June 24, 2021

    Kevin Lee has been ruled out of his next bout against Sean Brady at UFC 264 due to injury

    Yadhukrishnan Prasad 24/06/2021

    After Kevin Lee suffered an injury that forced him out of his forthcoming match against Sean Brady, a highly anticipated welterweight fight at UFC 264 has been canceled.   On Thursday, more sources confirmed the news to MMA Fighting. Brady announced the news on Instagram, with additional sources confirming the news to MMA Fighting.   “Unfortunately I will not be fighting Kevin Lee July 10,” Brady wrote. “From my understanding he has suffered an injury and had to pull out of the fight. My team is hoping to rebook the fight for August.”   Brady said in a statement to MMA Fighting that he didn’t want to fight a replacement opponent at UFC 264 and would rather wait for Lee or another top-15 ranked opponent to become available.   “I’m gonna hit the refresh,” Brady said. “I want a top-15 [opponent], or to be rebooked with Lee. We will see what comes out of it.”     Lee was playing for the first time in 16 months after undergoing significant surgery to repair a ruptured ACL in his knee. Lee had to go under the knife for an ACL replacement in his opposite knee just three months after his initial operation.   Lee was looking forward to making his comeback and moving up to the welterweight class eleven months later, but it looks like he’ll have to wait even longer now.   According to insiders, Lee suffered a rib injury in training that forced him to withdraw from his forthcoming fight, but the injury isn’t expected to keep him out for long.   The event will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will feature a trilogy contest between lightweights Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor at the top of the bill.

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    Bellator 261 Weigh In Results

    Peter Knox 24/06/2021

     BELLATOR 261: Johnson vs. Moldavsky will be broadcast tomorrow, Friday, June 25 on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, while preliminary bouts will stream on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT. BELLATOR MMA 261: Johnson vs. Moldavsky Main Card: Friday, June 25 – Live on SHOWTIME 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT   Interim Heavyweight World Title Main Event: #1-Timothy Johnson (260) vs. #3-Valentin Moldavsky (234) Flyweight Co-Main Event: #2-Liz Carmouche (125.5) vs. #3-Kana Watanabe (125.25) Featherweight Bout: #6-Daniel Weichel (145.5) vs. Keoni Diggs (146) Lightweight Bout: #4-Myles Jury (156) vs. #6-Sidney Outlaw (156) Light Heavyweight Bout: Christian Edwards (206) vs. Simon Biyong (204.5) Preliminary Card: BELLATOR MMA YouTube Channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube Channel | Pluto TV 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT Lightweight Bout: Soren Bak (156) vs. Bobby Lee (155.25) Lightweight Bout: Isaiah Hokit (155.75) vs. Corey Samuels (156) Bantamweight Bout: Jaylon Bates (136) vs. Cody Matthews (135) Middleweight Bout: Taylor Johnson (185.25) vs. Lance Wright (184.75) Featherweight Bout: John Macapa (144.75) vs. John de Jesus (145.5)

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    Fedor Emelianenko returns to MMA

    Nicolas Suarez 24/06/2021

    In a recent report by Ariel Helwani, one of MMA’s biggest legends in Fedor Emelianenko is set to announce his return to the sport of MMA after a hiatus from the sport. Details about an opponent or an exact date have yet to be announced as the “Last Emperor” will give more information in a press conference that is expected to take place sometime tomorrow. Fedor is still under contract with Bellator so a fight under their banner is more likely than anything else. He comes back to a Bellator heavyweight division that has been heating up with names like Tim Johnson, Cheick Kongo, and current champion Ryan Bader who holds a 35 second KO over the former Pride champion. While the legacy of the Russian fighter remains as one of the GOATS in the sport, he is coming off a 2-year absence that last saw him go 3-2 in his 5 Bellator fights with wins over Frank Mir, Chael Sonnen, and most recently Rampage Jackson. Fedor is currently 44 years old, but at his peak, he was once the most feared man on the planet as he ran through some of the top fighters in the world and currently holds an overall record of 28 wins 6 losses and 1 NC.

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    Cage Warriors 123 Live Results

    Kieran Devine 24/06/2021

    Follow the results for Cage Warrior 123 live below Main Card Nathias Frederick vs Matthew Bonner – Bonner takes the title defeating Frederick via submission in the fourth round Christian Duncan vs Will Currie – Duncan defeated Currie via unanimous decision Liam Gittins vs Emrah Sonmez – Gittins defeated Sonmez via second-round submission Sam Creasey vs Aaron Aby – Creasey defeated Aby via unanimous decision George Smith vs Mick Stanton – Stanton defeated Smith via second-round TKO Prelim Card Keir Harvie vs Manny Akpan – Harvie defeated Akpan via first-round submission by way of arm triangle choke and Harvie wins his debut Omiel Brown vs Joel Downey-Cave – Brown defeated Downey-Cave via first round submission due to a guillotine Adam Cullen vs Josh Plant – Cullen defeated Plant via first-round submission due to a rear-naked choke Rory Evans vs Jimmy Fell – Evans defeated Fell via first-round KO

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    Across The Pond Profile: Kyle Driscoll

    Myles Painter 24/06/2021

    Relocation and leaving the only home you have ever known can pay off in the end for those who are willing to put in the work. In today’s episode of Across The Pond, you will meet a bronco buster of the windswept plains whose swift hoofbeats of thunder have left opponents shellshocked in utter terror. A professional mixed martial artist since April 2016 and representing American Kickboxing Academy, Kyle Driscoll owns a 12-3 record through 15 professional bouts comprised of six decisions, five knockouts, and one submission. Driscoll appeared on week seven during the fourth season of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series in 2020. He has also fought for various promotions during his time in the professional ranks including Legacy Fighting Alliance and has finished six out of his 12 victories during his career as a pro-MMA fighter thus far. At Xtreme Fight Night, he faced Thomas Roberts and went on to defeat him via TKO in the first round. Driscoll also defeated his next two foes in Teddy Potts and Josh McCracken. Then at Legacy FC 63, he defeated William Walker via unanimous decision. Driscoll defeated Jose Martinez via unanimous decision in his promotional debut with Legacy Fighting Alliance at LFA 9. At LFA 27, he defeated Ken Coulter via unanimous decision. Driscoll defeated his next three opponents that included wins over Ramon Barber and Aaron Roberson. He defeated Rodney Allison via TKO in the first round at XFL 357. Driscoll defeated Rey Trujillo via unanimous decision at Combate Dallas. In the opening bout of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series week seven of season four, he defeated CES MMA veteran Denis Paiva via unanimous decision. The victory earned Driscoll the sixth decision win of his professional career. At 12-3 with lightning-quick instincts and quick on the draw, Driscoll is a sharpshooter who comes fully loaded when the cage door locks shut!

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    Cage Warriors 123 Preview and weigh-in results

    Peter Knox 24/06/2021

    The Trilogy kicks off Thursday 24th June with CW 123, with the card being headlined by a middleweight title clash between reigning champion, Nathias Frederick, and rampaging contender, Matt Bonner. Speaking on challenging for the title, Bonner said: “I’m very excited to fight for the Cage Warriors world title. “I truly believe this will be a career-best performance.” Frederick possesses legitimate one punch knock out power, while Bonner has used his technical stand up ability to go undefeated during the run of Cage Warriors shows that have taken place behind closed doors. In the co-main, Will Currie and Christian Duncan square off in an eagerly anticipated rematch of their fight at CW 119, with both men being highly touted middleweight prospects. For this fight, Currie has taken his training camp out to All-Stars MMA in Stockholm, the same gym that former UFC title challenger, Alexander Gustaffson, trains out of alongside Khamzat Chimaev. Ducan meanwhile has won all three of his professional fights by knockout. The search for a new flyweight champion will also start at CW 123, as Sam Creasey takes on Aaron Aby in the first round of the flyweight tournament. Creasey knows a win will give him a third shot at the flyweight title, while Aby’s story of joining Cage Warriors is incredible, having fought Cystic Fibrosis and Cancer to get to this point in his career. Elsewhere on the main card, middleweight grappling standouts, Mick Stanton and George Smith throw down and Liam Gittins meets Emrah Sonmez in a bantamweight contest. In the prelims, Keir Harvie and Manny Akpan go to war in a featherweight contest, Rory Evans meets the debuting Jimmy Fell in a featherweight bout, Adam Cullen and Josh Plant go head-to-head at lightweight and Joel Downey-Cave will take on Omiel Brown at welterweight. Main Card (9pm BST start time) Nathias Frederick (184.7 lbs) vs Matt Bonner (184.2 lbs) Christian Duncan (185.9 lbs) vs Will Currie (185.6 lbs) Emrah Sonmez (135.2 lbs) vs Liam Gittins (135.4 lbs) Aaron Aby (125.4 lbs) vs Sam Creasey (185.5 lbs) George Smith (186 lbs) vs Mick Stanton (185.5 lbs) Prelims (7pm BST start time) Manny Akpan (145.9 lbs) vs Keir Harvie (144.3 lbs) Omiel Brown (171 lbs) vs Joel Downey-Cave (169 lbs) Josh Plant (154.7 lbs) vs Adam Cullen (155 lbs) Jimmy Fell (145.8 lbs) vs Rory Evans (144.3 lbs)

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    BELLATOR MMA CONFIRMS FULL FIGHT CARD FOR BELLATOR 261 – LIVE ON BBC iPLAYER THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 25 FROM 10:30 P.M.

    Peter Knox 24/06/2021

     BELLATOR MMA has confirmed the full fight card for BELLATOR MMA 261: Johnson vs. Moldavsky this Friday, June 25 at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The event airs LIVE in the UK on BBC iPlayer and is headlined by No. 1 ranked heavyweight Timothy Johnson (15-6) versus the streaking No. 3 ranked Valentin Moldavsky (10-1) to determine the first interim champion in the promotion’s history. An additional four fights compliment the BELLATOR 261 main card, including a top-five women’s flyweight bout pitting the savvy No. 2 ranked Liz Carmouche (15-7) against the undefeated No. 3 ranked Kana Watanabe (10-0-1) in the co-main event. Also, submission specialists square off as former title challenger No. 6 ranked featherweight Daniel Weichel (40-12) battles the undefeated Keoni Diggs (9-0), and a top-10 lightweight contest between No. 4 ranked Myles Jury (19-5) and No. 6 ranked Sidney Outlaw (15-4). Top light heavyweight prospect Christian Edwards (4-0) now meets Simon Biyong (7-1) to round out the main card after both of their originally scheduled opponents withdrew from their respective matchups. Set for six fights, the preliminary card is highlighted by a 145-pound scrap between John Macapa (23-5-2) and John de Jesus (13-9), the highly anticipated return of undefeated Jaylon Bates (2-0) squaring off with Cody Matthews (1-1) in a bantamweight battle, and former Cage Warriors lightweight champion Soren Bak (14-1) clashing with grappling specialist Bobby Lee (12-5) in a lightweight contest. Additionally, female strawweight Lena Ovchynnikova (12-6, 1 NC) takes on Kyra Batara (8-4), Taylor Johnson (6-2) takes on Lance Wright (5-1) in a middleweight matchup and Team Bodyshop prospect Isaiah Hokit makes his professional debut at lightweight against Corey Samuels (2-2). BELLATOR 261 prelims will stream live in the UK at 10:30 p.m. BST on BBC iPlayer and on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV for fans outside the UK. BELLATOR MMA 261: Johnson vs. Moldavsky Main Card: BBC iPlayer | SHOWTIME 2 a.m. BST   Interim Heavyweight World Title Main Event: #1-Timothy Johnson (15-6) vs. #3-Valentin Moldavsky (10-1) Flyweight Co-Main Event: #2-Liz Carmouche (15-7) vs. #3-Kana Watanabe (10-0-1) Featherweight Bout: #6-Daniel Weichel (40-12) vs. Keoni Diggs (9-0) Lightweight Bout: #4-Myles Jury (19-5) vs. #6-Sidney Outlaw (15-4) Light Heavyweight Bout: Christian Edwards (4-0) vs. Simon Biyong (7-1) Preliminary Card: BBC iPlayer | BELLATOR MMA YouTube Channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube Channel | Pluto TV 10:30 p.m. BST Strawweight Bout: Lena Ovchynnikova (12-6, 1 NC) vs. Kyra Batara (8-4) Lightweight Bout: Soren Bak (14-1) vs. Bobby Lee (12-5) Lightweight Bout: Isaiah Hokit (Pro Debut) vs. Corey Samuels (2-2) Bantamweight Bout: Jaylon Bates (2-0) vs. Cody Matthews (1-1) Middleweight Bout: Taylor Johnson (6-2) vs. Lance Wright (5-1) Featherweight Bout: John Macapa (23-5-2) vs. John de Jesus (13-9)

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