Tag: Bellator FC

(Press Release)

CHICAGO, Ill. (October 14, 2010) – Huntington Beach-based knockout artist “Razor” Rob McCullough has signed an exclusive contract with Bellator Fighting Championships and will compete in the upcoming Bellator Season 4 Lightweight Tournament. The former WEC Lightweight Champion enters the promotion riding a two-fight win streak and boasts a professional record of 19-6, with 10 of those wins coming via KO or TKO. The fan favorite, due to his consistently entertaining performances, holds impressive victories over Rich Crunkilton, Nam Pham, Marcus Hicks, and most recently, UFC veteran Corey Hill.

“Razor Rob is a dangerous lightweight with championship experience who has consistently displayed an ability to end fights throughout his career,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “If you are a fan of the Lightweight division in MMA, you’ve got to be a fan of Razor’s. I’m looking forward to watching him compete in our Season 4 Lightweight Tournament.”

There is no question that it was McCullough’s life outside of the cage that made him the fighter he is today. Leaving home at age 14, he spent a large part of his adolescence on the streets of Huntington Beach, bouncing from friend’s couches and getting involved with gangs.

“I grew up with a pretty crazy family life as a kid. I separated from my family at a fairly young age,” said McCullough. “I ended up telling my Mom that I was going to the beach, and I packed my bags, knowing that I wasn’t coming back. I ended up getting mixed up in a lot of gang stuff after I left home.”

However, “Razor” eventually found security and guidance in a local kickboxing gym where he started training in 1995.

“I started thinking to myself, ‘Dude, this is not the road I pictured my life going down.’ I was packing knives and fighting all the time, and I was just like, ‘Man, this sucks.’ That’s when I started training kickboxing. Shortly after that I hooked up with Tito Ortiz, who was fighting for the UFC in its early stages, and just totally dedicated myself to training,” said McCullough. “I absolutely feel like martial arts saved my life.”

McCullough went 35-2 in his amateur kickboxing career, eventually transitioning to training MMA fulltime and going pro in 2001. McCullough rose quickly in the sport. By 2007 he amassed an eight fight win streak, eventually capturing the WEC Lightweight title. However, after winning the belt the dangerous striker admittedly lost focus and motivation, going 2-3 in his next five fights.

“I never grew up with a silver spoon in my mouth, and then all of a sudden I started making some money after becoming successful in my fighting career,” said McCullough. “I was going to clubs all the time…flying to Tokyo…hanging out at the Playboy Mansion and next thing I knew, I was completely and totally distracted from my career as a professional mixed martial artist.”

A year and a half ago McCullough felt himself losing grip on his life again and decided it was time to make a change, he has been clean and sober since that time. Getting married and having a little boy all within the last year, McCullough has found himself with a new dedication and drive for the sport.

“Before I was fighting just because I loved to do it and I couldn’t believe I was getting paid to do what I love, but now it’s a lot more serious,” said McCullough. “The guy that I’m fighting is trying to take food off my kid’s table. It’s entirely different now. I’ve found a new focus and a new motivation, so I’m ready to get in there and get buck wild in Bellator.”

“I’m really glad to be part of a promotion as great as Bellator. I’m ready to get back to work, and finish fights. Getting in the cage and being able to mix it up with the best of the best is what I’m in this sport for. I’ve been doing this for 15 years for a reason, and it’s to test myself against the best competition in the world. I’ll be able to do that at Bellator,” said McCullough.

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.

Press Release

CHICAGO, IL. (October 14, 2010) – Bellator Fighting Championships has officially signed European phenom Marcin Held to its growing list of impressive lightweight fighters. At only18 years of age, Marcin comes to Bellator with an impressive 10-1 professional record, including victories over opponents twice his age.

“We have been watching Marcin for over a year and are thrilled to be able to welcome him to Bellator,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “He is a prodigy in every sense of the word and a tremendous addition to our lightweight division.”

A native of Poland, Held began his MMA journey at the age of nine, where he first stumbled upon the gym he would eventually call home. Held began to study Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and observers quickly realized the sky was the limit for the young phenom. Hype began to build for Held, even being referred to as “the prodigy of Polish MMA”. Even with the buzz, Held has kept his priorities in check.

“I train 2-3 times a day seven days a week,” said Held. “I go to school, and after school I go to train. Sometimes it’s before school as well. My mother has been very supportive, and has helped me in my training.”

Held currently trains with Team Draculino at the Gracie Barra gym in Poland where he sharpens his already highly impressive Jiu-Jitsu skills. In fact, the 18 year old is fresh off of a submission victory over 27 year-old Bojan Kosednar just five days ago in Poland. Held also holds an impressive victory over Brazilian veteran submission specialist Jean Silva. Five of Held’s 10 wins in the cage have come via submission.

Dedication and discipline have kept Held on the fast track to becoming an MMA star. The next step in that process is bringing Held to the U.S. to make his North American debut. The prospect of fighting in the U.S. and for a promotion like Bellator isn’t something lost on the young Pole.

“Bellator is very impressive,” said Held. “The tournament format is very interesting, and it will be a great start for me to show myself to the USA fans.”

Marcin will make his promotional debut in Bellator’s Season Four Lightweight Tournament.

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.

Press Release

CHICAGO, IL. (October 7, 2010) – Bellator Fighting Championships today officially announced a Welterweight Special Feature Fight between dangerous Bellator veteran Ryan “The Tank Engine” Thomas and dynamic ground specialist “Judo” Jim Wallhead at Bellator 32, which will take place at the Kansas City Power & Light District on October 14th.

“Wallhead did not get to compete in our Season 2 tournament due to volcanic ash in Europe, so we’re glad to get him to the states during Season 3 for a fight with the always-entertaining Ryan Thomas,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney.

Thomas (11-5) enters the fight looking for redemption after falling to Season 2 Welterweight Tournament Champion Ben “Funky” Askren both in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. “The Tank Engine” was awarded a second chance in the tournament, consequently taking Wallhead’s spot, after a controversial stoppage loss to Askren in the quarterfinals. While Thomas is ready for a new opponent, he hasn’t forgotten about Askren, and looks at this fight with Wallhead as a path to possibly redeeming himself against the decorated former Olympian sometime in the future.

“After my last loss to Askren, it really left a bad taste in my mouth and made me change my game and really commit to the sport,” said Thomas. “I would love to take out Jim in this fight, get a chance to compete in the Season 4 Welterweight Tournament, and get another shot at Ben.”

Before he gets too far ahead of himself, Thomas has a very tough competitor standing in his way in Kansas City. Calling England home, Wallhead (19-5) enters the fight riding an impressive seven fight win streak. Making only his second appearance state side, Wallhead still has a lot to prove.

“In my only other fight in America, I lost a tough one, so I’m really excited to put on a good show in front of the fans,” said Wallhead. “I’ve grown a lot since that last fight, and hopefully fans see that.”

With both fighters entering this showdown with something to prove, fight fans will be certainly be the winners during this explosive welterweight special feature.

“I would love to end this fight by TKO or submission, but I’ll take what I can get in a fight like this,” said Wallhead. “One thing I do know for sure is that this fight will be a war.”

Tickets for Bellator 32 are available at www.Ticketmaster.com.
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.