Tag: Bellator 82

Get To Know Bellator Beauty Jade Bryce A Little Bit Better In Our Exclusive Interview


(That makes two of us who went commando today. Pic Props: Playboy)

By Jason Moles

After the post-fight press conference for Bellator 82, I was lucky enough to catch up with one of our all-time favorite MMA ring girls, Jade Bryce. When you’ve been around the business for any significant amount of time, you are rarely blown away during an interview — especially when you’re talking with the hired eye candy. Wouldn’t you know it, that’s exactly what happened Saturday night.

Ms. Bryce is one of the most knowledgeable and genuinely caring people in the MMA industry. During our conversation, we touched on topics ranging from her favorite fighters to her weakness for chocolate chip cookies. But it’s only when we broached the subject of what she wants for Christmas that her passion was truly enkindled. Check out the highlights of our little one-on-one below.

CagePotato: Hi, Jade, thanks for making time to speak with us. We have a few quick questions for you, which should help our readers get to know you a bit better. For starters, who is your favorite fighter?

Jade Bryce: Since I began with Bellator, I’ve always really loved Michael Chandler and the “Pitbull” brothers a lot, as well as Alexander Shlemenko. I also really like Douglas Lima and Ben Saunders, but yeah, my favorites have always been Shlemenko, “Pitbull” brothers, and Chandler. Oh! [Pat] Curran too. Which is weird because him and [Patricio] “Pitbull” are going to fight soon, so it’ll be a hard fight for me.

CP: For sure. Watching two of your favorite fighters punch each other in the face must be like torture to you. What about Ben Askren, do you think he’s going to defend his title successfully against Karl Amoussou?

JB: No.

CP: Wait, what?! You’re kidding, right? You might be the only person not from France to say that.

JB: I know, but I’m always the one to say, “I told you so.” Everyone else thought Eddie Alvarez was going to win against Chandler, but I had been saying for a year that Chandler was going to win. And no one believed me when it came to “Pitbull” or Chandler, and he has the belt now. I think Amoussou is going to do really well [in his fight against Askren.]


(That makes two of us who went commando today. Pic Props: Playboy)

By Jason Moles

After the post-fight press conference for Bellator 82, I was lucky enough to catch up with one of our all-time favorite MMA ring girls, Jade Bryce. When you’ve been around the business for any significant amount of time, you are rarely blown away during an interview — especially when you’re talking with the hired eye candy. Wouldn’t you know it, that’s exactly what happened Saturday night.

Ms. Bryce is one of the most knowledgeable and genuinely caring people in the MMA industry. During our conversation, we touched on topics ranging from her favorite fighters to her weakness for chocolate chip cookies. But it’s only when we broached the subject of what she wants for Christmas that her passion was truly enkindled. Check out the highlights of our little one-on-one below.

CagePotato: Hi, Jade, thanks for making time to speak with us. We have a few quick questions for you, which should help our readers get to know you a bit better. For starters, who is your favorite fighter?

Jade Bryce: Since I began with Bellator, I’ve always really loved Michael Chandler and the “Pitbull” brothers a lot, as well as Alexander Shlemenko. I also really like Douglas Lima and Ben Saunders, but yeah, my favorites have always been Shlemenko, “Pitbull” brothers, and Chandler. Oh! [Pat] Curran too. Which is weird because him and [Patricio] “Pitbull” are going to fight soon, so it’ll be a hard fight for me.

CP: For sure. Watching two of your favorite fighters punch each other in the face must be like torture to you. What about Ben Askren, do you think he’s going to defend his title successfully against Karl Amoussou?

JB: No.

CP: Wait, what?! You’re kidding, right? You might be the only person not from France to say that.

JB: I know, but I’m always the one to say, “I told you so.” Everyone else thought Eddie Alvarez was going to win against Chandler, but I had been saying for a year that Chandler was going to win. And no one believed me when it came to “Pitbull” or Chandler, and he has the belt now. I think Amoussou is going to do really well [in his fight against Askren.]

CP: Looks like we should start taking gambling advice from you. Speaking of gambling, you kind of rolled the dice choosing the career of a model/ring girl. What’s the best part of your job?

JB: The best part is that I have the best seat in the house. I’m an avid fan of MMA and have been since before I had the job. To be able to sit that close and see that much action is just so awesome for me. I’ve learned so much and become so close with the Bellator family that when one person leaves it breaks my heart. I’m with them more than I am at home, really. So, that’s the best part — that I have a new family and I get to travel.

CP: Sounds like a pretty sweet gig. What about the worst?

JB: The worst part is…you know, I love chocolate chip cookies. (laughing) So the worst part is self-discipline and staying in shape because in modeling there’s all these different looks and body shapes, but with being a ring girl, you have to have a gym body. You’ve always gotta be in shape, work out when you’re tired, and stuff like that. But I’m a very healthy person so at least that helps keep me in check. But even that isn’t really that big of a con because it’s stuff I would want in my life anyways.

CP: Not long ago, Brittney Palmer shed some light on her weight cutting routine before the fights. Is this something that you incorporate into your schedule as well?

JB: I’d be interested to know what she does for weight cutting because I am actually trying to drop like six pounds. (laughing) I’m an avid hiker. I have a steam room in my house. And I even have protein shakes for breakfast and lunch every day, so I feel really healthy, but I’d be interested in knowing what other healthy things you can do for weight cutting. I do try to limit liquids and similar things two days before the fights or any photo shoot. I don’t really have any routine besides hiking and eating super healthy. I don’t drink any soda or eat fried foods.

CP: That must be hard around the holidays.

JB: (laughing) It is! I let myself have one free day, which is Sunday — but I still don’t eat any fried foods. For me, I’m more into bbq ribs in my back yard.

CP: Sounds delicious. Just a couple more questions and we’ll let you get out of here. What does the future hold for women’s MMA in your opinion?

JB: I think we have so much amazing talent out there, but we just need more of it to be able to have tournaments. I love Jessica Aguilar and of course Ronda Rousey is stronger than dynamite. There’s just not enough women but the ones that we have are amazing. I say give it another year or two and it’ll be just as popular as men’s MMA.

CP: Our final question is of the utmost importance, what does Jade Bryce want for Christmas?

JB: I want all of your readers to go to my YouTube channel and watch my video of what I want for my birthday, which is in two weeks. I want to adopt a school and it costs $4,000. What happens is, approved kids who have free lunches are sent home with food so they have something to eat at dinner and on the weekends. Growing up, I didn’t have much and I know others that didn’t either. Starvation is so painful; it’s my mission to put a stop to it. Blessing in a Backpack is going to make that happen. Check out my video [Ed. Note: This one is nice too.] and it’ll explain what to do. I want to match everyone dollar for dollar — so $2,000 and $2,000 — and so far I’m half-way there. But I’ve only got two weeks left.

CP: That is one of the best causes to support and one of the most selfless things on any Christmas wish list this year. Thank you for being so gracious with your time and happy early birthday.

JB: Thank you!

Bellator 82: Musings From Press Row

By Jason Moles

This past Saturday, Bellator Fighting Championships came to Michigan for the first time in the promotion’s nearly four-year history with its 82nd event. It’s been said that you only get one chance to make a first impression, and I’m not sure this was what CEO Bjorn Rebney had in mind, despite the obligatory smile on his face. Don’t get me wrong, the night could have gone worse — but it could have also went so much better. But I’m just a hack “journalist,” so what do I know?

I know demand for Bellator’s Michigan debut was low. Although the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort was pretty full for the main card fights, it was by no means a packed house. This just wasn’t one of those ‘standing room only’ functions, which probably explains why one of the more popular local watering holes* didn’t show Bellator that night.

When asked about the decision in the hours leading up to the fights, the response from one of the employees was an apathetic “Because we’re just not.” Not one of their dozen or so TVs would be allowed to show the second largest mixed martial arts promotion. Not one. I wonder how much of this could have been prevented with a proper main event — you know, the kind where the two guys set to throw down are ones you’ve heard of before or maybe even seen on the cover of a magazine.

I also know that all MMA events are improved with at least one matchup featuring two “Let me bang, bro!” type of guys. And while I thoroughly enjoy a great display of BJJ and wrestling, watching two highly skilled ground specialists do their thing, not everyone shares my opinion.

By Jason Moles

This past Saturday, Bellator Fighting Championships came to Michigan for the first time in the promotion’s nearly four-year history with its 82nd event. It’s been said that you only get one chance to make a first impression, and I’m not sure this was what CEO Bjorn Rebney had in mind, despite the obligatory smile on his face. Don’t get me wrong, the night could have gone worse — but it could have also went so much better. But I’m just a hack “journalist,” so what do I know?

I know demand for Bellator’s Michigan debut was low. Although the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort was pretty full for the main card fights, it was by no means a packed house. This just wasn’t one of those ‘standing room only’ functions, which probably explains why one of the more popular local watering holes* didn’t show Bellator that night.

When asked about the decision in the hours leading up to the fights, the response from one of the employees was an apathetic “Because we’re just not.” Not one of their dozen or so TVs would be allowed to show the second largest mixed martial arts promotion. Not one. I wonder how much of this could have been prevented with a proper main event — you know, the kind where the two guys set to throw down are ones you’ve heard of before or maybe even seen on the cover of a magazine.

I also know that all MMA events are improved with at least one matchup featuring two “Let me bang, bro!” type of guys. And while I thoroughly enjoy a great display of BJJ and wrestling, watching two highly skilled ground specialists do their thing, not everyone shares my opinion.

What Doug Marshall did to the crowd at Bellator 82 when he viciously knocked Kala Hose unconscious can be likened to what a package of Mentos does to a bottle of Diet Coke. The place went nuts. Sure, there were other stoppages earlier in the evening, but you know how it is with fights on the undercard — empty seats abound. Impressively, this fight was on the televised portion of the card and was seen by tens of thousands thus preventing the frustration of having the KO of the Night come from a dark match. If there’s one thing Michiganders, or anyone watching on MTV2 for that matter, will remember from Bellator 82 it’s going to be the return of the “Rhino.”

*****

As hinted at earlier, Bellator needs better talent. This isn’t about quality vs. quantity or anything like that; it’s about the x-factor. Michael Chandler is a talented young champion, but little is known about the man who has yet to defend his title in the year he’s held the strap. Ben Askren is the definition of a dominant wrestler, but the undefeated champion is as crowd pleasing as Arianny Celeste on open mic night.

Seven seasons in and we’re still getting cards where fights like Lyman Good vs. Andrey Koreshkov masquerade as main events. Bellator FC’s biggest detractors argue they need bigger stars while others suggest having stars period would increase their ratings and live gate. With the departure of Hector Lombard and the inevitable parting of ways with Eddie Alvarez, Bellator is hurting for names to put on the marquee that interest casual fans — especially ones they can pronounce.

*****

Fans came. Fans saw. Fans bought tee shirts. Fans were treated to a moderately priced night of dudes punching each other in the face. Some cheered. Some booed. Some were indifferent. Some will look back fondly at the night they saw a few good fights with a few good friends. Maybe that’s exactly what the Bellator brass wanted.

I’m not sure what each fan thought of the show overall, but I hope what they saw Saturday night in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan is the potential Bellator has to make a major impact in the world of MMA. Beginning next month, Spike TV will be the new home of the Newport Beach based promotion and will increase the exposure of the company and its fighters. A larger platform located at a more favorable spot in the channel lineup is just the tip of the iceberg.

The fans in attendance might not have been aware of this, but if they hoped for just a little bit more that night — excitement, interesting fighters, storylines — then they must’ve noticed just how little it would’ve taken to make Bellator 82 on par with its UFC counterpart. Just like the Israelites on the shore of the Jordan River, the Promised Land is within reach.

Below are a few other notable things that I noticed on press row:

– Ben and I spotted two MMA celebs: Ken Pavia and Trevor Wittman.

– The crazy lady on the floor who kept screaming at one of the fighters in the main event turned out to be Lyman Good’s mom and she was featured in the picture-in-picture on the broadcast. Isn’t that spot reserved for whoever is fighting the winner?

– Speaking of Good, the dude couldn’t have picked a worse place to chill after his loss to Koreshkov. He showed up at the same shoddy bar we were at and the band played some of the most inopportune sad songs ever topped off by the worst cover of Chris Isaac’s ‘Wicked Game.”

– Dan Mirgliotta moonlights as a photographer for fights fans who weren’t turned gay after watching the fights as they lined up for a picture with ring girls Mercedes Terrell and Jade Bryce.

– Speaking of Jade, she gave me an interview that will be up later this week.

– Cornermen were prohibited from entering the cage in between rounds until after the cameramen had entered.

– During the final round of the main event, I realized that Ben Askren must have been at home watching the same fight, thinking to himself, “piece of cake!” Turns out, I was right.

* Name withheld, but try the prime rib.

Knockout of the Day: Doug Marshall Crushes Kala Hose in Twenty-Two Seconds at Bellator 82

It went completely under our radar, but former WEC Light-Heavyweight Doug Marshall made his Bellator debut at last night’s Bellator 82. There are three things you need to know about this fight:

1.) His opponent, Kala Hose, is apparently a big fan of the Big Buford and/or Kimo Leopoldo, if his tattoos are any indication.
2.) He entered the fight with a 7-5 record (including a loss to Mayhem Miller and a win over Phil Baroni), hadn’t fought in two years and was riding a three fight losing streak.
3.) Things went exactly as you’d assume they would.

By the way, Ben and Jason were at Bellator 82 last night, so expect some updates from them as soon as they’re back. Video and results after the jump.

It went completely under our radar, but former WEC Light-Heavyweight Doug Marshall made his Bellator debut at last night’s Bellator 82. There are three things you need to know about this fight:

1.) His opponent, Kala Hose, is apparently a big fan of the Big Buford and/or Kimo Leopoldo, if his tattoos are any indication.
2.) He entered the fight with a 7-5 record (including a loss to Mayhem Miller and a win over Phil Baroni), hadn’t fought in two years and was riding a three fight losing streak.
3.) Things went exactly as you’d assume they would.

By the way, Ben and Jason were at Bellator 82 last night, so expect some updates from them as soon as they’re back. Video and results after the jump.

Main Card Results
Andrey Koreshkov def. Lyman Good via unanimous decision (Season 7 Welterweight Tournament Final)
David Rickels def. Jason Fischer via unanimous decision
Doug Marshall def. Kala “Kolohe” Hose via KO (punch), 0:22 Round One
Alexander Sarnavskiy def. Tony Hervey via unanimous decision

Preliminary Card Results
John Schulz def. Hector Garcia via TKO (strikes), 2:45 Round Three
Jeremy Czarnecki def. Justin Houghton via unanimous decision
Terry Davinney def. Matt Van Buren via KO (punch), 0:15 Round One
Giva Santana def. Brendan Seguin via submission (kneebar), 2:33 Round Two
Shawn Bunch def. Chad Coon via unanimous decision
Mario Navarro def. Anthony Bain via submission (triangle), 3:18 Round Two