Tag: Bellator

Josh Shockley Tapped as Late Opponent for Toby Imada at Bellator 36

Filed under: Bellator, NewsIt’s been a long time coming for Josh Shockley’s debut with Bellator. On Friday, his past tough luck paid off.

Shockley (6-0-1), an Indiana-based lightweight scheduled for a prelim fight at Bellator 36 in Shreveport, La., o…

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Josh ShockleyIt’s been a long time coming for Josh Shockley‘s debut with Bellator. On Friday, his past tough luck paid off.

Shockley (6-0-1), an Indiana-based lightweight scheduled for a prelim fight at Bellator 36 in Shreveport, La., on Saturday, made weight for his bout against Kalvin Hackney without issue. Then things got weird.

Ferrid Kheder, booked to face Toby Imada as part of Bellator’s lightweight tournament quarterfinals, was so far off weight he didn’t even bother trying, sources told MMA Fighting. And since there was just one lightweight bout on the card’s prelims, Shockley was the beneficiary of some good news, for a change – a jump from the unaired prelims to a televised spot in the eight-man tournament.

For Small Town Fighter Woodard, Bellator Tourney Offers Chance to Shine

Filed under: FanHouse Exclusive, BellatorMISSOULA, Mont. – When undefeated lightweight Lloyd Woodard (10-0) heard he’d finally get a shot at the big leagues via Bellator’s 155-pound tournament, he did what any self-respecting Montanan would do: he star…

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MISSOULA, Mont. – When undefeated lightweight Lloyd Woodard (10-0) heard he’d finally get a shot at the big leagues via Bellator’s 155-pound tournament, he did what any self-respecting Montanan would do: he started growing a mustache.

We’re not talking some Brooklyn hipster lip fuzz, either. There is nothing ironic about Woodard’s facial hair, though it is intended to send a message when he shows up on MTV 2 to face Carey Vanier on Saturday night.

“I want everybody to know I’m from Montana,” said the 26-year-old Woodard.

It’s not simply regional pride, although, sure, there’s some of that wound up in Woodard’s Western-style ‘stache. But there’s a strategic element to this, too.

Bellator Champ Zack Makovsky Looks to Join World Bantamweight Elite

Filed under: FanHouse Exclusive, BellatorZack Makovsky captured his first championship belt in 2010 after winning Bellator’s inaugural bantamweight tournament. Makovsky’s rise to glory came quietly, which is not surprising given his soft-spoken nature….

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Zack Makovsky captured his first championship belt in 2010 after winning Bellator’s inaugural bantamweight tournament. Makovsky’s rise to glory came quietly, which is not surprising given his soft-spoken nature. Still, it was an accomplishment worthy of some bragging rights, particularly given his grinding schedule; Makovsky fought six times in eight months in 2010, winning all his fights.

With the championship, Makovsky put himself on the international MMA radar, though he hasn’t been a surprise to those in the know. Among those was his Philadelphia Fight Factory teammate and fellow Bellator champ Eddie Alvarez, who told MMA Fighting that he forecasted Makovsky’s success from the beginning.

“For people who don’t know about Zack, you’re going to find out,” Alvarez said. “You don’t need my words to tell you, you’re going to find out very soon. The first time I met him, before I ever won a title, I said to him, ‘You’re going to be a world champion.’ That was maybe 5-6 years ago. He just had certain qualities where you knew that he was not going to have it any other way. Some guys just have what it takes. It’s not the talent, speed, strength or whatever, it’s the attitude. And he had that attitude to be a world champion.”

Eddie Alvarez: ‘Any Night, I Have the Ability to Beat Anyone in the World’

Filed under: FanHouse Exclusive, BellatorNo matter which publication you favor, you don’t have to look too far down the lightweight rankings before you find the name of Eddie Alvarez. With a record of 21-2, and wins in 11 of his last 12 fights, he is b…

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No matter which publication you favor, you don’t have to look too far down the lightweight rankings before you find the name of Eddie Alvarez. With a record of 21-2, and wins in 11 of his last 12 fights, he is by far the most highly ranked fighter in any division on the Bellator roster.

The across-the-board respect for his impressive resume is a long overdue development for the 27-year-old Philadelphian, whose quest for widespread acclaim — done completely outside the UFC machine — has been a slow burn.

Alvarez has done it with an in-cage work ethic worthy of his city’s blue-collar roots. Philly has always been a notorious fight town, home to boxing greats like Joe Frazier, Sonny Liston and Bernard Hopkins, but with no new pugilists coming to the forefront, Alvarez has essentially filled the void, watching his popularity grow over the last few years. Now, with the promotion’s arrival on MTV2, Alvarez may see his profile and reputation expand even further.

Bellator 35 Fighter Salaries: Good, Hawn, Hieron, Weedman Each Earn $20,000

Filed under: Bellator, NewsWelterweight tournament competitors Lyman Good, Rick Hawn, Jay Hieron and Brent Weedman each made $20,000 this past Saturday for their quarterfinal wins at Bellator 35 from the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, Cali…

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Welterweight tournament competitors Lyman Good, Rick Hawn, Jay Hieron and Brent Weedman each made $20,000 this past Saturday for their quarterfinal wins at Bellator 35 from the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, Calif.

The opening round winners earned $10,000 to show and another $10,000 as a win bonus. Bellator awards a total of $100,000 to the final tournament winner at the end of the season.

The complete Bellator 35 salaries are below, courtesy of the California athletic commission.

Bellator Welterweights Good, Hieron, Hawn, Weedman Advance

Filed under: BellatorThe fourth season of Bellator Fighting Championships started Thursday night on MTV2 with Brent Weedman, Rick Hawn, Jay Hieron and Lyman Good winning their fights and advancing to the semifinals of Bellator’s welterweight tournament…

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The fourth season of Bellator Fighting Championships started Thursday night on MTV2 with Brent Weedman, Rick Hawn, Jay Hieron and Lyman Good winning their fights and advancing to the semifinals of Bellator’s welterweight tournament.

It was a good start to Season 4 for Bellator, and a solid if not spectacular fight card, although it wasn’t without controversy, particularly in Hieron’s victory, which came on a bad stoppage with a referee who made a major mistake.

Weedman’s unanimous decision victory over Dan Hornbuckle was a sensational bout, with back-and-forth ground action that had both guys in danger of being submitted multiple times. All three judges scored it 29-28 for Weedman, but it easily could have gone 29-28 for Hornbuckle, and many of the fans in Lemoore, California, booed the judges’ verdict. Weedman was classy, saying, “Dan’s the toughest opponent I’ve ever faced in over 30 fights.” Weedman had what appeared to be a significant cut on his left eyelid, which will bear watching as he needs to return for the semifinals in less than two months.