Oct 052012
 

(Photo courtesy of Bellator Fighting Championships)

—MAIN CARD (on MTV2 @ 8:00pm ET)—

Season 7 Heavyweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos: Santos via DQ (Axe Kick to Groin), Round 1, 4:45

Season 7 Heavyweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Brett Rogers vs. Alexander Volkov: Volkov via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00

Season 7 Heavyweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Richard Hale vs. Mike Wessel: Hale via TKO (Punches), Round 1, 1:19

Season 7 Heavyweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Mark Holata vs. Vinicius Queiroz: Queiroz via Submission (Armbar), Round 1, 3:26 Continue reading »

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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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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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May 262012
 

(Video courtesy of Bellator)

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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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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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May 172012
 

Ron Sparks (red trunks) will return to the Bellator cage Friday night to pit his size and knockout power against Kevin Asplund. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

It’s back to Cajun country as Bellator returns to the L’Auberge du Lac Casino and Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana with a loaded card featuring heavy hitters and dynamic finishing artists. Season 6 Middleweight Tournament finalist and owner of 23 first-round (T)KOs “Big Rig” Maiquel Falcao (30-4) will face submission specialist “Sweet Swede” Andreas Spang (8-1). Lightning fast French import “Psycho” Karl Amoussou (14-4) takes on “The Caveman” David Rickels (10-0) in a welterweight semi-final match-up that will determine who will face “The Beast” Bryan Baker (19-3) later this season. Former female tournament finalist and long-time top female fighter in the world “Mega Megu” Megumi Fujii (25-1) steps back into the Bellator cage after a lengthy hiatus to face the recharged and surging “JAG” Jessica Aguilar (13-4). Kentucky countryboy “The Monster” Ron Sparks (8-1) hopes to make a successful return to the bayou as he welcomes Brutaal fight veteran “Concrete” Kevin Asplund (15-1) and his 15-fight win streak to the Bellator cage. Continue reading »

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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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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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Nov 272011
 
Marcin Held (red gloves) came out ahead of Phillipe Nover (blue gloves) in a controversial Split Decision at Bellator 59. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

It was the conclusion to yet another successful and entertaining season for Bellator Fighting Championships, last night docking in Caesars Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey for the bantamweight and heavyweight tournament finals and the return of UFC veteran and hometown fighter “Batman” Kurt Pellegrino (16-7) against heavy-handed Brazilian “Pitbull” Patricky Freire (4-1). ”The American Soldier” Eric Prindle (6-1) faced “Big Monster” Thiago Santos (6-1) for the Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament title and a shot against champion “The Polar Bear” Cole Konrad (8-0). Bantamweights “The Executioner” Alexis Vila (10-1) and Eduardo Dantas (9-2) faced off in the youth versus experience, speed versus power match-up. A late addition to the main card in TUF Season 8 runner-up “The Filipino Assassin” Phillipe Nover (5-4) and Polish prospect Marcin Held (12-2) started off the night with a three-round battle between the young fighters looking to steal the spotlight of the organization’s 155lbs. division. Controversial decisions and stoppages aside, the evening closed out Bellator’s fifth season with the bang that is sure to leave fans clamoring for the start of Season 6.

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Nov 262011
 

(Photo courtesy of Bellator)

—MAIN CARD (on MTV2 and EPIX HD)—

Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament Finals Fight
Thiago Santos vs. Eric Prindle: Fight is ruled a No Contest due to Santos’ inadvertent groin strike

Lightweight Feature Fight
Patricky Freire vs. Kurt Pellegrino: Freire via TKO (Strikes), Round 1, 0:50

Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament Finals Fight
Alexis Vila vs. Eduardo Dantas: Dantas via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00

Lightweight Feature Fight
Marcin Held vs. Phillipe Nover: Held via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00 Continue reading »

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Nov 252011
 
“TUF” alum Phillipe Nover (right) is seeking a career rebirth as a Bellator lightweight and will use his superior striking to achieve it against Marcin Held (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The last of the Bellator Season 5 tournament finals are under way this Saturday in Atlantic City, New Jersey with the heavyweights and bantamweights taking to the cage determined to earn a bonus check to the tune of $100,000 as well as a shot at his division’s respective champion. Forty-year-old knockout artist and bantamweight underdog “The Exorcist” Alexis Vila (10-0) will face the young and wild Brazilian Eduardo Dantas (7-2) for the 135lbs. title shot against “Fun Size” Zach Makovsky (14-2). Boxing stand-out ”The American Soldier” Eric Prindle (6-1) will face the giant from Brazil in “Big Monster” Thiago Santos (6-1) for a shot at Bellator Heavyweight Champion “The Polar Bear” Cole Konrad (7-0). A treat for the locals will be the return to the cage and Bellator debut of UFC veteran and New Jersey native “Batman” Kurt Pellegrino (16-6); welcoming him to the cage is heavy handed “Pitbull” Patricky Freire (3-1).  A 170lbs. bout was scheduled between former Bellator Welterweight Champion “Cyborg” Lyman Good (11-2) and Michael Costa (10-5), however a last-minute injury forced the bout off the card. Now a lightweight showdown between UFC veteran and TUF Season 8 runner up ”The Filipino Assassin” Phillipe Nover (5-3) and returning one-time Bellator veteran and Polish prodigy Marcin Held (11-2) will take the honors of opening up the Bellator 59 main card on MTV2. Continue reading »

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Oct 302011
 

Bellator Welterweight Champion Ben Askren (black trunks) retained his title after an arguably lackluster performance, defeating Jay Hieron (yellow trunks) via Split Decision. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

The battle for the Bellator Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament finals went out like a bat out of hell with two match-ups lasting a little over a minute combined. Former US Army Boxing Champion “The American Soldier” Eric Prindle (6-1) took on Kentucky native “The Monster” Ron Sparks (5-1). Brazilian “Big Monster” Thiago Santos (6-1) and South African “Goliath” Neil Grove (11-5) met in a replacement bout that took weeks to finalize, but only seconds to conclude. In the main event Welterweight Champion Ben Askren (9-0) faced seasoned IFL veteran and hungry top contender “The Thoroughbred” Jay Hieron (19-5) in a five-round affair that put Askren’s title on the line for the first time. Continue reading »

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Oct 292011
 

(Photo courtesy of Bellator)

—MAIN CARD (on MTV2)—

Welterweight Championship Fight
Ben Askren vs. Jay Hieron: Askren via Split Decision (48-47, 48-47, 47-48), Round 5, 5:00

Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament Semi-Final Fight
Neil Grove vs. Thiago Santos: Santos via Submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 1, 0:38

Adam Schindler vs. Jeremy Spoon: Spoon via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00

Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament Semi-Final Fight
Eric Prindle vs. Ron Sparks: Prindle via KO (Punches), Round 1, 0:40 Continue reading »

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