(Video courtesy of Bellator Fighting Championships)
Mar 222013
(Video courtesy of Bellator Fighting Championships)
(Video courtesy of Bellator Fighting Championships)
Mar 212013
(Photo courtesy of Bellator Fighting Championships)
—MAIN CARD (on Spike TV)—
Season 8 Lightweight Tournament Final Fight
Marcin Held vs. Dave Jansen: Jansen via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00
Heavyweight Feature Fight
Ryan Martinez vs. Travis Wiuff: Martinez via KO (Punches), Round 1, 0:18
Welterweight Feature Fight
Waachiim Spiritwolf vs. Marcus Davis: No Contest (Inadvertent Groin Strike) Continue reading »
Mar 052013
Former WEC champ Doug Marshall (black trunks) has experienced a career revival as of late, and looks to continue that trend at Bellator 92. (Photo courtesy of Bellator Fighting Championships)
When the former WEC Light Heavyweight Champion “The Rhino” Doug Marshall (16-6) joined the Bellator ranks last year, he was largely regarded as an old dog on his last hunt. This did not sit well with the 37-year-old Visalia, California-based fighter going into his middleweight bout against “Kolohe” Kala Hose (7-6) at Bellator 82, and he responded in kind by finishing the fight via brutal knockout just 22 seconds after the opening bell. The rousing performance set up Marshall’s place in the Bellator Season 8 Middleweight Tournament Quarter-Finals where he again played the role of underdog against “Sweet Swede” Andreas Spang (8-3). The former WEC king prevailed once more, taking out the Season 6 tourney finalist with a one-punch knockout that left him crumbled on the canvas. Continue reading »
Feb 102013
Former Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard (red gloves) chatted with MMA Gospel about his new career in the UFC and what he hopes to accomplish in 2013. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
For years he was the talk of the MMA world, heralded for being arguably the best fighter outside the shark tank that is the UFC. Many believe he still holds the best chance in dethroning the top middleweight fighter on the planet and long-time champion “The Spider” Anderson Silva (33-4). This man is former Bellator, CFC, and AFC Middleweight Champion “Lightning” Hector Lombard (32-3) who owns perhaps the most powerful strikes in the 185lbs. division, held the longest win streak at 24 victories, earned a knockout win at just six seconds of the opening round, and seems unstoppable once again after manhandling feared middleweight powerhouse “Toquinho” Rousimar Palhares (14-5) in his adopted home of Australia. MMA Gospel writer Cole Moorman goes one-on-one with the powerful striker to find out how “Lightning” is looking to strike UFC gold. Continue reading »
Jan 292013
Former welterweight David Rickels (right) will face fellow heavy-handed striker Lloyd Woodard in what many expect to be the most exciting fight of the evening at Bellator 87. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)
The third tournament of Bellator’s eighth season gets under way Thursday night as the lightweights take to the cage at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant, Michigan to compete for a shot at 155lbs. championship gold. XFO veteran “Il Will” Will Brooks (8-0) puts his undefeated record on the line as he makes his promotional debut against crafty Bellator veteran Ricardo Tirloni (15-3). Former welterweight “The Caveman” David Rickels (11-1) and toughman “Cupcake” Lloyd Woodard (12-2) will engage in a war of heavy-handed strikers as each man looks to take out the other with his fists. Top Russian lightweight “Tiger” Alexander Sarnavskiy (21-1) and Brazilian kickboxer Thiago Michel (11-3) will clash in a style-versus-style match-up between submission specialist and striker. In the main event “Pitbull” Patricky Freire (10-4) looks to get back to his winning ways when he faces XMMA veteran and Canadian knockout artist “Il Toro” Guillaume DeLorenzi (10-1). Eight contenders will step into the cage at Bellator 87 but only four will leave with a stamped ticket for the tournament semi-finals, and being that the 155lbs. division is arguably Bellator’s most dynamic, the evening is sure not to disappoint. Continue reading »
Jan 252013
Bellator Welterweight Champion Ben Askren (top) successfully defended his title against Season 6 tourney winner Karl Amoussou (bottom) in impressive fashion with a third-round TKO. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)
The WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma played host to Bellator’s most recent effort Thursday night as the Chicago-based promotion ushered in its Season 8 Welterweight Tournament, put the 170lbs. division championship title up for grabs, and debuted a promising light heavyweight to its growing roster. UFC veteran “Killa B” Ben Saunders (15-5) and Bellator newcomer “The Lion King” Koffi Adzitso (18-10) kicked off the Bellator 86 main card on Spike TV, followed by another welterweight tourney quarter-final match-up between former MFC Welterweight Champion and Season 5 tournament winner “The Phenom” Douglas Lima (23-5) and two-time tournament contender “The Lonely Wolf” Michail Tsarev (24-4). Former Strikeforce 205lbs. ruler “King Mo” Muhammed Lawal (9-1) met Polish import and Bellator newcomer “Misiek” Przemyslaw Mysiala (16-8) in the co-main event. The marquee bout of the evening witnessed Bellator welterweight champ ”Funky” Ben Askren (11-0) make a successful third title defense against Season 6 tourney winner “Psycho” Karl Amoussou (16-5). Continue reading »
Jan 252013
Jan 242013
(Photo courtesy of Bellator Fighting Championships)
—MAIN CARD (on Spike TV @ 10:00pm ET)—
Bellator Welterweight Championship Fight
Ben Askren vs. Karl Amoussou: Askren via TKO (Doctor Stoppage), Round 3, 5:00
Season 8 Light Heavyweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Przemyslaw Mysiala vs. Muhammed Lawal: Lawal via TKO (Punches), Round 1, 3:52
Season 8 Welterweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Douglas Lima vs. Michail Tsarev: Lima via TKO (Leg Kicks), Round 2, 1:44
Season 8 Welterweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Koffi Adzitso vs. Ben Saunders: Saunders via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00
Season 8 Welterweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Marius Zaromskis vs. Brent Weedman: Weedman via Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27), Round 3, 5:00 Continue reading »
Jan 212013
Title challenger and headliner Karl Amoussou (red trunks) will have to avoid takedowns and rely on his powerful striking and killer instinct to take home the championship belt at Bellator 86. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)
Bellator Fighting Championships brings mixed martial arts action to the WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma January 24 to present the sophomore effort of both its eighth season and of its new partnership with Spike TV, Bellator 86. A pair of Season 8 Welterweight Tournament Quarter-Finals match-ups start off the night, as UFC and Bellator veteran “Killa B” Ben Saunders (14-5) looks to make a rude return to the cage against “The Lion King” Koffi Adzitso (18-9), and former MFC 170lbs. king and Season 5 tourney winner “The Phenom” Douglas Lima (22-5) takes on returning Russian submission ace “The Lone Wolf” Michail Tsarev (24-3). The co-main event sees former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ “King Mo” Muhammed Lawal (8-1) make his first appearance in the Bellator cage against a fellow debutee in the Polish submission crafted “Misiek” Przemyslaw Mysiala (16-7). Another title will be on the line as Bellator Welterweight Champion “Funky” Ben Askren (10-0) faces off against Season 6 winner “Psycho” Karl Amoussou (16-4) in a style-versus-style fight that will see one combatant walk away with bragging rights and the 170lbs. division strap. Continue reading »
Jan 172013
Renato Sobral (top), one of the biggest additions to the Bellator roster to date, will make his promotional debut tonight. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The now infamous line “MMA comes home to Spike TV” becomes reality tonight as Bellator makes its debut on Spike TV with its 85th fight card, and does so in spectacular fashion with a pair of title fights in two of Bellator’s most talent-rich divisions: lightweight and featherweight. UFC veteran, former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion, former IFC Light Heavyweight Champion, RINGS veteran, and owner of some of the most wicked tattoos in the game “Babalu” Renato Sobral (37-9) makes his debut inside the Bellator cage in the Season 8 Light Heavyweight Tournament against M-1 veteran and fellow Bellator newcomer Mikhail Zayats (19-6). Bellator Featherweight Champion Pat Curran (17-4) defends his title for the first time against the dangerous “Pitbull” Patricio Freire (17-1) in a scheduled five-round bout that will likely end with a brutal finish. Bellator Lightweight Champion, the undefeated Michael Chandler (10-0), makes his first defense of his belt against the talented Judo black belt Rick Hawn (14-1) in the main event of the night.
Jan 122013
(Photo courtesy of Fighters Only)
Friday night The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada played host to the fifth annual Fighters Only MMA Awards. The awards focused on the best the world of mixed martial arts had to offer during the entire 2012 calendar year, with the 21 categories honoring fighters, media organizations, apparel companies, technical equipment, and much more. The winners though were determined by fan votes. Check out the full list of 2012 World MMA Awards below, and tune in to Fox Sports Net on January 20 to catch the ceremony broadcast. Continue reading »
Dec 132012
Richard Hale (white trunks) will need to use his size and power to take control in the pocket if he wishes to wear Bellator gold. (Photo courtesy of Bellator Fighting Championships)
On December 14 Bellator will conclude its Season 7 tournaments with a four-fight card, three of which are tournament finales. The Venue at Horseshoe Casino, Hammond, Indiana marks the spot where the cage will be locked, two men will be awarded title shots at 145 and 155lbs., respectively, and the heavyweight division will have a new champion to crown. XFC veteran “Lil’ Bulldog” Felice Herrig (7-4) and “Little” Patricia Vidonic (7-3) will start the night off in a rematch that will also mark their Bellator debuts. Featherweights Rad Martinez (14-2) and “Sha” Shahbulat Shamhalaev (11-1-1) will go down after a one-week delay due to Shamhalaev coming down with food poisoning prior to Bellator 83. The lightweight tourney finale will feature two submission specialists as Marcin Held (15-2) and “The Fugitive” Dave Jensen (18-2) look to cap off successful Season 7 runs. The main event will feature “Rare Breed” Richard Hale (21-4) and “Drago” Alexander Volkov (18-3) going to war for the Bellator heavyweight belt that was left without an owner in September.
Dec 082012
(Video courtesy of Bellator Fighting Championships)
Dec 072012
(Photo courtesy of Bellator Fighting Championships)
—MAIN CARD (on MTV2)—
Season 7 Featherweight Tournament Finals Fight
Rad Martinez vs. Shahbulat Shamhalaev: Fight rescheduled for December 14 event due to Shamhalaev reportedly suffering from food poisoning and being denied medical clearance.
Bantamweight Feature Fight
Zach Makovsky vs. Anthony Leone: Leone via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00
Women’s Feature Fight
Zoila Gurgel vs. Jessica Eye: Eye via Technical Submission (Standing Triangle Choke), Round 1, 0:58 Continue reading »
Dec 052012
The aggression and relentless pace of Jessica Eye (pink shorts) may prove problematic for Bellator’s 115lbs. women’s champ Zoila Gurgel in their non-title affair. (Photo courtesy of Bellator Fighting Championships)
Chicago-based MMA promotion Bellator Fighting Championships makes its second stop at the Caesars Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey Friday night for Bellator 83, featuring the finale of the Bellator Season 7 Featherweight Tournament. Rad Martinez (14-2) and “Sha” Shahbulat Shamhalaev (11-1) go to war for the big paycheck and the shot at the 145lbs. championship strap in the main event. A battle between two of Ohio’s most renowned female warriors takes place as Bellator’s Women’s Champion “Warrior Princess” Zoila Frausto Gurgel (12-1) partakes in a non-title affair against the talented “Evil” Jessica Eye (8-1) in the Bellator 83 co-main event. Former Bellator Bantamweight Champion “Fun Size” Zach Makovsky (14-3) returns to the Bellator stage against fellow Bellator alum Anthony Leone (11-5). Heavyweights shake up the cage first as promotional veteran “The Juggernaut” Mike Wessel (12-5) and knockout specialist Alexei Kudin (14-4) kick things off on MTV2. Continue reading »