Tag: MMA News

CHICAGO, Ill. (August 09, 2010) — Bellator Fighting Championships today announced the signing of former Arizona State University wrestling prodigy and fast-rising mixed martial artist Eric Larkin to its rapidly expanding roster.

The 2003 recipient of the illustrious Dan Hodge Trophy, Larkin captured the 2003 NCAA Division I National Championship at 149 lbs on his way to becoming the only wrestler that year nominated for ESPN’s ESPY Award for best male collegiate athlete. During his time spent wrestling at ASU, Larkin became a four-time All American along with picking up four PAC-10 Championships.

“Eric Larkin’s wrestling pedigree is as good as anyone competing in our sport today,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “Larkin possesses an overwhelming amount of athleticism which gives him huge potential to become a top fighter in the sport. Ben Askren and Joe Warren, both tremendously talented wrestlers, have dominated at Bellator. I’m excited to see if Eric can follow a similar path.”

Following graduation Larkin took a job as the Assistant Coach of the ASU wrestling team where he coached from 2005-2009. After an unsuccessful 2008 Olympic bid, the 30-year-old who had been wrestling since age 11 decided to follow in the footsteps of numerous fellow Sun Devil wrestlers-turned MMA fighters and began training MMA full time.

“Seeing friends of mine from ASU like Ryan Bader, CB Dollaway, and Aaron Simpson get to where they are now in MMA and working out with them all the time let me know that I should make the transition,” said Larkin. “They were always trying to talk me into it and finally I was like, ‘Alright, I’ll do it’.”

The transition has proven successful as Larkin has compiled an unblemished record of 2-0 since making his professional fighting debut in 2009. Larkin currently trains out of The Lions Den in Scottsdale, Arizona and is a close training partner of Bellator Season 2 Welterweight Tournament Champion Ben Askren.

“I have the same outlook on my approach to the fight game that Ben [Askren] does: I’m going to take you down and ground and pound you until someone can stop it,” said Larkin.

Larkin currently walks around at around 164 lbs and plans to make his Bellator debut in the lightweight division before transitioning to featherweight to compete in an upcoming Bellator World Featherweight Tournament.

“I’m really looking forward to testing myself with Bellator. It’s time to gauge myself and see where I’m at,” said Larkin.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.

About Bellator Fighting Championships

Bellator Fighting Championships is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company headquartered in Chicago. Bellator’s founder/CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment professional with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator Fighting Championships’ executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in the areas of live event production, television production, fighter relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.

CHICAGO, Ill. (August 09, 2010) — Bellator Fighting Championships today announced the completion of the Local Feature Fights for Bellator 24 taking place in Hollywood, Fla. at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on August 12th. Joining an exciting lightweight fight between the ever-entertaining Yves Edwards and colorful, highly-regarded South Florida fan favorite Luis Palomino slated as the local main event, the promotion today confirmed four additional talent-rich fights for the Fox Sports Net event.

In a battle of Miami natives, the up-and-coming Nico Parella (2-1) will face Efrain “El Lobo” Ruiz (6-9) in a welterweight contest that will serve as the Local Co-Main Event. Both Parella and Ruiz will be hungry for a win after dropping their last respective fights which should provide fans with an explosive match-up at 170 lbs.

Hometown favorite Moyses Gabin (5-3) will take on Miami-based fighter Frank Carrillo (2-1) in a middleweight fight that is sure to bring fireworks. Both fighters have experience in the Bellator cage. In fact, this will be Gabin’s fourth appearance under the Bellator banner and second fight at The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Just two months ago at Bellator 21 Gabin won in convincing fashion with a slick Rear-Naked-Choke against Chris Boffil with just 20 seconds left in the first round. Carrillo is also coming off of a decisive victory garnered at Bellator 21 where he gained a 3rd round TKO against Sabah Homasi.

Also on the card will be Port St. Lucie, FL native Eric Luke facing off against Miami-based fighter Chino Duran in a featherweight fight.

Kicking off the night will be undefeated Orlando-based bantamweight prospect Brian Eckstein returning to the cage to take on Miami’s Tulio Quintanilla.

“Our Local Feature Fights give up-and-coming fighters a shot to perform on the big stage,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “This local talent combined with our stacked main card should provide a great night of fights.”

Bellator 24’s main card includes:

-A special non-title “Super Fight” between reigning Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard (26-2-1) and former NFL standout Herbert “Whisper” Goodman (15-8);

-An opening-round fight in Bellator’s Women’s World Championship Tournament featuring the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound female fighter, Megumi Fujii, and dangerous veteran Angela Magana, the world’s No. 8-ranked female fighter at 115 lbs.;

-Another opening-round Women’s Tournament fight between the world’s No. 6-ranked 125-pounder, Lynn “Lights Out” Alvarez, and Florida’s Jessica Aguilar, the world’s No.7-ranked 115-pounder; and

-An opening-round fight in Bellator’s Season 3 Heavyweight Tournament between heavy-handed UFC veteran Eddie Sanchez and British power-puncher Neil “Goliath” Grove.

Tickets for the event – which will also be broadcast LIVE nationwide on FOX Sports Net along with action-packed highlight shows that will air on NBC Saturday nights – tickets are on sale now at ticketmaster.com

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.

About Bellator Fighting Championships

Bellator Fighting Championships is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company headquartered in Chicago. Bellator’s founder/CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment professional with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator Fighting Championships’ executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in the areas of live event production, television production, fighter relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.