Tag: Bellator News

Paul Daley vs. Michael ‘Venom’ Page Finally Set – But Not For UK

The long-awaited Paul Daley vs. Michael ‘Venom’ Page fight is finally scheduled. However, it may not be taking place where you’d expect it to. According to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Daley vs. Page will take place on February 16, 2019, from the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut: Breaking: Per sources, the long awaited Bellator grudge match […]

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The long-awaited Paul Daley vs. Michael ‘Venom’ Page fight is finally scheduled. However, it may not be taking place where you’d expect it to.

According to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Daley vs. Page will take place on February 16, 2019, from the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut:

The announcement is a bit surprising given that both Daley and ‘Venom’ Page are British. The two flashy strikers are arguably at the top of the UK’s short list of true MMA stars.

Okamoto reported that the fight was considered for the UK, and many indeed wanted it to be. But with multiple considerations being taken into place, it was ultimately booked for the US. It will air live in the UK:

Overall, the fight has been talked about for years. It’s finally here and will feature what will certainly be colorful trash talk-filled buildup between the two top stars.

The promotion avoids having it air on tape delay in the US. Did Bellator get it right by booking the fight for the States?

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Rory MacDonald Admits He Didn’t Fight Hard Against Gegard Mousasi

Rory MacDonald opens up his lack of fire against Gegard Mousasi.

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Rory MacDonald admits that he didn’t fight hard when he attempted to make history. The former UFC star challenged Gegard Mousasi for the middleweight strap. He had the chance to become the first fighter ever in Bellator to hold two titles in two different weight classes.

In the main event of Bellator 206 at the SAP Center in San Jose, California on DAZN, Mousasi scored a TKO win in the second round to retain his middleweight title over MacDonald.

The Bellator champ talked about the loss on The Ariel Helwani MMA Show. In this interview, he stated that he didn’t have the desire to fight hard which led to a disappointing performance.

“I feel like I didn’t go in, I didn’t prepare myself properly the way I usually do. I think I had too many distractions and I just wasn’t focused. I didn’t have the fire in my veins like I usually do,” said Rory. “I just need to train harder next time. Be more focused on the fight and not things in my life as much. Compared to when I first started in martial arts, my life is very comfortable.”

Rory MacDonald Opens Up On His Latest Loss

MacDonald became a big name while fighting inside of the Octagon under the UFC banner. Once he made the jump to the Viacom-owned promotion, he further showcased his skills. He continued by stating that he thinks he got very comfortable and didn’t get out of that zone.

“I make better money now and I have a good life outside of fighting. So I guess I got very comfortable and didn’t put myself out of my comfort zone while training for this fight. I think that was my first mistake. When you don’t have that, there is no focus, there is no passion. There is no fire and it showed in the fight.”

He won the Bellator welterweight title by scoring a unanimous decision win over Douglas Lima at Bellator 192 back in January. MacDonald continued by stating that he hasn’t figured out what went wrong in this fight.

“I don’t know why,” MacDonald said (H/T to MMAMania). “If it was bad timing or what. I still haven’t figured it out, but I am working on it. I knew during training camp that I wasn’t preparing myself properly. I was just kind of lying to myself like. ’I will just give it my best shot when it happens, make the best of it.’

MacDonald will take part in the Bellator welterweight grand prix tournament as he takes on Jon Fitch. This fight is being potentially targeted for February. The Bellator champ added that he failed in the biggest fight thus far in his pro-MMA career.

“But it turned out to be the worst performance of my career against my biggest opportunity. It’s a big let down but it was my fault at the end of the day. I only blame myself,” he added.

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Gegard Mousasi To Defend Title Against Undefeated BJJ Black Belt

Bellator is returning to The Forum in Los Angeles in a big way as Gegard Mousasi will defend his middleweight title against Rafael Lovato Jr. The news of Mousasi’s next title defense was announced via a press release from the Viacom owned promotion. Mousasi most recently defended his title against the promotions 170-pound champion Rory […]

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Bellator is returning to The Forum in Los Angeles in a big way as Gegard Mousasi will defend his middleweight title against Rafael Lovato Jr.

The news of Mousasi’s next title defense was announced via a press release from the Viacom owned promotion.

Mousasi most recently defended his title against the promotions 170-pound champion Rory MacDonald. He easily ran through “The Red King”. He is on an impressive eight-fight win streak that has spanned two years and two promotions.

As for the challenger, Lovato just recently competed at Bellator 205 this last September. He kept his unbeaten streak alive as he submitted a game John Salter. Lovato’s rise through the division has been something to behold. He has earned this title shot.

Mark your Callander, Bellator 2014 is January 26, 2019, and it just may be one of the promotions best offerings. The evening will culminate with the winner of the Heavyweight Grand Prix being crowned. Fedor Emelianenko will take on Bellator’s light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader for the honor.

Mousasi and Lovato will serve as the evening co-main event.

Also on the card is “The Phenom” Aaron Pico. He will look to continue his meteoric rise through the featherweight division. Pico is coming off of a destruction of Leandro Higo ay Bellator 206 this September. Henry Corrales will be the man standing opposite Pico come January. The 32-year-old is riding a four-fight win streak and he has never looked better.

So far Bellator matchmakers have officially booked a total of five fights for the tentpole event. The other two bouts are as followed:

  • Mike Segura vs. Richard LeRoy
  • Jay Jay Wilson vs. Tyler Beneke

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Bellator 209 Results

Join us for live play-by-play coverage.

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Bellator 209 results are underway as the Viacom promotion holds this latest event on television for fight fans around the world to watch the show. 

It’s once again fight day here at LowKickMMA, and the talent on display tonight (Friday, November 16, 2018) will come in the form of Bellator 209. Headlining the card are Patricio “Pitbull” Freire and Emmanuel Sanchez, but there’s a whole bunch of great fights also taking place on the rest of the main card. 

Patricio “Pitbull” Freire and Emmanuel Sanchez meet in a featherweight title bout in the main event.

Haim Gozali and Ryan Couture meet in a welterweight bout in the co-main event.

Phil Davis vs. Vadim Nemkov is next in a light heavyweight bout.

Cindy Dandois vs. Olga Rubin is next in a women’s featherweight bout.

Opening the main card on the Paramount Network is Adam Keresh vs. Kirill Sidelnikov in a heavyweight bout.

Bellator 209 Results

Here are the results for this event:

MAIN CARD (Paramount Network/9:00 PM EST)

Bellator Featherweight Championship: Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (c) vs. Emmanuel Sanchez

Welterweight: Haim Gozali vs. Ryan Couture

Light Heavyweight: Phil Davis vs. Vadim Nemkov

Female Featherweight: Cindy Dandois vs. Olga Rubin

Heavyweight: Adam Keresh vs. Kirill Sidelnikov

PRELIMINARY CARD (Bellator.com/7:00 pm EST)

Welterweight: Khonry Gracie vs. Ron Becker

Lightweight: Aviv Gozali vs. Anton Lazebnov

Lightweight: Ido Halfon vs. Itay Tratner

Light Heavyweight: Nisim Rozalis vs. Nika Ben Tuashy

Welterweight: Shimon Smotritsky vs. Matan Levi

Welterweight: Fadi Haiyadre vs. Christos Nicolaou

Featherweight: Honor Kelesh vs. Andrei Barbarosa

Strawweight: Yulia Sachkov vs. Viktoria Makarova

Featherweight: Kirill Medvedovsky vs. Denis Palancica

Bantamweight: Ejargew Tariku vs. Sidemar Honorio

Welterweight: Jackie Gosh vs. Jamil Ibragimov

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Ben Askren & Scott Coker Exchange Words Over Possible Bellator Deal

Scott Coker didn’t back down from the comments made by Ben Askren.

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Ben Askren & Scott Coker had an interesting exchange through the power of social media over what could have been a working relationship.

It appears that before he signed a deal with the UFC, Askren could’ve ended up in Bellator MMA. The only question is what that deal would’ve seen and what circumstances.

The whole situation started once the Bellator President did an interview with The Fight Guys podcast that was picked up by BJPenn.com. Askren caught wind of this interview and what Coker had to say.

Those comments were how Coker had talks to co-promote with Askren’s bosses at ONE Championship. If the deal could be made then it would have seen Askren compete in Bellator’s eight-man Welterweight Grand Prix.

Obviously, that didn’t happen as Askren has since been traded to the UFC. This led to Askren saying that he only wanted to fight current Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald in Bellator MMA. No one else. Askren also made it known that the promotion refused to book that fight, which ended the talks.

Scott Coker Fires Back

Coker fired back at Askren by stating that it was Askren’s choice not to sign a long-term deal with Bellator. Askren wrote back by stating that he was saying something along those same lines.

“I know you’re used to people not responding to you. But the truth is you & your team were only interested in a one-fight deal. When we asked Bob Cook if you would fight in the Welterweight Grand Prix on a three fight deal. You didn’t want to do it.”

Clarification Anyone?

This is when Coker tried to clarify his comments about how Askren could have fought MacDonald right away. The only catch was that it would have taken place in the opening round of the Welterweight Grand Prix.

“We would have given you @rory_macdonald to start the grand prix & you didn’t want to do it. Which is fine, I just want to make sure the facts are straight. Don’t spin it like Rory & I were ducking you. You chose not to enter the tournament.”

Thus, Askren ended the exchange with the last word by stating that coker was “pushing alternative facts”.

“I think you are pushing alternative facts here. I can go back and look through old messages/emails. But this sure isn’t the way I recall it. You and I both know Rory vs me looks very similar to Rory vs Gerard.”

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Aaron Pico’s Bellator Return Already Set

Aaron Pico is already set to return. A report arrived from the LA Times that Bellator’s fastest-rising star will return against Henry Corrales at January 26’s Bellator event from the Forum in Inglewood, California. Pico demolished Leandro Higo in his last fight at September’s Bellator 206. The victory gave him four straight in the Bellator cage, all […]

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Aaron Pico is already set to return.

A report arrived from the LA Times that Bellator’s fastest-rising star will return against Henry Corrales at January 26’s Bellator event from the Forum in Inglewood, California. Pico demolished Leandro Higo in his last fight at September’s Bellator 206.

The victory gave him four straight in the Bellator cage, all by way of first-round knockout. All of the wins came since September 2017. Still only 22, the touted prospect has rebounded from a submission loss in his first-ever pro-MMA bout in June 2017.

Pico hails from nearby Whittier, Calif. He expressed his excitement at fighting in his home state to the LA Times:

“I can’t wait to get back in the cage and fight at home in front of all my friends and family in my hometown. I’m looking to challenge myself and progress as a fighter each and every time I get the opportunity to compete, and I know I’ve got a tough opponent in front of me on Jan. 26.”

Pico will face arguably his toughest Bellator test in Corrales, who has four straight victories.

The event will also play host to the final of the Bellator World Heavyweight Grand Prix. There, Fedor Emelianenko will meet Ryan Bader for the vacant Bellator heavyweight title.

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