Oct 132012
 

Eddie Alvarez (green shorts) and Patricky Freire (blue shorts) put on one of the most exciting fights in Bellator history that ultimately added another KO victory to the former champion’s record. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

Bellator’s Season 7 Featherweight Tournament did not disappoint in its debut Friday night at Bellator 76 from the Caesars Windsor Hotel in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Eight 145lbs. warriors entered the Bellator cage and went to war for the four coveted spots in the tourney semi-finals, starting with “Bam Bam” Cody Bollinger (13-3) and Russian import Shahbulat Shamhalaev (10-1). ”The Marine” Mike Richman (13-1) looked to expand his list of KO wins against submission specialist “Spooner” Jeremy Spoon (12-2). IFL and WEC veteran Wagnney Fabiano (15-3) returned after two long years away from the sport against “Sniper” Akop Stepanyan (12-4), who rode a 12-fight win streak come fight night. Bellator veterans heavy-handed striker Rad Martinez (13-2) and third-degree BJJ black belt “El Tigre” Nazareno Malegarie (22-3) acted as the co-main event and battled it out for the final opening in the tourney semi-finals. To cap off the evening, Bellator 76 played host to a highly anticipated lightweight main event featuring the two most explosive 155lbs. strikers in the league: former Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez (24-3) danced with the powerful elder of the Pitbull brothers, “Pitbull” Patricky Freire (10-4) in a match-up that became an instant highlight reel. Continue reading »

Share
Oct 122012
 

(Photo courtesy of Bellator Fighting Championships)

—MAIN CARD (on MTV2 @ 8:00pm ET)—

Lightweight Feature Fight
Eddie Alvarez vs. Patricky “Pitbull” Freire: Alvarez via KO (Head Kick), Round 1, 4:54

Season 7 Featherweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Rad Martinez vs. Nazareno Malegarie: Martinez via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00

Season 7 Featherweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Wagnney Fabiano vs. Akop Stepanyan: Fabiano via Submission (Armbar), Round 1, 3:24

Season 7 Featherweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Mike Richman vs. Jeremy Spoon: Richman via KO (Head Kick), Round 1, 0:23

Season 7 Featherweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Shahbulat Shamhalaev vs. Cody Bollinger: Shamhalaev via TKO (Strikes), Round 1, 4:49 Continue reading »

Share
Jan 112012
 

The younger and less experienced Brazilian "Indio" Erick Silva (right) needs an impressive finish over MMA veteran Carlo Prater to cement his status as a blue chip prospect in the UFC. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

This Saturday the UFC returns to the homeland of the most well-known MMA family in the world. Brazil, the proving grounds for the Gracie family, is welcoming back the world’s premier MMA promotion with open arms as it hosts UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes. Headlining the event in Rio de Janeiro is a championship match-up between former WEC and current UFC featherweight king “Junior” Jose Aldo (19-1) and undefeated Team Alpha Male wrestler “Money” Chad Mendes (11-0). Former UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “The Phenom” Vitor Belfort (20-9) is fighting in front of his countrymen for the first time since 1998 now on the heels of a brutal KO over ”Sexyama” Yoshihiro Akiyama (14-5) in August. His opponent, wrestling powerhouse “Rumble” Anthony Johnson (10-3), is making his middleweight debut against the former world champion. “Toquinho” Rousimar Palhares (15-5) will look to extend his win streak and enter the top of the division but first he has to get past the war-ready Mike Massenzio (13-5) who is game to stand and bang or rip and roll with anyone. In the card’s opener English lightweight Terry Etim (15-3) takes on undefeated Edson Barboza (9-0). Etim wishes to create another impressive win streak while Barboza is looking to stay undefeated inside the UFC. In his UFC debut, MMA veteran “Neo” Carlo Prater (27-11) seeks his big break at the expense of “Indio” Erick Silva (8-2), a Brazilian submission enthusiast looking to put on another show for his hometown crowd. With both hunting an opportunity to emerge from mainstream obscurity and ascend the ranks of the welterweight division, the bout is sure to deliver.

Continue reading »

Share
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 »

Share
Aug 012011
 

Did you miss me? Well, dry your tears icemigos. I have returned. There was a rough few weeks with no MMA events – at least none that I was able to see. And now… now… I have three events to draw from. Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson, Strikeforce Challengers: Voelker vs. Bowling III, and Bellator 47.

Let’s start from the top. What’s up with Fedor? Sure, anyone can get knocked out by Dan Henderson but before that Fedor was swinging wildly.  Yes, Fedor is known to try and finish a fight when he has someone hurt but there was an almost desperate recklessness in Fedor’s attempt to finish – not the precision timing that KO’d Andrei Arlovski in mid-air. Continue reading »

Share
Jul 242011
 

Pat Curran (white trunks) went the distance with Sengoku and Shark Fights veteran "Kid Ninja" Ronnie Mann (black shorts) to stamp his ticket to the Bellator Featherweight Tournament finals. (Photo courtesy of Al Quintero and Sherdog)

Featherweight firepower lit up the Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario last night with both tournament semi-finals of the stacked Summer Series 145lbs. bracket. Former Bellator lightweight title challenger Pat Curran (14-4) took on British top featherweight “Kid Ninja” Ronnie Mann (20-3) in the main event supported by the action packed co-main event between former Sengoku Featherweight Champion “Monster of Rio” Marlon Sandro (19-2) and young gun Jiu-Jitsu fighter “Naza” Nazareno Malegarie (18-2). Along side the semi-finals were two feature fights in the heavyweight and lightweight divisions. WEC and IFL veteran and London, Ontario’s own “The Polish Hammer” Chris Horodecki (18-3) took on “The So Cal Kid” Chris Saunders (9-2). Beginning the main card on MTV2 was returning heavyweight striker “Goliath” Neil Grove (11-3) against the high octane finisher Zak Jensen (10-7). Continue reading »

Share
Jul 232011
 

(Photo courtesy of Bellator)

 

—MAIN CARD—

Bellator Season 5 Featherweight Tournament Semi-Final Bout
Pat Curran vs. Ronnie Mann: Curran via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00

Bellator Season 5 Featherweight Tournament Semi-Final Bout
Marlon Sandro vs. Nazareno Malegarie: Sandro via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00

Heavyweight Feature Fight
Neil Grove vs. Zak Jensen: Grove via TKO (Strikes), Round 1, 2:00

Lightweight Feature Fight
Chris Horodecki vs. Chris Saunders: Horodecki via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00

Continue reading »

Share
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 »

Share
Jul 172011
 

Pat Curran (left) ended his last Bellator bout with a rare Peruvian Necktie submission. Does he have another slick trick in his bag to finish the dangerous KO artist Ronnie Mann on July 23? (Photo courtesy of Keith Mills and Sherdog)

The Bellator 2011 Summer Series Featherweight Tournament semi-final match-ups have been announced and already fans are clinging to the edge of their seats waiting for fight night come July 23.

British featherweight and Shark Fights champion “Kid Ninja” Ronnie Mann (20-2) is looking for another first-round knockout when he meets Pat Curran (13-4) in the main event of the night. Mann is a triple threat striker; he’s got the defense, the crisp pinpoint punches, and solid knockout power that he showed when he dropped Adam Schindler (9-2) at the end of the first round. Curran is coming off a first-round win of his own by way of the rare Peruvian Necktie submission over “Baboon” Luis Palomino (16-7). A fight pitting Curran and Mann will serve as a strong main event and the best man of the night will be left standing. Continue reading »

Share
Jun 272011
 

Hello, Icemigos. How was your blah, blah, blah? Yeah and how’s that thing that you do going? Really? That’s interesting. You know how I feel about that. I mean it should go without saying, right?

So with the niceties out of the way let’s get right to the awards! What awards? The first ever SBoI Awards for the week of MMA fights that I saw! “The Iceys®” as they’re called – as of now. Continue reading »

Share
Jun 262011
 

Pat Curran (left) came out on top in his featherweight debut at Bellator 46 with a rare Peruvian Neck Tie submission win over Luis Palomino (right) in the night's final bout. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

Hollywood, Florida played host to Bellator Fighting Championships as a stacked Bellator 46 card kicked off the Season 5 Featherweight Tournament. “Kid Ninja” Ronnie Mann (20-2) and Adam Schindler (9-2) opened the night at the Seminole Hard Rock while the rest of the featherweights followed. Jacob Devree (10-2) and returning 145lbs. competitor Nazareno Malegarie (20-1) each had a statement to make to prove they have what it takes to be in Bellator. Former Sengoku Featherweight Champion Marlon Sandro (18-2) made his Bellator debut against fellow Brazilian Genair Da Silva (9-4). The main event and closing act of the night featured former lightweight title challenger Pat Curran (14-4) and Luis Palomino (16-7). It was a night of action that the fans have come to expect from Bellator, and the new Summer Series did not disappoint. Continue reading »

Share
Jun 252011
 

(Photo courtesy of Bellator)

—MAIN CARD—

Luis Palomino vs. Pat Curran: Curran via Submission (Peruvian Necktie), Round 1, 3:49

Genair da Silva vs. Marlon Sandro: Sandro via Split Decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29), Round 3, 5:00

Jacob Devree vs. Nazareno Malegarie: Nazareno via Submission (Guillotine Choke), Round 3, 1:25

Adam Schindler vs. Ronnie Mann: Mann via KO (Punch), Round 1, 4:14 Continue reading »

Share
Jun 242011
 

Jacob Devree (white trunks) will have to use solid wrestling and constant pressure against Nazareno Malegarie if he hopes to achieve victory at Bellator 46. (Photo courtesy of De Orta Photography)

It’s the official start of the Bellator Fighting Championships Season 5 Tournament series at the famed Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The promotion already promises fireworks with the featherweights going to war for a shot at Bellator gold. Eight fighters will battle each other in the Bellator cage for the right to challenge the winner of current champion Joe Warren (7-1) and “Pitbull” Patricio Freire (9-1) that takes place at Bellator 47 on July 23. With the signings of two international superstars in Cage Rage veteran and Shark Fights 145lbs. champion Ronnie Mann (19-2), who looked nothing but dominant in his Bellator debut, and former Sengoku Featherweight Champion Marlon Sandro (17-2) who not only brings experience to the cage but also insane knockout power, US fans are sure to be on the edge of their seats while observing the first installment of another killer season of MMA action courtesy of the country’s only remaining national promotion outside of the Zuffa banner. Another notable 145er is former lightweight title challenger Pat Curran (13-4) who decided to drop down after his one-sided decision defeat at the hands of 155lbs. king Eddie Alvarez (21-2). Alongside these men are five other explosive featherweights that are looking to make their mark in Bellator history. Returning from Season 4 is the experienced Jiu-Jitsu wizard Nazareno Malegarie (19-1) taking on Jacob Devree (10-1) in the opening match-up of the night. Bellator veteran Luis Palomino (16-6) will have his hands full as he goes against the aforementioned Pat Curran and submission specialist Adam Schindler (9-1) will look to continue his six-fight win streak with an upset over Ronnie Mann in the opening match-ups. Fury FC veteran and heavy handed Genair da Silva Jr. (9-3) will meet Marlon Sandro in the main event of the evening and seek to knockout one of the top ten featherweights in the world. Continue reading »

Share
Apr 182011
 

“We’re taking Chicken Shit and making Chicken Salad!” –Contemporary Philosopher, Brock Lesnar.

Apparently, Brock is as good at analogies as he is at taking a punch. Oh Snap! Yeah, I went there! I said it! A lot of feelings seemed to be hurt by this comment and Brock’s “clarification” of what he meant was basically to repeat himself. Predictably, this did little to help the issue and his team continued to dab their tears away on their pretty dresses. Metaphorically, of course, since none of them were actually wearing dresses. But it wouldn’t surprise me if some of them were wearing lacy panties under their shorts. Anyway, so far this season of The Ultimate Fighter seems to be filled with a lot of whiny little bitches. “Waaahh! Brock called us chicken shit.” “Waahh! I miss my kid. I’m going home.”  “Waahh. Lew Polley is yelling at me.” Sheesh! Continue reading »

Share