Tag: Bellator News

Bellator Veteran Jahreau Shepherd Stabbed To Death At His 30th Birthday Party

Jahreau ShepherdBellator veteran Jahreau Shepherd was murdered at his 30th birthday party on the Black Prince Estate in Kennington, London this past weekend. The welterweight fighter was at a barbecue with his family and friends on Saturday evening when he was attacked. Police officers and parademics tried to stop him bleeding but unfortunately was unable to save […]

Jahreau Shepherd

Bellator veteran Jahreau Shepherd was murdered at his 30th birthday party on the Black Prince Estate in Kennington, London this past weekend.

The welterweight fighter was at a barbecue with his family and friends on Saturday evening when he was attacked. Police officers and parademics tried to stop him bleeding but unfortunately was unable to save him. Shepherd was pronounced dead at the scene.  

Jeremy Petley, MMA coach at the London Fight Factory where Shepherd trained led the tributes to the late fighter, he said.

“Jay was a great friend, fighter, training partner, coach and team member, and his sense of humour, positive presence and wonderfully loud laugh will be very much missed.”

Shortly after Shepherd was murdered another man arrived at hospital with stab wounds. He is believed to have attended the same party. The 26-year-old is expected to survive his injuries and will hopefully be able to provide information to the ongoing murder investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Whellams, from the Met’s Specialist Crime, said: “A man has lost his life and a family has been left suffering unimaginable grief because of the callous use of a knife to inflict fatal injuries.

“I will do all I can to get justice for this family, and, along with colleagues from my homicide teams, I will use every available tactic to find whoever is responsible for this terrible attack.”

Shepherd had a professional record of 6-2. He made his lone Bellator appearance back in 2018 – it was just the second fight of his career. ‘The Nightmare’ picked up in a unaminous decision win over Marcin Zywica at Bellator 200. At the time of his death he was riding an impressive five-fight win streak. In February he picked up a decision win over Quinten DeVreught at Contenders Norwich 29.

Everyone at LowKickMMA sends our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Jahreau Shepherd at this difficult time.

Bellator’s Patricio Freire Calls For Fight With Alexander Volkanovski

Freire VolkanovskiBellator featherweight and lightweight champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire wants to test his abilities against Alexander Volkanovski. Volkanovski defended his featherweight title against Max Holloway at UFC 251 this past weekend after earning a controversial split decision verdict. Despite many observers thinking Holloway had done enough, two of the three judges saw it different as Volkanovski […]

Freire Volkanovski

Bellator featherweight and lightweight champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire wants to test his abilities against Alexander Volkanovski.

Volkanovski defended his featherweight title against Max Holloway at UFC 251 this past weekend after earning a controversial split decision verdict.

Despite many observers thinking Holloway had done enough, two of the three judges saw it different as Volkanovski now holds two wins over the Hawaiian. The question now turns to who he should face next.

There are a number of contenders waiting in line all looking to get the next shot. Former bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo has also spoken of coming out of retirement to face him next.

There’s even a non-UFC fighter looking to fight Volkanovski in Freire, who proposed the matchup on Sunday to Dana White as well as Bellator president Scott Coker.

“Let’s make MMA better. @BellatorMMA vs @ufc. Me vs @alexvolkanovski. I heard you’re a betting man @danawhite, let’s bet. Let’s go @ScottCoker”

Freire Wants To Prove He’s The Best

It’s not the first time Freire has challenged a UFC champion.

He did the same when Holloway was champion as he believed last year he had what it took to defeat him. He will likely fancy his chances even more against a more similar-sized Volkanovski.

That said, the chances of any cross promotional fight taking place is highly unlikely for the considerable future. So all we can do is speculate for now.

How do you see Volkanovski vs. Freire going?

Betting Odds For Jon Jones vs. Ryan Bader Rematch Released

Jones BaderBetting odds for a rematch between Jon Jones and Ryan Bader have been released. Jones has an uncertain future with the UFC amid his ongoing pay dispute with the promotion. With his back-and-forth spat with UFC president Dana White, the light heavyweight champion recently stated he was vacating his title and taking time away from […]

Jones Bader

Betting odds for a rematch between Jon Jones and Ryan Bader have been released.

Jones has an uncertain future with the UFC amid his ongoing pay dispute with the promotion. With his back-and-forth spat with UFC president Dana White, the light heavyweight champion recently stated he was vacating his title and taking time away from the sport.

He also previously called for the promotion to release him if it wasn’t ready to pay him what he’s worth. That led to speculation of Jones potentially fighting for another promotion outside the UFC.

In reality, it’s unlikely. Jones still has a contract — which according to White was signed just last year — and the UFC is unlikely to let him go just because he has demanded as such.

But if Jones could leave, the likely option would be Bellator — home of current two-weight champion Bader.

The pair first fought in the UFC in 2011 which saw “Bones” inflict Bader’s first-ever career defeat. Bader has since improved tenfold as a fighter and currently holds the light heavyweight and heavyweight titles at Bellator.

The fight to make then would be Jones vs. Bader II and potential opening odds have been released by Sports Interaction (via BestFightOdds).

Bader Open To Rematch With Jones

Jones is a -275 favorite which means you would have to bet $275 to make a $100 profit on him. Bader, meanwhile is a +200 underdog which means a $100 stake on him would earn you $200 in profit.

These odds aren’t surprising as Jones is still regarded by many to be the pound-for-pound best fighter on the planet — even if his last few fights have made him seem beatable according to Bader, who has repeatedly expressed his desire to have a rematch with the current UFC light heavyweight champion.

He even recently encouraged him to join Bellator so that they could run things back.

Again, it’s unlikely but this is a crazy sport.

What do you make of those odds?

Bellator Heavyweight Sergei Kharitonov Claims Mike Tyson Is ‘Juiced Up’

TysonBellator heavyweight Sergei Kharitonov believes Mike Tyson’s current shape at the age of 53 is a result of steroids. Tyson made headlines recently when footage of him hitting the pads went viral. Along with him being in top shape again, it sparked rumors of a comeback which Tyson would confirm himself as he looks to […]

Tyson

Bellator heavyweight Sergei Kharitonov believes Mike Tyson’s current shape at the age of 53 is a result of steroids.

Tyson made headlines recently when footage of him hitting the pads went viral. Along with him being in top shape again, it sparked rumors of a comeback which Tyson would confirm himself as he looks to return to action for a charity match.

He has since received a number of offers and callouts and Kharitonov is among many who would be open to potentially facing the boxing legend. But when it comes to Tyson’s shape, Kharitonov believes there’s no other explanation other than him being juiced up.

Not that he’s against it, however.

“He’s juiced up, but it’s fine. There won’t be any doping-control,” Kharitonov said in a recent interview (via RT). “He’s taken testosterone, and some kind of health products. There’s no resentment towards Tyson here for that. He’s 53 years old.

“How else could he have got into more or less top shape? Only on steroids, there’s no other option.”

Kharitonov is even more convinced based on his own experiences of taking performance enhancing drugs when he was in the army.

“Have I ever taken supplements? In the army yes. When everybody tried all different tablets,” he added. “In my third or fourth year, when everybody weight trained, my friends brought nandrolone. I injected myself, to look good, to have a good body. I remember my muscles were like rocks.

“I looked in the mirror and realized it wasn’t for me. I stopped dabbling in that and don’t intend to. First, it’s bad for you. Secondly it’s illegal [in sport].”

Do you agree with Kharitonov’s assessment?

Ryan Bader: Jon Jones No Longer ‘Untouchable’

Bader JonesBader: More Fighters Finding Success Against Jones Two-weight Bellator champion Ryan Bader believes UFC light heavyweight king Jon Jones has become more beatable in recent fights. Jones has endured underwhelming title defenses as of late. Although he clearly defeated Anthony Smith last year on his way to a unanimous decision, it wasn’t in impressive fashion. […]

Bader Jones

Bader: More Fighters Finding Success Against Jones

Two-weight Bellator champion Ryan Bader believes UFC light heavyweight king Jon Jones has become more beatable in recent fights.

Jones has endured underwhelming title defenses as of late. Although he clearly defeated Anthony Smith last year on his way to a unanimous decision, it wasn’t in impressive fashion.

An injured Thiago Santos then took Jones to his first split decision victory before Dominick Reyes took him to his limit in a highly-debated unanimous decision win for the champion which many feel he lost.

Bader — who suffered his first career defeat to Jones back in 2011 — has already expressed an interest in running things back. And that’s even more so the case now that “Bones” has seemingly lost his untouchable aura.

“Guys are coming up and they’re getting better but I think there is a big mental game,” Bader told Bloody Elbow. “Years and years ago, Jon Jones was untouchable. You couldn’t win a round against him. As you start seeing other people be successful, you stop walking out there like, ‘I can’t beat this guy.’ You start thinking, ‘I can definitely beat him. Look how close others have come. Why not me?’

“For me, I want that fight back because he’s the best. He’s the greatest effort. I feel like I’m in my absolute prime and I’m the best I’ve ever been.”

In reality, a rematch is unlikely given that Bader is the light heavyweight and heavyweight king at Bellator.

But perhaps now is as good a time as any for Francis Ngannou to face Jones in a super fight.

Do you agree with Bader? And how do you think he fares in a rematch with Jones?

Cris Cyborg: Dana White Never Respected Me

Cris CyborgCris Cyborg believes UFC president Dana White never respected her. Cyborg departed the UFC last year following a public spat with White which led to her release. She has since joined Bellator where she became the women’s featherweight champion in January following her impressive TKO win over Julia Budd. Reflecting on her time with the […]

Cris Cyborg

Cris Cyborg believes UFC president Dana White never respected her.

Cyborg departed the UFC last year following a public spat with White which led to her release. She has since joined Bellator where she became the women’s featherweight champion in January following her impressive TKO win over Julia Budd.

Reflecting on her time with the UFC, the Brazilian believes she never truly earned the respect of White before or after she joined the Las Vegas-based promotion.

“Before I went to the UFC, Dana White did not respect me,” Cyborg told MiddleEasy. “My fans put me (in the UFC). I think, with everything I did outside the UFC, before I went to the UFC I was already Cyborg. Everyone already knew me, everyone in the world knew who I am. I got the opportunity to fight in the UFC after this, but still they had problems.

“I always thought things were going to change. You know, maybe one day, if people met me in person, I thought that would change (their minds). But it didn’t change. I’m still doing my job. I fought before they had my division in the UFC. I fought at catchweight, and I had a lot of struggles but (support from my fans) made me keep going.”

Although things never improved relationship-wise with White, Cyborg has no regrets about her time with the UFC.

Instead, she is happy to have moved on and has no problems at Bellator where she already had a positive relationship with president Scott Coker from their Strikeforce days.

“I don’t know (where things went wrong with Dana White), and I don’t have to know,” Cyborg added. “I’m glad I worked with him, but it’s just business, you know? If he doesn’t like me personally or whatever, I’m not the first and I’m not the last one he’s had problems with. I’m just glad I don’t have to deal with this everyday anymore.

“(Scott Coker) treats his fighters different. You never see Scott blame any fighters online, or his team. You never see Bellator do that, because they know they need us for the events. The fighters make the events happen, and that deserves respect.”

What do you make of Cyborg’s latest comments?