MMA UK

First Fighters for Cage Warriors 150 Revealed

Frankie 12/01/2023

The initial batch of fighters for Cage Warriors’ return to London’s indigo @ The O2 has been revealed, with tickets for the event set to go on sale this Friday, January 11th, at 10 am GMT. Following four blockbuster events at the indigo in 2022, the promotion is setting out a strong stall with some of the biggest names on the CW roster once again donning the famous yellow gloves for CW 150. Former featherweight champion Jordan ‘The Epidemic’ Vucenic will look to restart his journey to the title, after coming up short against Paul Hughes in November. The 26-year-old proved his mettle beyond doubt over five rounds against old rival Hughes and will aim to get back in the hunt before an army of fans in London. Another former champion, Morgan Charriere, will also feature on the card. ‘The Last Pirate’ recently got back to winning ways, outpointing Daniel Bažant in a thrilling three-rounder at the BT Sport Studio at CW 147. Like Vucenic, the super popular Frenchman is also looking to re-establish himself at the top of the 145lb pecking order. Justin Burlinson returns to action after his fight-of-the-year nominated slugfest with Reece McKee in Belfast. One of the most entertaining fighters on the CW roster, fans are always in for a treat when Burlinson straps on the yellow gloves. Top lightweight contender Medhi Ben Lakhdhar made a successful return to Cage Warriors at CW 145, with a decision victory over the dangerous Xavier Sedras. He’ll be looking to resume his run towards lightweight gold on March 17th. Finally, top UK prospect Lone’er Kavanagh aims to keep his unbeaten streak alive as he seeks out his fifth professional win. The GB Top Team stand-out made his CW debut last year, notching up two impressive victories and establishing himself as one to watch for 2023. Tickets for CW 150 go on sale this Friday at 10 am GMT via CageWarriors.com, with further fighters and match-ups to be announced in the coming weeks.

Bellator Makes First Foray into State of Washington

Frankie 15/06/2022

BELLATOR MMA will make its first visit to Washington state on Friday, July 22 with a world title fight in tow, as reigning lightweight champion Patricky “Pitbull” (24-10 MMA, 17-9 BMMA) defends his crown against No. 1-ranked contender Sidney “Da Gun” Outlaw (16-4 MMA, 3-1 BMMA). BELLATOR 283: Pitbull vs. Outlaw will be held at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Wash. and will air live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. In the co-main event, former welterweight champion and No. 3-ranked Douglas “The Phenom” Lima (32-10 MMA, 14-6 BMMA) will take on the surging No. 4-ranked contender Jason “The Ass-Kicking Machine” Jackson (15-4 MMA, 6-1 BMMA). Also on the card, undefeated No. 4-ranked lightweight Usman Nurmagomedov (14-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) will put his unbeaten record on the line against Team Alpha Male’s Chris “CG” Gonzalez (7-1 MMA, 6-1 BMMA). Tickets for the event go on sale this Saturday, June 18 at 2 p.m. PT and are available at Bellator.com and Ticketmaster. A special pre-sale will take place the same day from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. PT An incredible lightweight matchup has been announced for the preliminary card, featuring American Kickboxing Academy’s Adam Piccolotti (13-4 MMA, 9-4 BMMA) welcoming former Rizin Fighting Federation 155-pound Grand Prix tournament champion Tofiq Musayev (18-4, 0-0 BMMA) to the BELLATOR cage for the first time. Also joining the prelims is a can’t-miss prospect clash between unbeaten top-ten ranked middleweights #7-Romero “Bad News” Cotton (6-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) and Dalton “Hercules” Rosta (6-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA). The preliminary card will stream live on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel, and Pluto TV beginning at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. One of the biggest stars in BELLATOR MMA, lightweight kingpin Patricky ‘Pitbull’ Freire has thrilled fight fans for over a decade inside the BELLATOR arena with his thunderous power and all-action fighting style. The Brazilian knockout artist, 36, has shared the BELLATOR cage with the likes of Benson Henderson, Roger Huerta, Michael Chandler, and Eddie Alvarez, capturing the lightweight title with a second-round stoppage of fan-favourite Peter Queally in November 2021. On July 22, ‘Pitbull’ will look to defend his title and turn back a hungry challenger in Sidney Outlaw. Sidney Outlaw, 30, rose to prominence on the regional scene by dominating an impressive slate of opponents and scoring a bevvy of highlight-reel submission victories and the Pennsylvania native hasn’t missed a beat since joining the BELLATOR roster. Outlaw’s path to his first title fight was bookended by a win over Huerta and a third-round rear-naked choke stoppage against Myles Jury last June. Against “Pitbull,” Outlaw hopes to dethrone a decorated pillar of the organization and add the prestigious BELLATOR lightweight championship belt to his mantle. Former welterweight champion Douglas Lima, 34, has spent over a decade solidifying his place among BELLATOR MMA’s most accomplished and notable fighters. Now the No. 3-ranked welterweight contender, Lima lost his title to champion Yaroslav Amosov and dropped a contentious split decision to Michael ‘Venom’ Page in his last outing. On July 22, Lima will look to reverse his fortunes and turn back upstart contender Jason Jackson in Tacoma, Washington. Jason Jackson, 31, is on an absolute tear in the BELLATOR welterweight division. Since dropping his promotional debut to highly-decorated wrestler Ed Ruth in 2019, Jackson has rattled off five straight wins over the impressive competition including former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson, Neiman Gracie, and Paul Daley. The Sanford MMA product will look to emerge as a bona fide title contender with a win over Lima at BELLATOR 283. Usman Nurmagomedov, 24, comes from a family of MMA royalty. The cousin of MMA legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, he has been perfect throughout his professional MMA career to date, including three straight wins in the BELLATOR cage. A dominating grappler whose striking has evolved markedly over his last several fights, Nurmagomedov has cemented his status as a top-5 combatant in the stacked BELLATOR lightweight division. He will look to extend his unbeaten streak to 15 straight with a win at BELLATOR 283. Seeking to add the first blemish to Nurmagomedov’s perfect record will be Team Alpha Male’s Chris Gonzalez, 30. A member of the U.S. 2016 Greco-Roman World Team and a former NJCAA All–American wrestler, Gonzalez has added a potent striking arsenal to his world-class wrestling background to become a true threat in the lightweight division. Coming off of a 2022 ‘Knockout of the Year’ contender via first-round head kick TKO against Saad Awad, Gonzalez will look to continue his momentum against Usman Nurmagomedov. Adam Piccolotti, 33, has been on a tear since 2018. An impressive 4-2 over the past four years, the Half Moon Bay, California, native’s only losses during that span have been close split-decision defeats at the hands of #3-ranked Benson Henderson and #1-ranked Sidney Outlaw, who headlines BELLATOR 283. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has scored six submissions as a professional alongside three knockout victories, and he will look to leverage his well-rounded skill set into a second consecutive victory on July 22 as he looks to spoil the promotional debut of Tofiq Musayev. Tofiq Musayev, 32, will enter the BELLATOR cage for the first time on July 22 as one of the most highly-touted lightweights on the international scene. The Azerbaijani native put his country on the sport’s radar with his dominant run in RIZIN Fighting Federation, which culminated in a unanimous decision tournament championship victory over Patricky Pitbull in 2019. Musayev is a bona fide knockout artist, with 14 of his 18 wins that have come by stoppage due to strikes. Musayev will look to immediately make his presence known in the BELLATOR cage in Tacoma, especially on the undercard of a former vanquished foe in ‘Pitbull.’ Romero Cotton, 32, can point to an equally impeccable resume as he enters this battle of undefeated prospects against Rosta. A three-time NCAA DII national champion wrestler at the University of Nebraska at Kearny, Cotton’s wrestling pedigree remains one of the most impressive in all of MMA. Cotton’s 83% stoppage rate as an MMA fighter reflects his efforts to add potent submission grappling and fight-ending striking power to his game, as well. Since signing with BELLATOR in 2017,

First names confirmed for Cage Warriors Manchester Double Header

Frankie 11/02/2022

Cage Warriors returns to Manchester on 1st and 2nd April for CW 135 and CW 136 with both cards stacked full of talent. Across both nights, MMA fans will see some of Cage Warriors’ biggest stars in action, with the likes of middleweight champion Djati Melan, middleweight contender Christian Leroy Duncan and former bantamweight title challenger Nathan Fletcher all confirmed to be fighting. Cage Warriors’ breakthrough fighter of the year of 2021, Luke Riley, will also be in action, with prospects Caolan Loughran and Oban Elliot also competing while Taekwondo ace, Adam Shelley, will make his Cage Warriors debut. Christian Leroy Duncan, Justin Moore When asked about Cage Warriors’ upcoming double header in Manchester, CW president, Graham Boylan, said: “We are filling these cards with some incredible talent. “We’ve got prospects, contenders, and former champions across both nights. “There’s a good mix of knockout artists and submission specialists too, so there is going to be a little bit of something for everyone.” Agy Sardari Former Cage Warriors featherweight champion Dean Trueman will be in action in April, as will former lightweight champion, Agy Sardari, with former bantamweight title challenger, Gerardo Fanny, also competing in Manchester. Antonio Sheldon will make his promotional debut in April, while fan favourites Josh Reed, Coner Hignett and Liam Gittins will also be in Manchester and looking to put on a show for their fans The full list of confirmed fighters for CW 135 and CW 136 is below: Coner HignettAaron AbyMichele MartignoniDjati MelanConnor WilsonChristian Leroy DuncanLiam GittinsCaolan LoughranLuke RileyNathan FletcherGerardo FannyScott MaloneJake BondEdward WallsAntonio SheldonConnor HitchensJosh ReedDean TruemanPaull McBainDaan Duijs –Ben ReesTom MearnsJan Quaeyhaegens Dylan HazanChasen BlairSamir KadiAdam ShelleySteven HooperChris DuncanAleksi MäntykiviAgy SardariHubert GevenOmiel BrownJames SheehanOban ElliottJesse Urholin Tickets for CW 135 and CW 136 are currently on early bird sale until 21st February with 20% off.

First names confirmed for Cage Warriors Manchester Double Header

Frankie 11/02/2022

Yaroslav Amosov to defend welterweight title for first time against MVP at Bellator London

Frankie 17/01/2022

After scoring multiple takedowns in his last bout to dethrone then-champion Douglas Lima and become the BELLATOR Welterweight World Champion in the main event of BELLATOR MMA 260, undefeated Ukrainian Yaroslav Amosov (26-0) will put his belt on the line against No. 1-ranked welterweight and London native Michael “Venom” Page (20-1) on Friday, May 13, when the promotion returns to The SSE Arena, Wembley. One of the top fighters in the world, Amosov currently holds the longest active unbeaten streak in all of MMA, having yet to taste defeat through his first 26 professional fights. With only three wins to go before eclipsing retired MMA star Khabib Nurmagomedov’s record of 29 straight wins, Page will look to spoil Amosov’s entry into the history books and capture BELLATOR gold in the process, becoming the first British welterweight to do so. Tickets for BELLATOR LONDON: Amosov vs. MVP will go on sale Friday, Jan. 21, at both axs.com/uk and BELLATOR.com, with a special presale taking place starting Wednesday, Jan. 19. UK broadcast details for The SSE Arena, Wembley card will follow. Honing his skills with American Top Team in Florida, the undefeated “Dynamo” smothered three-time welterweight champion Douglas Lima on June 11, 2021, en route to capturing the 170-pound title with a five-round unanimous decision. Amosov pitched a shutout on one scorecard while dropping only round on the other two. The judges scored the contest 50-45 and 49-46 twice. Set to headline a BELLATOR MMA card for the third time in eight fights since joining the promotion in July 2018, the Ukrainian powerhouse has compiled a perfect 7-0 promotional record with triumphs over such top-tier talent as Ed Ruth, Logan Storley, and Lima. Prior to commencing his professional MMA career at age 18 in 2012 and becoming the first Ukrainian-born champion in BELLATOR MMA history, Amosov secured the World Combat Sambo Federation crown four times (2013-15, and 2017), as well as the European Combat Sambo Federation title twice (2013-14). A four-time world sambo kingpin, the Kyiv native also earned a European Cup crown to go along with his two European and Eurasia championships during a stellar amateur career. Scheduled to fight for the second consecutive time in front of his hometown fans, MVP avenged a previous loss by earning a hard-fought, split decision in his last outing over Lima at BELLATOR MMA 267 on Oct. 1, 2021. Two of the judges saw it 29-28 for MVP, while the third scored the close battle 29-28 for Lima. Hailing from a highly successful kickboxing family, the multi-faceted MVP started his mixed arts career when he began training at the tender age of five. Nicknamed “Venom” in homage to a 1978 cult martial arts film entitled “Five Deadly Venoms,” the United Kingdom standout turns 35 one month prior to challenging Amosov. In addition to his cage success, Page has secured 10 freestyle kickboxing world titles and knocked out both of his pro boxing opponents since making his 2016 squared circle debut. After opening his BELLATOR MMA career with a 10-second destruction of Ryan Sanders at BELLATOR MMA 93 in March 2013, MVP has recorded the most knockouts in the history of the Scott Coker-led promotion. Three years after his promotional debut, the once-beaten Londoner captured one of the most devastating knockouts in BELLATOR MMA history when he landed a flying knee at 4:31 of the second round to stop Brazilian Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos at BELLATOR MMA 158 in London. Currently riding a six-bout winning streak, the hard-hitting Page opened his pro career by scoring nine first-round finishes in his initial 13 contests. Updated schedule of BELLATOR events Sat. Jan. 29 // BELLATOR 273: Bader vs. Moldavsky // Footprint Center // Phoenix, Ariz. Sat., Feb. 19 / / BELLATOR 274: Gracie vs. Storley // Mohegan Sun Area // Uncasville, Conn. Fri. Feb. 26 // BELLATOR 275: Mousasi vs. Vanderford // 3Arena // Dublin, Ireland Fri. May 13 // BELLATOR LONDON: Amosov vs. MVP // The SSE Arena, Wembley // London

First names confirmed to take part at BRAVE CF’s Kombat Kingdom in Bahrain

Leo Mcdade 31/08/2020

BRAVE Combat Federation will host three events in three weeks in its home in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and will put on some of the best cards of the year as the fastest-growing organization in the world moves on from its European Invasion with a true homecoming featuring its biggest stars. Officials have announced that Middleweight world champion Daniel ‘’Gaucho’’ will defend his title for the first time, and also the confirmation of at least two fights in the Flyweight tournament, the biggest of the year in MMA. Jose ‘’Shorty’’ Torres, who is scheduled to fight in the first quarter-final matchup has been announced as one of the fighters that will be in action at Kombat Kingdom. Torres is coming off a victory over Amir Albazi at BRAVE CF 23. Another Flyweight confirmed for the tournament and for the Bahrain events is Zach Makovsky. The American wrestler made a winning debut for BRAVE CF when he beat previously undefeated Velimurad Alkhasov in a razor-thin decision. A Sambo world champion, Alkhasov is also expected to fight at the Flyweight tournament. Finally, Dustin Ortiz will be making his much-anticipated promotional debut in another quarter-final matchup. In the coming days, more big names will be announced by the truly global organization as BRAVE CF gears up for an unforgettable last quarter of 2020.

BRAVE CF’s First International BRAVE Gym launched

Leo Mcdade 13/03/2020

Bahrain’s BRAVE Combat Federation, recently launched its first flagship gym in Lahore, Pakistan to bring international standard fitness practices and combat sports to the Nation. The launch was a huge success and was attended by the superstars of Pakistan Super League Karachi Kings including Babar Azam, Imad Wasim, Muhammad Amir and Wasim Akram. “It is a very good initiative by BRAVE Combat Federation to bring an international standard training facility to Pakistan. Our athletes will surely benefit from the introduction of international fitness practices and standards” said Wasim Akram, a legend in the cricket history of Pakistan. Ayesha Omar who hosted the grand opening of the event which showcased the gym facilities and the expertise of the certified coaching staff also further witnessed the presence of star-studded guests included names like Mr. Salman Iqbal, owner of ARY network and partner of BRAVE Gym. The critically acclaimed Pakistani actor and host of one of the most popular television shows, Fahad Mustafa also became a part of the larger than life launch event. People of Pakistan were given demonstrations by professional fighters Mehmosh Raza and Zia Mashwani, who have represented and made Pakistan proud through achieving victories against international fighters in the past at various BRAVE Combat Federation Events. “It is not your average gym, it is the antidote to your regular boring training facilities. We aim to revolutionize the fitness industry through our approach towards fitness and strive to develop the limitless potential that our athletes have to prepare them for international competitions,” said Mr Omar Ahmad, the CEO of BRAVE Gym, Lahore. “I would extend our gratitude and thanks to HH Shaikh Khaled bin Hamad Al Khalifa towards constantly developing sports around the world. BRAVE Gym is yet another step we are taking towards developing the sport in all areas of the world. We were thoroughly impressed with Pakistani fighters and fans when we became the first international MMA organization to host an event there and we’ve made it our mission to help develop the sport in the country. BRAVE Gym is exactly that step,” “President of BRAVE Combat Federation Mohammed Shahid added.

Calling under 18s for the first youth MMA World Championships!

Frankie 09/04/2019

Competitor registration will open on Monday 22 April for the 2019 IMMAF – WMMAA Youth MMA Championships. The inaugural under -18s tournament will take place at the PalaPellicone in Rome over the weekend of 3 to 4 August, with Check-In Day on 2 August. Those interested in competing should apply through their national affiliated federation. Unified world MMA governing body, IMMAF – WMMAA, published its Youth MMA rule sets in February, following a unanimous board decision to disallow head strikes for under 18s. The rules see a modification of the IMMAF – WMMAA Amateur MMA Rules with respect to the physiological development of the following three age categories, as advised by IMMAF – WMMAA’s expert medical, coaching and regulatory committees. • IMMAF Youth A 16-17s (U18) • IMMAF Youth B 14-15s (U16) • IMMAF Youth C 12-13s (U14) View the full Mixed Martial Arts Unified Rules for Youth Competition here WATCH IMMAF – WMMAA YOUTH MMA RULES VIDEO (U18s) Regulatory Affairs Director Marc Goddard walks through the IMMAF – WMMAA Youth MMA rulesets for U18s competition: https://www.immaf.tv/video/immaf-wmmaa-youth-mma-rules-video-u18s/1496945

IMMAF to award first MMA black belts as MMA coaches certification heads to Mexico

Frankie 04/09/2018

The International MMA Federation (IMMAF) holds its third MMA Coaches Education and Certification Course in Mexico from 21 to 23 September 2018, hosted by Federacion de Artes Marciales Mixtas Equidad y Juego Limpio (FAMMEJL). The two-day, Level 1 course will be IMMAF’s first outside of Europe and will see the licensing of Mexico’s first twenty to thirty MMA coaches. Meanwhile, a few elite trainers nominated by the National Federation (FAMMEJL) will be fast-tracked to Level 3 and receive IMMAF’s first black belts, based on their outstanding experience. The IMMAF Coach Education and Certification Programme (CECP) is a three-tiered progression of the coaching competency for MMA. Level 1, 2 and 3 each correspond to a specific part of the participation pyramid– beginners, advanced and elite performance athletes. Its aims include coaches’ professional development, the setting of standards for coaching practice in amateur MMA worldwide and the regulation of coaching practice. The Level 1 Coaches License is awarded based on practical and theoretical training and assessment, as well as coaching hours. Syllabus modules include: · How to Coach Athletes in an Effective, Safe and Ethical way · Know your Athlete (Basic Sport Science 1 & 2) · How Do We Learn New Movements and Practice Our Skills? · How to Plan and Conduct a Training Session · Fundamental Movements · Techniques on Demand (e.g. Principles of Submissions etc.) · Know Your Sport (Rules) · Grading Syllabus (IMMAF Talent Development Pathway) · Coaching Methods and Strategies for a Training Session The awarding of the first generation of MMA black belts and Level 3 licenses will be discretionary, based on the decision of a dedicated coaching panel. The IMMAF coaches’ pathway and education programme is being progressed by IMMAF’s new Director of Development, Dr. Andrew Moshanov, former Head of Development for the International Sambo Federation (FIAS) and previous Technical Director for the British Judo Association. FAMMEJL President, Raul Salas Navarro, commented: “On this first IMMAF coaching course in the Americas, coaches will obtain valuable teaching tools to further their development and will have the opportunity to become certified in the exciting world of mixed martial arts, supported by the IMMAF, the worldwide governing body for MMA. “They will learn the IMMAF methodologies that are being applied internationally for the setting of student examinations and validation of grades for MMA. Don’t miss this first coaching certification course to become one of the first certified and recognised instructors of MMA in the Americas!” IMMAF President Kerrith Brown said: “IMMAF’s Coach Education and Certification Programme provides a key strand of IMMAF’s Talent Development Pathway, providing MMA coaches with the skills and knowledge to develop participants of the sport, with respect to latest sports science theory and safe coaching practice. “IMMAF looks to put a stake in the ground over the coming months, with the rolling out of its first student assessments under certified coaches and the awarding of grades. In acknowledgement of the pioneers and exceptional elite talent that pre-date the IMMAF system, we will also be awarding honorary black-belts based on outstanding experience.”

First Champion from Guyana to defend title at Brave 16

Frankie 03/09/2018

Guyana had its first champion in mixed martial arts crowned during Brave 8 hosted in Curitiba, Brazil. Carlston Harris was crowned the champion in the presence of the legend, Wanderlei Silva. Harris has a record of 12-3-0 and has never been submitted or knocked out in his 15 fight career. He will defend the championship against Jarrah Al Selawe who has the longest win streak in the history of Brave Combat Federation. Drawing parallels to Harris, Al Selawe has never been submitted in his career. Harris will be returning to action after overcoming a career-threatening injury that stopped him from competing for nearly a year. Currently training at the Renovação Fight Team, Harris is set to make a statement with his championship title defence. “Being a champion is not just a title but a responsibility to represent. Championship for me represents a milestone in pursuing my passion facing every challenge that came in life. I am the first champion in a global mixed martial arts promotion from Guyana. I dedicated my championship to all those wonderful people who supported me in Brazil, Guyana and all around the world who had faith in my abilities. I will defend the title to prove a point that dreams are worth fighting for. This is about who is more hungry, resilient and passionate”, explained Harris. Harris is the first mixed martial artist from Guyana to hold a championship title in any mixed martial arts promotion. Harris moved to Brazil to nurture his passion and to develop his career. He made his promotional debut at Brave Combat Federation against Thiago Vieira, handing over the second loss in his professional career. Harris stepping into taking Carl Booth in a day’s notice for the inaugural welterweight championship. After five rounds of action, Booth was overwhelmed by the wrestling game of Harris which gave him the victory by unanimous decision thereby crowing him as the first welterweight champion of the promotion. “I never fought easy opponents, same is the case of Jarrah. He is respectful towards me for which I respect him. He does not talk thrash which is a great quality for a martial artist. I am sure that in Abu Dhabi he will have hometown support. This doesn’t matter. Life was tough for me, for fighters like him everything went their way, apart from maybe a couple of years of tough life. Challenges and pain make me feel at home, to fight odds is a part of my life and I am coming to Abu Dhabi to fight and give my best. His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa opened doors of opportunities for fighters around the world. It will be my honour to fight before him to prove to him and dedicate my victory to him for his birthday”, said Harris.