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 77: The Aftermath

 Posted by at 2:03 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Oct 202012
 

Alexander Sarnavskiy (left) put his undefeated 20-0 record against seasoned veteran Rich Clementi (right). After a hard-fought battle, Clementi’s experience trumped the skills of the young Russian, as “No Love” took the decision win. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

The Season 7 Lightweight Tournament Quarter-Finals went down October 19 in Reading, Pennsylvania with the Bellator cage dropping anchor at the Sovereign Center. Eight fighters gathered under the Bellator banner to challenge for the 155lbs. championship held by Michael Chandler (10-0) who will defend his title against Season 6 lightweight tourney winner Rich Hawn (14-1). Bellator veterans Ricardo Tirloni (15-2) and “The Brazilian Bomber” Rene Nazare (10-3) started off the main card in a toe-to-toe war. Twenty-year-old Polishman Marcin Held (13-2) battled Russian fighting phenom “Strangler” Murad Machaev (9-1). M-1 Global, WEC, and  Bellator veteran “The Fugitive” Dave Jansen (17-2) welcomed hard knocked warrior “The Rock” Magomed Saadulaev (14-2) to Bellator. The main event featured long-time MMA veteran and UFC alum “No Love” Rich Clementi (44-21) against the undefeated “Tiger” Alexander Sarnavskiy (20-1). Eight men entered the Bellator cage, but only four had their tickets stamped to the tournament semi-finals. Continue reading »

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Bellator 77, Season 7 Lightweight Tournament Quarter-Finals Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 6:22 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Oct 182012
 

Seasoned veteran Rich Clementi (bottom) brings a storied 65-fight career including 27 submission victories and nine (T)KOs to the Bellator Season 7 Lightweight Tournament Friday night. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

Friday night Bellator launches its Season 7 lightweight tournament brackets at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. Starting off the four-fight main card on MTV2 is M-1 Global, WEC, and Bellator veteran “The Fugitive” Dave Jansen (16-2) against the Bellator debutee and journeyman Magomed Saadulaev (14-1). The rising young star and familiar face Marcin Held (12-2) is back in the tournament against Russian import “Strangler” Murad Machaev (9-0). Brazilian fighting circuit and Bellator veteran Ricardo Tirloni (14-2) looks to bounce back from his knockout loss to Rick Hawn (14-1) when he faces “The Brazilian Bomber” Rene Nazare (10-2). Long-time MMA fighter and UFC veteran “No Love” Rich Clementi (43-21) looks to have one last possible run at gold when he welcomes undefeated Russian “Tiger” Alexander Sarnavskiy (20-0) to the USA and Bellator Fighting Championships. Continue reading »

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Bellator 74, Season 7 Welterweight Tournament Quarter-Finals Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 5:07 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Sep 272012
 

Former Bellator 170lbs. king Lyman Good (black trunks) returns to his old stomping grounds, the Bellator welterweight tournament, in hopes of making his way to a rematch with the man who stripped him of his title, current champion Ben Askren. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

Bellator returns to the MMA world Friday night with a stacked welterweight tournament. To start Season 7, Bellator 74 will take place at Caesars Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Two men will make their promotional debut as “The Lonely Wolf” Michail Tsarev (23-2), owner of 18 submission wins, will look for his nineteenth when he faces ICF veteran “Cheapshot” Tim Welch (9-3) who is also well versed in the submission game. A two-time Bellator veteran who has never seen the judges’ scorecards, “Spartan” Andrey Koreshkov (10-0), will welcome returning tournament fighter “Mata Ele” Jordan Smith (17-3) back to the Bellator cage. Former DREAM champion “The Whitemare” Marius Zaromskis (18-6) recently closed the trilogy against Waachiim Spiritwolf (9-11), earning his place in this season’s tournament against Nordine Taleb (8-1), a two-time Bellator veteran who will look to make a name for himself as he takes on the dynamite-handed southpaw. Hometown favorite and former Bellator Welterweight Champion “Cyborg” Lyman Good (12-2) returns to the cage and the tournament format following a chilling 13-second knockout of “Da Maynman” Levon Maynard (12-9). Standing across the cage from Good will be Bellator veteran “Judo” Jim Wallhead (23-6) who is riding a two-fight win streak that took place at 185lbs. in BAMMA. Continue reading »

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Bellator 70: The Aftermath

 Posted by at 2:59 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
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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Bellator 70 Video Highlights

 Posted by at 12:11 PM  Bellator  No Responses »
May 262012
 

(Video courtesy of Bellator)

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Bellator 70, Season 6 Finale Live Results

 Posted by at 3:49 PM  Bellator  1 Response »
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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Bellator 70: Main Card Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 5:38 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
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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Bellator 66: The Aftermath

 Posted by at 2:05 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Apr 212012
 

Former Bellator lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez earned a TKO victory over JMMA star Shinya Aoki in their main event bout, a rematch three years in the making. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

Bellator Fighting Championships made its debut in Cleveland, Ohio with Bellator 66. Friday night’s stacked card was filled with explosive warriors, four Season 6 tourney semi-finals match-ups, and a rematch three years in the making. Submission specialist Brent Weedman (21-7) duked it out with Brazilian kickboxer Thiago Michel Pereira Silva (10-3) and Judo Olympian Rick Hawn (12-1) faced the tough “Cupcake” Lloyd Woodard (12-1) to determine who would meet in the 155lbs. tournament finals. Four middleweights faced off in the 185lbs. tournament semi-finals as Russian boxer “Slava” Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (16-1) locked horns with Brazilian powerhouse “Big Rig” Maiquel Falcao (29-4) and Ohio’s knockout artist “The Predator” Brian Rogers (9-3) faced late replacement “Sweet Swede” Andreas Spang (7-1). Since New Year’s Eve 2008 fans have chanted for the rematch of former Bellator lightweight king Eddie Alvarez (22-3) and DREAM Lightweight Champion “Tobikan Judan” Shinya Aoki (30-5). That match finally happened inside the Bellator cage for last night’s main event, and disappoint it did not. Continue reading »

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Bellator 66 Video Highlights

 Posted by at 2:31 AM  Bellator  No Responses »
Apr 212012
 

(Video courtesy of Bellator)

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Bellator 66 Live Results

 Posted by at 4:22 PM  Bellator  1 Response »
Apr 202012
 

(Photo courtesy of Bellator)

—MAIN CARD (on MTV2)—

Lightweight Super Fight
Eddie Alvarez vs. Shinya Aoki: Alvarez via TKO (Punches), Round 1, 2:14

Season 6 Middleweight Tournament Semi-Final Fight
Andreas Spang vs. Brian Rogers: Spang via TKO (Punch), Round 2, 3:34

Season 6 Middleweight Tournament Semi-Final Fight
Vyacheslav Vasilevsky vs. Maiquel Falcao: Falcao via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00

Season 6 Lightweight Tournament Semi-Final Fight
Lloyd Woodard vs. Rick Hawn: Hawn via TKO (Punches), Round 2, 0:10

Season 6 Lightweight Tournament Semi-Final Fight
Thiago Michel Pereira Silva vs. Brent Weedman: Weedman via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00 Continue reading »

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Bellator 66 Main Card: Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 6:27 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Apr 192012
 

Judo Olympian Rick Hawn (right) was nothing short of dominant in his 155lbs. debut in March, however his Bellator 66 match-up may prove to be a more substantial challenge versus the large, heavy-handed Lloyd Woodward. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

It was New Year’s Eve 2008 when former Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez (22-3) submitted to a crippling Heel Hook by Japanese superstar “Tobikan Judan” Shinya Aoki (30-5) just 92 seconds into their K-1 event “Dynamite!! 2008″ match-up, crowning Aoki the inaugural WAMMA lightweight champ. Over three years have passed and the rematch will finally take place in the Bellator cage this Friday night. Bellator 66 at the I-X Center in Cleveland, Ohio will host not only one of the most sought after rematches in lightweight history but also a stacked card of Season 6 tournament semi-final match-ups in both the middleweight and lightweight divisions. Ohio’s own “The Predator” Brian Rogers (9-3) brings his knockout power against a last-minute replacement in MFC and Strikeforce veteran ”Sweet Swede” Andreas Spang (7-1). Russian fighting sensation “Slava” Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (16-1) takes on the powerful “Big Rig” Maiquel Falcao (29-4). Colorful yet dangerous “Cupcake” Lloyd Woodard (12-1) takes on former Judo Olympian Rick Hawn (12-1) in one of two 155lbs. semi-final bouts, the second being Thiago Michael Pereira Silva (10-2) and Brent Weedman (19-7), which will take place on the event’s undercard hosted by Spike.com.

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Bellator 62: The Aftermath

 Posted by at 3:29 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Mar 242012
 

Brent Weedman (top) made a successful 155lbs. debut and is one of four fighters moving on in the Bellator lightweight tourney. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

Friday night the Bellator Season 6 Lightweight Tournament Quarter-Finals went down at the Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas. Eight men entered the cage for the Bellator 62 main card on MTV2, just half of which left as victors and with a ticket to the semi-finals in hand. The 155lbs. tourney boasted several familiar faces as well as new faces teeing off in a quartet of bouts that had the crowd on their feet and the commentators flabbergasted. ”Cupcake” Lloyd Woodard (12-1) took on the elder of the “Pitbull” brothers in Patricky Freire (10-3). Former 170lbs. tournament finalist and Judo Olympian Rick Hawn (12-1) made his debut at lightweight against Brazilian force Ricardo Tirloni (14-2). Another former welterweight tournament contender, Brent Weedman (19-7), made his 155lbs. debut against JJ Ambrose (17-4). “The Brazilian Bomber” Rene Nazare (10-2) and Thiago Michel Pereira Silva (10-2) kicked off the tournament as the opening match. Though the intended Bellator 62 main event – a twice-rescheduled rematch between ”Big Monster” Thiago Santos (10-1) and “The American Soldier” Eric Prindle (7-1) to determine the Bellator Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament Champion – was scratched due to Santos missing weight by nearly 13lbs, the lightweights brought the heat for the third event of Bellator’s sixth season. Continue reading »

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Lyman Good Returns at Bellator 59, Faces Michael Costa

 Posted by at 8:10 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Oct 252011
 

Former Bellator 170lbs. champion Lyman Good returns to action against Michael Costa at Bellator 59 next month. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

Former Bellator Welterweight Champion “Cyborg” Lyman Good (11-2) is returning to the cage after a six-month hiatus following his Split Decision loss to Season 4 Welterweight Tournament finalist “Judo” Rick Hawn (11-1) in April.

Good was slated to take on “The Handler” Dan Hornbuckle (18-5) at Bellator 44 the following month but a hamstring injury forced him to withdraw from the fight. Now fully healed and ready to start his climb back to a shot at the Bellator championship gold of which he was the first to wield, “Cyborg” will face off with Brazilian native and Sengoku veteran ”Maicon” Michael Costa (10-5) in a welterweight tourney qualifying match at Bellator 59 on November 26.

Costa, a Chute Boxe fighter, will debut under the Bellator banner with nine finishes out of his ten victories, and with a training camp that is Chute Boxe there’s no question that his Muay Thai is extremely lethal. Costa’s last fight will be a day shy of a year come November 26 and what a welcome back he gets with a former champion of Good’s caliber. Costa is a Royler Gracie-trained black belt who currently trains alongside Bellator Season 5 Middleweight Tournament finalist Vitor Vianna (12-1-1) at Wand Fight Team in Las Vegas, Nevada. Continue reading »

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