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Bellator Signing of the Day: British Wheel-Kick Victim Terry Etim Added to Nov. 2 PPV

(The many faces of Terry Etim. / Photos via Getty)

There was a brief moment in time when Terry Etim was considered a future title contender in the UFC lightweight division. After a shaky 1-2 start in the Octagon, the Liverpool native went on a 4-0 run in 2008-2009 where he was just smoking people. Notably, Etim picked up back-to-back Submission of the Night bonuses for his choke-outs of Justin Buchholz and Shannon Gugerty, which led to horribly premature Anderson Silva comparisons being thrown around.

But these days, most UFC fans associate the name “Terry Etim” with one of the most incredible knockouts in UFC history — a KO that he was on the losing end of, unfortunately. His spectaular loss to Edson Barboza at UFC 142 defined him, and after a follow-up decision loss to Renee Forte in February, Etim was released from the UFC.

Luckily, There’s Always Bellator™. The talent-recyclers at Viacom have just signed Etim to make his Bellator debut at the promotion’s November 2nd “Rampage vs. Tito” pay-per-view event, where he’ll be facing 9-2-1 Floridian Patrick Cenoble. Eight of Cenoble’s nine wins have come by KO/TKO, although his Bellator debut in March resulted in a draw against Tony Fryklund.

Etim vs. Cenoble will be featured on the Spike TV prelims leading up to the 11/2 PPV card. The current lineup is after the jump…

(The many faces of Terry Etim. / Photos via Getty)

Etim vs. Cenoble will be featured on the Spike TV prelims leading up to the 11/2 PPV card. The current lineup is after the jump…

Pay-Per-View Main Card
Light Heavyweight: Rampage Jackson (32-11) vs. Tito Ortiz (16-11-1)
Lightweight Title: Michael Chandler (12-0) vs. Eddie Alvarez (24-3)
Light Heavyweight Interim Title: King Mo Lawal (11-2) vs. Emanuel Newton (21-7-1)
Featherweight Title: Pat Curran (19-4) vs. Daniel Straus (21-4)

Spike TV Preliminary Fights
Fight Master Finals: Joe Riggs (39-14) vs. Mike Bronzoulis (15-5)
Lightweight: Terry Etim (15-5) vs. Patrick Cenoble (9-2)

Spike.com Preliminary Fights
Welterweight: Joe Williams (10-3) vs. Jesse Juarez (20-8)
Light Heavyweight: Brandon Halsey (4-0) vs. Hector Ramirez (9-5-1)
Lightweight: Mike Guymon (14-6-1) vs. Aaron Miller (14-8)
Featherweight: Joe Camacho (13-18-3) vs. Cleber Luciano (8-5)
Lightweight: Darren Smith (4-3) vs. Josh Smith (8-5)

The Road to Redemption for David Rickels Starts at Bellator 103

A loss inside the cage can either be the beginning of a long stretch of trouble or provide the spark to set off a motivated run. Bellator lightweight, David Rickels, is confident the latter is the matter at hand and is determined to provide the proof o…

It was a setback against Karl Amassou at Bellator 69 in 2012 that prompted the Kansas native to seek reinvention at a lower weight class. While “The Caveman” had found success in the welterweight fold, he set his sights on building another winning streak and establishing himself in Bellator‘s increasingly competitive lightweight division.

The results were impressive as Rickels collected four consecutive victories en route to winning the promotion’s Season 8 lightweight tournament. In doing so, the Wichita resident also earned the opportunity to face highly touted champion Michael Chandler for the 155-pound strap at Bellator 97 in July.

While the moment was everything Rickels had been working to reach, it wasn’t something he could capitalize upon as he suffered a first round knockout at the hands of the young champion. Down but never out, Rickels set his sights on making his way back to the top of the division, and will take the first step on that journey Friday night against J.J. Ambrose.

In addition to the fight being Rickels‘ return to action, it will also mark the first time in two years he will get the opportunity to fight in his home state, and he’s fired up to put on a show.

“I’m a proud Kansas man and I’m really excited,” Rickels told Bleacher Report. “I haven’t been able to fight here in a couple of years, and the last time they saw me, sadly enough was me getting knocked out. I’m on a redemption mode. I want to show my crowd what I’m really capable of.”

“You see guys get a complacency with winning but I don’t believe that happened to me,” Rickels added. “Michael just struck my chord that night. A loss puts a really bitter taste in your mouth and redemption is the best word I can come to because I feel like I’m much better than what I got to show that night. I believe in my heart that I’m a top 10 fighter. The road to redemption is long and it starts with J.J. Ambrose.”

Where Ambrose will be the more experienced fighter coming into the tilt, Rickels is the one who is established under the Bellator banner. The Californian has previously competed on two occasions inside the Bellator cage, but mixed results have prevented him from finding his footing with the promotion.

While he will undoubtedly be looking to change that dynamic on Friday night, Rickels is prepared to make sure that doesn’t happen at this turn, and is ready for anything Ambrose brings to the table.

“I think we match up really well, but I see it in my favor,” Rickels said. “I think he’s like a seven all around. He’s one of those guys who is pretty good at everything. I believe his grappling is pretty good and it’s more of his strength, but he’s been focusing on his striking.

“I’m looking to see what he pulls out there but I’ll be prepared. I train for everything in my training camps. If he wants to fight with me on the feet, I’ll be ready to go there. If he wants to take it to the ground and work jiu-jitsu, I’m going to be looking to defend. Whatever happens in the fight I feel I’m prepared for.”

With his fight against Ambrose taking place outside of the brackets of this season’s lightweight tournament, his championship hopes have been cooled for the time being. That being said, every fight on the big stage is an opportunity to raise his profile, and Rickels has quickly developed a reputation for being as game as they come when the cage door closes.

MMA is a highly competitive game—especially at the highest levels—and some fighters are willing to sacrifice entertainment value for strict game plans in the pursuit of victory. While winning is undoubtedly what ultimately matters, the situation also breaks down to some fighters having or lacking the ability to put on a show for the fans.

Rickels knows he has the type of style fans love to see, and giving them something to talk about provides plenty of motivation as he heads into the fight.

“Not everyone has the ability nor do they even look to put on exciting fights,” Rickels said. “That’s the big difference with me. I look to put on exciting fights every single time. There is no wishy-washy game plan to skate by. I either go in and put on an exciting fight where I smash the dude’s face in or I get carried out like a soldier on his shield. I really like my style of fighting because I like to entertain. That’s why I got into this. The entertainment aspect is the funnest aspect of fighting for me.”

“The great thing about me is that fans can expect to see the same damn thing from me every single time. I’m going to put everything I have into this fight and will be looking to tear the guy in half. I always look to really beat on guys with every appendage I have available. I’m not going out there looking to have a pitter-patter fight. I’m coming in there to get after it.”

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Cheick Kongo Embracing Change and a Chance at MMA Gold in Post-UFC Career

One thing is certain after watching Cheick Kongo’s meticulous destruction of Mark Godbeer at Bellator 102: “The Darkness” is consuming the heavyweight division.
In a division starving for notable talent, Bellator began its march towar…

One thing is certain after watching Cheick Kongo’s meticulous destruction of Mark Godbeer at Bellator 102: “The Darkness” is consuming the heavyweight division.

In a division starving for notable talent, Bellator began its march toward heavyweight legitimacy with the eagerly anticipated debuts of UFC castoffs Kongo and Lavar Johnson.

While Johnson was cut from the UFC, Kongo actually passed on an opportunity to negotiate for a new contract with the MMA mecca.

Instead, he made the unlikely decision of going to Bellator, a televised promotion void of the same mainstream attention as the UFC. For fans, it’s tough to comprehend why any fighter would choose to bypass an opportunity to continue fighting on the big stage.

After competing in the UFC for over seven years, Kongo admitted he really just needed a change of scenery:

I felt in the UFC, those company had me a lot. [I just wanted to focus] on getting back in shape, and [Bellator said], “Don’t you worry about anything.” After I lost weight, I didn’t have to worry about nothing, just the conditioning from here. It’s just different perks for [different companies]. Honestly, it was really good. It was really great to get a change. The crowd was wonderful and I thought the promotion was also.

Change isn’t always the answer, but it appeared to be the best solution in Kongo’s case.

After being plagued by inconsistent performances in the UFC, Kongo looked like a new man when he stepped foot into the Bellator cage for the first time on Friday night. Standing across from him was Godbeer, a dangerous striker looking to make a name for himself by knocking out “the UFC guy.”

Unfortunately for Godbeer, years of experience taught Kongo to keep his emotions in check and be tactful in the cage.

A chorus of boos echoed throughout the Visalia Convention Center in Visalia, Calif., but Kongo remained fixated on finishing the fight on his terms, which basically consisted of making Godbeer carry his weight and wearing him down with elongated clinch grapples against the fence.

With the tournament-style setup in Bellator, Kongo’s primary concern was leaving the fight with a win and remaining injury free:

I’m used to doing different things, but I went to use the fence so I wouldn’t get injured for the next opponent. Just tried to save energy and avoid injuries from the war in the stand-up, striking. I tried a whole bunch of different things, no matter what he tried to do, and to make him tired.

The game plan came together like clockwork for Kongo, who leaned heavily on his grappling and clinch strikes throughout the fight.

By the time the second round rolled around, Godbeer was breathing heavily and winging haymakers out of desperation. The turning point in the bout came when Godbeer missed on a sloppy overhand right and Kongo ducked under and secured a body lock from behind.

From the clinch, Kongo began to unload with a series of devastating knees to Godbeer’s legs and body. Godbeer stood tall in the face of adversity until the damage relocated to his face. The referee was finally forced to step in at 2:04 to save him from further punishment.

The post-UFC transition has gone well for Kongo, but Johnson wasn’t so fortunate. In a truly shocking turn of events, the former UFC heavyweight was knocked out in just 23 seconds by Vinicius Queiroz.

Kongo, who was eyeing the fight backstage, admitted he was shocked by the knockout. Many expected he would be facing Johnson in the next round, but things have certainly taken an unexpected turn.

After seeing Queiroz’s performance, Kongo is already formulating a game plan that would ensure victory and minimize the risk of injury:

I was shocked to see how [Queiroz] finished Lavar Johnson. I was surprised. The fight was so fast. It’s on and I was like, “Oh!” So after that, I was thinking OK, I have to do the same thing. Don’t go for the war, get injuries. Just save your energy and do the things as a smart guy.

Kongo is now one step closer to winning his first major MMA world title, which is a far cry from where he was in the UFC.

Perhaps “The Darkness” may have finally found the light.

Jordy McElroy is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report, and all quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

And Now She’s Retired: Megumi Fujii Loses Final Fight After Eye Injury From Repeated Pokes

Megumi Fujii, perhaps the greatest female mixed martial arts fighter of all time, lost her retirement fight Saturday night at Vale Tudo Japan 3rd against Jessica Aguilar in a second round stoppage. Fujii was twice poked in the eye by Aguilar in the first round and sustained a serious-looking injury because of them.

“Mega Megu” decided to fight on despite the injury but in the second round, Aguilar began to take control of the fight and hurt Fujii more. In between the second and third rounds, a ring side doctor inspected Fujii and decided to stop the fight. The fight between Fujii and Aguilar was a rematch of their 2012 Bellator bout which ended with a controversial decision win for Aguilar.

Fujii finishes her career with a record of 26-3, overall. After the fight, the promotion held a retirement ceremony for the pioneering fighter. Watch the fight and ceremony in the video above.

– Elias Cepeda

Fujii finishes her career with a record of 26-3, overall. After the fight, the promotion held a retirement ceremony for the pioneering fighter. Watch the fight and ceremony in the video above.

– Elias Cepeda

Bellator 102 Aftermath: The End of The Road

(Cheick Kongo relaxing before his fight, presumably listening to high-quality audio of groin shots. / Screen-cap via Chris Nelson)

After nine years in the UFC, Cheick Kongo found himself fighting for another promotion last night. The French heavyweight probably found the experience a little disconcerting, and yet entirely familiar. The cage was there, there was a man inside it, and he was tasked with disposing of him. Yet there is something less about the entire experience for a fighter competing in a lower-tier organization, deprived of the possibility of reaching the glory he once sought. For Kongo and fellow UFC cast-off Lavar Johnson, Friday’s Bellator 102 event in Visalia, California, was the beginning of the end of the road. Both are fighters on the way down, fighting not for what they once strove for, but simply because this is what they know how to do. It’s rarely a road that ends well. All they can hope for is to reclaim the one thing that doesn’t change — the euphoria of victory. Because if you can’t get that, what’s the point anymore?

Kongo was, at least, able to make the best of his opportunity against Mark “The Hand of” Godbeer. His most formidable challenge on the night came from his pre-fight water bottle. Unfortunately, Godbeer wasn’t capable of offering such a test. If there’s one thing Kongo is known for, it’s probably his knee strikes. If there’s another thing he’s known for, it’s probably that those knee strikes tend to find his opponent’s testicles a little too often. Fortunately for almost everyone involved, Kongo managed to keep himself in Cheick tonight. (I’m so sorry.) He battered Godbeer with knees from the clinch throughout the fight, and finished him in the second round with a monster right knee followed by an uppercut against the fence. Able to stave off the reaper for another few months, Kongo advances into the next round of Bellator’s heavyweight tournament.

The same can’t be said for Lavar “Big” Johnson. Cast aside from the UFC for failing a drug test — to say nothing of possessing one of the least imaginative nicknames in a sport rife with them — Johnson was essentially fed his opponent Vinicius “Spartan” Queiroz in his Bellator debut upon returning from his suspension. The expectation was that Johnson, a one-dimensional heavy-hitter, would have no problem dispatching Queiroz in a spectacularly violent fashion. Queiroz, it was reasoned, could offer trouble on the ground, but the fight wouldn’t last long enough to get there. If you’re familiar with ironic foreshadowing, you’ve probably figured out what happens next.

(Cheick Kongo relaxing before his fight, presumably listening to high-quality audio of groin shots. / Screen-cap via Chris Nelson)

The fight started and Queiroz fired a counter-right over Johnson’s lazy hook that staggered Johnson, who attempted to recover only to faceplant on the mat. Whatever hope Johnson had of a career recovery was snuffed out in 23 seconds. Meanwhile, Queiroz received the satisfaction of proving his doubters wrong, and can now look forward to a modicum of respect. Though he’ll probably get knocked out when he faces Kongo. Oh well.

If this recap sounds a little depressing or pessimistic, that’s what happens when your primary talent for a card consists of aging fighters who have recently been released by the UFC. Bellator has solid, younger fighters; the fight between Brennan Ward and Joe Pacheco was a good fight while it lasted, as Ward secured the victory with a modified guillotine. Rafael Silva looked impressive as he earned a title shot with a unanimous decision victory over Anthony Leone. Bellator, however, put all of its promotional stock in fighters whose stocks are on the decline. Even Kongo’s victory is but a halt in his inexorable descent. By tying their image to fighters like him, it only serves to reinforce the perception that Bellator is being led down the same road they are. Maybe it will work for now. But inevitably it won’t end well.

Full Bellator 102 Results

MAIN CARD
– Cheick Kongo def. Mark Godbeer via TKO, 2:04 of round 2
– Vinicius Spartan def. Lavar Johnson via KO, 0:23 of round 1
– Rafael Silva def. Anthony Leone via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)
– Mikkel Parlo def. Jason Butcher via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x 2)
– Brennan Ward def. Joe Pacheco via submission (guillotine choke), 2:41 of round 2

PRELIMINARY CARD
– Scott Cleve def. Isaac de Jesus via TKO, 3:14 of round 2
– Javy Ayala def. Thiago Santos via KO, 5:00 of round 1
– Brandon Girtz def. Poppies Martinez via submission (armbar), 1:20 of round 1
– Stephen Martinez def. Bryan Travers via technical submission (guillotine choke), 0:56 of round 1
– Cain Carrizosa def. Juan Quesada via submission (triangle choke), 4:41 of round 2
– Brandon Cash def. William Richey via TKO (exhaustion), 5:00 of round 2

Matt Riddle Cuts Retirement Short, Returns at Bellator 109

The circus for Matt Riddle continues, as the recently retired mixed martial artist finds himself back in the game after a few short weeks. He was originally slated to compete in the Season 9 Bellator welterweight tournament, but a rib injury forced him out before he could enter the cage. Thinking that Bellator couldn’t get […]

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