Before Bellator Fighting Championships takes Arizona by storm with yet another installment of its Season 4 tournaments courtesy of Bellator 41, here’s a look at what the Chicago-based promotion offered fight fans last week.
(Video courtesy of Bellator) Continue reading »
Paul “Semtex” Daley is arguably the hardest hitting Welterweight in MMA. Nick Diaz began his fight with “Semtex” Saturday night by walking towards him, taunting him with his hands down at his side. That’s some crazy shit. Crazy like a fox? I think so. Diaz showed the cocky Brit how cocky is done – 209 style. But there’s definitely a method to Diaz’s madness. The conventional wisdom was that Diaz should try to get the fight to the ground where Daley is weakest and the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu master has a huge advantage… but Nick Diaz ain’t no bitch. He’s said as much on many occasions. Nick doesn’t change the way he fights based on his opponent. He comes out, starts trash talking, looks for his openings and begins picking his opponent apart with his unorthodox but accurate and effective striking and if the fight happens to go to the ground, well, he’s certainly okay with that too. Continue reading »
In a three-round affair Michael Chandler outpointed fellow 155lb. competitor "Cupcake" Lloyd Woodard and is one of two men remaining in the lightweight tournament. (Photo courtesy of Keith Mills and Sherdog)
Bellator Fighting Championships’ second trip to the Sooner State featured two semi-final match-ups in the Season 4 Welterweight and Lightweight Tournaments and a superfight between reigning Bellator Welterweight Champion Ben Askren (8-0) and MMA veteran “The Goat” Nick Thompson (38-14). A sold out crowd welcomed Bellator and the fighters with cheers and open arms. First on the slate Xtreme Couture finisher Mike Chandler (7-0) took on former boxer and fellow undefeated slugger “Cupcake” Lloyd Woodard (11-1), then underdog Brent Weedman (18-6) tested himself against the dangerous and experienced “The Thoroughbred” Jay Hieron (18-4). Here, MMA Gospel takes a look at how the night played out. Continue reading »
—MAIN CARD (MTV2)—
Main Event
Ben Askren vs. Nick Thompson: Askren via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00
Bellator Season 4 Welterweight Tournament Semi-Final
Lloyd Woodard vs. Michael Chandler: Chandler via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00
Bellator Season 4 Welterweight Tournament Semi-Final
Jay Hieron vs. Brent Weedman: Hieron via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00
Nick Thompson (white shorts) will represent the first fighter beyond the journeyman level that Ben Askren has faced and likely the first person to have the experience to handle his one-dimensional wrestling game. (Photo courtesy of Rob King and Sherdog)
Oklahoma gets a second dose of Bellator Fighting Championships when the organization returns to the Sooner State for Bellator 40 tonight with a main event superfight between welterweight champion Ben Askren (7-0) and UFC, bodogFIGHT, Strikeforce, Sengoku, and Elite XC veteran “The Goat” Nick Thompson (38-12). Askren will have his hands full with this seasoned fighter, and Thompson is coming to fight for the 15 minutes that three of Askren’s four Bellator bouts have lasted. Opening the night for the champ will be the second pair of semi-final tournament bouts. Welterweight semi-finalists step in first as Brent Weedman (18-5) takes on former UFC and Strikeforce fighter and former IFL Welterweight Champion “The Thoroughbred” Jay Hieron (17-4) with the winner moving on to face undefeated Judo Olympian Rick Hawn (11-0) in the tournament finals. Then former semi-pro boxer and heavy handed striker Lloyd Woodard (11-0) takes on Strikeforce veteran and quick finisher Michael Chandler (6-0) in the lightweight semi-finals with the winner slated against ”Pitbull” Patricky Freire (3-0). Overall the night should promise another evening of excellent Bellator action for the fans. Continue reading »
Eddie Alvarez (top) has the tools to finish this fight anywhere it goes, ensuring that Pat Curran will not have any way to "fight safe." (Photo courtesy of Bellator)
The city of Uncasville will see Bellator Fighting Championships make its first stop in Connecticut tonight when the regional promotion turned national TV MMA sensation arrives for Bellator 39. Hosting the event is the Mohegan Sun and attending will be a house full of fans of the Northeast native and Bellator Lightweight Champion, Eddie Alvarez (19-2). Alvarez will defend his title for the first time against Season 2 winner and perennial underdog contender Pat Curran (12-3). After an injury during training early last year, Curran had to sit out and recover on the side lines while Alvarez continued his reign as the promotion’s best lightweight. Now after a full recovery and months back into his training, Curran is ready to challenge the champion and looks to upset yet another fighter with the title of champion being the prize. Continue reading »
Bellator 33's headliner pits Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez against UFC veteran Roger Huerta, promising to be one of the most explosive and dynamic match-ups ever witnessed in the 155lb. division. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)
Prepare for the biggest lightweight fight since Edgar vs. Penn 2 as Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez (20-2) meets UFC veteran and lightweight super star “El Matador” Roger Huerta (21-4) in Bellator’s first real super fight. From the moment the MMA world knew of Huerta’s signing with Bellator, fans salivated at the thought of this one fight. Unfortunately, Huerta’s title hopes were derailed by underdog Pat Curran (13-3) in the final rounds of the lightweight tournament; but fortune smiled on Huerta in the form of a shoulder injury Curran sustained in the late summer. Now fans will have their fight between two of MMA’s most elite lightweights in one of the first true pairings between a top tier former-UFC lightweight, and a fighter commonly counted among the top ten despite having never graced the Octagon. Continue reading »
Tuesday, September 7, professional mixed martial arts fighter and Shine fights lightweight grand prix competitor James Warfield (15-6) boarded Delta Airlines flight DL5395 from Detroit, Michigan to Wichita, Kansas. He expected to fly down that night, wake up, and go weigh-in, well rested for his shot at Shine Fights gold. Instead, he and corner man Pat O’Malley (13-8) ended up driving from Madison, Wisconsin to Newkirk, Oklahoma to make the fights. Now James goes into Shine Fights having missed a valuable night of rest prior to the fights. Why? According to the US Air Marshals that removed James and his corner man from the flight, no reason. According to former UFC fighter and Minnesota BAR attorney “The Goat” Nick Thompson (38-11-1), it’s a matter of discrimination based on James’ race and appearance. Continue reading »