12 years ago, MMA fighter Kane Mousah spent four years in prison but has refused to let it ruin his career. As a young MMA fighter, Mousah feared his career was over when he got sent away. Every day, his prison sentence reminds him of where he came from. It happened early in his career…
12 years ago, MMA fighter Kane Mousah spent four years in prison but has refused to let it ruin his career.
As a young MMA fighter, Mousah feared his career was over when he got sent away. Every day, his prison sentence reminds him of where he came from.
It happened early in his career and was the consequence of his involvement in a gang. Reportedly, Mousah and others were searched and found guilty of possessing a handgun, bullets, and a silencer.
At the time, Mousah was only 23 years of age—young and with a promising career in MMA. Even the judge described the sentencing as a “tragedy” for the rising star.
He was given a 9-year sentence but served only four. The prison experience truly turned his life around.
“Prison deterred me from the life that I used to live – I think it needed to happen for me. I did my time and I used it to change my perspective on life, to make sure I’d come out as a better person. Since I’ve come out of prison, all I’ve tried to do is help other people out along the way. I think I do that,” Mousah told Manchester Evening News.
“The Danger’s” return was incredible, winning by TKO inside round 1. Then, in 2014, he continued to win three back-to-back fights before the second round. He has found success across many MMA platforms before winning two bouts at Bellator.
Now, at 35, Mousah is training hard with one of the UFC’s most exciting prospects, Khamzat Chimaev for his 15th fight since his return to the cage in 2013.
Kane will fight Irishman Peter Queally in Ireland at Bellator 275 on February 25.
Both Peter and Kane return to the cage after suffering losses in their last bouts. Mousah is the underdog, as the fight will take place in Queally’s home country.
Regardless of the home advantage for Queally, Mousah is excited for the match and expects to win.
Are you excited for Kane Mousah Vs Peter Queally at Bellator 275?
Brennan Ward will fight at Bellator 274 after nearly a year of sobriety from drug abuse. Ward has seen success and failure within the cage. Most of his wins were finished before the final bell. Only one of his bouts went to decision in his 20-fight career. The 14-6-0 fighter faced many battles since his…
Brennan Ward will fight at Bellator 274 after nearly a year of sobriety from drug abuse.
Ward has seen success and failure within the cage. Most of his wins were finished before the final bell. Only one of his bouts went to decision in his 20-fight career.
The 14-6-0 fighter faced many battles since his 2008 debut. But his most difficult battle was with drug addiction.
“I used fentanyl all day, every day,” Ward said. “I found opiates young, when I was in high school — Oxy, Vicodin — and I loved them. I loved them since the first time I did them at 14 years old. And I have chased them ever since. I had lots of money when I was fighting so I was buying lots of drugs and then the pills got hard to find, so we all started doing heroin and then heroin turns to fentanyl. And there you are,” Ward said, according to CT Insider.
Often, Ward fought while under the influence of drugs. The addiction was controlling most of his life. He missed out on precious times with his daughter because he was either in jail or rehab.
Still, his addiction came first and he continued to spiral further into its control.
Although Ward appeared fine on the outside, he experienced frequent blackouts, called out of many fights, broke contracts—leading a life with hard drugs at the reins.
“I was [messed] up all the time,” Ward said. “I know [people] that get away with it for however long they’re using for. I’m like, ‘How does your wife not know?’ I’m a dead giveaway. Enough was enough. My daughter doesn’t deserve this. It’s not fair for her to get brought into this world and have a father like that. It’s almost like growing up, dude. I was getting too old for that. It’s a selfish, selfish lifestyle because you keep saying, ‘I’m only hurting myself.”
“Irish” made many attempts to overcome addiction; this one proves the most successful. No one has seen Ward in the cage since his 2 losses in 2017. Now, he has a chance for redemption against Brandon Bell.
Bellator 274 kicks off Saturday, February 19. And he will enter the cage already feeling like a winner. For the first time in years, he breathes air free of addiction.
Ward Joins List Of Inspirational Fighters
Many mixed martial artists have become martyrs for change to help fight drug addiction.
And a little over five years ago, Terrance McKinney was hospitalized after a fatal drug overdose in which he died twice. He now tells his story to fans via social media, and many have thanked him for sharing the personal and shocking ordeal.
American welterweight Isaac Vallie-Flagg fought the awful disease. For years, he struggled with it, and even after a stint with the law, he continued to abuse drugs until it started to ruin his relationship with his family. He now spends his time out of the gym helping others with the disease.
Similarly, all these fighters believed they should be dead or in jail, but have turned their lives around for the better and could not be more thankful for a second chance.
Since opening up about his issues with substance abuse, Ward has inspired others to get their lives back on track.
“My inbox went crazy,” he said. “To see these people now — they’re going to detox, they’re getting clean. I’m trying to talk to all these people the best I can. I might have needed somebody like me years ago, another dude I could relate to, another dude who was an absolute savage like I was. I couldn’t find that. I couldn’t relate to anybody,” Ward explained.
Sometimes, it takes hitting rock-bottom or destroying the lives of others to really see the destruction of drug addiction. All of these fighters, and many others, are perfect examples that anyone can overcome drug or alcohol addiction.
Whether fighting in a cage or sitting at a desk, the disease of addiction can affect anyone.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are helpful resources available:
Bellator 274 has wrapped up, and we’ve got you covered with the live results and highlights! In the main event, the #4 Bellator MMA ranked welterweight Neiman Gracie took on the #5-ranked Logan Storley in a five-round main event. In the co-main event, the #9-ranked Andrey Koreshkov took on UFC vet Chance Rencountre. Below, you…
Bellator 274 has wrapped up, and we’ve got you covered with the live results and highlights!
In the main event, the #4 Bellator MMA ranked welterweight Neiman Gracie took on the #5-ranked Logan Storley in a five-round main event. In the co-main event, the #9-ranked Andrey Koreshkov took on UFC vet Chance Rencountre. Below, you can find the highlights from both bouts followed by the fast results of Bellator 274!
Cat Zingano will not be fighting for the Bellator featherweight title next. It seemed like the Bellator featherweight title picture was pretty clear. Cris “Cyborg” Justino was being called out by Cat Zingano and both had publicly agreed to fight one another. Now, it seems that Zingano will not be facing Cyborg for the title…
Cat Zingano will not be fighting for the Bellator featherweight title next.
It seemed like the Bellator featherweight title picture was pretty clear. Cris “Cyborg” Justino was being called out by Cat Zingano and both had publicly agreed to fight one another. Now, it seems that Zingano will not be facing Cyborg for the title next. Instead, a bout was announced where Zingano is matched up with Pam Sorenson.
“She turned down a World Title Fight to compete on the prelims?!” Cyborg wrote and deleted (via Yahoo! Sports.)
Sorenson is ranked seventh in the Bellator rankings, and Zingano sits in second. Sorenson is coming off a loss to Arlene Blencowe back in November. Before that, she won two in a row in Bellator and Invicta FC. Most likely with a win, Zingano would be next for a title shot; however, the terms that led to the potential fight falling through this time around could very well create issues going forward.
Do you think a fight between Cris Cyborg and Cat Zingano will ever be made?
Yoel Romero will be getting back in the Bellator cage in Paris. After his promotional debut with Bellator didn’t go his way, Yoel Romero is scheduled to take another shot at a win. Romero will be taking on Melvin Manhoef at the upcoming Bellator Paris event set to take place on May 6. The news…
Yoel Romero will be getting back in the Bellator cage in Paris.
After his promotional debut with Bellator didn’t go his way, Yoel Romero is scheduled to take another shot at a win. Romero will be taking on Melvin Manhoef at the upcoming Bellator Paris event set to take place on May 6. The news was first announced by the promotion in a press release. This matchup will serve as the co-main event.
The news of Bellator holding an event in France was met with applause by fighters and fans. Mixed martial arts as a sport was not legal in France until 2020. With the difficulty of holding an event during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of professional events held in the country has been minimal. Bellator held an event in Paris back in October of 2020 and it was a great success, so much so that they are doing it again.
Manhoef will be coming into this fight having lost his last outing as well. He lost via KO against Corey Anderson in Nov. of 2020. Prior to that, however, he won two in a row, both in Europe. Perhaps fighting in Europe could be his lucky charm, as he will have the chance to see against the hype of Romero.
Bellator Paris will take place at the Accor Arena in Paris, France on May. 6.
The full fight card to date is as follows:
Heavyweight World Title Main Event: #C-Ryan Bader (29-7, 1 NC) vs. #2-Cheick Kongo (31-11-2, 1 NC)
Yoel Romero will make his sophomore Bellator appearance when the promotion heads to Paris, France on May 6. The 44-year-old is set to face Melvin Manhoef in the co-main event of the card that will be topped by a heavyweight title fight between Ryan Bader and Cheick Kongo. Yoel Romero’s Career Hasn’t Gone Great As […]
Yoel Romero will make his sophomore Bellator appearance when the promotion heads to Paris, France on May 6. The 44-year-old is set to face Melvin Manhoef in the co-main event of the card that will be topped by a heavyweight title fight between Ryan Bader and Cheick Kongo.
Yoel Romero’s Career Hasn’t Gone Great As Of Late
Romero made his promotional debut last September at Bellator 266 when he took on Phil Davis in the event’s light heavyweight headliner. Despite a closely-contested first-round, Romero would comfortably lose the next two rounds as Davis earned the split decision verdict. It makes it four defeats in a row for Romero who suffered losses to Israel Adesanya, Paulo Costa and Robert Whittaker before he was released by the UFC.
At Bellator Paris, Romero faces the 45-year-old Manhoef who is coming off a second-round TKO defeat to Corey Anderson last time out. Prior to that, Manhoef rolled back the year to string together back-to-back wins over Yannick Bahati and Kent Kauppinen.
The Bellator light-heavyweight strap will be on the line when Vadim Nemkov takes on Corey Anderson in the 205lb Grand Prix final later this year.
Do you think Yoel Romero will get his first Bellator win when he takes on Melvin Manhoef at Bellator Paris on May 6?