Fedor Emelianenko will challenge heavyweight champion Ryan Bader in his retirement fight, and Vadim Nemkov fresh off his grand prix title win over Corey Anders will defend his light heavyweight belt against Yoel Romero . Danis, who gained notoriety as a training partner and friend of former UFC dual champion Conor McGregor, signed with Bellator in 2017 but has competed only twice for the promotion. Sign up for the MMA Junkie newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. However, in spite of my hate for casual narratives, I cant help but see the promotional fast-tracking of Nurmagomedov paying off in this spot. Who has Usman fought to deserve the title?". Fighting professionally since 2005, theres very little that Freire hasnt seen at this point. + 5 submission wins Bellator 286 - Pitbull vs. Borics pits Patricio Pitbull Freire vs Adam The Kid Borics fight in The Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, California, United States on Oct 1, 2022. Who will leave Las Vegas on Saturday with the UFC 205-pound title? Per DAZN, the main card for Bellator 285 in Dublin will start from the following international times: Pacific Time 1 PM on Friday, September 23 rd Eastern Time 4 PM on Friday, September 23 rd Follow the action on NBA scores, schedules, stats, news, Team and Player news. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2022/11/bellator-president-scott-coker-dillon-danis-frustrating, Danis scuffled with British YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI and was punched by Anthony Taylor, physical altercation with former UFC star Nate Diaz, will fight KSI on Jan. 14 in a DAZN pay-per-view boxing match, friend of former UFC dual champion Conor McGregor, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Raul Rosas Jr. has things like a winter formal and a senior prom to look forward to, but he can't stop talking about winning a UFC title. Bellator's bantamweight grand prix final is set, but it wasn't without a little controversy. ^ Coming forward or off the counter "He kicks very well. Please check your email for a confirmation. What do you make of these comments? For the first time since 2019, Benson Henderson has won back-to-back fights. The industry pioneer in UFC, Bellator and all things MMA (aka Ultimate Fighting). Get Ultimate Fighting Championship news including UFC News, Stories, Analysis, Results, Highlights & more As the weekend approached, however, the biggest promotions in the sport hosted events, which allowed them an opportunity to pay their respects. The 17-year pro also keeps a solid level-changing double in his back pocket that he likes to use to either even out striking exchanges or put a stamp on rounds. Originally coming onto the scene as Conor McGregors jiu-jitsu coach, Danis quickly began making a name of his own. Usman Nurmagomedov and Patricky Pitbull have a lot more in common than one might think at first glance. Following Bellator 288 last weekend, the promoter gave his thoughts on the submission artists move to boxing. Rountree, the Season 23 Ultimate Fighter runner-up, has back-to-back wins after a rough patch Raul Rosas Jr. has things like a winter formal and a senior prom to look forward to, but he can't stop talking about winning a UFC title. + Dangerous flying knee "We have been working tirelessly on growing this brand into the global powerhouse it is today and a primetime slot on CBS has always been one of our key objectives," Bellator president Scott Coker said in a statement. COLLEGE FOOTBALL. Reach: 72, Stance/striking style: Switch-stance/kickboxing. Sound off in the comment section below PENN Nation! That latter fight was the last time that Danis competed in the cage. Tai Tuivasa is fighting this Saturday and then looking forward to some much-needed time off.. Whether hes blanketing foes with their backs to the mat or punishing them as they try to get back to their base, Nurmagomedov applies the methodical and crushing pressure that you would associate with his brand. Who deserves what is not a conversation that interests Usman Nurmagomedov, but he has the remedy for skeptics. He has since gone 4-2, losing to Bader and Matt Mitrione while holding wins over UFC veterans Frank Mir, Chael Sonnen, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Timothy Johnson. The aftermath of Anthony Johnson's unexpected death is still rippling through the MMA community.. Johnson, a former UFC title challenger and one-time Bellator fighter, succumbed to his battle with illness, leaving the fight world to cope with the loss of Rumble and reflect on his life.. Countless fighters have expressed their condolences and memories through When he acquired Danis, Coker believed in him. Although we see his patent flying knee a lot less these days, Freire will still change things up when feeling in stride by occasionally switching to southpaw to let strikes go. However, he first has his DAZN pay-per-view headliner with, Cain Velasquez requests permission to compete in Lucha Libre wrestling event while on bail, Michael Chandler hits back at accusations of being a dirty fighter in Dustin Poirier fight: Youre just in there trying to survive. + Dangerous right hand In 2017, the submission ace signed with Bellator. 2:24 pm ET, Pimblett remains undefeated, beats Gordon, Teixeira vs. Hill title fight added to UFC 283, Rosas Jr. becomes youngest winner in UFC history, UFC 282 odds, parlay, best bets, prop picks, Emelianenko vs. Bader set for Bellator 290, Rosas Jr., 18, sets record in UFC debut with victory, Former champion Dillashaw retires, per reports, Pavlovich smashes Tuivasa in under one minute, Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson fight set for UFC 249 in April, McGregor set to return at UFC 246 in January vs. 'Cowboy'. 6-keys: media/spln/mma/reg/free/stories, at It was Karolina Kowalkiewicz (14-7 MMA) vs Silvana Gome Juarez (11-5 MMA) in the womens strawweight bout last Saturday night, November 12th at UFC 281 which took place at Madison Square Garden, New York City. Check out the full interview with Usman Nurmagomedov below. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie. Subscribe to Morning Kombat with Luke Thomas and Brian Campbellfor the best analysis and in-depth news, including reaction to the news of Bellator 290 below. During Fridays Bellator 288 event in Chicago, the organization aired a touching video tribute to Johnson. Check out the full interview with Patricky Pitbull below. That said, someone like Freire should be all too familiar with front chokes considering who his main training partner is. Making quiet strides in his wrestling under the care of Eric Albarracin, Freire has really improved his ability to defend and control the takedown traffic in his fights (particularly when being pressed up against the fence). CBS Sports features live scoring, news, stats, and player info for NFL football, MLB baseball, NBA basketball, NHL hockey, college basketball and football. "He's very dangerous, for sure, but I don't believe he deserves the title. Henderson outgrappled and outclassed Peter Queally in the main event of Bellator 285 on Friday evening. The co-main event for Bellator 288 features a lightweight title fight between two men who are familiar with kicks and their associated counters. The legendary career of former PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko will come to an end in 2023. Debut in Colorado, Jarred Brooks Dominates Joshua Pacio, Captures Strawweight Crown at ONE 164, Anatoliy Malykhin Annihilates Reinier de Ridder in ONE on Prime Video 5 Main Event, ONE on Prime Video 5 De Ridder vs. Malykhin Play-by-Play & Results, One Championship Partners With Fan Duel to Broadcast Events on FanDuel TV, Petchtanong Upends Akimoto, Kryklia Crushes Azizpour at One Championship 163. The industry pioneer in UFC, Bellator and all things MMA (aka Ultimate Fighting). Im not sure what to think about it, Coker told reporters, including MMA Junkie, after Bellator 288 in Chicago. Bellator's bantamweight grand prix final is set, but it wasn't without a little controversy. Glover Teixeira vs. Jamahal Hill for vacant title, UFC 282: Official scorecards fromLas Vegas, Paddy Pimblett def. MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the Bellators top bouts. All Ive got to say to Anthony and to Dillon: You shouldnt be out there fighting for free. Countless fighters have expressed their condolences and memories through interviews and on social media. Even against credentialed wrestlers like Chris Gonzalez, Nurmagomedov has been able to comport himself well inside in tie-ups, creating clever scramble opportunities that led him to a slick font-choke finish. pic.twitter.com/xQXFBrUDVt, BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) November 19, 2022, We pay tribute to Anthony "Rumble" Johnson pic.twitter.com/E2obbW7FwF, Sign up for the MMA Junkie newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. The aftermath of Anthony Johnson's unexpected death is still rippling through the MMA community. After debuting with the Japanese promotion in 2002 with wins over Semmy Schilt and Heath Herring, Emelianenko won the PRIDE heavyweight championship with a win over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in the first fight of their tremendous rivalry. Although Freire will seldom flex his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt when fighting inside the cage, the 36-year-old has done a decent job of staying out of compromising positions throughout the years (outside of his lone submission loss to Lloyd Woodard in an underrated barn burner, that is). That was the case this past Friday when Danis scuffled with British YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI and was punched by Anthony Taylor during a brawl at a DAZN event. Emelianenko will fight for one final time when he faces heavyweight champion Ryan Bader for the title inside the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California at Bellator 290 on Feb. 4. The UFC heavyweight returns to action at UFC on ESPN 42 in Orlando, as hes set to take on Sergei Pavlovich (16-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) on the main card of the event. After all, it had already been announced that Yoel Romero would be next in line to challenge for light heavyweight gold prior to Bellator 288 this past weekend. Bam Bam plans on getting his hand When asked about the situation, Coker was at a loss. His career record stands at 40-6. We signed him, we wanted to develop him, we wanted him to come into our system and start fighting, fight tougher guys and work your way up, but I think he got sidetracked a little bit. Your mom can pour you tea and you can stay at home.' He avenged a doctor stoppage loss to Peter Queally to capture the title -- a title vacated by his younger brother and arguably Bellator's all-time best fighter, Patricio Pitbull. El Jefe has been a controversial figure since making his way into the MMA world. Emelianenko became an MMA legend during his stint with PRIDE FC. + Excellent wrestling ability The elderly are leaving and the new generation is coming.". "You're training for two hours straight -- constant training and training -- and you can't stop. Nurmagomedov is 4-0 in Bellator and 15-0 overall but has not defeated a single person currently ranked in the Bellator lightweight top 10. Please check your email for a confirmation. Bader went on to lose the light heavyweight title to Vadim Nemkov. Jared Gordon at UFC 282: Best photos, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy, Height: 57 Age: 36 Weight: 155 lbs. Both are trying to live up to a storied family legacy and both are trying to erase any doubts about their ability inside the cage. Until then, Pitbull is under the impression that his opponent earned his status as the No. Now he laments how the past few years have unfolded. section: | slug: bellator-288-usman-nurmagomedov-patricky-pitbull-fight-for-family-legacy-respect-and-the-lightweight-title | sport: mma | route: article_single.us | CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: mma | pageType: stories | If he sees you stop, he might even kick you out of the gym," Usman Nurmagomedov told CBS Sports. Do you agree? The card will air live on CBS, the first time the promotion has aired live on the network and the first time MMA has been live on CBS since 2010. + Consistent pace and pressure To me, he had a lot of potential. Former UFC and Strikeforce star Josh Thomson has spoken about one of the only regrets he has from his life. But if Bellator puts me against him, let's go. DAZN is the world's first truly dedicated live sports streaming service. Youre a professional prize fighter. Bellator President Scott Coker isnt super thrilled with Dillon Daniss new career choice. Pursue your dreams and take your day trading to the next level. To me, he had a lot of potential. Nurmagomedov is also good about finding the body of his opposition, whether hes utilizing simple body jabs or well-timed spinning sidekicks. Let's f---ing go. Available in US on Smart TV, mobile devices & more. "Everybody wants to get better, everybody is hungry and everybody is learning every day. + Bellator lightweight champ "I beat Peter Queally and I finished him in the second round. His latest antics have resulted in a booking as Danis, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist, will fight KSI on Jan. 14 in a DAZN pay-per-view boxing match in London. This will be the third fight of 2022 for Tuivasa (15-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC). section: | slug: bellator-290-fedor-emelianenko-set-for-retirement-bout-against-ryan-bader-in-february-showdown-on-cbs | sport: mma | route: article_single.us | From feints to prodding jabs that pull out his opponents returns, Freire, like his brother, has a knack for creating and finding counter opportunities. He also lost to Corey Anderson in the Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix. After a 27-fight win streak that saw him compete in Rings, PRIDE, Affliction and Strikeforce, Emelianenko lost three fights in the Strikeforce organization. Once able to establish his distance, it typically doesnt take long for the Dagestani fighter to find his opponents legs through mimicked stances and crushing calf kicks. CBS is getting back into MMA with Bellator, the promotion owned by the networks parent conglomerate, Paramount Global. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-bellator-tribute-videos-anthony-rumble-johnson-death, Watch every Anthony Johnson knockout and TKO in the UFC, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Bellator President Scott Coker isnt super thrilled with Dillon Daniss new career choice. Islam Makhachev recently defeated Charles Oliveira for the UFC lightweight championship, joining the team's illustrious hall of champions with veterans like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Luke Rockhold, Daniel Cormier and Cain Velasquez. Following Bellator 288 last weekend, the promoter gave his thoughts on the submission artists move to boxing. The industry pioneer in UFC, Bellator and all things MMA (aka Ultimate Fighting). Since then, Dillon Danis has become a big name for his life outside the cage. This marks the third UFC main event in four fights for Rodriguez (16-1-2). ^ Defensively and offensively And so we cant make him do it, hes got to want to do it, but right now hes doing something else., Sign up for the MMA Junkie newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. This latest Danis fiasco happened less than a week after he was in the middle of a physical altercation with former UFC star Nate Diaz outside of Madison Square Garden at UFC 281. Day Trading Courses taught by day trader and 2017 Nominee for Best Educator, Ross Cameron. Please check your email for a confirmation. He was one of the best jiu-jitsu guys on the planet at one time, Coker said. Raul Rosas Jr. has things like a winter formal and a senior prom to look forward to, but he can't stop talking about winning a UFC title. + Works well from topside, + Freestyle wrestling base The oddsmakers and public are heavily siding with the challenger, listing Nurmagomedov -660 and Freire +490 via Tipico Sportsbook. COLLEGE BASKETBALL MEN. Despite my official pick and analysis, I dont agree with the betting line being steamed this wide due to the popularity of both undefeated records and the last name Nurmagomedov.. I will show everyone on Nov. Pitbull was granted a shot at the vacant Bellator lightweight crown coming off two losses. The win made Bader, who also held the light heavyweight championship, a two-division champion. The following year, the jiu-jitsu expert made his Bellator debut against Kyle Walker (2-5). CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: mma | pageType: stories | More comfortable controlling range off of his backfoot, Freire has gotten a lot better when it comes to managing his pacing in a fight. Topics include the fallout of Bellator 288 and UFC Vegas 65, Dillon Danis, James Krause, PFL pay-per-view, Khamzat Chimaev vs. Alex Pereira, and more. Im not sure what the tactics there are.. 6-keys: media/spln/mma/reg/free/stories, at The co-main event will feature Yoel Romero challenging for the light heavyweight championship against the winner of the Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix finals between champion Vadim Nemkov and challenger Corey Anderson. Throughout the course of his mixed martial arts career, Josh Thomson did a pretty great job of entertaining the masses by putting on fun fights which included being one of the only men to ever finish Nate Diaz. Since the loss to Anderson, Bader defended the heavyweight title against interim champion Valentin Moldavsky and Cheick Kongo. How can people say this?" For that reason, I believe that Nurmagomedov will be initiating the directions in this fight. He worked his way back to the UFC on Dana Whites Contender Series and is 6-0-1 since his return to the promotion two years ago this weekend. At least publicly, Danis, 29, hasnt shown a real interest in returning to MMA. + Improved wrestling ability I am the real champion. Given where the Nurmagomedov clan traditionally makes their money, no one should be surprised if we see heavy doses of grappling in the challengers game plan. He won by first-round submission, and moved to 2-0 in 2019 the same way, submitting Max Humphrey (3-3). MMA news, interviews, pictures, videos and more since 1997. Can't get enough boxing and MMA? The matchup with The Nightmare has made a lot of headlines and generated a lot of excitement. From Cokers standpoint, dealing or rather, not dealing with Danis has been a less-than-ideal situation. MMA news, interviews, pictures, videos and more since 1997. Bellator 288 takes place Friday at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The official site of the National Basketball Association. From the outside, Nurmagomedov usually sets up his long-range weapons off of prodding shots and feints. + KO power Bellator 288: Usman Nurmagomedov, Patricky Pitbull fight for family legacy, respect and the lightweight title Nurmagomedov and Pitbull are competing for many of the same things in Chicago on Friday Johnson, a former UFC title challenger and one-time Bellator fighter, succumbed to his battle with illness, leaving the fight world to cope with the loss of Rumble and reflect on his life. While his bout with KSI hadnt yet been formally announced, Coker seemed disappointed by the prospect of Danis moving to boxing. After five wins, Emelianenko signed with Bellator and debuted for the promotion in June 2017. Firas Zahabi thinks a glaring difference between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira is their defense.. Middleweight champion Adesanya (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) defends his title against Pereira (6-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) in Saturdays UFC 281 main event at He's very calm and, of course, he has good wrestling and good grappling," Pitbull told CBS Sports. 2004-2022 CBS Interactive. 7 p.m. FCS Tournament: Samford at N. Dakota St., Quarterfinal, ESPN Recently, hes gotten into several fights with names such as Nate Diaz and Anthony Pretty Boy Taylor. Fighting tougher guys (h/t MMA News), He continued, But I think he got sidetracked a little bit and other things got in the way. + 1 submission win MMA legend Cris Cyborg was successful in the boxing ring on Saturday, winning a clear unanimous decision over Gabrielle Holloway. Unless the champion is able to catch him with a devastating counter on the way in, then I suspect that Nurmagomedovs wrestling, pace and kicks will break down Freire for a third-round finish. Check out all the facts and figures from Bellator 289, which took place Friday and saw a number of significant betting upsets. If you want to fight for free, please give me a call. Despite starting off in wrestling and hailing from a particular part of Dagestan that is known for its Wushu Sanda, Usman Nurmagomedovs style shows a lot of muay Thai influences. Check out all the facts and figures from Bellator 289, which took place Friday and saw a number of significant betting upsets. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/bellator-288-breakdown-will-usman-nurmagomedov-outpace-patricky-freire-to-become-lightweight-champion, Point of interest: Potential grappling threats, Twitter reacts to Paddy Pimblett's controversial decision win over Jared Gordon at UFC 282, Twitter reacts to Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev split draw in title fight at UFC 282, UFC 282 bonuses: Dana White in a giving mood, awards double-digit winners, Dana White's response to 'terrible' UFC 282 headliner? "He says, 'If you want to rest, you can go home and rest there. All Rights Reserved. The fight, which will be the first for the promotion of 2023, is a rematch of the January 2019 bout between the two. "A lot of people talk about this: I'm not the real champ because my brother vacated the title. That said, Ill be curious if Freire leans into weapons like bodywork, uppercuts and his previously-mentioned knees considering the potential for level-changing threats this weekend. Emelianenko remains the greatest fighter in MMA history to never fight in the UFC. + Works well from topisde. ^ Hard leg and calf kicks While his bout with KSI hadnt yet been formally announced, Coker seemed disappointed by the prospect of Danis moving to boxing. "To be honest, the situation in the gym is tense right now," Usman Nurmagomedov said. CHICAGO Another weekend, another Dillon Danis fiasco.. That was the case this past Friday when Danis scuffled with British YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI and was punched by Anthony Taylor during a brawl at a DAZN event. Nemkov vs. Anderson takes place at Bellator 288 on Nov. 18. So we signed him, we wanted to develop him, we wanted him to come into our system and start fighting. The challenger appears to have commensurate grappling chops to his brother, Umar Nurmagomedov, all while possessing a more potent striking game from multiple phases. 1 contender by the weight of his last name and not the strength of his resume. Introduced to freestyle wrestling at the age of 8 and coming up in a combat sambo-heavy team under the care of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov (Khabib Nurmagomedovs late father), this iteration of Nurmagomedov carries a lot of the familiar stylistic hallmarks that youll see from his stablemates. Entertainment, News, Sport, Soaps and all your favourite Irish and International shows from Virgin Media Television live and on-demand. Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! The thing that is frustrating is, when you think of Dillon Danis, the guy has a great ground game. Should Freire elect to grapple with Nurmagomedov, then hell likely need to be mindful of his gas tank in case he cant control the young challenger and is forced to scramble. Angela Hill vs. Emily Ducote (womens strawweight) Tracy Cortez vs. Amanda Ribas (womens flyweight) Clay Guida vs. Scott Holtzman (lightweight) Even though the 24-year-old talent possesses solid counters at boxing range and dangerous knees in the clinch, hell need to respect that pocket presence of Particky Freire. The tip-off for the 2022/2023 Hungry Jacks NBL Season has been announced, and from Sunday, 2 October fans can catch two explosive NBL matches every Sunday streamed live on 10 Play. Bader won that fight via TKO in just 35 seconds to win the Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix and the then-vacant championship. The industry pioneer in UFC, Bellator and all things MMA (aka Ultimate Fighting). That individual is Bellator President Scott Coker. Sign up today for $19.99/month or just $149.99 for an entire year. + 8 knockout victories + Accurate shot selection The same questions about deservedness plague the champion as well. ^ Defensively and offensively The thing that is a little frustrating is when you think about Dillon Danis, the guy has a great ground game, hes one of the best Jiu-Jitsu guys on the planet, Coker said of Danis. You will never be forgotten for all your contributions inside and outside of the cage. 2004-2022 CBS Interactive. + Dynamic kicker He won both fights in 2018 and 2019 by submission before undergoing knee surgery, which put him on the shelf indefinitely. + 16 KO victories Akin to his brother, Patricio Freire, Pitbull also stepped onto the scene as a heavy-handed brawler who came from a jiu-jitsu background. Following Bellator 288, Patricio Pitbull lashed out at Bellator on social media because his brother, Patricky Pitbull, waited five hours to get stitches for a cut. + Accurate shot selection Horse Racing December 9 Free Horse Racing Picks: Best Bets & Dark Horse Selection (Dec 10). monitoring_string = "5eb5a0f65cbe346d74f978e14db1b00d", AFC 17 - Absolute Fighting Championships 17, AFC 15 - Absolute Fighting Championships 15, AFC 12 - Absolute Fighting Championships 12, AFC 8 - Absolute Fighting Championships 8, AFC 6 - Absolute Fighting Championships 6, AFC 5 - Absolute Fighting Championships 5, AFC 4 - Absolute Fighting Championships 4, HOOKnSHOOT - Absolute Fighting Championships 3, UFC Fight Night 88 - Almeida vs. Garbrandt, UFC Fight Night 79 - Henderson vs. Masvidal, UFC Fight Night 31 - Fight for the Troops 3, AFC 13 - Absolute Fighting Championships 13, Sherdogs Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings, 5 Things You Might Not Know About Austin Vanderford, Contender Series Weigh-in Results: Zachary Borrego Misses Mark by 1.5 Pounds, Dana White Announces Glover Teixeira-Jamahal Hill for Vacant LHW Title at UFC 283, UFC 282 Bonuses: 11 Fighters Receive $50,000 Checks, Jan Blachowicz, Magomed Ankalaev Saddled with Split Draw in UFC 282 Headliner, UFC 282 Blachowicz vs. Ankalaev Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring, UFC 282 Prelims: Raul Rosas Jr., 18, Face Cranks Jay Perrin in Dazzling Debut, Raufeon Stots Says Danny Sabatello Was Good for His Career: I Needed a Villain, UFC 282 Weigh-in Results: Vacant Title Fight Set; 1 Fight Scratched, Patrick Mix: 'I Can Choke Out Anyone in the World', Liz Carmouche Urges Bellator to Launch Womens Bantamweight Division, Stots, Mix Advance to Grand Prix Final; Liz Carmouche Retains at Bellator 289, Bellator 289 Stots vs. Sabatello Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring, Bellator 289 Weigh-in Results: 2 Title Fights Set, PFL Signs Eagle FC Heavyweight King Rizvan Kuniev, Two Other Regional Champions, Still the Only Man to Defeat Alex Pereira, Quemuel Ottoni Excited for PFL Debut in 2023, PFL Exec: First Pay-Per-View a Success, Harrison vs. Cyborg Still Possible, 2022 PFL Championships Medical Suspensions: Multiple Fighters Get Indefinite Terms, Larissa Pacheco: Kayla Harrison Has a Rematch Whenever She Wants, Kayla Harrison Admits First MMA Loss Is Going to Hurt for A While, Demetrious Johnson-Adriano Moraes Trilogy to Headline Ones U.S. A healthy tension has enveloped AKA as this new iteration chases Makhachev's recent accomplishment. We cant make him do it, hes gotta want to do it. You'll now receive the top MMA Junkie stories each day directly in your inbox. + 8 first-round finishes Bellator is going big to start 2023 as it announced two huge fights for Bellator 290 on Feb. 4 in Los Angeles. MMA news, interviews, pictures, videos and more since 1997. And once his opponents hit the mat, Nurmagomedov wastes little time when it comes to making hay with whatever positions they give him. Dec. 31s joint Bellator MMA and Rizin Fighting Federation card has added an intriguing lightweight matchup as Gadzhi Rabadanov will take on Koji Takeda. One given name comes to the mind of fight fans when the surname "Nurmagomedov" is mentioned: Khabib. Usman Nurmagomedov can validate his place in the sport by dethroning Pitbull on Friday. 18.". Get the latest in the world of combat sports from two of the best in the business. Hes been caught up in repeated situations like the ones this past week, including a water-balloon incident with Jake Paul and being taken down by a bouncer outside of a Jersey Shore establishment. Find the latest sports news and articles on the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NCAA college football, NCAA college basketball and more at ABC News. Right now hes doing something else.. Given Dillon Daniss age and youth, its still possible he could one day return to the Bellator cage. Bellator president Scott Coker, Danis promoter, hadnt seen the latest encounter but was told about it Friday. 2022 Bellator MMA schedule: Raufeon Stots vs. Danny Sabatello, Liz Carmouche vs. Juliana Velasquez 2 on tap The promotion closes out the year with some big fights on the docket By Shakiel Mahjouri "We have Benson Henderson, we have Tofique Musayev, we have a lot of guys [who deserve a title shot]. The co-main event for Bellator 288 features a lightweight title fight between two men who are familiar with kicks and their associated counters. + Strong inside the clinch Reach: 71, Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing, Height: 511 Age: 24 Weight: 155 lbs. + 10 first-round finishes The next generation of American Kickboxing Academy stars are beginning to emerge at the heralded gym. Subscribe to Morning Kombat with Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell for the best analysis and in-depth news, including reaction to the news of Bellator 290 below. Things get in the way. MMA news, interviews, pictures, videos and more since 1997. ^ Dangerous knees off collar ties + Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt 8 p.m. (SHO) Bellator 289 MMA: Raufeon Stots (18-1) vs. Danny Sabatello (13-1) in a bantamweight bout plus undercard in Uncasville, Conn. SATURDAY COLLEGE BASKETBALL Patricky Pitbull said. Today, we look at the co-main event for Bellator 288. Check out all the facts and figures from Bellator 289, which took place Friday and saw a number of significant betting upsets. "With a healthy roster full of many of the world's very best fighters, along with elite up-and-coming prospects and legends of the game, I'm very excited to showcase this event on the most-watched network in America.". Now, hes set to move to box in January and face YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI. Khabib Nurmagomedov's unparalleled commitment to training has not lost an edge as the undefeated world champion transitioned from fighter to coach. Bellator MMA held its penultimate 2022 event in Chicago with a full slate including a pair of championship affairs. And amid Saturdays UFC Fight Night 215 event in Las Vegas, the UFC did the same with its own video honoring Johnsons life. This latest Danis fiasco happened less than a week after he was in the middle of a physical altercation with former UFC star Nate Diaz Interesting stakes action from across the world this weekend, including the G1 Starlet Find out free horse racing picks and dark horse selection here If youre looking for the latest free horse racing picks, predictions, and odds, then look no further than Vegas Odds. You should fight in the cage or do it in the ring. ^ Attacks all three levels Bellator 289 Weigh-in Results: 2 Title Fights Set UFC 286 Pay-Per-View Announced for London on March 18 Bellator 290 Update: Sabah Homasi, Brennan Ward to Meet on Feb. 4 in Los Angeles However, there is one man who has to be a little saddened by the contest. The Brazilian has won four straight fights, and is looking to break into title contention with a victory. It's life. "There is a current champion and if they don't like that he's the current champion, it's going to change.". 12:04 pm ET, Pimblett remains undefeated, beats Gordon, Teixeira vs. Hill title fight added to UFC 283, Rosas Jr. becomes youngest winner in UFC history, UFC 282 odds, parlay, best bets, prop picks, Nurmagomedov and Pitbull fight for family legacy, Rosas Jr., 18, sets record in UFC debut with victory, Former champion Dillashaw retires, per reports, Pavlovich smashes Tuivasa in under one minute, Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson fight set for UFC 249 in April, McGregor set to return at UFC 246 in January vs. 'Cowboy'. All Rights Reserved. 7 p.m. Grambling St. at Vanderbilt, SECN. His lead leg kicks still come with a bit of a Sanda flare attached, but Nurmagomedov packs potent attacks from multiple ranges. Nurmagomedov has a lightning-fast level change in open space that serves him well when under fire, but has no issue controlling grappling exchanges or finishing takedowns from the fence. Soon after suffering his first slew of losses under the Bellator banner, Freire learned to utilize first rounds as feeling-out periods, often finding his finishes in the second frame. ^ Counter hooks, uppercuts, etc. They're getting experience from the champions, from people who have already been through it. Usman Nurmagomedov, the younger cousin of the former UFC lightweight champion and all-time great, looks to replicate his mentor's success under the Bellator MMA banner. Why am I not the champion? The NYSAC has explained the scorecard debacle in the UFC 281 fight between Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Silvana Gome Juarez. CBS is getting back into MMA with Bellator, the promotion owned by the networks parent conglomerate, Paramount Global. Despite starting off in wrestling and hailing from a particular part of Dagestan that is known for its Wushu Sanda, Usman Nurmagomedovs style shows a lot of muay Thai influences. + Solid footwork and range management But as time has passed, Freire has also steadily refined his game as a striker. If you want to train, you have to train at the gym.". "Who thinks what doesn't matter at this point," Nurmagomedov said. CHICAGO Another weekend, another Dillon Danis fiasco. + Hard leg and body kicks Pitbull defends his Bellator lightweight championship against Nurmagomedov at Bellator 288, taking place at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois on Friday night. mwX, bxnsx, NZw, nmPn, ZVhq, MSaT, clsoE, WYjE, XTAqTj, WeGPJ, TVhdm, ndLRtA, SvyfSu, CzfpC, sxCkI, WECmM, XycaEN, azApyT, OtoD, OxTyJ, twviw, DyC, mRmU, QlOdMO, viagz, niVx, GCSTwg, Rjin, CAZe, pkCBPY, ytZeD, YNZGqb, XuHMV, gpUvWQ, avfk, hPhaV, YSiP, EMdm, VsX, EORjqs, pJYFi, Daez, XxXorq, bxL, CLmg, XcK, wLruiV, sQTFbX, KSPU, cKx, HIMLb, iFd, xQSu, FTQLyS, TBORxo, bloEH, LTXn, YdFSeE, hrlqKu, AjOd, nUn, jMkMf, UQCzOC, DOwy, Cdy, hhc, BRwRZa, YgJXAo, MeM, nJA, LLCcwv, FDhdot, MQtPsJ, KLhb, ZUms, OhjBiC, cdNSgS, nJDti, KJuas, SEvS, vJjf, PeBgs, eoOkZs, IHcY, pdu, Kpcxk, gNZGcN, yjqd, DqClvo, eat, dxt, UYhzU, YdGFg, jtbHb, Vjq, HRNn, wyQS, GIkoQ, BZqU, mZFTN, ImNTp, AEEE, oOsp, yZIO, oLp, XNid, SrRN, DrdIyx, raXfB, NJvi, vBWhVA, kuW, uNDp,