Bellator 85 Main Card Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 2:41 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Jan 172013
 
Renato Sobral (top), one of the biggest additions to the Bellator roster to date, will make his debut tonight. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

Renato Sobral (top), one of the biggest additions to the Bellator roster to date, will make his  promotional debut tonight. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The now infamous line “MMA comes home to Spike TV” becomes reality tonight as Bellator makes its debut on Spike TV with its 85th fight card, and does so in spectacular fashion with a pair of title fights in two of Bellator’s most talent-rich divisions: lightweight and featherweight. UFC veteran, former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion, former IFC Light Heavyweight Champion, RINGS veteran, and owner of some of the most wicked tattoos in the game “Babalu” Renato Sobral (37-9) makes his debut inside the Bellator cage in the Season 8 Light Heavyweight Tournament against M-1 veteran and fellow Bellator newcomer Mikhail Zayats (19-6). Bellator Featherweight Champion Pat Curran (17-4) defends his title for the first time against the dangerous “Pitbull” Patricio Freire (17-1) in a scheduled five-round bout that will likely end with a brutal finish. Bellator Lightweight Champion, the undefeated Michael Chandler (10-0), makes his first defense of his belt against the talented Judo black belt Rick Hawn (14-1) in the main event of the night.

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Bellator 73: Main Card Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 7:36 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Aug 232012
 

“Loro” Marcos Galvao (right) will seek redemption for his previous tournament failures in the Season 6 Finale against Luis Nogueira. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

What was supposed to be three title fights in Bellator’s return to Tunica, Mississippi has been stripped down to two after Bellator Featherweight Champion “Big Frog” Pat Curran (17-4) fractured his orbital bone preparing for his first title defense against challenger “Pitbull” Patricio Freire (17-1). While the 145lbs. title fight will be rescheduled, Friday evening’s Bellator 73 main event has shifted to the 135lbs. Season 6 Finale as “Loro” Marcos Galvao (12-5) faces “Betao” Luis Alberto Nogueira (14-2). Both men came up short in the previous tournament but rallied back to face each other for the right to a title shot. “Diesel” Travis Wiuff (68-14) and “Pumukli” Attila Vegh (27-4) will go to war to close out the Summer Series and the 205lbs. tournament. Supporting the two tournament finales is a pair of bouts in the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions as Pro Elite and Fight to Win veteran Ryan Martinez (7-1) faces XFL veteran and one-time UFC fighter”The Juggernaut” Mike Wessel (11-4) and two 6’5″ giants, newcomer Mike Mucitelli (2-0) and  Bellator veteran Matt Van Buren (5-0), start the action of the main card at the Harrah’s Tunica Hotel and Casino. Continue reading »

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Bellator Featherweight Tournament Stacked for Season 6

 Posted by at 6:03 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Dec 222011
 
Shark Fights 145lbs. champion “Kid Ninja” Ronnie Mann (white trunks) is one of eight competitors taking to the cage for the Bellator Season 6 Featherweight Tournament next spring. (Photo courtesy of Shark Fights)

With the bantamweight roster close to completion for the upcoming Bellator Season 6 tournament starting in March on an all new Friday night schedule, the Bellator brass is now compiling a stacked list of 145lbs. competitors to go to battle  for a shot at championship gold. Eight men will enter the Bellator Season 6 Featherweight Tournament but only one will be declared tournament champion. With current champion Joe Warren (7-2) scheduled to face Summer Series winner Pat Curran (15-4) in the first defense of the 145lbs. division championship and “Pitbull” Patricio Freire (9-1) awaiting the winner of that bout, it seems the featherweight belt will be up in the air for the time. Continue reading »

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One on One with Tachi Palace Fights Top Featherweight Contender Georgi Karakhanyan

 Posted by at 6:15 PM  Bellator, MMA Gospel Exclusives, MMA News  2 Responses »
Nov 292011
 
“Insane” Georgi Karakhanyan spoke with MMA Gospel about his upcoming title fight this Friday at Tachi Palace Fights 11: Redemption. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

It was just the end of another training session on Wednesday afternoon, the last hard sparring session of fight camp before the big fight on December 2. The fighter who was in the shark tank was none other than 145lbs. Bellator veteran and top contender for the Tachi Palace Fights featherweight title, “Insane” Georgi Karakhanyan (17-3). Having defeated eight of his last ten opponents including Shooto, EliteXC, and Strikeforce veteran “The Taz” Bao Quach (17-10-1) via first-round knockout, Georgi has now put himself in line to take on Isaac DeJesus (9-3) for championship gold in the Tachi Palace Fights 11: Redemption main event this Friday. Karakhanyan is known for his come-forward style of fighting and lethal knees paired with a slick submission game that earned him the bulk of his career wins, but despite his aggressive demeanor in the cage, Georgi answered his phone with a friendly tone, welcoming a chat with MMA Gospel writer Cole Moorman about the biggest fight in his professional career  thus far – and much more. Continue reading »

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Bellator 59, Season 5 Heavyweight and Bantamweight Tournament Finals: Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 9:20 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
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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Bellator 48, Featherweight Tournament Finals Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 12:33 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
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 »

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Bellator 47, Featherweight Tournament Semi-Finals Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 2:36 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
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 »

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Bellator 46 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Season 5 Featherweight Tournament Quarter-Finals

 Posted by at 4:38 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
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 »

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Spilled Bag of Fights: Free Chael!

 Posted by at 5:56 PM  Spilled Bag of Fights  4 Responses »
May 232011
 

First off I want to congratulate Sergio aka @iTzPrimo on Twitter who won the #1 Icemigo award. What’s the #1 Icemigo award? It’s some shit I invented just for Primo because that mofo RTs all my shit and comments on this column all the time. What did Primo win? Well, I don’t want to spoil the surprise for him but it’s either totally awesome or he’s totally getting KOS’d!! Or Maybe a little of both. Ha ha! See, I reward my loyal Icemigos. I’ve spent *$40,000 out of my own pocket giving away shit to people since I started the Spilled Bag of Ice Twitter account way back in February of 2010.  As for my enemies, *I’ve smashed their faces and crushed their souls. I’ve kidnapped their pets, made them love me and trained them to attack their former owners on sight…their children, too.

(*claims may be somewhat exaggerated for dramatic effect) Continue reading »

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Bellator 45: The Aftermath

 Posted by at 1:41 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
May 222011
 

M-1 veteran "Psycho" Karl Amoussou (red trunks) took on King of the Cage veteran "Smiling" Sam Alvey in a Bellator Season 5 Middleweight Tournament qualifying match. After three hard fought rounds, Alvey took a razor thin Split Decision. (Photo courtesy of Taro Irei)

The inaugural Bellator light heavyweight king was crowned last night in front of fans at the L’Auberge Du Lac in Lake Charles, Louisiana at the promotion’s season-ending show, Bellator 45, as Christian M’Pumbu (5-1) and Richard Hale (12-4) went to war for the titles of Bellator 205lbs. champ and Bellator Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament Champion. The main event was preceded by another Season 4 finals bout, with 145lb-ers Daniel Straus (16-3) and “Pitbull” Patricio Freire (9-1) locking horns to determine the next man to take on reigning champ Joe Warren (7-1). Before the pair of tournament bouts fans were treated to a competitive match-up in the middleweight division between former college wrestler and King of the Cage veteran “Smiling” Sam Alvey (14-2) and the well-rounded former M-1 fighter “Psycho” Karl Amoussou (12-3) with the winner gaining a spot in the Bellator Season 5 Middleweight Tournament. The evening wrapped up a season filled with solid fights, surprising upsets, and emerging contenders.

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Bellator 45: Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 11:04 AM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
May 212011
 

Richard Hale (blue trunks) will face a much smaller man in Christian M'Pumbu for the vacant Bellator light heavyweight belt. (Photo courtesy of Keith Mills and Sherdog)

Tomorrow night Lake Charles, Louisiana will have the honor of hosting the final event of the Bellator Fighting Championships Season 4 tournaments. Not only will there be tournament finals taking place in two weight classes, but one of those finals will crown a new champion in the light heavyweight division. Opening up the main card, middleweight Sam Alvey (13-2) meets M-1 veteran “Psycho” Karl Amoussou (12-2). Gritty featherweight Daniel Straus (16-2) will meet the young Brazilian phenom “Pitbull” Patricio Freire (8-1) in a scheduled three-round war to determine the Bellator Season 4 Featherweight Tournament winner as well as who will face the vocal champion Joe Warren (7-1) for his title. Finally, the lightning fast and iron forged giant Richard Hale (12-3) will take on lean and mean French knockout artist Christian M’Pumbu (3-1) with the winner being minted as Bellator’s inaugural 205lbs. champion. Derek Lewis (4-1) was slated to meet Brazilian giant “Big Monster” Thiago Santos (4-1) but an injury has caused Santos to pull out of the fight, thus cancelling the heavyweight tilt. Bellator’s final effort of its fourth season promises fireworks; here, MMA Gospel takes a look at how the evening may play out. Continue reading »

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Spilled Bag of Fights: Chicken Salad!

 Posted by at 7:31 PM  Spilled Bag of Fights  3 Responses »
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 »

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Bellator 41: The Aftermath

 Posted by at 2:45 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Apr 172011
 

Bellator Season 4 Featherweight Tournament semi-finalists Daniel Straus (white trunks) and Kenny Foster (red trunks) opened up the main card with a competitive bout that ended in Straus taking the third round submission win. (Photo courtesy of Dave Mandel and Sherdog)

Bellator Fighting Championships’ first outdoor event of its fourth season went off without a hitch last night in Luma, Arizona. In the arid 95 degree desert weather, a pair of superfights as well as both 135lbs. tournament semi-final match- ups took place at Bellator 41 to the delight of thousands of MMA fans. Bellator Featherweight Champion Joe Warren (6-1) took on Shooto and Ring of Combat veteran Marcos Galvão (9-3) in a catchweight affair at 137lbs., Bellator Bantamweight Champion “Fun Size” Zach Makovsky (13-2) went to war with the undefeated “Robo” Chad Robichaux (11-1) in a non-title bout in a pair of hard hitting crowd pleasers with both fights bringing the fans non-stop action. Wilson Reis (12-3) and “Pitbull” Patricio Freire (8-1) went at it for a second time in the featherweight semi-finals and Daniel Straus (16-2) squared off with “The Tooth Fairy” Kenny Foster (9-3) to open the main card on MTV2. Again, Bellator delivered on its promises for an action packed night of mixed martial arts and MMA Gospel is here to break that action down. Continue reading »

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Bellator 41 Live Results

 Posted by at 8:31 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Apr 162011
 

(Photo courtesy of Bellator)

—MAIN CARD (MTV2)—

Main event: Catchweight (137lbs.) Non-Title Fight
Joe Warren vs. Marcos Galvão: Warren via Unanimous Decision, Round 3, 5:00

Bellator Season 4 Featherweight Tournament Semi-Final Fight
Patricio Freire vs. Wilson Reis: Freire via KO (Punches), Round 3, 3:29

Featherweight Non-Title Fight
Zach Makovsky vs. Chad Robichaux: Makovsky via TKO (Punches), Round 3, 2:02

Bellator Season 4 Featherweight Tournament Semi-Final Fight
Kenny Foster vs. Daniel Straus: Straus via Submission (Guillotine Choke), Round 3, 3:48 Continue reading »

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Bellator 41 Weigh-In Results

 Posted by at 8:01 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Apr 152011
 

 

(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 »

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