Tag: Matt Mitrione

Exclusive: Matt Mitrione Calls His ‘Ultimate Fighter’ Run One Of ‘Least Enjoyable Experiences’ Of His Life

There has recently been a ton of speculation about the future of the UFC’s longtime reality television tournament series, “The Ultimate Fighter.” However, UFC President Dana White claims that the show will continue moving forward after the Las Vegas-based promotion’s ESPN broadcast deal. He went as far as calling the series the hardest thing a […]

The post Exclusive: Matt Mitrione Calls His ‘Ultimate Fighter’ Run One Of ‘Least Enjoyable Experiences’ Of His Life appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

There has recently been a ton of speculation about the future of the UFC’s longtime reality television tournament series, “The Ultimate Fighter.”

However, UFC President Dana White claims that the show will continue moving forward after the Las Vegas-based promotion’s ESPN broadcast deal. He went as far as calling the series the hardest thing a mixed martial artist can do. Show alumnus and Bellator heavyweight Matt Mitrione can attest to that.

He took part in one of the show’s best seasons, “The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights,” featuring coaches “Rampage” Jackson and Rashad Evans. Other competitors on the show included Brendan Schaub, Roy Nelson, Kimbo Slice, Mitrione, and more. Speaking to LowKickMMA, Mitrione called the experience one of the “least enjoyable’ of his entire life.

“The fighting frequently part isn’t that much of an issue. But separating yourself from the outside world, your family, all your comforts, that’s difficult for sure. It was one of the least enjoyable experiences of my entire life. I would do it again, but I wouldn’t do it less for probably a million. Maybe three-quarters of a million, but I wouldn’t do it again unless I really really got paid well.”

Mitrione was defeated last night (Sat. August 24, 2019) in the main event of Bellator 225 by Sergei Kharitonov. There has been a lot of speculation going around that the fight may have been the last on his deal with Bellator, and Mitrione could hit the open market soon.

However, Mitrione recently admitted he’s unsure what his current contractual status with the Viacom-owned promotion is.

What do you make of Mitrione’s comments about his run on TUF?

The post Exclusive: Matt Mitrione Calls His ‘Ultimate Fighter’ Run One Of ‘Least Enjoyable Experiences’ Of His Life appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Bellator 225 Highlights: Kharitonov Takes Advantage Of Mitrione’s Mouthpiece Issues For TKO

Sergei Kharitonov vs. Matt Mitrione I ended in bizarre fashion and the same holds true for their rematch. On Aug. 24, Kharitonov and Mitrione shared the cage in the main event of Bellator 225. The two had competed against each other before, but the bou…

Sergei Kharitonov vs. Matt Mitrione I ended in bizarre fashion and the same holds true for their rematch. On Aug. 24, Kharitonov and Mitrione shared the cage in the main event of Bellator 225. The two had competed against each other before, but the bout ended quickly via No Contest due to Mitrione’s accidental kick […]

The post Bellator 225 Highlights: Kharitonov Takes Advantage Of Mitrione’s Mouthpiece Issues For TKO appeared first on MMA News.

Bellator 225 Highlights: Sergei Kharitonov Thwarts Matt Mitrione

In the main event of Bellator 225 tonight, Sergei Kharitonov picked up a big TKO victory over Matt Mitrione. Mitrione had some serious issues with his mouthpiece, which fell out of his mouth several times in the first round. In the second round, after the mouthpiece fell out again, Mitrione, who was caught with a […]

The post Bellator 225 Highlights: Sergei Kharitonov Thwarts Matt Mitrione appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

In the main event of Bellator 225 tonight, Sergei Kharitonov picked up a big TKO victory over Matt Mitrione.

Mitrione had some serious issues with his mouthpiece, which fell out of his mouth several times in the first round. In the second round, after the mouthpiece fell out again, Mitrione, who was caught with a big knee from Kharitonov, which dropped him. Kharitonov followed up with some ground-and-pound for the wi.

Check out the finish here:

LowKickMMA’s coverage of Bellator 225 has wrapped up, but you can check out our full results from the event here.

The post Bellator 225 Highlights: Sergei Kharitonov Thwarts Matt Mitrione appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Exclusive: Matt Mitrione Unsure Of Bellator Contractual Status Ahead Of Sergei Kharitonov Rematch

Matt Mitrione will return to the Bellator cage tonight (Sat. August 24, 2019) to take on Sergei Kharitonov. The fight will be a rematch from their initial meeting at Bellator 215 this past February. There, Mitrione nailed Kharitonov with a low blow 15 seconds into the fight. The kick was so hard that Kharitonov was […]

The post Exclusive: Matt Mitrione Unsure Of Bellator Contractual Status Ahead Of Sergei Kharitonov Rematch appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Matt Mitrione will return to the Bellator cage tonight (Sat. August 24, 2019) to take on Sergei Kharitonov.

The fight will be a rematch from their initial meeting at Bellator 215 this past February. There, Mitrione nailed Kharitonov with a low blow 15 seconds into the fight. The kick was so hard that Kharitonov was unable to continue, and the fight was ruled a No Contest. Now, the pair get the opportunity to run it back and settle things once and for all.

However, over the past few months there have been a lot of rumors regarding Mitrione’s contractual status with the Viacom-owned promotion. The likes of former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub, a former castmate of Mitrione’s on “The Ultimate Fighter,” suggested his deal with Bellator is nearly up, and the likes of the UFC and ONE Championship are showing great interest in the former NFL defensive lineman.

Speaking to LowKickMMA, Mitrione suggested he’s unsure about where things stand between himself and Bellator contractually. But he does know that any talk with other promotions at this point in time would be tampering. Not to mention, he wants to give Kharitonov the respect he deserves, and is fully focused on their fight tonight.

“I’m not exactly sure. I’ve heard that I’ve had interest and my name value has only increased since I’ve left the UFC and went to Bellator,” Mitrione said. “My exciting brand of fights is still there. I’m glad to hear that people are taking notice that I’m still performing the way I’m expected to perform.

“But as far as I understand, any kind of talk about any type of contracts that aren’t Bellator is tampering, and I’m not trying to get myself into financial trouble for that. So, it’s cool to be wanted and it’s sexy to be wanted but it’s up to me to make sure that I perform at the level that I do.

“If I start thinking about how other places wanted me or the money I can make on my contract, then I’m not giving Kharitonov the respect he deserves.”

Mitrione has been stellar in his run with Bellator since signing with the promotion back in 2016. He racked up a four-fight win streak over notable names such as Fedor Emelianenko and Roy Nelson.

However, he dropped a unanimous decision loss to Ryan Bader in Bellator’s Heavyweight Grand Prix semifinals. After his No Contest with Kharitonov in February, Mitrione hopes to get back into the winner’s circle tonight in the rematch.

Do you think Mitrione should remain with Bellator? Or should he consider a return to the UFC or a journey to Singapore for ONE Championship?

The post Exclusive: Matt Mitrione Unsure Of Bellator Contractual Status Ahead Of Sergei Kharitonov Rematch appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Bellator 225 Results: Matt Mitrione vs. Sergei Kharitonov

Bellator 225 results are underway as the Viacom promotion holds their latest event on television for fight fans around the world to enjoy. It’s once again fight night here at LowKickMMA, and the talent on display tonight (Saturday, August 24, 2019) will come in the form of Bellator 225. Headlining the card are Matt Mitrione […]

The post Bellator 225 Results: Matt Mitrione vs. Sergei Kharitonov appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Bellator 225 results are underway as the Viacom promotion holds their latest event on television for fight fans around the world to enjoy.

It’s once again fight night here at LowKickMMA, and the talent on display tonight (Saturday, August 24, 2019) will come in the form of Bellator 225. Headlining the card are Matt Mitrione and Sergei Kharitonov, but there’s a whole bunch of great fights also taking place on the rest of the main card.

Check out LowKickMMA’s Bellator 225 results here below:

Bellator 225 Results

Main Card (Paramount Network, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Heavyweight: Matt Mitrione vs. Sergei Kharitonov
  • Heavyweight: Vitaly Minakov vs. Javy Ayala
  • Bantamweight: Alejandra Lara vs. Taylor Turner
  • Catchweight (175 pounds): David Rickels vs. Yaroslav Amosov
  • Heavyweight: Tyrell Fortune vs. Rudy Schaffroth

Undercard (DAZN, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Welterweight: Khonry Gracie vs. Oscar Vera
  • Catchweight (165 pounds): Aviv Gozali vs. Eduard Muravitskiy
  • Light heavyweight: Grant Neal vs. Alpha Toure
  • Welterweight: Sabah Homasi vs. Micah Terrill
  • Middleweight: Austin Vanderford vs. Joseph Creer
  • Heavyweight: Tim Johnson vs. Azunna Anyanwu
  • Bantamweight: Ricky Bandejas vs. Ahmet Kayretli
  • Catchweight (140 pounds): Mike Kimbel vs. Chris Disonell
  • Lightweight: Nick Newell vs. Corey Browning
  • Catchweight 165 pounds: Kastriot Xhema vs. Connor Dixon
  • Catchweight (175 pounds): Jon Manley vs. Thiago Rela

**Keep refreshing for live results/LowKickMMA’s coverage of Bellator 225 begins at 6:00 p.m. ET**

The post Bellator 225 Results: Matt Mitrione vs. Sergei Kharitonov appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Matt Mitrione vs. Sergei Kharitonov Rematch Booked For August 24

A rematch between Matt Mitrione and Sergei Kharitonov has been announced for Bellator’s August 24 show at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The two heavyweights first met in the main event of Bellator 215 in February earlier this year. However, their meeting lasted just 15 seconds after an accidental groin kick from Mitrione rendered […]

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A rematch between Matt Mitrione and Sergei Kharitonov has been announced for Bellator’s August 24 show at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

The two heavyweights first met in the main event of Bellator 215 in February earlier this year. However, their meeting lasted just 15 seconds after an accidental groin kick from Mitrione rendered Kharitonov unable to continue, with the fight ruled a no contest.

“I cannot begin to explain how sorry I am for everybody that paid to come to the fight to watch that fight between Sergei and I,” Mitrione said afterwards. “It would’ve been really dope – it would’ve been a great fight. Obviously, it was not intentional – the worst possible situation. Sergei: I’m genuinely sorry. I’m apologetic as I could possibly be.”

They will now get to run things back again for another 25 minutes as their bout will serve as the main event of the Bridgeport show.

Mitrione was looking to bounce back from a unanimous decision defeat to current heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader back in October. He was previously victorious in all four of his Bellator bouts leading up to that setback.

As for Kharitonov, the Russian has lost just once in his last 13 fights dating back to 2012. He is also undefeated in his last seven fights, which include two no contests. His last defeat was a knockout at the hands of Javy Ayala at Bellator 163 back in 2016.

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