Get an inside look at Bellator MMA’s reigning featherweight world champion and two-time tournament champion Pat Curran ahead of his title defense against Patricio Pitbull on January 17.
Get an inside look at Bellator MMA’s reigning featherweight world champion and two-time tournament champion Pat Curran ahead of his title defense against Patricio Pitbull on January 17.
Press Release – Newport Beach, CA. (December 31, 2012) – As Bellator MMA prepares for its highly anticipated January 17th debut on Spike TV, the promotion announced today The Toughest Tournament In Sports will feature a bracketed real sport tournament format throughout every weight class, allowing fighters and fans alike the chance to follow fighters […]
Press Release – Newport Beach, CA. (December 31, 2012) – As Bellator MMA prepares for its highly anticipated January 17th debut on Spike TV, the promotion announced today The Toughest Tournament In Sports will feature a bracketed real sport tournament format throughout every weight class, allowing fighters and fans alike the chance to follow fighters progress throughout the twelve week tournament.
“At Bellator, there’s never been a matchmaker sitting behind a desk in a shiny suit deciding who fights who for the title,” said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. “The origin of Bellator was to provide a seamless connection between real sports competition and mixed martial arts, and I believe we have taken that to the next level with a true tournament bracket format.”
Emanating from California’s Bren Center in Irvine on January 17th, Bellator Featherweight World Champion Pat Curran defends his title against explosive knockout artist Patricio Pitbull, while Bellator Lightweight World Champion Michael Chandler battles former Olympian Rick Hawn in their highly anticipated Bellator Championship showdown. Tickets for the event are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and can be purchased at the Bren Center Box Office.
The night will also host the start of the Light Heavyweight Tournament, featuring the Bellator debut of decorated MMA veteran Renato “Babalu” Sobral, who will battle Russian submission ace Mikhail Zayats.
The always colorful Seth Petruzelli returns to Bellator after a year away from the cage as “The Silverback” is looking to lock up his spot in the Bellator Tournament Semifinals with a victory over Tennessee’s own Jacob Noe. Holding an impressive 10-1 record in his young MMA career, Noe collected an explosive TKO victory at Bellator 73 and will face the biggest test of his career when he battles Petruzelli on January 17th.
“There is a burning rage inside me ready to explode up out of me, and all over my opponent,” Petruzelli said. “Jacob will be covered in my rage. If you’re sitting in the front row be careful, because no one is safe from my rage.”
California’s own “Hardcore Kid” Emanuel Newton will get another shot at tournament glory when he takes on Bulgaria’s Atanas Djambazov. After falling to eventual Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Champion Attila Vegh in a close split decision, Newton is eager to get back inside the Bellator cage.
“Southern California has always been home to me, so to be fighting in Irvine under the Bellator banner is a huge honor for me,” Newton said. “I love this organization, and to have another chance in the tournament is all I could ask for. I feel like I was robbed in my last fight, so this tournament is all about redemption for me. This is an incredibly tough division, and I’m ready for the challenge that starts January 17th on Spike.”
The tournament will be rounded out by MMA superstar “King Mo” Lawal, who battles the dangerous Przemyslaw Mysiala on January 24th from WinStar World Casino.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator
About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is the world’s largest tournament based Mixed Martial Arts organization. Televised to nearly 500 Million homes worldwide in over 107 countries, Bellator’s majority owner is entertainment giant Viacom. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, the MMA television leader. With over 150 world-class athletes under contract, Bellator is home to many of the sport’s top mixed martial artists. Bellator’s founder & CEO, Bjorn Rebney, an experienced fighting sports and entertainment executive with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator’s core philosophy is that title shots should be earned, not given. This belief gave rise to Bellator’s real sport, tournament-based format, which gives Bellator’s tournaments a true playoff feel that keeps the sport true and distances itself from the subjective side of fighting sports found in organizations that utilize a matchmaking/casting formula. Bellator Fighting Championships’ executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Newport Beach, California.
About Spike TV:
Spike TV is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.
About mun2
mun2 is the leading Hispanic cable network for young millennial adults 18-34. From reality to music, on-air to digital, mun2 creates original content that resonates across a multi-screen platform. Young, vibrant and unabashedly Latino, mun2 has a distribution to over 38 million households. The network is part of Telemundo Media, a division of NBCUniversal.
The recent troubles for British welterweight Paul ‘Semtex’ Daley (30-12-2) continue as the fighter posted an update on his Facebook page stating that the Bellator promotion is attempting to stop him from competing at a Cage Contender event in Ireland this coming February. ‘Semtex’ had been scheduled to appear in Bellator’s Season Eight welterweight tournament […]
Paul 'Semtex' Daley
The recent troubles for British welterweight Paul ‘Semtex’ Daley (30-12-2) continue as the fighter posted an update on his Facebook page stating that the Bellator promotion is attempting to stop him from competing at a Cage Contender event in Ireland this coming February.
‘Semtex’ had been scheduled to appear in Bellator’s Season Eight welterweight tournament but issues with his visa are preventing him from making the trip in January. A decision is expected to come in April, so in the meanwhile Daley had been looking to earn a paycheck with local promotions until he received a notice from Bellator.
(Paul Daley) Has received a legal document from Bellator this morning, signed by Bellator CEO, Bjorn Rebney and Legal representatives of the promotion.
Despite, Bellator being aware of a legal matter preventing me from obtaining a P-1 visa to compete in the USA, and therefore making it unable for me to fulfill certain terms of my contract, Its seems as though they are attempting to stop me from earning a living while awaiting a decision that is out of my control, and is not expected until Late April 2013.
This situation has been developing daily, since Oct 2012 with back and forth emails between myself, my management and Bellator representatives (including Bjorn, and Talent relations officer Sam Caplan, to name a few)
I would like to offer full disclosure to the MMA MEDIA. Feel free to contact me here, on my facebook.
Paul “Semtex” Daley
Daley was to headline Cage Contender XVI which is expected to take place on February 23, 2013 at the National Basketball Arena in Dublin, Ireland. No opponent had been named at this time.
British welterweight Paul ‘Semtex’ Daley (30-12-1) will not make his Bellator debut this coming January as part of the promotions Season Eight Welterweight Tournament as planned. The fighter was unable to secure a Visa in time and will have to wait until late April before he can have one issued. This according to ‘Semtex’ who […]
Paul 'Semtex' Daley
British welterweight Paul ‘Semtex’ Daley (30-12-1) will not make his Bellator debut this coming January as part of the promotions Season Eight Welterweight Tournament as planned.
The fighter was unable to secure a Visa in time and will have to wait until late April before he can have one issued. This according to ‘Semtex’ who posted the news on his Facebook page, in the statement he also denied allegations which surfaced over the past few days that he was arrested for involvement in a bar brawl.
It’s seems as though a mass press release has gone out to the MMA media, stating I was involved in a bar brawl, arrested, and cannot obtain a P-1 visa to compete in the USA.
…I am currently awaiting a decision on my visa, which is not expected until late April. Which means i am unable to compete in the season 8 Bellator tournament, as it starts in January.
I will be fighting in Europe in the coming months, so I am able to stay active while awaiting a decision on my visa status.
I was not involved in a bar brawl. This is 100% a false statement.
This is a small blessing for Bellator fans who had voted to pit Daley against War Machine (Jon Koppenhaver) in the opening round. Unfortunately for fans, War Machine was forced out of the tournament with a shoulder injury. Now the two can be rescheduled for Season nine.
Following two straight losses inside the Bellator cage the promotions first bantamweight champion Zach ‘Fun Size’ Makovsky (14-4) has parted ways with the Chicago based promotion. Makovsky confirmed the news on Twitter (@ZachFunSize) on Saturday. – Honestly shocked but thank you for the opportunity @BellatorMMA @BjornRebney – @TheIanBain yes released…but as every door closes, new […]
Bellator Bantamweight Champ Zach Makovsky
Following two straight losses inside the Bellator cage the promotions first bantamweight champion Zach ‘Fun Size’ Makovsky (14-4) has parted ways with the Chicago based promotion.
Makovsky confirmed the news on Twitter (@ZachFunSize) on Saturday.
– Honestly shocked but thank you for the opportunity @BellatorMMA @BjornRebney
– @TheIanBain yes released…but as every door closes, new ones (maybe better ones) open!
‘Fun Size’ fought earlier this month at Bellator 83, losing a split decision to underdog fighter Anthony Leone at the New Jersey event. It was Makovsky’s second straight after losing the title earlier this year at Bellator 65. At the April show, Makovsky was choked unconscious by current champ Eduardo Dantas in the MTV2 broadcasted main event. The bout marked Makovsky’s first title defense.
Previous to those losses Makovsky had won eight straight including six under the Bellator banner.
He debuted at Bellator 21 in June 2010, qualifying for the Season Three tournament. Makovsky would then go on to defeat Nick Mamalis and then Bryan Goldsby to make it into the finals to compete for the inaugural Bellator bantamweight title. At Bellator 32 in October 2010, ‘Fun Size’ would win a decision over Ed West to become Bellator’s first 135-lbs title holder.
Press Release – Newport Beach, CA. (December 22nd, 2012) – After an incredibly successful Bellator debut at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, Bellator MMA will return to Mount Pleasant, Michigan on January 31st for the premiere event of the $100,000 Lightweight Tournament Championship, featuring Brazilian Knockout artist Patricky Pitbull, Lloyd “Cupcake” Woodard and David “The […]
Press Release – Newport Beach, CA. (December 22nd, 2012) – After an incredibly successful Bellator debut at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, Bellator MMA will return to Mount Pleasant, Michigan on January 31st for the premiere event of the $100,000 Lightweight Tournament Championship, featuring Brazilian Knockout artist Patricky Pitbull, Lloyd “Cupcake” Woodard and David “The Caveman” Rickels. Tickets for the event are on sale now and are available at StarTickets.com, Bellator.com and The Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Box Office. Tickets are priced from $20-$65.
The event will broadcast LIVE starting at 10 p.m. EST on Spike, as well as in Spanish language on mun2. The preliminary card will be streamed LIVE and FREE on Spike.com starting at 8 p.m. EST.
After a convincing win in front of a raucous Soaring Eagle crowd, “The Caveman” returns as David Rickels is set for an opening round showdown against Lloyd “Cupcake” Woodard. Two of the most explosive lightweights in the division, both men have their sights set on a tournament crown and the $100,000 payday that awaits the winner.
“This is just nasty matchup that’s going to be a war,” Rickels said. “Cupcake is a guy that likes to throw down, and come right at you, and like you saw in my fight against Amoussou, I don’t get intimidated by anyone, and certainly not by a guy named cupcake.”
“All I can say is the mountain man from Montana is going to come to Michigan and show this “Caveman” a mountain main ass whooping,” Woodard said. “Fighting on Spike is going to be an incredible experience, and I just can’t wait to get back into that Bellator cage, and make a run through this tournament.”
In possibly the most intriguing tournament matchup featured, knockout artist and world class kickboxer Thiago Michel is back with Bellator and set to battle the 21-1 Russian phenom “Tiger” Sarnavskiy. Both competitors are coming off recent victories, and are primed to keep the momentum going in Bellator’s stacked Lightweight Tournament.
After engaging in one of the most highly anticipated fights of 2012 with lightweight contender Eddie Alvarez, Patricky Pitbull is back and set to battle Montreal native Guillaume DeLorenzi in quarterfinal action. DeLorenzi impressed Bellator brass with a dominating submission victory last year and “IL Toro” is ready for his first taste of tournament action on January 31st.
The preliminary card will be featured by Central Michigan alum and rising star Jason “The Finisher” Fischer. The Michigan native suffered a tough luck loss at the hands of Rickels last year, but at only 27, the sky is limit for the promising lightweight.
“To have the chance to fight again in front of friends, family and fans is a dream come true,” Fischer said. “I wasn’t happy with my first performance, and I’ve got my eyes on a big win in front of the Soaring Eagle crowd.”
“Our first event at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort was a tremendous success, so we made it a point to get back to Michigan as quickly as we could,” said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. “This Lightweight Tournament live on Spike is stacked with some of the sport’s most exciting finishers, so I expect another night of great fights and a packed arena.”
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator
About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is the world’s largest tournament based Mixed Martial Arts organization. Televised to nearly 500 Million homes worldwide in over 107 countries, Bellator’s majority owner is entertainment giant Viacom. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, the MMA television leader. With over 150 world-class athletes under contract, Bellator is home to many of the sport’s top mixed martial artists. Bellator’s founder & CEO, Bjorn Rebney, an experienced fighting sports and entertainment executive with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator’s core philosophy is that title shots should be earned, not given. This belief gave rise to Bellator’s real sport, tournament-based format, which gives Bellator’s tournaments a true playoff feel that keeps the sport true and distances itself from the subjective side of fighting sports found in organizations that utilize a matchmaking/casting formula. Bellator Fighting Championships’ executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Newport Beach, California.
About Spike TV:
Spike TV is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.
About mun2
mun2 is the leading Hispanic cable network for young millennial adults 18-34. From reality to music, on-air to digital, mun2 creates original content that resonates across a multi-screen platform. Young, vibrant and unabashedly Latino, mun2 has a distribution to over 38 million households. The network is part of Telemundo Media, a division of NBCUniversal.
