Patchy Mix Main Events Bellator Champions Series Paris On Nov. 16, ‘Baki’ Co-Headlines

For the second time this year, Patchy Mix will put his Bellator bantamweight title on the line in the French capital. After unifying the titles and securing undisputed status with a submission of Sergio Pettis at Bellator 301 last November, Mix returned for his first defense — and first appearance following the PFL’s acquisition of […]

Continue Reading Patchy Mix Main Events Bellator Champions Series Paris On Nov. 16, ‘Baki’ Co-Headlines at MMA News.

For the second time this year, Patchy Mix will put his Bellator bantamweight title on the line in the French capital.

After unifying the titles and securing undisputed status with a submission of Sergio Pettis at Bellator 301 last November, Mix returned for his first defense — and first appearance following the PFL’s acquisition of his organization — this past May.

At the second Bellator Champions Series event, the 30-year-old retained possession of his gold by narrow margins inside Paris’ Accor Arena, falling on the right side of a split decision verdict in a rematch against Magomed Magomedov.

He’ll be looking for a more definitive victory when he returns to France this November, where a first-time matchup with Brazil’s Leandro Higo awaits him at the Adidas Arena.

The Bellator main event was announced in a PFL press release this week, alongside a co-headliner between Oliver Enkamp and the highly regarded and undefeated Baissangour “Baki” Chamsoudinov, who look set to be the main attraction for the home crowd.

Mix vs. Higo Headlines In Paris, ‘Baki’ Makes Bellator Champions Series Debut

When Mix and “Baki” appear in the headline positions on November 16, both will be looking to secure their second Paris triumphs of 2024.

Mix (20-1) faced a tougher than predicted challenge from Magomedov in their rematch, going the distance in a competitive affair almost two years on from his second-round submission of the Russian at Bellator 289 in Connecticut. Nevertheless, “No Love” had his hand raised and remained among the names outside of the UFC who are heralded as being in the world’s elite at 135 pounds.

In Higo (23-6), Mix will face an opponent looking to achieve title glory at the second time of trying. “Alter” previously fell short of the bantamweight gold against Darrion Caldwell back in 2018. Since a loss to Aaron Pico that same year, the Brazilian has won five of six, most recently winning back-to-back outings against Nikita Mikhailov and James Gallagher to secure number one contender status.

Leandro Higo & James Gallagher
Image: PFL MMA

While headliner Mix emerged victorious at a Bellator Champions Series event in Paris this year, co-main event star Chamsoudinov (8-0) extended his undefeated record in controversial fashion under the PFL Europe banner. “Baki” competed in a highly anticipated main event against fellow French standout Cédric Doumbé this past March, but their bout came to an anticlimactic end in round three after the former Glory Kickboxing champion’s calls to remove a splinter from his toe resulted in Marc Goddard waving the contest off.

In the aftermath of that win, “Baki” appeared to take issue with the time it took for the PFL to pay him fully, and reports subsequently suggested a UFC signing was on the cards for the free agent. That ultimately didn’t come to fruition, with the Frenchman instead putting pen to paper on a deal with the PFL instead.

To record a more definitive win on home soil this year in what will be his Bellator Champions Series debut, “Baki” is tasked with getting past Enkamp (11-4). The Swedish 32-year-old competed six times for Bellator following an 0-2 run in the UFC. Among a number of notable highlights is the rare buggy choke he secured at Bellator 281 in London just over two years ago.

Baissangour Chamsoudinov & Cedric Doumbe
Image: PFL MMA

Continue Reading Patchy Mix Main Events Bellator Champions Series Paris On Nov. 16, ‘Baki’ Co-Headlines at MMA News.

Danny Sabatello Fined $5,000 For Bellator 282 Interview Profanity

Bellator bantamweight Danny Sabatello paid a hefty price for his profanity-laced post-fight interview with “Big” John McCarthy at Bellator 282. Sabatello earned a unanimous decision win over Leandro Higo in the Bellator 282 co-main event. The win allowed him to move on to the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix semifinals and he’ll face interim champion…

Continue Reading Danny Sabatello Fined $5,000 For Bellator 282 Interview Profanity at MMA News.

Bellator bantamweight Danny Sabatello paid a hefty price for his profanity-laced post-fight interview with “Big” John McCarthy at Bellator 282.

Sabatello earned a unanimous decision win over Leandro Higo in the Bellator 282 co-main event. The win allowed him to move on to the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix semifinals and he’ll face interim champion Raufeon Stots next.

Sabatello, who has been known as one of Bellator’s biggest trash talkers, used his post-fight interview to cuss out his detractors. Now, the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation has fined him $5,000 for abusive language.

During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Sabatello gave his reaction to the fine. (h/t MMA Fighting)

“Yeah, that’s f****** bulls***,” he said. “That’s such f****** bulls***. But you know what, I don’t care. If I fight there again, I’m telling you right now, I’m going to do the same s***. You can keep f****** fining me. Nothing is going to deter me from being myself, and also, it wouldn’t do justice to the fans. I want the fans to understand exactly who they’re dealing with. That’s who I am. That’s my personality. Fine me. I don’t give a f***. It’s just money.”

Sabatello will likely appeal the fine and he’ll hope to have it resolved ahead of his next fight against Stots.

Sabatello has every reason to exude confidence following seven-straight wins, including victories in the tournament over Jornel Lugo and Higo. The former Dana White’s Contender Series standout has been branded as one of Bellator’s fastest-rising stars.

Sabatello will likely continue his profanity-laced approach to trash-talking in the future, but he may look to fight at other venues other than the Mohegan Sun Arena to avoid potential financial penalties.

Do you think it’s fair for Danny Sabatello to be fined for cursing?

Continue Reading Danny Sabatello Fined $5,000 For Bellator 282 Interview Profanity at MMA News.

Darrion Caldwell Makes Bantamweight Return To Face Leandro Higo Again

Former Bellator champion Darrion Caldwell is making his bantamweight return to face Leandro Higo again but this time at Bellator 259. News of the fight announcement was first reported by Alexander K. Lee of MMAFighting. The fight is scheduled for April…

Former Bellator champion Darrion Caldwell is making his bantamweight return to face Leandro Higo again but this time at Bellator 259. News of the fight announcement was first reported by Alexander K. Lee of MMAFighting. The fight is scheduled for April 15 in Uncasville, Conn. In Addition, the card will be headlined by featherweight champion […]

Bellator 249 Highlights: Leandro Higo Submits Ricky Bandejas

HigoIn the Bellator 249 co-main event, Leandro Higo continued his winning streak with another submission defeating Ricky Bandejas by rear-naked choke in round two. After a first round that saw Higo take the lead and secure a takedown upon Bandejas, the second round saw much of the same as Higo forced Bandejas to the cage […]

Higo

In the Bellator 249 co-main event, Leandro Higo continued his winning streak with another submission defeating Ricky Bandejas by rear-naked choke in round two.

After a first round that saw Higo take the lead and secure a takedown upon Bandejas, the second round saw much of the same as Higo forced Bandejas to the cage before picking him up and slamming him. Once on the ground Higo was quick to transition to the back and lock in a rear naked choke to secure him the victory.

Bellator’s Leandro Higo Wants ‘Easy Money’ Fight With James Gallagher In Ireland (Interview)

Leandro Higo and James Gallagher are already booked for separate bouts but they may be on a collision course. This Friday night (March 13), Higo will do battle with Dominic Mazzota at Bellator 241. His teammate, Patricio Freire, will put his featherwei…

Leandro Higo and James Gallagher are already booked for separate bouts but they may be on a collision course. This Friday night (March 13), Higo will do battle with Dominic Mazzota at Bellator 241. His teammate, Patricio Freire, will put his featherweight gold on the line in the main event against Pedro Carvalho. Higo Wants […]

The post Bellator’s Leandro Higo Wants ‘Easy Money’ Fight With James Gallagher In Ireland (Interview) appeared first on MMA News.

Highlights: Aaron Pico Destroys Leandro Higo In Latest KO Win

Surging prospect Aaron Pico came into his main card bout against veteran Leandro Higo at tonight’s (Sat., September 29, 2018) Bellator 206 from the SAP Center in San Jose, California, with a monstrous (and justified) hype train following him. And he just added more fuel to its raging fire with a first-round stoppage of Higo. Pico […]

The post Highlights: Aaron Pico Destroys Leandro Higo In Latest KO Win appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Surging prospect Aaron Pico came into his main card bout against veteran Leandro Higo at tonight’s (Sat., September 29, 2018) Bellator 206 from the SAP Center in San Jose, California, with a monstrous (and justified) hype train following him.

And he just added more fuel to its raging fire with a first-round stoppage of Higo.

Pico used an aggressive, stalking style of striking from the fight’s outset, stalking Higo towards the cage and unloading endless power shots. Higo was a game competitor, however. He landed some solid knees, a stinging two-punch combo, and some thudding low kicks of his own.

Pico’s demolishing offense was just too much for him in the end. He walked Higo down with huge shots to the body and head, rocking him badly. Pico poured on the punches and Higo was on the brink. Perhaps he was even too tough for his own good, as the referee inexplicably let him stay in the fight and absorb a ton of shots.

Finally the fight was stopped several seconds after it should have been, giving Pico his third first-round knockout victory of 2018. Watch the highlights via ESPN’s Maximiliano Bretos here:

The post Highlights: Aaron Pico Destroys Leandro Higo In Latest KO Win appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.