Bellator 75, Season 7 Heavyweight Tournament Quarter-Finals Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 7:12 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Oct 042012
 

Brett Rogers’ (white trunks) big power and motivation to rebuild his fighting career should be enough for him to spoil the Bellator debut of Russian fighter Alexander Volkov. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

October 5 in Hammond, Indiana Bellator will shake the Venue at Horseshoe Casino with the quarter-finals of the Season 7 Heavyweight Tournament. Four pairs of combatants will meet in the Bellator cage, including among others a man looking to redeem himself after bad luck, a lightning quick 205er adding on a few pounds to take on giants, and a fading star that has found new life, all of whom hope to secure the title of Bellator Heavyweight Champion recently vacated by “The Polar Bear” Cole Konrad (10-0). C3 Fights veteran and four-time Bellator vet Mark Holata (12-3) welcomes a knockout out artist from Brazil, “Spartan” Vinicius Kappke de Queiroz (5-2), to Bellator. Former Bellator light heavyweight “Rare Breed” Richard Hale (19-4) missed out on the previous 205lbs. tournament due to injury and jumped at the chance to enter the heavyweight ranks, taking on “The Juggernaut” Mike Wessel (12-4) who is coming off a successful promotional debut at Bellator 73.  Former Strikeforce fighter “The Grim” Brett Rogers (12-4) has emerged from his recent dark period and looks to build off his first win since 2011 at the expense of Bellator debutee Alexander Volkov (16-3), a 23-year-old 6’7″ Russian with 13 knockout wins. The main event features the rematch between “The American Soldier” Eric Prindle (7-2) who is coming off his loss to Konrad for the title against his arch rival “Big Monster” Thiago Santos (10-1). At long last the two will face off and finally decided who is the best between them.

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Bellator 70: The Aftermath

 Posted by at 2:59 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
May 262012
 

It wasn't pretty, but Cole Konrad (top) finished Eric Prindle (bottom) in brutal fashion with a first-round Kimura to retain his Bellator Heavyweight Championship. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

Bellator Fighting Championships ended its sixth season of mixed martial arts action last night in New Orleans, Louisiana as Bellator 70 saw “Polar Bear” Cole Konrad (9-0) defend his heavyweight strap against “American Soldier” Eric Prindle (7-2) and “Genghis” Rick Hawn (14-1) take the lightweight tournament championship in a war with Brent Weedman (20-8). “Betao” Luis Alberto Nogueira (14-2) made JMMA superstar “Iron” Hiroshi Nakamura (15-6) eat his words in dominant fashion and the night opened with hometown hero and UFC veteran “No Love” Rich Clementi (43-21) earning a much needed win over emerging prospect “The Stallion” Derek Campos (9-3). Continue reading »

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Bellator 70 Video Highlights

 Posted by at 12:11 PM  Bellator  No Responses »
May 262012
 

(Video courtesy of Bellator)

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Bellator 70, Season 6 Finale Live Results

 Posted by at 3:49 PM  Bellator  1 Response »
May 252012
 

(Photo courtesy of Bellator)

—MAIN CARD (on MTV2)—

Heavyweight Championship Title Fight
Cole Konrad vs. Eric Prindle: Konrad via Submission (Kimura), Round 1, 1:00

Season 6 Lightweight Tournament Final Fight
Rick Hawn vs. Brent Weedman: Hawn via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00

Season 6 Bantamweight Tournament Semi-Final Fight
Luis Nogueira vs. Hiroshi Nakamura: Nogueira via TKO (Punches), Round 3, 1:58

Catchweight (157lbs.) Feature Fight
Rich Clementi vs. Derek Campos: Clementi via Submission (Guillotine Choke), Round 1, 4:18 Continue reading »

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Bellator 70: Main Card Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 5:38 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
May 242012
 

Rich Clementi (green trunks) enters Bellator 70 with over six times as many fights as his opponent, giving him an immeasurable advantage in experience. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

It’s the final curtain call for the Season 6 Tournaments as Bellator arrives in the Big Easy for Bellator 70 where Ernest N. Morial Convention Center will host the Bellator cage and its fighters.  Bellator Heavyweight Champion “The Polar Bear” Cole Konrad (8-0) will face Season 5 Tournament winner “The American Soldier” Eric Prindle (7-1). Season 6 Lightweight Tournament finalists Rick Hawn (13-1) and Brent Weedman (20-7) will face off for the right to take on champion Michael Chandler (10-0) in the fall. Bantamweights Luis Alberto Nogueira (13-2) and DEEP veteran “Iron” Hiroshi Nakamura (15-5) will face off with the winner meeting WEC and Bellator veteran “Loro” Marcos Galvao (12-5) in the 135lbs. finale. UFC veteran and New Orleans native “No Love” Rich Clementi (42-21) will look not only to bounce back from a recent loss but also to score his first Bellator win as he faces Francisco Derek Campos (9-2) in the lightweight division. 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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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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Bellator 52, Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament Quarter-Final Match-Ups Announced

 Posted by at 6:53 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Sep 012011
 

Former Combat Sambo World Champion “Baga” Blagoi Ivanov (blue trunks) is one of eight competitors taking part in the Bellator Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament beginning October 1. (Photo courtesy of Daniel Herbertson)

The heavyweights take center cage Saturday, October 1 as Bellator Fighting Championships makes its return to the L’Auberge Du Lac Casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana for Bellator 52. The stacked eight-man tournament features several familiar faces as well as a couple of newcomers to the Bellator cage, but in the end, only one man will earn a $100,000 payday and a shot at heavyweight champion “The Polar Bear” Cole Konrad’s (8-0) belt. Continue reading »

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Bellator 48: The Aftermath

 Posted by at 5:57 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Aug 212011
 

Pat Curran (white trunks) set his fight ending head kick up with the technical precision he has become known for and was rewarded with a highlight reel KO of Marlon Sandro (black shorts) that will go down as one of the best in Bellator history. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

The conclusion of the inaugural Bellator Summer Series went out with a bang at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut with the headlining bout and tournament final consisting of former Sengoku Featherweight Champion Marlon Sandro (19-3) against Season 2 Lightweight Tournament Champion and now featherweight juggernaut Pat Curran (15-4).  Supporting the finale were two bouts both in the heavyweight divisions. Bellator Heavyweight Champion “The Polar Bear” Cole Konrad (8-0) took on UFC and Strikeforce knockout artist “The Headhunter” Paul Buentello (28-14) in a non-title super fight. Former UFC Heavyweight Champion “Suave” Ricco Rodriguez (47-12) put his 12-fight win streak on the line against the man often referred to as the “Kimbo Killer”, UFC and EliteXC veteran “The Silverback” Seth Petruzelli (14-6). The card was a solid display of entertaining mixed martial arts action just as fans have come to expect from Bellator. Continue reading »

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Bellator 48, Featherweight Tournament Finals Live Results

 Posted by at 5:06 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Aug 202011
 

Tonight at Bellator 48, either Pat Curran (left) or Marlon Sandro (right) will walk out of the cage as champion of the inaugural Summer Series and will take on reigning featherweight champ Joe Warren for a chance to win Bellator gold. (Photo courtesy of Dave Mandel)

—MAIN CARD—

Featherweight Tournament Final
Marlon Sandro vs. Pat Curran: Curran via KO (Head Kick), Round 2, 4:00

Heavyweight Feature Fight
Paul Buentello vs. Cole Konrad: Konrad via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00

Heavyweight Feature Fight
Seth Petruzelli vs. Ricco Rodriguez: Petruzelli via TKO (Strikes), Round 1, 4:21

Lightweight Televised Feature
Juan Barrantes vs. Rene Nazare: Nazare via TKO (Doctors Stoppage), Round 2, 5:00 Continue reading »

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Bellator 48, Featherweight Tournament Finals Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 12:33 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Aug 202011
 

The winner of the Bellator Summer Series Featherweight Tournament will be decided tonight as Pat Curran (left) takes on Marlon Sandro in the main event. (Photo courtesy of Keith Mills)

The Bellator Summer Series Featherweight Tournament is coming to a close tonight in Uncasville, Connecticut as  finalists Pat Curran (14-4) and Marlon Sandro (19-2) meet in the main event to decide who will take on the winner of Bellator Featherweight Champion Joe Warren (7-1) vs. “Pitbull” Patricio Freire (9-1). Supporting the main event is a match-up in the heavyweight division that was originally scheduled to take place several months ago but was forced  back due to injury as Bellator Heavyweight Champion “The Polar Bear” Cole Konrad (7-0) makes his return to the cage after capturing the title last fall against UFC and Strikeforce veteran “The Headhunter” Paul Buentello (28-13) in a non-title bout. Buentello is 1-3 in his past four fights while Konrad is coming in undefeated with the hunger to defeat a veteran like Buentello. “The Headhunter” will have to pull the rabbit out of his hat and gain a win in order to breathe life back into his career. In the 205lbs. division former UFC Heavyweight Champion and re-amped “Suave” Ricco Rodriguez (47-11), will meet King of the Cage, EliteXC, and UFC veteran “The Silverback” Seth Petruzelli (13-6). With Rodriguez riding a 12-fight win streak and Petruzelli finally snapping his recent two-fight skid with a first-round TKO victory this match has all the makings of a “Fight of the Night”. Continue reading »

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Bellator 47, Featherweight Tournament Semi-Finals Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 2:36 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Jul 222011
 

Chris Horodecki (left) looks to prove to the world that Zuffa made a huge mistake in choosing not to sign him as he makes his Bellator debut on the promotion's 47th card. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

Canada will be getting another dose of high octane MMA from its third American promotion this Saturday, July 23 as Bellator 47 drops anchor in Rama, Ontario at the Casino Rama. The event still promises not to disappoint despite having taken a hit in early July; formerly headlining the event was the somewhat heated rematch between Bellator Featherweight Champion Joe Warren (7-1) and Brazilian powerhouse “Pitbull” Patricio Freire (9-1). Freire, however, suffered an injury that will force him to sit out and Warren bowed out to wait for Freire. Now headlining the event is former Bellator lightweight title challenger Pat Curran (13-4), who looked better than ever with his improved ground game when he moved to featherweight, as he takes on the young and talented British featherweight Ronnie Mann (20-2). This fight has fireworks written all over it – both men are game to stand their ground wherever the fight goes. “Naza” Nazareno Malegarie (18-1) is a man with a never-give-up attitude when it comes to his submissions, as he showed in his return fight against Jacob Devree (10-2) with a fight-ending choke in the third round. Malegarie will put his impressive record against the former Sengoku champion “Monster of Rio” Marlon Sandro (18-2). The heavy-handed Sandro’s Bellator debut was far from what the world wanted to see, but he will look to bring the cold serving of a knockout when he steps in the cage against Malegarie. Supporting the main and co-main events is a heavyweight tilt highlighting the return of the human wrecking ball “Goliath” Neil Grove (10-3) against Zak Jensen (10-6). These two were slated to meet several months ago but an injury to Jensen caused the fight to be put on hold. Now the men will be looking to get a invitation into the upcoming season’s heavyweight tournament. Kicking off the Bellator 47 main card is a special attraction fight between WEC veteran “The Polish Hammer” Chris Horodecki (17-3) and “The So Cal Kid” Chris Saunders (9-1). Continue reading »

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Bellator Finalizes May 7 Card; Includes Welterweight Tournament Finals

 Posted by at 3:51 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Apr 262011
 

Judoka Rick Hawn (standing) is set to take on "The Thoroughbred" Jay Hieron in the Bellator Season 4 Welterweight Tournament finals May 7. (Photo courtesy of Henry S. Dziekan III and Getty Images)

Today Bellator Fighting Championships announced that its May 7 card, Bellator 43, in Newkirk, Oklahoma will not only host the Season 4 Welterweight Tournament finals between undefeated Judo Olympian Rick Hawn (11-0) and former International Fight League (IFL) 170lbs. champ “The Thoroughbred” Jay Hieron (18-4) but also will feature a stacked night of fights leading up to the main event. Continue reading »

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Bellator 42: Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 11:54 AM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Apr 232011
 

Christian M'Pumbu (black shorts) will test his fast paced ground game and high powered striking against Tim Carpenter tonight at Bellator 42. (Photo courtesy of Keith Mills and Sherdog)

Tonight’s Bellator 42 main event originally was intended to be a non-title superfight between Bellator Heavyweight Champion “The Polar Bear” Cole Konrad (7-0) and Strikeforce and UFC Strikeforce veteran KO artist “The Headhunter” Paul Buentello (28-13), but Buentello had to withdraw from the fight due to a back injury. Then Konrad bowed out of the event as well, deciding to wait for Buentello to heal and meet at a later event rather than face a late replacement. However, Concho Oklahoma will still be in for an exciting night of fights with a solid featherweight showing and both Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament semi-finals on the card. French import Christian M’Pumbu (2-1) goes to battle against undefeated Tim Carpenter (7-0) and heavy handed DJ Linderman (9-1) goes against the second man to gain instant Bellator super-stardom due to an Inverted Triangle Choke, Richard Hale (11-3). In the night’s remaining main card affair, the Bellator debut of Sengoku veteran and former Shark Fights and Cage Rage Featherweight Champion Ronnie Mann (18-2) lands him across the cage from a man who has submitted four of his last five opponents, Josh Arocho (13-9), with the winner most likely gaining a spot in the Season 5 Featherweight Tournament brackets. As always, MMA Gospel is here with the inside look. Continue reading »

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Bellator Heavyweight Champ Cole Konrad to Take On KO Artist Paul Buentello April 23

 Posted by at 5:59 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Apr 062011
 

"The Polar Bear" Cole Konrad returns to action later this month against Paul Buentello in a non-title heavyweight tilt. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

Bellator Heavyweight Champion “The Polar Bear” Cole Konrad (7-0) returns to the spotlight at Bellator 42 on April 23, opposite UFC and Strikeforce veteran “The Headhunter” Paul Buentello (28-13). The Lucky Star Casino in Concho, Oklahoma plays host to the non-title superfight that is likely the card’s main event. The card is also expected to feature bouts from the Bellator Season 4 Tournaments.

The decorated NCAA Div. I wrestler Konrad hasn’t had any cage time since his submission win over heavy-handed Neil Grove (10-3) to win the heavyweight title at Bellator 32 in October of last year. Buentello has gone 1-1 since his UFC release last spring and is coming off a knockout loss to former UFC Heavyweight Champion “The Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (28-7) at the War On The Mainland event. Continue reading »

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