Tag: Bellator News

Usman Nurmagomedov defeats Patricky ‘Pitbull’ to claim Bellator World Title, video calls Khabib in the cage

Usman Nurmagomedov khabibAll-time MMA great Khabib Nurmagomedov phoned his lifelong training parter and cousin Usman Nurmagomedov after his Bellator World Title win last night. Usman defeated Brazil’s Patricky ‘Pitbull’ Freire over a five-round unanimous decision at Bellator 288. Proud of his protege, Dagestan’s Khabib phoned Usman during his post-fight interview in the Bellator cage. Usman explained: “This […]

Usman Nurmagomedov khabib

All-time MMA great Khabib Nurmagomedov phoned his lifelong training parter and cousin Usman Nurmagomedov after his Bellator World Title win last night. Usman defeated Brazil’s Patricky ‘Pitbull’ Freire over a five-round unanimous decision at Bellator 288.

Proud of his protege, Dagestan’s Khabib phoned Usman during his post-fight interview in the Bellator cage. Usman explained:

“This is so important to know … I feel great. Now I believe I can [win] everything.”

See the video below:

On Instagram, the former undefeated UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov shared:

“You deserve it Brother ? ?Another victory, another history.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/ClIYZUkMfNU/?igshid=YTgzYjQ4ZTY%3D

Usman Nurmagomedov wins at Bellator 288

The Dagestani athlete Usman Nurmagomedov walked away with with the Bellator Lightweight World Championship by defeating Patricky ‘Pitbull’ Freire. Usman is undefeated in MMA with a perfect 16-0 record since making his professional debut in 2017. This Russian-born fighter has earned five consecutive victories in the Bellator cage.

It was a near-flawless performance from Usman Nurmagomedov as he controlled and battered the former champion Patricky ‘Pitbull’ Freire. Usman earned the world title after five rounds of dominance.

His win at Bellator 288 impressed the MMA world. Ariel Helwani shared:

“This hasn’t been close. Usman Nurmagomedov about to be the new Bellator lightweight champion. He is very good.”

MMA fan ‘RiehmannC’ added:

“Putting aside the countless Sambo champions under his tutelage, Abdulmanap Nurmagumedov has had 2 champs in the UFC (Khabib and Islam), 1 champ in Bellator (Usman), 1 champ in Brave (Eldar), 1 champ in PFL (Movlid) etc This man is the greatest MMA coach of all time.”

MMA Twitter Reacts To Ryan Bader Vs. Fedor Emelianenko 2 Announcement

Bellator made a splash with a massive announcement for next year with Ryan Bader facing Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator 290. The promotion announced the news of the Bader/Emelianenko heavyweight title rematch on Friday. The card will air on CBS and take …

Bellator made a splash with a massive announcement for next year with Ryan Bader facing Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator 290. The promotion announced the news of the Bader/Emelianenko heavyweight title rematch on Friday. The card will air on CBS and take place on February 4th at The KIA Forum in Inglewood, CA. Bader returns to…

Continue Reading MMA Twitter Reacts To Ryan Bader Vs. Fedor Emelianenko 2 Announcement at MMA News.

Fedor Emelianenko retirement fight set for Bellator 290 on February 4th vs. Ryan Bader

Fedor EmelianenkoAfter nearly 23 years, Russian combat sports legend ‘The Last Emperor’ Fedor Emelianenko will retire in 2023. Stepping into the cage one more time, Emelianenko will take on reigning Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader at Bellator 290 on February 4th, 2023. Emanating from the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, the card will air live on […]

Fedor Emelianenko

After nearly 23 years, Russian combat sports legend ‘The Last Emperor’ Fedor Emelianenko will retire in 2023.

Stepping into the cage one more time, Emelianenko will take on reigning Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader at Bellator 290 on February 4th, 2023. Emanating from the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, the card will air live on CBS. It will be the first time Bellator will feature on network television and the first time CBS has aired an MMA event in over a decade.

The fight between Fedor Emelianenko and Ryan Bader will be a rematch of their January 2019 bout during the Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix tournament final. Bader scored a 35-second knockout against ‘The Last Emperor’ to capture the then-vacant heavyweight championship. Already the holder of Bellator’s light heavyweight title, ‘Darth’ Bader became a two-division champion with his destruction of Emelianenko.

Scott Coker Comments on Fedor Emelianenko Retirement Fight Airing on CBS

Bellator MMA president Scott Coker issued a statement following the announcement, explicitly discussing the promotion’s debut on network television.

“We have been working tirelessly on growing this brand into the global powerhouse it is today and a primetime slot on CBS has always been one of our key objectives,” Coker said. “With a healthy roster full of many of the world’s very best fighters, along with elite up-and-coming prospects and legends of the game, I’m very excited to showcase this event on the most-watched network in America.”

In his prime, Fedor Emelianenko went on a 27-fight win streak across multiple promotions including Rings, PRIDE, Affliction, and Strikeforce. Time eventually caught up with ‘The Last Emperor’ and he found himself dropping three straight under the Strikeforce banner. Emelianenko recovered winning five in a row before signing with Bellator in 2017. In the last five years, ‘The Last Emperor’ has gone 4-2 with wins over Frank Mir, Chael Sonnen, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, and Tim Johnson.

His last loss inside the cage was the 2019 meeting with Ryan Bader. If Fedor Emelianenko gets the victory in his final MMA appearance this February, he will not only avenge the last loss of his career, he will walk away as a world champion.

Bellator president Scott Coker devastated by Anthony Johnson’s passing: “I think he was loved more than he knew.”

Scott Coker Anthony JohnsonBellator president Scott Coker struggled to receive the news of Anthony Johnson’s untimely passing. Earlier this week, it was made public that ‘Rumble’ passed away due to organ failure from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis Scott Coker had worked alongside ‘Rumble‘ before his passing. Coker said: “The guy was loved around the world. I think he was […]

Scott Coker Anthony Johnson

Bellator president Scott Coker struggled to receive the news of Anthony Johnson’s untimely passing. Earlier this week, it was made public that ‘Rumble’ passed away due to organ failure from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Scott Coker had worked alongside ‘Rumble‘ before his passing. Coker said:

“The guy was loved around the world. I think he was loved more than he knew – How many fans he had, or the impact he made.”

Coker remembers the first time he had met Johnson years ago. He recalled:

“I want to say I met Anthony when he career started. He was at Cung Le’s gym fighting at 170. I don’t think he was even at the UFC at that time. I got to know him a little bit and followed his career, and stayed in touch. When he became a free agent we said, let’s go get this guy because I think he’s a tremendous talent.”

Scott Coker was devasted by the news of Anthony Johnson

‘Rumble’ Anthony Johnson kept much of his sickness under wraps. Most people around him had an idea that he was unwell but it was never made public how severe his illness was. Coker explained:

“It was a devastating day. It’s unfortunate. I knew he was in and out of the hospital. I have texts of me and him texting like two months ago … I had no idea that he was this ill, and I think that he didn’t know, maybe … This came as a shock to us and the whole company because everybody loved that guy. It was devastating. It was a big loss.” [Transcript courtesy of MMA Weekly]

Anthony Johnson was a veteran of MMA who fought from welterweight to light heavy

Bellator 288: Nemkov vs. Anderson 2 Results & Highlights: Nemkov Outlasts Anderson

Bellator 288 took place tonight on SHOWTIME, and MMA News has all the results and highlights from the action! In the main event, Vadim Nemkov and Corey Anderson ran it back to determine who the best light heavyweight in the promotion is. Their first bo…

Bellator 288 took place tonight on SHOWTIME, and MMA News has all the results and highlights from the action! In the main event, Vadim Nemkov and Corey Anderson ran it back to determine who the best light heavyweight in the promotion is. Their first bout ended in a no-contest after an accidental clash of heads,…

Continue Reading Bellator 288: Nemkov vs. Anderson 2 Results & Highlights: Nemkov Outlasts Anderson at MMA News.

Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson’s cause of death revealed as MMA world grieves for beloved star

Anthony JohnsonTragic news struck the MMA world today as it’s now become known that beloved star Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson has now passed away at only 38 years of age. Fans, fighters, and media everywhere are mourning his tragic death. However, what wasn’t immediately clear was the reason behind it. As many have known, Anthony Johnson had […]

Anthony Johnson

Tragic news struck the MMA world today as it’s now become known that beloved star Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson has now passed away at only 38 years of age. Fans, fighters, and media everywhere are mourning his tragic death. However, what wasn’t immediately clear was the reason behind it.

As many have known, Anthony Johnson had been sick for some time now. Over a year, in fact. Taking to Instagram in 2021, the star made a brief story where he explained that he was afraid for his well-being, and wished he could divulge just how sick he really was. Why he didn’t want to open up about it remains a mystery, but one can assume he didn’t want people to feel bad for him and also maybe didn’t want to scare his fans and family.

Anthony Johnson’s cause of death revealed

Per Yahoo Sports’ Kevin Iole, ‘Rumble’ passed away due to “organ failure due to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, which is a rare disorder of the immune system.”

Dana White commented on the situation, saying: “He was always a great kid. He was always in fun fights and he had that one-punch KO power that not many people ever had. He was a good human being. I send my condolences to his family.”

In September of 2021, ‘Rumble’ first disclosed his illness. “Not asking for anything but prayers,” he wrote. “See you in 2022 hopefully. This is gonna be a battle and I’m gonna have to dig deeper than I ever have before. Love you all #RumbleSquad NOT COVID.”

Anthony Johnson last competed under the Bellator banner in May of 2021, where he scored a knockout victory over Jose Augusto Azevedo. Known for his outrageous power, ‘Rumble’ will go down as one of the most exciting and hardest-hitting light heavyweights to ever grace MMA.

What’s your favorite Anthony Johnson moment?