Filed under: Bellator, NewsA hand injury has forced Patricio “Pitbull” Freire to undergo surgery, scuttling plans for his Bellator featherweight title shot against Joe Warren. So instead, Bellator will go to plan B.
A hand injury has forced Patricio “Pitbull” Freire to undergo surgery, scuttling plans for his Bellator featherweight title shot against Joe Warren. So instead, Bellator will go to plan B.
By virtue of his recent 2011 Summer Series featherweight tournament win, Pat Curran was next in line after Freire, but now he’s been bumped ahead with Freire on the shelf, and Curran will face off with Warren at an early 2012 event.
The promotion confirmed the bout on Tuesday, but has not yet finalized an exact date for the title fight.
This will be Curran’s second shot at a Bellator championship. In 2010, he won a lightweight tournament and advanced to face reigning champ Eddie Alvarez, but lost a unanimous decision. Afterward, he dropped to featherweight and impressed during his three fights through the bracket, defeating Luis Palomino via submission, Ronnie Mann by decision, and then stopping pre-tournament favorite Marlon Sandro in a second-round knockout.
Curran is 16-4 overall.
Warren (7-2) recently attempted to become a two-division champion in Bellator, hoping to add a bantamweight belt to his collection, but in a first-round fight with Alexis Vila, he was knocked out in just 64 seconds. He previously won the 145-pound belt in September 2010 with a KO of Joe Soto. This will be his first title defense.
Freire (17-1), who won a season four featherweight tournament, will eventually take on the winner of Curran-Warren. The promotion confirmed that Freire’s surgery was expected to keep him out of the gym for three months.
Filed under: DREAM, UFC, Bellator, Rankings, FeatherweightsJose Aldo is continuing to run roughshod over the rest of the featherweight division, improving his professional MMA record to 20-1 with a unanimous decision victory over Kenny Florian at UFC 1…
Jose Aldo is continuing to run roughshod over the rest of the featherweight division, improving his professional MMA record to 20-1 with a unanimous decision victory over Kenny Florian at UFC 136. So does anyone at 145 have a chance against Aldo?
So far it hasn’t looked like it. It’s not just that Aldo has won every single one of his fights since coming to North America at WEC 34 in 2008. It’s that none of his fights have been close. He’s shifted from being a knockout artist to usually winning one-sided decisions, but he really hasn’t been tested by anyone.
Is Chad Mendes the man to change that? He’s certainly the most worthy challenger to Aldo’s title. We’ll run down the top of the featherweight division below.
Top 10 featherweights in MMA (Number in parentheses is the fighter’s previous ranking.)
1. Jose Aldo (1): After struggling to cut down to 145 pounds, Aldo has talked about moving up to lightweight, but I think that would be a mistake. I don’t think he has the frame for 155, and I think he’d really struggle against big lightweight wrestlers. In fact, I think he might struggle against a good featherweight wrestler like …
2. Chad Mendes (2): The undefeated Mendes was a good college wrestler and may be the opponent to put Aldo on his back and keep him there. If there’s anyone in the featherweight division who represents a threat to Aldo, it’s Mendes.
3. Hatsu Hioki (3): Hioki is the big question mark in the UFC‘s featherweight division. He’s about to make his UFC debut after going on a great run in Japan, and if he can make the adjustment to the cage and the North American unified rules, he could be a title contender: Hioki’s reach, high-volume striking and active guard make him a tough puzzle to solve. Unfortunately, the recent track record of Japanese fighters coming to the U.S. has not been good. Hioki makes his debut against George Roop at UFC 137.
4. Pat Curran (NR): Curran has looked sensational since dropping from lightweight to featherweight, and after seeing him knock out Marlon Sandro, I think he’s the best featherweight outside the UFC. Bellator has a strong featherweight division, and fights with Joe Warren or Patricio “Pitbull” Freire would be great matchups for Curran.
5. Erik Koch (8): Koch looked good in his September victory over Jonathan Brookins, which improved his record to 13-1, with the only loss coming against Mendes. At age 23, Koch has a very bright future ahead of him.
6. Mark Hominick (7): After taking several months off following his loss to Aldo, Hominick will return at UFC 140 against Chan Sung Jung in what should be an outstanding battle.
7. Kenny Florian (4): It’s tough to see where Florian goes from here. He’s good enough that he’s earned three title shots in his career, but not good enough to win any of them, or even be competitive in any of them. And at age 35, with 20 pro fights under his belt, it’s not like he’s suddenly going to get a lot better. Still, I hope we haven’t seen the last of Florian. He can have a gatekeeper role at either featherweight or lightweight, even if he’s done fighting for belts.
8. Tyson Griffin (NR): Featherweight — not lightweight — has always been the right weight class for Griffin. It was the right weight class for him when he beat Urijah Faber in 2005, and it’s the right weight class for him now, after he’s moved back down from lightweight and beaten Manny Gamburyan. Up next for Griffin is a featherweight fight with another former lightweight, Bart Palaszewski, at UFC 137.
9. Tatsuya Kawajiri (NR): Another former lightweight dropping down, Kawajiri put on a good show in submitting Joachim Hansen at Dream.17. I’d like to see the UFC add Kawajiri to its featherweight roster.
10. Dustin Poirier (9): The 22-year-old Poirier is a rising star at featherweight. He gets Pablo Garza on the undercard of the November 12 UFC on Fox event.
TUF 14 cast revealed. International TUF in the works for Australia vs. United Kingdom. Chael Sonnen wouldn’t fight friend and training partner, Yushin Okami; and still wants Anderson Silva title-shot or not, since he’s “already.
Rachelle Leah and Brittney Palmer were out on the town last night in Los Angeles, celebrating Leah’s birthday. More pics below of the fun-filled birthday bash, which left Leah tweeting:
So while we’re waiting on KarmaAteMyCat to deliver some videos from last night’s Bellator 48, let’s talk about the action, shall we? With all of the excitement from last night’s event, it only makes sense to start with Cole Konrad vs. Paul Buentello. Yes, they fought. Yes, Cole Konrad won in unspectacular fashion. Yes, we can now stop talking about this fight.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the evening was Pat Curran’s dramatic head kick knockout of former Sengoku champion Marlon Sandro. Despite being in trouble early on, Pat Curran kept his composure and unleashed a brutal roundhouse kick. With his victory, Pat Curran becomes the first fighter to win a Bellator tournament in two different weight classes. I’m not sure what I’m looking forward to more: Pat Curran’s inevitable clash with Joe Warren, or the confused look on his banker’s face when he tries to cash that oversized check.
So while we’re waiting on KarmaAteMyCat to deliver some videos from last night’s Bellator 48, let’s talk about the action, shall we? With all of the excitement from last night’s event, it only makes sense to start with Cole Konrad vs. Paul Buentello. Yes, they fought. Yes, Cole Konrad won in unspectacular fashion. Yes, we can now stop talking about this fight.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the evening was Pat Curran’s dramatic head kick knockout of former Sengoku champion Marlon Sandro. Despite being in trouble early on, Pat Curran kept his composure and unleashed a brutal roundhouse kick. With his victory, Pat Curran becomes the first fighter to win a Bellator tournament in two different weight classes. I’m not sure what I’m looking forward to more: Pat Curran’s inevitable clash with Joe Warren, or the confused look on his banker’s face when he tries to cash that oversized check.
Seth Petruzelli also surprised everyone with his dominant performance against Ricco Rodriguez. Petruzelli managed to forge the black belt grappler into a striking contest, eventually culminating with a hard right hand to Ricco’s jaw. According to MMAFighting.com, Petruzelli more than likely secured a spot in next season’s light-heavyweight tournament. Given last season’s light-heavyweights, Petruzelli has to be an early favorite to challenge Christian M’Pumbu for Bellator’s light-heavyweight title. If it works out that way, it’ll be a good test for both fighters. As for Ricco Rodriguez, he vows that he isn’t going back to can crushing and plans on fighting for Bellator again. Whether he gets another chance with the promotion or not is to be seen.
Pat Curran def. Marlon Sandro via KO (head kick) – Round 2, 4:00 (featherweight-tourney finale)
Champ Cole Konrad def. Paul Buentello via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) (heavyweight non-title fight)
Seth Petruzelli def. Ricco Rodriguez via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:21
Rene Nazare def. Juan Barrantes via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) – Round 2, 5:00
Preliminary Card
Jeff Nader def. Dan Cramer via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:04
Nik Fekete def. Mark Griffin via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 3:12
Andrew Calandrelli def. Matt Nice via submission (keylock) – Round 1, 3:55
Ryan Quinn def. Brett Oteri via technical submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:48
Saul Almeida def. Tateki Matsuda via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Filed under: Bellator, NewsUNCASVILLE, Conn. — If everything goes according to Joe Warren’s plans, he might find himself to be the busiest fighter in MMA. Warren, who is Bellator’s reigning featherweight champion, is moving forward with plans to enter…
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — If everything goes according to Joe Warren‘s plans, he might find himself to be the busiest fighter in MMA. Warren, who is Bellator‘s reigning featherweight champion, is moving forward with plans to enter the promotion’s upcoming bantamweight tournament field. But he also has two other fighters waiting for dates against him with hopes of wresting that featherweight belt from his grasp.
So in what order will he tackle his many tasks? According to Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney, Warren is locked and loaded for the bantamweight tournament, where he’ll take on former Cuban Olympic wrestler Alexis Vila in September.
But after that, things get tricky.
Of course, if Warren beats Vila, he’ll advance, and if he makes it through to the tournament finale, he’ll be booked up until November. That will leave current No. 1 contender Patricio “Pitbull” Freire waiting … or not. Pitbull is currently recovering from a broken hand and his return date is yet undetermined.
If he’s healthy, he’d get the first featherweight title shot at Warren, but there’s another guy in line right behind him, and that’s Pat Curran, who punched his ticket to face-off for gold by knocking out Marlon Sandro at Saturday night’s Bellator 48.
Curran could potentially face either Warren or Pitbull, depending on who emerges from their bout with the belt. But it may be a while for that to happen. That may not be the worst thing for Curran, who has fought four times in the last four months and could probably use a break.
Rebney said Pitbull should get back into training in the next three to four weeks, and would likely need at least two months of camp before facing Warren.
So things will depend mainly on how far Warren advances and how quickly Sandro’s hand heals.
“If Joe … wins the bantamweight tournament and earns the right to fight [champion] Zach [Makovsky], then he could conceptually have three world title fights in a row,” Rebney said.
Here’s one more wrinkle for fun: Warren has brought up the possibility of trying to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in wrestling. Think there’s a back log of fighters waiting to get at him now? It might only get worse.
“It’ll play itself out, but it’ll be interesting theater to watch it play itself out,” Rebney said.
Filed under: Bellator, NewsUNCASVILLE, Conn. — Pat Curran is back for a second chance at gold.
Curran, who lost a Bellator lightweight title fight against Eddie Alvarez in April and then dropped to featherweight, won his second Bellator tournament, t…
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Pat Curran is back for a second chance at gold.
Curran, who lost a Bellator lightweight title fight against Eddie Alvarez in April and then dropped to featherweight, won his second Bellator tournament, this time knocking the highly regarded Marlon Sandro cold with a spectacular headkick finish at Bellator 48.
With the win, Curran gets in line to face the winner of the upcoming tilt between current champ Joe Warren and challenger Patricio “Pitbull” Freire.
Curran spent most of the first two rounds getting peppered by Sandro, who utilized a speed advantage to get to him repeatedly. But during an exchange late in the second round, Sandro looked to keep away from Curran’s offense with active head movement. In the fight’s most fateful moment, he ducked under what he thought was going to be a punch. Instead it was a right high kick, and Curran connected perfectly, sending Sandro crashing to the canvas. The fight could have been over right then, but Curran was able to land a pair of finishing blows before the referee stepped in to save Sandro from further damage.
“I listened to my corners, look low and kick high,” Curran said after the fight. “I just timed it right. I saw him bobbing and weaving, but his hand wasn’t blocking. It landed right on his chin.”
Sandro, who had been so good up until that point, looked devastated after he returned to his corner. The Brazilian bomber appeared at the post-fight press conference but he spent most of it shaking his head and with a faraway look on his face, probably re-running the finish in his mind.
“Congratulations to Pat, but I will be back and better for the next fight,” he said.
It became the second unlikely tournament win for Curran, who was signed into Bellator at the recommendation of his cousin, UFC fighter Jeff Curran prior to the season two lightweight tournament. He got the eighth and final slot in the field, and worked his way through the field before losing to Alvarez in the final.
Curran said the loss lit a fire under him, and he was impressive throughout in the featherweight field, finishing two of his three fights.
He’ll have a while to wait until he cashes in his title shot, but he might not mind the layoff; he’s fought four times in four months.
“The sky’s the limit,” he said. “I’m just going to go back to the gym, work hard and keep improving.”
In the co-main event, Bellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad returned for the first time in 10 months, and emerged victorious with a unanimous decision win over Paul Buentello in a non-title bout.
The unbeaten Konrad has taken criticism in the best for his wrestling-heavy style, but against the standup specialist Buentello, Konrad spent most of the fight competing in his opponent’s favored position.
Konrad flashed an improved striking game, particularly a strong jab, but never came close to finishing Buentello. Still, it was more than enough for an easy decision by scores of 30-27, 30-27, 29-28.
“I had fun and learned a lot,” Konrad said. “I wanted to prove I can exchange punches with a standup fighter. I’m happy. I’m progressing everyday. That’s the goal.”
Konrad moved to 8-0 with the victory.
Seth Petruzelli made his Bellator debut with a flourish, scoring a first-round TKO over former UFC champion Ricco Rodriguez in a tremendous performance.
Petruzelli flashed his varied standup game, mixing things up with leg kicks, high kicks and head shots. The end came after a pair of spin kicks led to an opening and Petruzelli threaded the needle with a right hand to the jaw that put Rodriguez down.
Petruzelli (14-6) followed with a pair of double hammerfists from the top, and Rodriguez was out for the TKO.
Afterward, Petruzelli said that he hopes to get a slot in Bellator’s next 205-pound tournament and capture a title in the division.
“That light-heavyweight belt has my name written on it, and I’m coming for it, man,” he said.
Rodriguez had a 12-fight win streak snapped with the loss. He fell to 46-12.
“I have to go back to the drawing board,” he said. “I’m not done.”
In the final main card fight, unbeaten Rene Nazare kept his perfect record intact, stopping Juan Barrantes after the second round when the cageside doctor called a halt to the action. Barrantes’ right eye was swollen shut after a pounding over the first 10 minutes.
Nazare controlled the action both standing and on the ground during the duration, but simply couldn’t get the finish as Barrantes withstood his barrages and defended on the ground. But after the second round, his face was bloodied and a quick look by the doctor sealed his fate.
A hand injury has forced Patricio “Pitbull” Freire to undergo surgery, scuttling plans for his Bellator featherweight title shot against Joe Warren. So instead, Bellator will go to plan B.
Jose Aldo
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — If everything goes according to 
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Pat Curran is back for a second chance at gold.