Fight of the year candidates are few and far between, but this weekend, MMA fans were treated with two. One took place at Bellator 135 and the other was at WSOF 19.
Starting with Bellator 135, Light Heavyweight Francis Carmont earned his first victory inside the Bellator cage with a unanimous decision victory over Guilherme Viana. Bantamweights L.C. Davis and Japanese legend Hideo Tokoro slugged it out for a fight of the ages. Between the two of them there was several leg lock attempts, flying knees, head kicks and mad scrambles making for a FOTY candidate. In the end Davis came out with the split decision win. In the main event Marcos Galvao not only avenged a loss but also took home the Bantamweight belt in the process with his victory over Joe Warren. Galvao won via verbal submission (kneebar) much to the protest of Warren. The submission came at :45 of round 2.
Despite the WSOF 19 fight card being shook up with last minute bout replacements, it was one of the best in the promotions short history. Light Heavyweight Teddy Holder earned an upset over UFC veteran Thiago Silva with a TKO coming at 2:00 of round 1. Holder will move on to the Light Heavyweight tournament final. The main event saw yet another FOTY candidate. Justin Gaethje successfully defended his Lightweight belt by utilizing wild striking and nasty leg kicks against Luis Palomino. The win came by way of TKO at 3;57 of round 3.
Cage Warriors champions Nicolas Dalby and Tom Breese have signed with the UFC.
Cristiane "Cyborg" Justino has signed with the UFC. She will remain with Invicta FC until she makes a successful move down to the Women's Bantamweight division.
The Brazilian Athletic Commission has overturned the Leandro Silva vs Drew Dober fight to a no contest. Silva was originally awarded a win despite a referee mistake at the UFC Fight Night on March 21.
ONE Championship Lightweight title holder Shinya Aoki will next fight Koji Ando at One Championship 28 on May 22.
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Sunday, March 22, 2015
3/22/15
The Heavyweight title was on the line at Legacy FC 40. Cody East retained that title with a TKO victory over Brice Ritani-Coe at 1:41 of round 2.
Titan Fighting Championship did something on Friday they had never done in their history, put four belts up for grabs in a single night. At Titan FC 33 the Bantamweight title was won by Brett Johns. Johns defeated Walel Watson via rear naked choke at 3:06 of round 2. Chase Gormley won the Heavyweight strap with a somewhat controversial unanimous decision over Jon Madsen. UFC veteran Pat "BamBam" Healy won a gritty split decision over Kurt Kinser to win the Lightweight belt. And finally Kurt Holobaugh defeated then champion Desmond Green via split decision to win the Featherweight title.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship made its way down to Brazil for UFC Fight Night 62. Women's Bantamweight Amanda Nunes defeated Shayna Baszler via TKO at 1:56 of round 1. Welterweight Erick Silva earned a win over Josh Koscheck by guillotine at 4:21 of round 1. And in the main event Welterweight Damien Maia defeated undefeated fighter Ryan LaFlare by way of unanimous decision.
Former Bellator Middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko has tested positive for banned substances following his win over Melvin Manhoef.
Bellator Light Heavyweight champion Liam McGeary has signed a multi-fight extension with the promotion.
UFC Women's Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey will next defend her belt against Bethe Correia at UFC 190 in Brazil.
Legacy FC and RFA have announced that they will host a cross-promotional event on May 8.
Titan Fighting Championship did something on Friday they had never done in their history, put four belts up for grabs in a single night. At Titan FC 33 the Bantamweight title was won by Brett Johns. Johns defeated Walel Watson via rear naked choke at 3:06 of round 2. Chase Gormley won the Heavyweight strap with a somewhat controversial unanimous decision over Jon Madsen. UFC veteran Pat "BamBam" Healy won a gritty split decision over Kurt Kinser to win the Lightweight belt. And finally Kurt Holobaugh defeated then champion Desmond Green via split decision to win the Featherweight title.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship made its way down to Brazil for UFC Fight Night 62. Women's Bantamweight Amanda Nunes defeated Shayna Baszler via TKO at 1:56 of round 1. Welterweight Erick Silva earned a win over Josh Koscheck by guillotine at 4:21 of round 1. And in the main event Welterweight Damien Maia defeated undefeated fighter Ryan LaFlare by way of unanimous decision.
Former Bellator Middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko has tested positive for banned substances following his win over Melvin Manhoef.
Bellator Light Heavyweight champion Liam McGeary has signed a multi-fight extension with the promotion.
UFC Women's Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey will next defend her belt against Bethe Correia at UFC 190 in Brazil.
Legacy FC and RFA have announced that they will host a cross-promotional event on May 8.
Sunday, March 15, 2015
3/15/15
ONE Championship 25 - formerly known as "ONE FC" - started off the weekend of MMA action. Women's Flyweight Ann Osman earned a first round rear naked choke victory over Walaa Abbas at 2:23. And Brazilian Flyweight Adriano Moraes successfully defended his belt against Asuka Mikami by unanimous decision.
CES MMA 28, the newest promotion to the AXS TV fight network, saw Lightweight Luis Felix defeat last minute replacement Reggie Merriweather by way of a devastating head kick followed up by punches. The TKO stoppage came at 4:29 of round 1. In the main event Welterweight and former Judo Olympian Rick Hawn got past Derek Loffer with an easy unanimous decision.
At XFC international 9 Bruno Azevedo claimed the Flyweight title with a unanimous decision win over Allan Nascimento.
UFC 185 saw two challengers win championships but before that former Welterweight champ Johny Hendricks defeated Matt Brown by unanimous decision. The first title fight saw Joanna Jedrzejczyk of Poland win her country its first ever UFC belt. Jedrzejczyk dismantled former Women's Strawweight champion Carla Esparza with crisp striking en route to a TKO at 4:17 of round 2. The second title fight featured a five round beating from challenger Rafeal dos Anjos. Dos Anjos dismantled former Lightweight champion Anthony Pettis in all aspects of the sport. Dos Anjos won via unanimous decision.
World Series of Fighting has signed masked crime fighter Ben Fodor who is known as "Phoenix Jones". Fodor recently became a hot commodity after being featured in an ESPN documentary.
Bellator has signed three Women's Featherweights including former UFC fighter Alexis Dufresne.
CES MMA 28, the newest promotion to the AXS TV fight network, saw Lightweight Luis Felix defeat last minute replacement Reggie Merriweather by way of a devastating head kick followed up by punches. The TKO stoppage came at 4:29 of round 1. In the main event Welterweight and former Judo Olympian Rick Hawn got past Derek Loffer with an easy unanimous decision.
At XFC international 9 Bruno Azevedo claimed the Flyweight title with a unanimous decision win over Allan Nascimento.
UFC 185 saw two challengers win championships but before that former Welterweight champ Johny Hendricks defeated Matt Brown by unanimous decision. The first title fight saw Joanna Jedrzejczyk of Poland win her country its first ever UFC belt. Jedrzejczyk dismantled former Women's Strawweight champion Carla Esparza with crisp striking en route to a TKO at 4:17 of round 2. The second title fight featured a five round beating from challenger Rafeal dos Anjos. Dos Anjos dismantled former Lightweight champion Anthony Pettis in all aspects of the sport. Dos Anjos won via unanimous decision.
World Series of Fighting has signed masked crime fighter Ben Fodor who is known as "Phoenix Jones". Fodor recently became a hot commodity after being featured in an ESPN documentary.
Bellator has signed three Women's Featherweights including former UFC fighter Alexis Dufresne.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
3/8/15
After last weekends bulk of MMA events, this weekend only had one major promotion in action. At RFA 24 Bantamweight Derrick Minner earned a dominating unanimous decision win over Marvin Blumer. Marvin's brother fared a little better with a crazy spinning back fist KO win. The fight which took place in the Bantamweight division saw Melvin Blumer's KO land on Jeff Curran at 4:58 of round 1. Finally, Benjamin Smith defeated Indalecio Tat Romero via TKO at 4:32 of round 3 to win the Welterweight belt.
Burt Watson "Babysitter to the stars" has announced his departure from the UFC. Watson served as the promotions event coordinator.
Bellator Middleweight champion Brandon Halsey will attempt to defend his belt for the first time against former UFC fighter Kendall Grove. The fight will take place at Bellator 137.
Kelvin Gastelum and Efrain Escudero have been named as the coaches for the upcoming TUF: "Latin America 2" season.
WSOF Middleweight champion David Branch has moved up to Light Heavyweight to begin a run at a second belt under the promotion. His first fight at his new weight class will be against Ronnie Markes at WSOF 20. Meanwhile Light Heavyweight Thiago Silva, who was previously scheduled to fight Markes, will now face Matt Hamwill at WSOF 19. The two fights will serve as a four man tournament for the title.
ONE FC Welterweight champion Ben Askren will look to defend his belt against Luis "Sapo" Santos at ONE FC: "Valor of Champions" on April 24.
Burt Watson "Babysitter to the stars" has announced his departure from the UFC. Watson served as the promotions event coordinator.
Bellator Middleweight champion Brandon Halsey will attempt to defend his belt for the first time against former UFC fighter Kendall Grove. The fight will take place at Bellator 137.
Kelvin Gastelum and Efrain Escudero have been named as the coaches for the upcoming TUF: "Latin America 2" season.
WSOF Middleweight champion David Branch has moved up to Light Heavyweight to begin a run at a second belt under the promotion. His first fight at his new weight class will be against Ronnie Markes at WSOF 20. Meanwhile Light Heavyweight Thiago Silva, who was previously scheduled to fight Markes, will now face Matt Hamwill at WSOF 19. The two fights will serve as a four man tournament for the title.
ONE FC Welterweight champion Ben Askren will look to defend his belt against Luis "Sapo" Santos at ONE FC: "Valor of Champions" on April 24.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
3/1/15
Legacy FC 39 kicked off the busy weekend of MMA. Former UFC Featherweight Daniel Pineda defeated Tom Webb via triangle choke at :49 of round 1. Leonardo Leite claimed the Middleweight title with a TKO win over Larry Crowe coming at 2:19 of round 2.
Next was the return of Invicta Fighting Championship. At Invicta FC 11 Women's Strawweight Alexa Grasso kept her undefeated record intact with a unanimous decision win over Mizuki Inoue. The main event saw Women's Featherweight champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Justino retain her belt with a destructive :46 TKO of Charmaine Tweet.
Bellator 134 titled "The British Invasion" saw the Englishmen take care of business. Light Heavyweight Linton Vassell defeated veteran Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou by TKO at 3:18 of round 2. Welterweight bad boy Paul "Semtex" Daley was unable to finish Andre Santos but did earn a unanimous decision. Though he is not British, Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal made a successful move to Heavyweight with a split decision win over former UFC fighter Cheick Kongo. In the main event Liam McGeary took home the Light Heavyweight title and simultaneously broke Emanuel Newton's seven fight win streak with a unanimous decision.
At UFC 184 Welterweight Jake Ellenberger snapped his three fight losing streak with an impressive win via north south choke. The win, which came at 4:20 of round 2, left his opponent Josh Koscheck drooling and gasping for air before the tap came. Women's Bantamweight Holly Holm made a successful UFC debut with a close split decision win over Raquel Pennington. And in the main event :14 is all it took for the champion Ronda Rousey to defeat Cat Zingano. Rousey defended her Women's Bantamweight belt in her signature fashion - with an armbar.
UFC Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will look to defend his belt at UFC 188 in June against interim champion Fabricio Werdum. The fight will take place in Mexico.
Heavyweight Kevin Ferguson, better known as "Kimbo Slice" will return to MMA to take on Frank Shamrock at Bellator 138.
Next was the return of Invicta Fighting Championship. At Invicta FC 11 Women's Strawweight Alexa Grasso kept her undefeated record intact with a unanimous decision win over Mizuki Inoue. The main event saw Women's Featherweight champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Justino retain her belt with a destructive :46 TKO of Charmaine Tweet.
Bellator 134 titled "The British Invasion" saw the Englishmen take care of business. Light Heavyweight Linton Vassell defeated veteran Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou by TKO at 3:18 of round 2. Welterweight bad boy Paul "Semtex" Daley was unable to finish Andre Santos but did earn a unanimous decision. Though he is not British, Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal made a successful move to Heavyweight with a split decision win over former UFC fighter Cheick Kongo. In the main event Liam McGeary took home the Light Heavyweight title and simultaneously broke Emanuel Newton's seven fight win streak with a unanimous decision.
At UFC 184 Welterweight Jake Ellenberger snapped his three fight losing streak with an impressive win via north south choke. The win, which came at 4:20 of round 2, left his opponent Josh Koscheck drooling and gasping for air before the tap came. Women's Bantamweight Holly Holm made a successful UFC debut with a close split decision win over Raquel Pennington. And in the main event :14 is all it took for the champion Ronda Rousey to defeat Cat Zingano. Rousey defended her Women's Bantamweight belt in her signature fashion - with an armbar.
UFC Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will look to defend his belt at UFC 188 in June against interim champion Fabricio Werdum. The fight will take place in Mexico.
Heavyweight Kevin Ferguson, better known as "Kimbo Slice" will return to MMA to take on Frank Shamrock at Bellator 138.
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