Olympic wrestler Shanon Slack signs with Bellator
Bellator FC has added unbeaten featherweight Shanon Slack prospect to their roster, an alternate on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team who has won all three of his professional MMA fights. Bellator also announced he will make his debut with the fight promotion against Booker Arthur at Bellator 69 on May 18. “The Bellator featherweight division is tough as hell, and it was a huge reason why... [Read More...]
Bellator cuts Alexis Vila and Masakatsu Ueda after Season 6 tournament losses
Alexis Vila and Masakatsu Ueda were both defeated in the Bellator Season 6 bantamweight tournament and now both are looking for new work, as the fight promotion released them on Monday. Vila (11-2) is a former Olympian who was ousted from the tourney by Luis Nogueira. The 41-year-old Cuban lost in the finals of the Season 5 tournament to newly-crowned champion Eduardo Dantas, never recapturing the... [Read More...]
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney: “There’s no way to survive and be successful in this type of business if you’re anything less than on.”
Despite differences in demeanor, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney works in much the same manner as UFC President Dana White. As the key figurehead in the promotion, Rebney is someone MMA fans and media look to for insight and news on Bellator. However, he isn’t quite cut from the same mold as White, who tends to be a little more outspoken. Rebney and Bellator will replace the UFC on Spike TV in 2013... [Read More...]
Bellator reality show headed to Spike TV in 2013
Get ready to move over TUF, because there’s about to be a new MMA-based reality show in town! According to an official announcement from Spike TV, the network will begin broadcasting a series focused on Bellator starting in 2013. To assist with production Emmy-winning reality show creator/executive Bertram van Munster will helm the effort. Spike TV will also feature live Bellator events next year... [Read More...]
Bellator heavyweight Blagoi Ivanov suffers serious injury in club stabbing
Blagoi Ivanov, a former Combat Sambo world champion, has suffered life-threatening injuries after a stabbing at a nightclub in Bulgaria over the weekend. Ivanov is currently signed to Bellator’s heavyweight roster, having won his first two fights with the promotion. The Sofia News Agency reported that Ivanov and two of his friends were attacked by eight people carrying bats and knives at a club late... [Read More...]
Bellator signs former Strikeforce welterweight Marius Zaromskis
Bellator’s roster got a little deeper over the past week with the addition of Lithuanian kickboxer Marius Zaromskis, a fighter most fans likely remember for his stint in Strikeforce as well as a series of highlight reel head-kick knockouts under the DREAM banner. He is currently on a two-fight winning streak with his most recent performance coming in November where he finished Bruno Carvalho with... [Read More...]
Bellator adds Russian prospect Magomed Saadulaev to lightweight division
Magomed Saadulaev is coming to Bellator, as the once-beaten Russian is expected to join the 155-pound division for the fight promotion. Saadulaev (14-1) had competed at welterweight previously in his career, racking up eight wins via submission. He is currently on a three-fight winning streak. While his exact debut is unknown, Saadulaev is not expected to compete in Bellator’s upcoming lightweight... [Read More...]
Former TUF finalist Kris McCray headed to Bellator
Kris McCray, who made it to the finals of The Ultimate Fighter Season 11, has signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator Fighting Championships and will debut in the upcoming season. McCray (7-3) was defeated by Court McGee in 2010 in the finals of TUF 11 and dropped two more bouts inside the Octagon thereafter, forcing his release. Since his stint in the UFC, McCray has won two fights on the regional... [Read More...]
Back to jail for War Machine; Bellator debut called off
War Machine’s Bellator debut has been put on hold after the controversial competitor was sentenced to a year in jail earlier this week. The charge stems from an case unrelated to the one causing him to serve a similar sentence previously. Machine (a.k.a. Jon Koppenhaver) confirmed the news of his impending sentence on his Twitter account, writing, “Seems my year in jail wasn’t enough. Just got... [Read More...]
War Machine vs. Karl Amoussou booked for Bellator welterweight tournament
Though not officially announced, it looks like the first match-up from the Bellator Season 6 welterweight tournament is in place with one of the involved participants confirming such to be true through Twitter. According to War Machine (i.e. the artist formerly known as Jon Koppenhaver), he has been paired against French finisher Karl Amoussou for a bout on March 30. Presumably the three other quarterfinal... [Read More...]
War Machine added to Bellator’s upcoming welterweight tournament
The fighter now known as War Machine is one of two confirmed entrants into the Bellator Season 6 Welterweight Tournament. Real name Jon Koppenhaver, the controversial competitor and Carlos Alexandre Pereira became the first two men in the eight-man field and will take to the cage in respective bouts once the tournament kicks off in March on MTV2/EPIX. News of their addition to the festivities was... [Read More...]
Roberto Vargas rounds out Bellator Season 6 featherweight field
The sixth season of Bellator’s tournament-style competition will begin in March and the upcoming featherweight field is now set. Roberto Vargas has been added to round out the eight-man tourney, bringing his 12-1 overall record to the table. Vargas will be joined by Jeremy Spoon, Genair da Silva, Marlon Sandro, Alexandre Bezerra, Ronnie Mann, Wagnney Fabiano, and Daniel Straus. Combined the eight... [Read More...]
Bellator featherweight tourney adds Jeremy Spoon
Jeremy Spoon will put his undefeated record on the line when he steps into action during the Bellator Season 6 Featherweight Tournament. Spoon (12-0) has won a pair of fights inside Bellator, stopping Adam Schindler for his most recent victory. Spoon is joined by Genair da Silva, Marlon Sandro, Alexandre Bezerra, Ronnie Mann, Wagnney Fabiano, and Daniel Straus. The featherweight tournament, which will... [Read More...]
Marlon Sandro added to Bellator’s upcoming featherweight tourney
Marlon Sandro was oh-so-close to achieving greatness earlier this year when the Brazilian featherweight lost in the finals of the Bellator Summer Series tournament to Pat Curran. Now, with the sixth season of Bellator’s tournament schedule set to begin, Sandro is entering the featherweight bracket once again. Sandro holds a career record of 20-3, including a championship in SRC. Over his last... [Read More...]
Daniel Straus, Alexandre Bezerra added to Bellator Season 6 Featherweight Tournament
The Bellator featherweight tournament continues to grow as officials have announced that top 145 prospect Alexandre Bezerra and season four featherweight finalist Daniel Straus will take part in the season six 145 tournament. The two men join Wagnney Fabiano and Ronnie Mann as the other announced participants. Bezerra has been very impressive in his Bellator run thus far, winning his first four fights... [Read More...]
Wagnney Fabiano scheduled to be part of the Bellator season six featherweight tournament
With their season six bantamweight tournament set, Bellator is now filling out their featherweight tournament and they’ve recently added Wagnney Fabiano, one of the top 145 lb competitors in the world, to the line up. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney announced the signing on Twitter. A former IFL featherweight champ, Fabiano was thought to be the second best 145-pound fighter in the world (behind Urijah... [Read More...]
Bellator sets Season 6 Bantamweight Tournament field
Travis Marx is the eighth and final entrant into the Bellator season six bantamweight tournament, joining the likes of Marcos Galvao and Luis Nogueira in the field. The tournament will begin in March on MTV2, with a championship match against either current champ Zach Makovsky or No. 1 contender and season five winner Eduardo Dantas on the line. Also, the victor receives $100,000. Marx (18-3) will... [Read More...]
Bellator sets up next bantamweight tournament for Season 6
Bellator’s upcoming bantamweight tournament is starting to take shape, as several fighters have been signed to the sixth season event. Among those set to compete for a shot at current Bellator bantamweight champion Zack Makovsky are Marcos Galvao, Luis “Betao” Nogueira, Rodrigo “Ratinho” Lima, Ed West, and Masakatsu Ueda. Galvao, Nogueira and West have Bellator experience, while Lima and... [Read More...]
Bellator signs War Machine…again
It’s not often people are given second chances in life so rest assured War Machine, formerly known as Jon Koppenhaver, woke up this morning fully grasping how fortunate he’s been since his release from prison earlier this year. According to an official press release from Bellator FC, the Ultimate Fighter alumnus turned adult film star turned felon has inked a deal with the organization with the... [Read More...]
Bellator shifting events to Friday nights in 2012
Bellator Fighting Championships has tried Thursday and Saturday nights to reach the most MMA fans possible. Now, beginning in 2012, Bellator will give Fridays a go on MTV2/EPIX. “Our focus was to find the right night, where the largest number of MMA fans could enjoy the show,” said CEO Bjorn Rebney in a press release on the move. “We’ve been discussing this move with our partners at Viacom... [Read More...]
