M-1 Confirms 3 Title Fights for Oct. 28th in St. Petersburg

By FCF Staff   M-1 Global has confirmed three title fights for the promotion’s upcoming October 28^th event in St. Petersburg, Russia, which will determine champions in the lightweight, middleweight and heavyweight division.

The confirmed bouts include:

Lightweight Title Fight:

Artiom Damkovsky, M-1 Selection Eastern Europe 2010 champion (10-4) vs. Mairbek Taisumov, M-1 Selection Western Europe 2010 champion (12-2)

Middleweight Title Fight:

Magomed Sultanakhmedov, M-1 Selection Eastern Europe 2010 champion (28-4) vs. Rafał Moks, M-1 Selection Western Europe 2010 champ (5-2)  

Heavyweight Title Fight:

Maxim Grishin, M-1 Selection Eastern Europe champion (7-4) vs. Guram Gugenishvili, M-1 Selection Western Europe champion (8-0).

“On this historic evening, M-1 Global will be crowning three world champions,” Evgeni Kogan, Director of Operations M-1 Global was quoted saying in a press release from the promotion. “For the first time ever in M-1’s history, championship belts will be awarded in the lightweight, middleweight, and heavyweight divisions. These are the culminating battles between the M-1 Selection regional champions.”

More bouts for the October 28^th event are to be announced. M-1 Global’s light-heavyweight and welterweight champions will be determined at an event in the U.S., later this year.

READ MORE - M-1 Confirms 3 Title Fights for Oct. 28th in St. Petersburg

Final Line-Up Confirmed for Sept. 5th Pancrase

By FCF Staff   Pancrase has released the final line-up for the promotion’s upcoming September 5^th, Passion Tour event, which will be hosted by the Differ Ariake in Tokyo, Japan.

Headlining the event will be a light-heavyweight tilt between accomplished Pancrase competitor Ryo Kawamura and the veteran Yuji Sakuragi. Kawamura (12-5-2) is coming off a second round stoppage of Hidetada Irie at a Sengoku Raiden Championship card in June, while Sakuragi (11-16-1) last fought in February, when he was TKO’d by Christian M’Pumbu at Deep 46.

Here is the complete line-up for this weekend’s Pancrase 2010 Passion Tour card.

Main Event Light-Heavyweight 3x5 min rounds

Ryo Kawamura vs. Yuji Sakuragi

Semifinal Bantam weight K.O.P. title defense 3x5 min rounds

Manabu Inoue vs. Tashiro Akai　Pro Bout #7

Pancrase Athena Rules 52.5kg 2x5 min rounds

WINDY Tomomi vs. Monica LovatoPro Bout

#6 Flyweight 3x5 min rounds

Mitsuhisa Sunabe vs. Shinpei TaharaPro Bout

 #5 Welterweight 3x5 min rounds

Masahiro Toryu vs. Akihiro Yamazaki

Pro Bout #4 Lightweight 3x5 min rounds

Daisuke Hanazawa vs. ERIYA

Pro Bout #3 Featherweight 2x5 min rounds

Kenji Arai vs. Soyu Tanabe

Pro Bout #2 Featherweight 2x5 min rounds

Hideo Matsui vs. Masaomi Saito　

Pro Bout #1 Welterweight 2x5 min rounds

Kentaro Abe vs. Kusa・MAX

READ MORE - Final Line-Up Confirmed for Sept. 5th Pancrase

Video: Warren's Championship Winning KO of Soto

Joe Warren lays claim to Bellator's featherweight championship by knocking out Joe Soto.

READ MORE - Video: Warren's Championship Winning KO of Soto

Joe Warren KO’s Joe Soto to Take Bellator Belt

 By FCF Staff   Photo Courtesy Bellator Fighting Championships

Joe Warren continues to demonstrate that he is destined to do big things in MMA, as the former Greco-Roman wrestling champ laid claim to Bellator’s featherweight title last night in San Antonio, by knocking out Joe Soto in the second round. After being dominated by Soto’s striking in the opening five minutes, Warren came out firing in the second, and stunned the former champion with an overhand right. Although Soto managed to work his way back to his feet out from a vicious barrage of hammer fists, Warren (pictured above) soon closed the deal with a thumping knee to the head and follow up strikes.

“I told you I was going to win,” Warren was quoted saying in a press release from the promotion. “I came in here and got the job done. I’m super happy to be a World Champion. This is the first time I’ve knocked someone out – there is a lot more to come.”

“If you saw Joe Warren’s fight with Patricio Pitbull in Season 2, most people would not of  made it out of that first round, but Warren has that immeasurable heart that allows him to push forward,” Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said after. “Tonight was no different.  When I sat down with Warren a year ago he told me that he was willing to die in there to get that title. Most people just say that, but when he says it you believe it.  What a great performance. We have a tremendously talented and rapidly evolving featherweight champion.”   

With the win Warren’s record improves to 6-1, while in experiencing defeat for the first time, Soto’s drops to 9-1.

In action from the promotion's ongoing bantamweight tourney, Zach Makovsky, Ed West and Ulysses Gomez all advanced to the semi-finals with decision victories.

Here are the complete results for Bellator Fighting Championships 27:

Joe Warren def. Joe Soto via Knockout (strikes) - R 2, 0:33

(Warren wins Bellator Featherweight Championship)

Zach Makovsky def. Nick Mamalis via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Ed West def. Bryan Goldsby via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Gilbert Jimenez def. Aaron Barringer via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Richard Odoms def. Dale Mitchell via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Andrew Craig def. Rodrigo Pinheiro via TKO (doctor's stoppage due to cut) - Round 3, 2:53

Andrew Chappelle def. Joe Christopher via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Ulysses Gomez def. Travis Reddinger via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Jon Kirk def. Shane Faulkner via TKO (strikes) - R3, 2:19

Steven Peterson def. Ernest De La Cruz via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

READ MORE - Joe Warren KO’s Joe Soto to Take Bellator Belt

Alan Belcher Recovering From Further Eye Surgery

By FCF Staff    UFC middleweight Alan Belcher is recovering from another operation to repair the detached retina in his right eye, which forced him out of his scheduled September 15^th bout with Demian Maia. According to posts made by Belcher’s wife Ashlee, on his official Twitter page, the coming weeks are vitally important in the fighter’s recovery.

Here are some of the posts that appeared today and yesterday on Belcher’s Twitter account:

Several people have sent me @'s asking where they can send Alan a get well soon card to.gym address is 10322 gorenflo rd diberville ms 39340

about 18 hours ago via TwitBird

We are home He is in a lot of pain though Next few weeks are really important He has to lay face down :( thanks for prayers, @Ashleebelcher

about 19 hours ago via TwitBird

This is alans wife @Ashleebelcher Yesterday his vision was blurry again today heading into another surgery on same eye please keep praying

5:51 AM Sep 1st via TwitBird

Belcher (16-6) has impressed in recent Octagon competition and a win over Maia may have left the talented striker within grasp of a title shot. In May, Belcher tapped out former number one contender Patrick Cote in the second round, to extend his UFC record to 7-4. The 26 year-old-fighter has only lost once in his last five fights, which was a tightly contested Split Decision loss to Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 100 last summer.

READ MORE - Alan Belcher Recovering From Further Eye Surgery

Bellator 27 Weigh-In Results; Quotes from Warren and Soto

By FCF Staff  Photo Courtesy Bellator Fighting Championships 

Bellator Featherweight Champion Joe Soto will look to defend his title tonight in San Antonio, Texas, as he will face accomplished wrestler and season 2 tourney winner Joe Warren. Both men made weight yesterday to make tonight’s title fight official, with Soto coming in at 144.8lbs. and Warren weighing in at 143.6. (Pictured left: Warren (l) and Soto square off)

Soto has gone undefeated since turning pro in 2006, and hasn’t fought since May, when he stopped Diego Saraiva in the first round to extend his record to 9-0. Here is some of what Soto reportedly had to about tonight’s fight (quotes via a Bellator FC press release).

“I think I’m a lot better rounded that he is. This isn’t a wrestling, this is MMA. We don’t know whose wrestling is going to be better until we get in there. I’m more well rounded – I’m going to kick his ass.”

“I’ve grown a lot in this sport, but I feel like I haven’t gotten the opportunity to use all of my tools. Maybe Joe Warren will push me to use all of those tools.

 “All he does better than me is talk s***. Talking is the only thing he does better. He keeps a good pace , but I don’t see anything in the cage he does better than me. He’s got weak punches when he’s on top, nothing I’m scared of.”

Warren (5-1) has made an immediate impact in MMA as many observers expected, and aside from a submission loss to Dream champion Bibiano Fernandes, he’s beaten everyone that’s been put in front of him. Speaking about tonight’s fight at yesterday’s weigh-ins, the former Greco-Roman wrestling champion also sounded confident about his chances.

“I want to do this to get some credibility. Once I win the championships people will know that I am an all around fighting professional.”

 “No one can handle my pace. I can’t even handle it. I’m going to push even harder than I ever have before. I don’t plan on leaving without that belt.”

“I’ve just got to stay focused on the core fundamentals of MMA, push hard and stay mentally tough. In my fight with Pitbull, things weren’t going my way after that first round. During every fight there is a time when you decide if you want to win or lose the fight, and after that first round, I decided I wanted it more. It was a battle, but I stayed mentally tough, and ended up winning the fight.”

Here are the official weigh-in results for Bellator 27. The card will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net.

MAIN CARD:

Bellator Featherweight Champion Joe “The Hammer” Soto (144.8 lbs.) vs. Joe Warren (143.6 lbs.) @ 145 lbs.

Bryan Goldsby (135.8 lbs.) vs.  Ed West (135 lbs.) @ 135 lbs.

Nick Mamalis (135.8 lbs.) vs. Zach Makovsky (134.4 lbs.) @135 lbs.

Travis Reddinger (135 lbs.) vs. Uylsses Gomez (135.2 lbs.) @135 lbs.

UNDERCARD:

Andrew Craig (184 lbs.) vs. Rodrigo Pinheiro (185) @185 lbs.

Aaron Barringer(154.4 lbs.) vs. Gilbert Jimenez( 154.2 ) @ 155 lbs.

Dale Mitchell(264.2 lbs. ) vs. Richard Odoms(260.4 lbs.) @ 265 lbs.

Steven Peterson (145.5 lbs.) vs. Ernest De La Cruz (144.4 lbs.) @ 145 lbs.

Joe Christopher (170.6 lbs.) vs. Andrew Chappelle (169.6 lbs.) @ 170 lbs

John Kirk (205 lbs.) vs. Shane Faulkner (204.6 lbs.) @ 205 lbs.

READ MORE - Bellator 27 Weigh-In Results; Quotes from Warren and Soto

New FCF Radio with Trevor Prangley

On this episode of Full Contact Fighter Radio, host Jeff "Wombat" Meszaros and co-host James Kellaris contemplate whether or not the last UFC was shocking or not surprising at all.  Really, did anyone expect James Toney to beat Randy Couture?   Did anyone expect Frankie Edgar to run through BJ Penn for a second time?   Tune in for our answers, then stick around as we banter about the rest of the fights, wandering off topic more often than a pair of drunks.  Can you handle it?  There's only one way to find out.  Other questions to consider: Will Gray Maynard beat Frankie Edgar a second time to take the belt?  Does being a wrestling champion of Brazil mean anything at all?  Does Kenny Florian really lose in big matches because he chokes?  Or is he just having problems with men who can hold him down and punch him in the face?  Who wouldn't?   It's a fair question, and we don't shy away from it.  Also, what is up with Nate Diaz?  Does he even know he is doing post-fight interviews?  Why does he continually talk about fighters who do not fight for the UFC in the Octagon?  Is it a a keen understanding of cross-marketing or is he so punch-drunk he doesn't even really know where he is?  And what about that choke?  Did he nearly kill Marcus Davis by choking him that long?  Wow.  If this isn't enough for you, hang around as Trevor Prangley stops in to talk about his upcoming bout versus Keith Jardine next week in Shark Fights 13.  Hear what he thinks of his fight and the rest of the card, which actually sounds like a good one.  Also, catch his thoughts on the Tim Kennedy vs. "Jacare" fight as well as the King Mo vs. Feijao title-swap.  Oh, snap, it's another show worth commemorating in song for generations to come.

To listen to the show head here.

READ MORE - New FCF Radio with Trevor Prangley

Final Card Confirmed for Sept. 11th X-1 “Heroes”

By FCF Staff     X-1 World Events has confirmed the final card for the promotion’s upcoming “Heroes” event, which will take place September 11^th at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii. The card will be headlined by a middleweight title fight between champion Falaniko Vitale (pictured left) and challenger Kala “Kolohe” Hose, and will also feature second round action from the promotion’s light-heavyweight tournament.

Vitale (27-9) is coming off a first round submission victory over UFC veteran Kalib Starnes, which took place at X-1’s “Champions” event in March. The veteran is 3-2 in his last five fights, with losses coming against notable opposition in Frank Trigg and Trevor Prangley.

Hose (7-3) hasn’t competed since last April, when he was tapped out by Jason “Mayhem” Miller while competing on a Kingdom MMA event. The Elite XC veteran is 3-2 in his last five fights and has a TKO win over veteran Phil Baroni during that stretch.

Here is the confirmed line-up for the September 11^th X-1 “Heroes” event:

Main Event: 185 lb. World MMA Championship:

Falaniko Vitale* vs. Kala “Kolohe” Hose

*Champion

Light Heavyweight Tournament (second round):

Poai Suganuma vs. Vitaly Shemetov

Sang Soo Lee vs. Roy Boughton

145 lb. World MMA Championship:

Ricky Wallace vs. Alvin Cacdac

135 lb. World MMA Championship:

Bryson Hanson* vs. Russell Doane 

155 lbs. – Max “Lil’ Evil” Halloway vs. Duke Saragosa

135 lbs. – Raquel Paaluhi vs. Colleen Schnider

135 lbs. – Eddie Perrell vs. Mark Tajon (State Title Match)

170 lbs. – Anthony Torres vs. Thomas Sedeno

145 lbs. – Dustin Kimura vs. Chris Williams

185 lbs. – Collin Mansanas vs. Caleb Price

135 lbs. – Van Shiroma vs. Timothy Meeks

READ MORE - Final Card Confirmed for Sept. 11th X-1 “Heroes”

Vitor Belfort Confirms Nov. 13th Bout With Yushin Okami

By FCF Staff    Vitor Belfort has confirmed, that as expected, he will face fellow middleweight contender Yushin Okami, at UFC 122, November 13^th in Oberhausen, Germany. The following statement appeared on the fighter’s official Twitter page earlier today.

"Now it's game time we have a fight nov 13 against okami"

Belfort (19-8) has not fought since last September, when in his Octagon return he stopped former champion Rich Franklin in the first round. The renowned striker had been set to face middleweight champion Anderson Silva in April, but a shoulder injury and subsequent surgery forced Belfort to the sidelines. Heading into UFC 122 Belfort has won 5 straight fights.

Okami (25-5) has won back-to-back fights over Lucio Linhares and most recently Mark Munoz, since losing by Unanimous Decision to current, number one contender Chael Sonnen last October. The powerful Japanese fighter has gone 9-2 in the UFC to date.

It’s expected that the winner of the Okami / Belfort tilt, which has yet to be officially confirmed by the UFC, will secure a title shot. UFC 122 will be broadcast on Spike.

READ MORE - Vitor Belfort Confirms Nov. 13th Bout With Yushin Okami

Report: GSP vs. Koscheck II to Take Place Dec. 11th in Montreal

By FCF Staff    Georges St. Pierre and Josh Koscheck will fight for the second time, December 11th, at UFC 124 in Montreal, Quebec, according to multiple reports today. The rematch will be hosted by the city’s Bell Centre, and will take place after the conclusion of the upcoming season of “The Ultimate Fighter”, that will see GSP and Koscheck coach opposite one another.

The following post appeared on Koscheck’s official Twitter page this morning:

"2 get what u have never had u must do what u've never done." Looks like we going 2 Russia aka.(MTL) kids on dec 11 :)

The location and date of the bout was first reported by MMA Fighting.com, citing a confirmation from UFC President Dana White.

St. Pierre and Kosheck first fought in August, 2007, when the current welterweight champion dominated Koscheck en route to a Unanimous Decision win. GSP has won 6 straights bout since the fight, while the accomplished collegiate wrestler Koscheck has gone 6-2.

It will be interesting to see how Koscheck is greeted by Montreal fans on December 11th; following his UD win over Paul Daley at UFC 113, the outspoken welterweight declared that both St. Pierre and the city’s beloved Montreal Canadiens hockey team, were headed for losses.

READ MORE - Report: GSP vs. Koscheck II to Take Place Dec. 11th in Montreal

Final Card Announced for TFC "Full Force" / Video: Valimaki vs. Desilet

By FCF Staff   Canadian MMA promotion The Fight Club has announced the final line-up for the promotion’s upcoming September 10^th “Full Force” event, which will take place in Edmonton, Alberta’s Shaw Conference Center. The card will be headlined with a rematch between current light-heavyweight champion Martin Desilets and former UFC competitor Victor Valimaki.

Desilets (10-2) took the belt from Valimaki in March by stopping the former champion in the first round with strikes. Due to the fact the bout was marred by low and illegal blows an immediate rematch was set in place. The controversial bout can be viewed below. The win was Desilet’s third in a row.

Valimaki (16-6) also hasn’t competed since the loss to Desilets, which ended the Edmonton fighter’s 7 fight winning streak.

The Fight Club has confirmed that Adam Lynn will no longer be competing on the card against Ryan McGillivray (10-4-1), due to injury, and that welterweight Markhaille Wedderburn (10-7) has stepped up to take his place.

Here is the complete line-up for TFC “Full Force”.

TFC World Light-Heavyweight Championship

Martin Desilets* (10-2) vs. Victor Valimaki (16-6)

*Champion

TFC  Canadian Lightweight Championship

155 lbs: Mitch Clarke (7-0) vs. Josh Machan (7-3)

170 lbs: Ryan McGillivray (10-4-1) vs. Markhaile Wedderburn (10-7)

170 lbs: Ryan Machan (11-5) vs. James McCutcheon (3-2)

170 lbs: Rio Wells (3-0) vs. Chuck Pelc (2-1)

130 lbs: Sy Jewett (1-0) vs. Rachael Swaetz (3-1)      

170 lbs: Darcy Boizard (1-1) vs. O’Denva Phillips (0-0)       

140 lbs: Reece Chapman (0-0) vs. Adam Bodwell (0-0)      

155 lbs: Steve Beaumont (0-0) vs. Dean Cox (0-0)

READ MORE - Final Card Announced for TFC "Full Force" / Video: Valimaki vs. Desilet

Line-Up Finalized for Bellator FC 27

By FCF Staff  Bellator Fighting Championships has announced the line-up for the “local feature fights” portion of the promotion’s upcoming September 2^nd event in San Antonio. Bellator 27, which will be hosted by that city’s Majestic Theatre, will feature a featherweight title fight between champion Joe Soto and recent tourney winner Joe Warren.

In the local main event for Bellator 27, Rodrigo Pinheiro (3-0) will face Andrew Craig (1-0), while five other bouts have been confirmed for the undercard, including: Gilbert Jimenez (2-1) vs.  Aaron Barringer (4-2),

Richard Odoms (1-0) vs. Dale Mitchell (0-2), Joe Christopher (10-3) vs. Andrew Chappelle (9-6), Jon Kirk (15-8) vs. Shane Faulkner (3-2), and Steven Peterson vs. Ernest De La Cruz (pro debuts).

Previously confirmed bouts for the card include action in the opening round of the promotion’s bantamweight tourney, as Nick “Garfield” Mamalis (10-4) will face  Zack “Fun Size” Makovsky (9-2), Bryan Goldsby (15-7) will take on Ed West (13-4), and Travis “The Hurricane” Reddinger (14-2) will square off with Uylsses Gomez (6-1).

The event will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Net.

Joe Warren

READ MORE - Line-Up Finalized for Bellator FC 27

Bacallao vs. Thorpe Set for Sept. 18th M-1 Card

By FCF Staff    M-1 Global continues to confirm bouts for the promotion’s upcoming, M-1 Selection 2010- Americas Finals event, which will take place September 18^th at the Bally’s Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The latest addition to the event, which will feature the final bouts in each weight division of the Americas Finals tourney, is an undercard lightweight tilt between Josh Bacallao and Josh Thorpe.

Bacallao (6-2) recently had his 4 fight undefeated streak come to an end, as he lost by Split Decision to George Sheppard, at M-1 Global’s third Americas Finals event in August. Prior to that, at a World Extreme Fighting event in June, Bacallao stopped Eric Kovarik in the third round.

Thorpe (10-3) was also defeated at the Americas Finals Round Three event in August, as he lost by Unanimous Decision to Jose Figueroa. In June, Thorpe earned a UD victory over Matt McCook at an Atlas Fights event.

Here is the line-up to date for the upcoming September 18^th, M-1 Selection 2010- Americas Finals event.

LW- Jose Figueroa vs. George Sheppard                   

WW- Tom Gallicchio vs. Len Bentley                              

MW- Tyson Jeffries vs. Mike Geurin                             

LHW- Byron Byrd vs. Daniel Vizcaya                        

HW- Kenny Garner vs. Pat Bennett                              

Undercard

MW-Shane Primm vs. Bristol Marunde                       

LW- Josh Bacallao vs. Josh Thorpe                             

READ MORE - Bacallao vs. Thorpe Set for Sept. 18th M-1 Card

Bellator Confirms Alvarez vs. Huerta for October 21st

By FCF Staff   Bellator Fighting Championships has confirmed today that the lightweight tilt between accomplished veterans Eddie Alvarez and Roger Huerta, will take place October 21^st, at the promotion’s debut event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The city’s Liacouras Center will be the host venue for Bellator 33. (pictured right: Alvarez (R))

Alvarez (20-2), who’s Bellator lightweight championship will not be up for grabs on October 21^st, heads into his bout with Huerta having won 5 straight. In his last outing at Bellator 17 in May, the lightweight choked out UFC veteran Josh Neer with a second round rear-naked-choke. Alvarez has not lost since New Year’s Eve 2008, when he was submitted by reigning Dream champion Shinya Aoki.

"Roger Huerta, Philadelphia, October 21st... this is a dream fight for me,” Alvarez was quoted saying in a press release from the promotion. “I've never even lost a fight here in the United States, so I'm definitely not going to start in my hometown of Philadelphia with all of my people there. That's not going to happen. Not a chance.

“I'm not going to be happy unless I completely control and dominate Roger in this fight. It's important for me to go in there and dominate this fight and prove that I'm one of the best lightweights in the world.”

Huerta (21-4-1) has gone 1-1 since the former Octagon competitor signed with Bellator. In the opening round of the promotion’s second season lightweight tourney, Huerta tapped out Chad Hinton with a third round kneebar; however, in May, he lost by Unanimous Decision to Pat Curran and was eliminated from the competition. Curran went on to win the tournament to earn a title fight with Alvarez, but was forced to postpone the bout due to injury.

“This is a fight that I've always wanted,” said Huerta. “It's a dream come true. It's going to be a gruelling fight for the both of us. It's going to be a potential fight of the year. I'm going in there expecting a war, and I'm going in there trying to finish Eddie.”

Huerta is 2-3 in his last five fights, with his other win coming over Clay Guida, and additional losses stemming from bouts with UFC contenders Gray Maynard and Kenny Florian. 

Huerta (R) Will Fight Alvarez Oct. 21st

READ MORE - Bellator Confirms Alvarez vs. Huerta for October 21st