Aaron Pico faces former title challenger Leandro Higo at Bellator 206
(https:)Bellator’s show on Sept. 29 is becoming quite the stacked affair.
Featherweight phenom Aaron Pico will look to extend his run of first-round knockouts when he meets former Bellator title challenger Leandro Higo in a marquee matchup at Bellator 206, which takes place at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. MMA Fighting confirmed the booking Wednesday following an initial report by The Orange County Register.
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Chael Sonnen tourney semifinal official for Bellator 208
(https:)A tournament bout between Fedor Emelianenko and Chael Sonnen is official for Bellator 208.
As reported this past week, Emelianenko (37-5 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) and Sonnen (31-15-1 MMA, 1-2 BMMA) are slated to headline the Oct. 13 event.
The show, Bellator 208, takes place at NYCB LIVE’s Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y. (on Long Island), and it airs on Paramount (and also streams on DAZN) following prelims on MMAjunkie.
Bellator's Fedor Emelianenko vs. Chael Sonnen tourney semifinal slated for Oct. 13 in New York
(https:)The Bellator heavyweight grand-prix semifinal-round fight between Fedor Emelianenko and Chael Sonnen appears to have a date.
Emelianenko (37-5 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) and Sonnen (31-15-1 MMA, 1-2 BMMA) are slated to headline an Oct. 13 event in New York.
Newsday.com first reported the matchup, though Bellator officials haven’t made a formal announcement, and a message from MMAjunkie wasn’t immediately returned.
The event is expected to take place at NYCB LIVE’s Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, home to in Uniondale, N.Y. (on Long Island), and it’s expected to air on Paramount following prelims on MMAjunkie. A day prior, the other half of the grand-prix semifinals – Matt Mitrione (13-5 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) vs. Ryan Bader (25-5 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) – takes place in Connecticut.
Paul Daley signs Bellator contract, will compete in grand prix vs. opponent to be determined
(https:)Paul Daley is headed to Bellator’s welterweight grand prix.
Bellator President Scott Coker today told MMAjunkie that Daley (40-16-2 MMA, 6-3 BMMA) has signed a multi-fight, multi-year deal and is the 10th entrant into the promotion’s multi-stage competition, which kicks off Sept. 29 in San Jose, Calif. Daley’s tournament debut is not yet confirmed.
News of Daley’s inclusion was first reported by ESPN.com. Although ESPN’s Ariel Helwani reported the current plan is for Daley to face rival Michael Page in the tournament’s first round, Coker said he has yet to be officially matched up with an opponent, as the promotion is considering a matchup between Page and Lorenz Larkin. Daley, however, could still be paired with Page (13-0 MMA, 9-0 BMMA) if both parties agree.
A.J. McKee vs. Pat Curran booked for Bellator 205 main event
(https:)A.J. McKee will put his unbeaten record on the line when he takes on longtime Bellator featherweight standout Pat Curran.
Officials announced Wednesday that McKee and Curran will fight in the main event of Bellator 205 at the CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho on Sept. 21. Rafael Lovato Jr. will take on John Salter in the co-headliner.
McKee, 23, has spent his entire pro career with Bellator, winning all 11 of his bouts. His last appearance saw him defeat Justin Lawrence by unanimous decision the co-main event of Bellator 197 this past April. He is the son of 15-year MMA veteran Antonio McKee.
Curran (23-7) is currently on a three-fight win streak, though he has fought just three times since February 2015. Those victories have all been unanimous decisions against John Teixeira, Georgi Karakhanyan, and Emannuel Sanchez. The 30-year-old veteran has twice held Bellator gold at 145 pounds and been with the promotion for the past eight years.
Bellator announces 10-man welterweight tourney field, including Rory MacDonald, ‘MVP,’ Douglas Lima
(https:)The field is just about set for Bellator’s upcoming welterweight tournament.
Ten of the promotion’s best at 170 pounds will be featured in the bracket, including current champion Rory MacDonald; former champions Douglas Lima and Andrey Koreshkov; undefeated welterweights Michael Page, Neiman Gracie, Ed Ruth, and Yaroslav Amosov; and former UFC standouts Lorenz Larkin and Jon Fitch.
Yaroslav Amosov
Jon Fitch
Neiman Gracie
Andrey Koreshkov
Lorenz Larkin
Douglas Lima
Rory MacDonald
Michael Page
Ed Ruth
'TUF Smashes' winner, UFC vet Norman Parke signs multi-fight deal with Bellator
(https:)“The Ultimate Fighter: Smashes” winner Norman Parke is hitting the reset button on his big-show career with a new Bellator contract.
Parke (25-6-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has signed a multi-fight deal with the Viacom-owned promotion, a Bellator official today told MMAjunkie following a report from MMANytt.com. The veteran’s debut is expected later this year.
Parke, 31, brings a two-fight win streak to the promotion. After a 1-3 skid let to his UFC ouster, the Ireland native rebuilt his career in the Polish powerhouse show KSW, where he unsuccessfully vied for the lightweight title against Mateusz Gamrot, but ended his tenure at 2-1 with one no contest.
Despite huge KO, Michael McDonald unsure if career can continue after latest injury at Bellator 202
(https:)Michael McDonald is having an inner struggle after suffering what he believes is yet another hand break in his victory at Bellator 202.
McDonald (19-4 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) scored his most spectacular victory in recent years Friday when he stopped former bantamweight champ Eduardo Dantas (20-6 MMA, 10-3 BMMA) by knockout in just 58 seconds in the Bellator 202 co-headliner, which took place at WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Okla., and aired on Paramount following prelims streamed on MMAjunkie.
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Chael Sonnen, Bellator tourney semifinals targeted for October
(https:)The next round of the Bellator heavyweight grand prix is expected to unfold in October.
After completing the first round of the eight-man tournament, which earns he winner the vacant Bellator heavyweight title, at Bellator 199 in May, the semifinals are planned for mid-October.
The matchups of Fedor Emelianenko (37-5 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) vs. Chael Sonnen (30-15-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) and Ryan Bader (25-5 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) vs. Matt Mitrione (13-5 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) will not take place on the same night, Bellator President Scott Coker recently told MMAjunkie. However, they could occur within hours of each other, with events on back-to-back nights a strong possibility.
Ricky Bandejas vs. James Gallagher set for Bellator 204 in South Dakota
(https:)Bellator’s first trip to South Dakota later this summer continues to build with the addition of a bantamweight fight.
James Gallagher (7-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) is set to take on Ricky Bandejas (10-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) at Bellator 204. The promotion recently made the booking official. It first was announced by the website for the host venue, Sanford Pentagon.
Bellator 204 is set for Aug. 17 at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The main card will air on Paramount following prelims on MMAjunkie.
The Bellator 204 card now includes:
Darrion Caldwell vs. Noad Lahat
A.J. Matthews vs. Logan Storley
Ricky Bandejas vs. James Gallagher
Bellator announces a 9 figure 5 year broadcast deal with streaming service DAZN
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“This exciting new partnership with DAZN is a game-changer for Bellator,” Bellator President Scott Coker stated in a press release. “The investment will enable us to continue expanding our roster with free agents that make sense so we can put on pay-per-view-worthy fight cards that fans will want to see. Plus, on DAZN’s worldwide platform, our fights will be seen live for the first time to new audiences around the globe.”
Tyrell Fortune vs. Josue Lugo added to Bellator 201
(https:)Standout wrestler Tyrell Fortune has been added to this month’s Bellator 201 preliminary card.
Fortune (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) is slated to fight heavyweight Josue Lugo (8-3 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), officials announced.
Bellator 201 takes place June 29 at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, Calif. The main card airs on Paramount following prelims on the Bellator app.
The latest Bellator 201 card includes:
MAIN CARD (Paramount, 9 p.m. ET)
Champ Ilima-Lei Macfarlane vs. Alejandra Lara – for women’s flyweight title
Saad Awad vs. Ryan Couture
Valerie Letourneau vs. Kristina Williams
Juan Archuleta vs. Robbie Peralta
PRELIMINARY CARD (MMAjunkie, 7 p.m. ET)
Andy Murad vs. Ed Ruth
Keri Melendez vs. Tiani Valle
Tyrell Fortune vs. Josue Lugo
Kristi Lopez vs. Paola Ramirez
Jamal Pogues vs. Jordan Young
Joshua Jones vs. Jacob Rosales
David Conte vs. Jay Jay Wilson
Julio Aguilera vs. Ricky Furar
Ed Ruth to make welterweight debut vs. Andy Murad at Bellator 201
(https:)Ed Ruth’s journey at 170 pounds begins this summer.
Undefeated at middleweight, Ruth will drop down a division to fight Andy Murad at Bellator 201 on June 29 at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, Calif. The three-time NCAA wrestling champion was originally scheduled to make his welterweight debut in April, but a late opponent switch caused the bout to be changed to a 175-pound catchweight affair.
Keri Melendez returns at Bellator 201 to fight Tiani Valle
(https:)Keri Melendez will soon be back in Bellator action.
The professional kickboxer-turned-cage fighter will compete in MMA for the second time when she meets Tiani Valle in a strawweight bout at Bellator 201 on June 29 at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, Calif.
Mirko Cro Cop details extent of knee injury, targeted date for return
(https:)Mirko Filipovic’s left leg is in rough shape following his withdrawal from Bellator 200’s main event.
Filipovic, 43, pulled out of Friday’s scheduled Bellator 200 rematch against Roy Nelson after suffering an 11th hour knee injury in training. Unfortunately for “Cro Cop,” the damage appears to be extensive. MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani reported Tuesday that Filipovic’s list of injuries to his left leg includes: an ACL tear, a partial MCL tear, a meniscofemoral ligament (MFL) tear, an LCL sprain, and a median arcuate ligament (MAL) tear.
“Cro Cop” underwent surgery Monday to address the damage.
Despite the extent of his injury, the Croatian legend told Helwani that he is targeting a return in October and wants to fight Nelson “ASAP.”
Jeremy Petley out of Bellator 200 due to injury, Saul Rogers fight canceled
(https:)Saul Rogers is without a dance partner for his promotional debut this Friday night at Bellator 200.
Bellator has confirmed that Canadian Jeremy Petley has pulled out of his bout with Rogers due to an undisclosed injury. Nolan King first reported the news of Petley’s withdrawal on May 17.
Officials were looking for a short-notice replacement for “The Hangman”, but MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani confirmed that Rogers was also removed from the card. Rogers also wrote in an Instagram story that he would no longer be fighting Friday.
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