-5) Brent Weedman. Weedman was suspended for 60 days or until he is cleared by a physician due to the cut he received on his left eyebrow in his bout with “The Handler” Dan Hornbuckle (18-4) thus the Hieron vs. Weedman bout is rumored to take place in late April or early May to provide Weedman with ample time to heal. Good and Hawn will experience no such delay though and will step in to settle their business with one another much sooner. Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez (19-2) makes his first title defense against Season 2 winner Pat Curran (12-3) as the main event of Bellator 39, where Good and Hawn will most likely serve as the co-main event. Continue reading »

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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 »

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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 »

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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 »

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Knockout Artist “The Assassin” Chris Lozano Talks Bellator Season 4 Welterweight Tournament with MMA Gospel

 Posted by at 5:17 PM  Bellator, Features, MMA Gospel Exclusives, MMA Gospel Young Guns, MMA News  No Responses »
Mar 032011
 

On Saturday night, "The Assassin" Chris Lozano (red shorts) challenges former Bellator Welterweight Champion Lyman Good in the Bellator Season 4 Welterweight Tournament quarter-finals. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

For the mixed martial arts fans that don’t already know of “The Assassin” Chris Lozano (6-0), they will soon enough. MMA Gospel’s very first Young Gun has set the welterweight division ablaze in his only year-and-a-half long professional MMA career, racking up six consecutive wins – all via KO or TKO – and having yet to feel the sting of defeat. The 28-year-old Cleveland, Ohio native began his foray in the world of martial arts when he took up wrestling at age five; after many dedicated years in the sport, Lozano parlayed his natural athleticism and new-found combat prowess into successful studies in Tae Kwon Do and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, for which he is a red belt and blue belt, respectively. Then, MMA called his name.

The Cleveland “Assassin” made his professional MMA debut with the North American Allied Fight Series (NAAFS) in June 2009, knocking out fellow newcomer Marcus Kruck (0-1) in just 37 seconds. His sophomore effort two months later resulted in a 47 second knockout with Lozano again on the winning side, prompting the organization to offer Lozano, now only two fights into his pro career, a shot at their middleweight title then held by WEC veteran Allan Weickert (6-8). Just six months after his debut, Chris fought for the NAAFS Middleweight Championship and won, dethroning the champ via first round knockout. He followed up his victory over Weickert with another knockout, this time in the Freestyle Cagefighting Fighting (FCF) promotion, then returned to NAAFS to successfully defend his title by TKO’ing UFC veteran “Dynamite” Jason Dent (21-11). “The Assassin” clearly was making his name in the local circuits and quickly rising to superstar status. Continue reading »

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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 »

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