Tag: Bellator FC

Press Release – CHICAGO, Ill. (February 11, 2011) – Bellator Fighting Championships today announced Bellator veteran and submission specialist Anthony “The Recipe” Lapsley will replace an injured Steve Carl in the highly anticipated Season 4 Welterweight Tournament, airing LIVE on MTV2 this March.

Lapsley is now slated to meet UFC and Strikeforce veteran Jay “The Thoroughbred” Hieron in quarterfinal action at Bellator 35 on March 5, 2011 at the Tachi Palace Casino & Resort in Lemoore, CA.

“The Recipe” joins Bellator riding a four fight win streak, including a dominant submission victory at Bellator 7 against Ryan Williams. Currently holding an impressive 19-4 record with 13 submissions and 3 knockouts to his credit, Lapsley also holds a notable TKO victory over fellow Bellator Season 4 Welterweight Tournament fighter Brent Weedman.

“While the Steve Carl injury was devastating to hear, I’m excited for the opportunity Anthony is getting with Bellator,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney.

A former Indiana State Wrestling Champion and a proud father of eight children, Lapsley fully understands the signifigance of this once in a lifetime opportunity, stating, “This is what I’ve been waiting on my entire career. I’ve been waiting for the opportunity to make some good money, for one, and also to finally get the recognition I deserve. I’ve put in some work in the game and I’ve been through my struggles and ups and downs, but I feel like I’m ready to take it to the next level and make it happen for the family. Winning this tournament is going to change my life, and change my kids lives.”

While Lapsley understands he’s entering this tournament with the chips stacked against him, he’s excited about the opportunity to upset a fighter he holds a tremendous amount of respect for.

“Jay [Hieron] is actually a fighter I’ve always enjoyed watching, I just never thought I’d have the opportunity to fight him,” said Lapsley. “It’s going to be a war. It’s going to be a war because I’m going to make it a war. He’s been on some big shows and fought some really tough guys, but it’s my turn now.”

“If Jay looks past me for a second, he’s going to lose. I plan on him losing anyway, but if he makes the mistake of looking past me, he’s going to get caught, in the worst way.”

Lapsley joins “Judo” Jim Wallhead, Rick Hawn, Jay Hieron, Dan Hornbuckle, Brent Weedman, Lyman Good, and Chris “The Assassin” Lozano as confirmed fighters for the Bellator Season 4 Welterweight Tournament, all of which will compete LIVE on MTV2 for the chance at $100,000 and a shot at Bellator Welterweight World Champion Ben Askren.

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator

About Bellator Fighting Championships

Bellator Fighting Championships is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company headquartered in Chicago. Bellator’s founder/CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment professional with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator Fighting Championships’ executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in the areas of live event production, television production, fighter relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.

About MTV2

MTV2 is a man’s best friend, available in nearly 80 million homes and with the highest concentration of males 12-24 and 12-34 on TV today. A vibrant mix of music, lifestyle and action sports programming, MTV2 has reflected the habits and behavior of young people since its launch in 1996. MTV2 is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom, one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.

Press Release – CHICAGO, Ill. (February 9, 2011) – Judo Olympian Ferrid “Hurricane” Kheder was days away from competing in the Bellator Season 2 Lightweight Tournament when he felt a sharp pain on the right side of his abdomen. Doctors later confirmed Kheder’s worst fear; he had come down with appendicitis and required surgery, subsequently forcing him out of the tournament. Now with all ailments behind him, Kheder will have a second chance at glory. Bellator Fighting Championships today confirmed his participation in the Season 4 Lightweight Tournament which will begin this March, airing LIVE on MTV2.

“Hurricane” brings an solid 18-5-1 professional record into the tournament and is riding a five-fight win-streak. Currently training out of King’s MMA in Huntington Beach, California alongside Mark Munoz, Fabricio Werdum and Jason “Mayhem” Miller, Keder has notched impressive finishes in 15 of his 18 victories as a professional.

“As a former Olympian, Ferrid brings dangerous grappling skills to this tournament. I’m looking forward to seeing Ferrid finally make his Bellator debut this season,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney.

Although Kheder is now a 24-fight MMA veteran, Judo is where he excelled early in life. Getting his start in Judo at just 4-years-old, Kheder’s Judo accolades include a black belt, five European Judo Championships, seven Judo World Cup medals, and most impressively an appearance at the 2000 Olympics where he represented France.

Now as a mixed martial artist, Kheder is focused on only one thing.

“I’m absolutely determined to win this tournament. I think I’m one of the best in the world when I have the proper training and I’m fully prepared,” said Kheder. “I have three fights to win in this tournament, and then I’ll have the opportunity to fight for the title against one of the best lightweights in the world. I know this is a really huge opportunity for me.”

Kheder joins Rob McCullough, Carey Vanier, Michael Chandler, and Lloyd Woodard as confirmed fighters for the Bellator Season 4 Lightweight Tournament all which will compete for the chance at $100,000 and a shot at Bellator Lightweight World Champion Eddie Alvarez.

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator

About Bellator Fighting Championships

Bellator Fighting Championships is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company headquartered in Chicago. Bellator’s founder/CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment professional with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator Fighting Championships’ executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in the areas of live event production, television production, fighter relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.

About MTV2

MTV2 is a man’s best friend, available in nearly 80 million homes and with the highest concentration of males 12-24 and 12-34 on TV today. A vibrant mix of music, lifestyle and action sports programming, MTV2 has reflected the habits and behavior of young people since its launch in 1996. MTV2 is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom, one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.

Press Release – CHICAGO, Ill. (February 9, 2011) – Bellator Fighting Championships continues to add to its impressive lightweight roster, recently confirming the addition of undefeated submission finisher Lloyd “Cupcake” Woodard to the upcoming Season 4 Tournament, which airs LIVE on MTV2 starting in March. The fast-rising Montana native will not only have a chance to compete for a $100,000 payday, but a title shot against current Bellator World Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez is also on the line.

Following a promising wrestling career in high school, “Cupcake” began to frequent a local boxing gym before ultimately settling on what he considers to be his destiny, mixed martial arts. Making his way to the professional circuit with thirteen victories as an amateur, Woodard has put together an unblemished record of 10-0 with 8 finishes to his credit, including six in the first round.

“I’m ready to go out there and do what I love to do, which is fight hard and fight the best guys that are out there,” said Woodard. “I’m a really big fan of Eddie Alvarez and I would love to fight him. That would be a real step up. It would be like fighting my idol, so I plan on winning this tournament so I can fight him.”

With his sights admittedly set on Alvarez and his Bellator World Championship belt, Woodward knows he can’t look too far ahead, as the lightweight tournament is loaded with talent eager to cash in on the $100,000 prize.

“It doesn’t matter who I fight in the first round of this tournament,” Woodard said. “I’m pretty sure they’re going to be a really tough fighter, so that’s what I’m preparing for. I just can’t wait to get in that cage and show people what I can do. Every time I fight, more and more people are able to see me in exciting fights. The more I fight, the more people will see me, and the longer I’ll be able to compete in this sport.”

Woodard joins “Razor” Rob McCullough, Carey Vanier, and Michael Chandler as confirmed participants in the upcoming Lightweight Tournament scheduled to air LIVE on MTV2.

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator

About Bellator Fighting Championships

Bellator Fighting Championships is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company headquartered in Chicago. Bellator’s founder/CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment professional with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator Fighting Championships’ executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in the areas of live event production, television production, fighter relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.

About MTV2

MTV2 is a man’s best friend, available in nearly 80 million homes and with the highest concentration of males 12-24 and 12-34 on TV today. A vibrant mix of music, lifestyle and action sports programming, MTV2 has reflected the habits and behavior of young people since its launch in 1996. MTV2 is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom, one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.

Press Release – CHICAGO, Ill. (February 3, 2011) -Bellator Fighting Championships today confirmed the addition of Bellator Season 2 Semifinalist Carey Vanier to its upcoming Season 4 Lightweight Tournament, airing LIVE on MTV2 starting March 5th. Vanier will be looking to carry the momentum from an impressive victory over dangerous UFC veteran Rich “No Love” Clementi at Bellator 28 (Watch Here: http://bit.ly/ggXrBz) into the Bellator Season 4 Lightweight Tournament for a chance at a check for $100,000 and a shot at Bellator World Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez.

“Carey’s been really impressive during his time with Bellator and constantly shows drastic improvements in his game. His victory over Rich in Season #3 was a strong showing over a great fighter. Carey’s a significant addition to our Lightweight Tournament,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney.

Fighting out of Greg Jackson’s Training Center with the likes of Donald Cerrone, Clay Guida and Melvin Guillard, Vanier (10-3, 2-1 BFC) is completely focused on winning this Lightweight Tournament and getting his shot at current Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez.

“I’ve been here at Greg Jackson’s in New Mexico since October and I’m not going home until I win this tournament,” said Vanier. “My confidence is at an all-time high right now – not because of my recent win over [Rich] Clementi – but because of my training partners and what I’ve been doing for the last six months. The coach has got me doing some really incredible stuff. He’s really opened up my game and I’m starting to see and approach things differently. I’m really excited to go out there and put all that I’ve learned to the test.”

Before he got into fighting full time, Vanier spent his days working as a manager at Best Buy, providing for his young son. While the drive to provide a better future for his family will always present for Vanier, he now finds the bulk of his motivation from an enirely different source – his desire to be considered the best.

“It’s not about money for me anymore, it’s about me having fun and fighting for a living,” said Vanier. “I love being an MMA fighter. I love being in the spotlight. I love people being able to see me doing what I love to do. I could have stuck with being a manager at Best Buy and then went on to college and still provided for my family, but I enjoy fighting, and I enjoy competition. At the core, that hunger for competition will always been the biggest motivating force that drives me.”

Vanier joins “Razor” Rob McCullough as the other confirmed participant in the Lightweight Tournament scheduled to air LIVE on MTV2.

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator

About Bellator Fighting Championships

Bellator Fighting Championships is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company headquartered in Chicago. Bellator’s founder/CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment professional with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator Fighting Championships’ executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in the areas of live event production, television production, fighter relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.

About MTV2

MTV2 is a man’s best friend, available in nearly 80 million homes and with the highest concentration of males 12-24 and 12-34 on TV today. A vibrant mix of music, lifestyle and action sports programming, MTV2 has reflected the habits and behavior of young people since its launch in 1996. MTV2 is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom, one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.

Press Release – CHICAGO, Ill. (February 3, 2011) – Bellator Fighting Championships today announced the signing of seven-time UFC veteran Ben “Killa B” Saunders to its already stacked welterweight roster. Although Saunders will not participate in the upcoming Welterweight Tournament, “Killa B” will make his Bellator debut during Season 4. Bellator Season 4 airs LIVE on MTV2 beginning Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 9 pm.

“Ben Saunders is an exciting, powerful welterweight with explosive knockout power. Ben’s dangerous and always shows up to fight. I’m excited to see his first fight under the Bellator banner on MTV2 in April.” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney.

A veteran of the sixth season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Saunders enters Bellator with a 9-3 professional record, with eight of his nine victories coming by way of knockout, TKO or submission. “Killa B” holds notable victories during his time spent in the UFC over the likes of Marcus “The Irish Hand Grenade” Davis, Bellator veteran Ryan Thomas, and Brandon Wolff. In his last outing, Saunders scored a decisive first-round submission due to strikes over Elijah Harshbarger last November. With momentum and a wealth of experience on his side, Saunders is eager to face any and all in his path.

“I’m here to test myself against anyone that they throw against me,” said Saunders. “I want to be the best. I want to be a champion, and that’s my goal. I’m here to kick some ass, make some money, and take a belt along the way.”

Long before he was recognized as a world class mixed martial artist, Saunders struggled to find a support network for his dream of fighting professionally. At just 14 years of age Saunders took a job at McDonalds to finance his martial arts training. Soon after graduating from high school, the Florida-native found a local gym online which was located in Orlando. Saunders convinced his family that he was attending classes in a community college when in reality he was spending the majority of his time training. However, it was the lack of support and negativity from his family and teachers that motivated Saunders to push further in the sport.

“My car broke down, so I lost my job and I was getting ready to get evicted from my apartment. At one point my family hit me up and they were so negative, they were like, ‘What the are you doing trying to do this fight thing? You’re not making any money! You need to go to college! You need to get a real job!’ I was just like, ‘I have a point to prove – Don’t tell me I can or can’t do something’,” said Saunders

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator

About Bellator Fighting Championships

Bellator Fighting Championships is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company headquartered in Chicago. Bellator’s founder/CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment professional with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator Fighting Championships’ executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in the areas of live event production, television production, fighter relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.

About MTV2

MTV2 is a man’s best friend, available in nearly 80 million homes and with the highest concentration of males 12-24 and 12-34 on TV today. A vibrant mix of music, lifestyle and action sports programming, MTV2 has reflected the habits and behavior of young people since its launch in 1996. MTV2 is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom, one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.