(Photo courtesy of Bellator)
—MAIN CARD (MTV2)—
Main event: Catchweight (137lbs.) Non-Title Fight
Joe Warren: 136.8lbs.
Marcos Galvão: 136.6lbs.
Bellator Season 4 Featherweight Tournament Semi-Final Fight
Patricio Freire: 146.2 lbs.
Wilson Reis: 145.6lbs.
Featherweight Non-Title Fight
Zach Makovsky: 135.4lbs.
Chad Robichaux: 134.2lbs.
Bellator Season 4 Featherweight Tournament Semi-Final Fight
Kenny Foster: 146lbs.
Daniel Straus: 145.4lbs. Continue reading »
Kicking off Bellator 41's main card, dangerous striker "Pitbull" Patricio Freire (right) takes on former Elite XC Bantamweight Champion and BJJ black belt Wilson Reis. (Photo courtesy of Keith Mills and Sherdog)
The Cocopath Resort and Casino will host Bellator Fighting Championships as it rolls into the copper state of Arizona for Bellator 41 tomorrow night. Two super fights take place on the card as Bellator Featherweight Champion Joe Warren (6-1) takes on Ring of Combat and Shooto veteran “Loro” Marcos Galvão (9-3) in a non-title bout and Bellator Bantamweight Champion “Fun Size” Zach Makovsky (12-2) faces undefeated “Robo” Chad Robichaux (11-0) who has submitted all of his opponents with the exception of just one. The resilient Daniel Straus (15-2) goes against hard nosed “The Tooth Fairy” Kenny Foster (9-2) and dangerous striker “Pitbull” Patricio Freire (7-1) rematches the first and only Elite XC Bantamweight Champion Wilson Reis (12-2) in the semi-finals of the Season 4 Featherweight Tournament to kick off the evening, with the winners moving on to the finals and vying for a chance to wrestle the title away from outspoken champ Joe Warren. The night undoubtedly has all the makings of a typically exciting Bellator card. Here, MMA Gospel takes a closer look at how the evening may pan out. Continue reading »
What do you get when you combine elite wrestling perfectly adapted for MMA, unpredictability and creativity that you really can’t game plan for and a freakishly long reach unmatched in MMA? The new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Jon “Bones” Jones. It amazes me that there are still people who are saying the hype isn’t deserved. The dude walked through “Shogun” Rua. Even coming off an injury or not in top form or whatever other excuses you want to make, to effortlessly dismantle and destroy “Shogun” is an unbelievably impressive feat. And we’re not talking about an isolated incident here. Great wrestlers, veterans, brawlers, Muay Thai dudes, and motherfucking “Shogun”: nothing has been able to stymie this kid – even for a round. No one’s unbeatable, no doubt, but if you don’t think the “Bones” hype is justified, you’re a hater. Hey, I get it. I love “Shogun”. What kinda dickface doesn’t love “Shogun”? And it wasn’t easy to watch his get his ass handed to him… but the facts is the facts, son. The Jon “Bones” Jones hype train pulled into Newark last Saturday night and unfortunately, “Shogun” was under it. Continue reading »
Daniel Straus (white trunks) utilized his skills both on the feet on the mat to overcome undefeated veteran "Naza" Nazareno Malegarie and stamp his ticket to the semi-finals of the Bellator Season 4 Featherweight Tournament. (Photo courtesy of Dave Mandel and Sherdog)
Saturday night, Bellator Fighting Championships made its first stop of the season in the Sooner State at the Lucky Star Hotel and Casino for the premier round of the Season 4 Featherweight Tournament in a night with three finishes and one hard fought decision. Four men moved on to the semi-final round of the tournament; Kenny Foster (9-2), Daniel Straus (15-2), Wilson Reis (12-2), and “Pitbull” Patricio Freire (7-1) by defeating their respected opponents, bringing them one step closer to the always outspoken champion Joe Warren (6-1). Here’s how the night played out. Continue reading »
(Photo courtesy of Bellator)
Georgi Karakhanyan vs. Patricio Freire: Freire via TKO (Punches), Round 3, 0:56
Wilson Reis vs. Zac George: Reis via Submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 1, 2:09
Daniel Straus vs. Nazareno Malegarie: Straus via Unanimous Decision, Round 3, 5:00
Kenny Foster vs. Eric Larkin: Foster via Submission (Guillotine Choke), Round 1, 3:15
Roli Delgado vs. Jameel Massouh: Delgado via Unanimous Decision, Round 3, 5:00
Brandon Shelton vs. Adam Snook: Shelton via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke), Round 1, 2:45
Eric Larkin (top) is a newcomer to professional MMA, but at just 3-0, he has already proven himself to be a versatile fighter with finishing power. Will it be enough to take out the much more experienced Kenny Foster? (Photo courtesy of Dave Mandel and Sherdog)
Tomorrow night Bellator Fighting Championship kicks off yet another promising display of top MMA prospects for its fourth season with Bellator 37. Tearing the roof off the Lucky Star Casino in Concho, Oklahoma two hours earlier than normal at 7pm ET due to the UFC’s own offering tomorrow night during the same time block, Bellator brings fans a Season 4 Featherweight Tournament stacked with some of the world’s best talent at 145lbs. just aching to get their hands on reigning champion Joe Warren (6-1). Starting off the night is Daniel Straus (14-2), a competitor who hasn’t lost a fight since April 2009 when he succumbed to the fists of No. 1 lightweight contender Pat Curran (12-3), looking to spoil the Bellator debut of “Naza” Nazareno Malegarie (19-0) who himself aims to maintain his perfect record and take out the veteran Straus. “The Tooth Fairy” Kenny Foster (8-2) looks to follow up his successful September 2010 Bellator debut and punch his ticket into the semi-finals of the tournament at the expense of undefeated newcomer Eric Larkin (3-0). Two-time semi-finalist and fan beloved former Elite XC Bantamweight Champion Wilson Reis (11-2), known for his tough as nails fighting style, has a score to settle with fellow tournament competitor “Pitbull” Patricio Freire (6-1) but he first will have to get past the experienced IFL veteran Zac George (20-3), a viable threat to Reis’ hopes for redemption. In the main event of the evening, Bellator veteran and Russian import “Insane” Georgi Karakhanyan (15-2) takes on the relentless Minotauro Jiu-Jitsu black belt Patricio Freire. Karakhanyan looks to derail the dangerous submission expert and take one step closer to Warren, but Freire has the same goals as his adversary, which certainly will make for an impressive battle. Continue reading »