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)

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 »

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Jan 242013
 
(Photo courtesy of Bellator Fighting Championships)

(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 »

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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 Zuffa, LLC.)

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 »

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Nov 032012
 

Season 5 welterweight tourney winner Douglas Lima (grey trunks) let his hands do the talking as he put on a striking clinic against Jacob Ortiz (not pictured) before finishing him in the third round. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

Bellator 79 featured a pair of semi-final match-ups in the Season 7 Heavyweight and Featherweight Tournaments as well as two welterweight fights to treat the crowd at the Casino Rama in Orillia, Ontario, Canada to a night of toe-to-toe mixed martial arts action. Heavyweights “Rare Breed” Rich Hale (21-4) and “Big Monster” Thiago Santos (11-2) squared off in the marquee bout of the evening and the first of two Season 7 heavyweight semi-final tilts. “The Marine” Mike Richman (13-2) faced “Sha” Shahbulat Shamhalaev (11-1) in the co-main event for a spot in the 145lbs. tourney finals. Former MFC Welterweight Champion and Season 5 Welterweight Tournament Champion “The Phenom” Douglas Lima (21-5) returned to action against Kobe Ortiz (13-4) at a catchweight of 180lbs. In the starting fight of the night, Canada native “The Real Deal” Ryan Ford (19-4) faced tough Bellator newcomer “Alley Cat” Kyle Baker (12-7). Continue reading »

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Nov 032012
 

 (Video courtesy of Bellator Fighting Championships)

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Nov 022012
 

(Photo courtesy of Bellator Fighting Championships)

—MAIN CARD (on MTV 2 @ 8:00pm ET)—

Season 7 Heavyweight Tournament Semi-Finals Fight
Rich Hale vs. Thiago Santos: Hale via TKO (Strikes), Round 1, 3:31

Season 7 Featherweight Tournament Semi-Finals Fight
Shahbulat Shamhalaev vs. Mike Richman: Shamhalaev via TKO (Punches), Round 1, 1:45

Catchweight (180lbs.) Feature Fight
Douglas Lima vs. Kobe Ortiz: Lima via TKO (Head Kick and Knee), Round 3, 4:50

Welterweight Feature Fight
Ryan Ford vs. Kyle Baker: Ford via Unanimous Decision, Round 3, 5:00 Continue reading »

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Oct 312012
 

Former 205er RIch Hale (white trunks) brings his speed and KO power to the heavyweight tournament semi-finals against Brazilian “Big Monster” Thiago Santos at Bellator 79. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

Bellator makes its second stop in Canada in the Season 7 tournament, dropping in at the Casino Rama of Orillia, Ontario. A Heavyweight Tournament Semi-Final match-up is designated for Friday’s Bellator 79 main event slot preceded by a second semi-final bout, in the featherweight tourney, as well as a pair of welterweight affairs featuring two well-known faces to the Rama native fans. Former MFC star “The Real Deal” Ryan Ford (18-4) returns to home soil to face “Alley Cat” Kyle Baker (12-6) with both 170lbs. contenders hoping to seal his place in the next tournament with a victory. Season 5 welterweight tourney winner and former MFC champ ”The Phenom” Douglas Lima (21-5) steps back onto his old stomping grounds against well-rounded Kobe Ortiz (13-3), who is looking for the biggest win of his career against Lima. Bellator vet ”The Marine” Mike Richman (13-1) and Russian-born Shahbulat Shamhalaev (10-1-1) battle it out in the featherweight tournament semi-finals. Finally, Brazilian heavyweight ”Big Monster” Thiago Santos (11-1) will face former 205er and KO artist “The Rare Breed” Rich Hale (20-4) in a don’t-blink style of fight. Continue reading »

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Apr 072012
 

Marlon Sandro (pictured) defeated young Brazilian bomber Alexandre Bezerra in the Bellator 64 co-main event, and moves on to the featherweight tourney finals. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

It was a successful launch for Bellator’s Season 6 Bantamweight Tournament with two action packed chess matches of fights opening up the main card at Friday night’s Bellator 64 event held at the The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Promotional debutees 20-year-old Brazilian finishing machine “Ratinho” Rodrigo Lima (10-1) and DEEP and Shooto veteran “Iron” Hiroshi Nakamura (15-5) started off the 135lbs. tourney with a competitive three-round affair, followed up by a match between submission expert “T-Train” Travis Marx (19-3) and former Shooto champion Masakatsu Ueda (15-2). Featherweight “Monster of Rio” Marlon Sandro (22-3) took on fellow countryman “Popo” Alexandre Bezzera (13-2) and his blazing eight-fight win streak for a spot in the tourney finals. In the main event, Bellator Welterweight Champion “Funky” Ben Askren (10-0) made his second title defense against former MFC king and Season 5 tournament champion “The Phenom” Douglas Lima (21-5). Continue reading »

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Apr 072012
 

(Video courtesy of Bellator)

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Apr 062012
 

(Photo courtesy of Bellator)

—MAIN CARD (on MTV2)—

Welterweight Tournament Champion Fight
Ben Askren vs. Douglas Lima: Askren via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45), Round 5, 5:00

Season 6 Featherweight Tournament Semi-Final Fight
Marlon Sandro vs. Alexandre Bezerra: Sandro via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29), Round 3, 5:00

Season 6 Bantamweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Travis Marx vs. Masakatsu Ueda: Marx via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00

Season 6 Bantamweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Rodrigo Lima vs. Hiroshi Nakamura: Nakamura via Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27), Round 3, 5:00 Continue reading »

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Apr 052012
 

Aggressive striker and former MFC champ Douglas Lima (top) will prove a worthy challenger to current Bellator Welterweight Champion Ben Askren's title in the Bellator 64 main event. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

On Friday, April 6 Bellator Fighting Championships makes the trek North to Windsor, Ontario, Canada to present Bellator 64 live on MTV2 from The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor. Undefeated Bellator Welterweight Champion and former Olympic wrestler “Funky” Ben Askren (9-0) takes on his most dangerous opponent to date in former MFC king and Season 5 welterweight tourney champion “The Phenom” Douglas Lima (21-4) with the 170lbs. title on the line. Season 6 Featherweight Tournament semi-final match-up number one pits former Sengoku 145lbs. champion Marlon Sandro (21-3) against a close friend in “Popo” Alexandre Bezerra (13-1) to determine who will take one of two spots in the finals. Two bouts in the latest bantamweight tournament’s quarter-finals open up the main card as “T-Train” Travis Marx (18-3) takes on Shooto veteran Masakatsu Ueda (15-1) and undefeated WOCS veteran “Ratinho” Rodrigo Lima (10-0) fights DEEP and Shooto journeyman “Iron” Hiroshi Nakamura (14-5). Continue reading »

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Mar 292012
 

"The Beast" Bryan Baker (black trunks) has the wrestling abilities to completely control his Bellator 63 bout if he so chooses. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

It’s back to the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut Friday night for another Bellator tournament bracket to get underway, this time with eight explosive welterweights hitting the cage for Bellator 63. Featuring a returning cast of warriors that have literally rocked the Bellator cage with their previous performances, the tourney also includes several newcomers more than willing to step up and engage in the firefights Bellator’s tournaments have become known for, all in the hopes of getting a shot at championship gold. Brazilian journeyman with nearly 45 fights to his credit “Indio” Carlos Alexandre Pereira (33-9) makes his Bellator debut against former WEC and Bellator 185lbs. contender turned oversized welterweight, “The Beast” Bryan Baker (16-3). Submission specialist and Bellator veteran “The Caveman” David Rickels (9-0) meets well-rounded promotion newcomer “Mata Ele” Jordan Smith (17-2), who steps in as a late replacement for UFC veteran Brian Foster (18-5). Season 5 Welterweight Tournament finalist “Killa B” Ben Saunders (12-4) is slated to pit his lethal striking and BJJ credentials against undefeated finishing machine “Smash Mode” Raul Amaya (9-0). The main event features original MMA Gospel Young Gun and heavy-handed Bellator 170lbs. tournament vet “The Cleveland Assassin” Chris Lozano (9-2) teeing off against former 185lbs. French wrecking machine “Psycho” Karl Amoussou (13-4), in a fight that has had both men chomping at the bit for weeks. As in previous seasons, the Bellator welterweight tourney match-ups are sure to add a few more clips to the promotion’s highlight reels. Continue reading »

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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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Jan 082012
 
Jeet Kune Do practitioner and UFC veteran Ben Saunders (left) is one of eight welterweights competing in Bellator’s Season 6 tournament for a shot at current champ Ben Askren’s belt. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

The 170lbs. division is gearing up for another season-long Bellator tournament set to kick off in March. With a wealth of returning talent, two towering giants, a UFC veteran, and a wrecking machine all set to meet inside the Bellator cage, the fireworks are sure to fly. Eight hungry contenders will enter but only one will earn a title shot.

Returning to the cage after his tournament finale loss to eventual champion “The Phenom” Douglas Lima (19-4) is “Killa B” Ben Saunders (12-3). A Bruce Lee-inspired approach to fighting has lead the man who owns some of the deadliest knees and elbows in MMA to the finals before, and this time Saunders will make the needed adjustments to rectify the mistake. Saunders has the talent, the range, and the aggression to beat anyone at any time but in Season 6 he will have even more motivation to prove it. Continue reading »

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Nov 132011
 

"The Phenom" Douglas Lima (white trunks) reigned victorious in his main event bout against fellow Bellator Season 5 Welterweight Tournament finalist "Killa B" Ben Saunders (black trunks). Lima will now get a crack at 170lbs. champ Ben Askren's belt in a future event. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

A pair of Season 5 Tournament finales crowned another set of tourney champions of their rightful place to fight for Bellator gold in last night’s most recent offering from the Chicago-based mixed martial arts promotion. Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada served as the witness and the battle grounds for former MFC Welterweight Champion “The Phenom” Douglas Lima (19-4) to take on UFC veteran ”Killa B” Ben Saunders (12-4) in the Season 5 Welterweight Tournament finals match-up that also served as the main event. The 170lbs. marquis affair was preceded by a battle between Season 2 Middleweight Tournament Champion “The Storm” Alexander Shlemenko (33-4) and multi-time world Jiu-Jitsu champion Vitor Vianna (12-2) in the 185lbs. tournament finals. Light heavyweights John Hawk (6-4) and Roger Hollett (12-3) faced off for a spot in the upcoming light heavyweight tournament that begins next year. Kicking off the main card on MTV2 was Shark Fights and UFC veteran Douglas Evans (12-8) versus Bellator veteran Alexandre Bezerra (12-1) fighting for a spot in the upcoming 145lbs. tournament. Continue reading »

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