Bellator 41 Weigh-In Results

Saturday, April 16, 2011


By FCF Staff; photo courtesy Bellator FC

The Cocopah Resort and Casino in Somerton, AZ, will host Bellator’s latest offering tonight; an event which will feature the promotion’s featherweight champion Joe Warren facing Marcos Galvao, and bantamweight champ Zack Makovsky taking on Chad Robichaux. Both of the bouts are non-title affairs.(Pictured: Galvao (left) and Warren face off)

In addition, the card will include the semifinals of Bellator’s ongoing feather tourney, as Wilson Reis will meet Patricio Freire and Kenny Foster will fight Daniel Straus.

Here are the official weigh-in results for Bellator 41. The event will be broadcast live on MTV 2.

Main Card
Joe Warren (136.8 lbs.) vs. Marcos Galvao (136.6 lbs.)
Zack Makovsky (135.4 lbs.) vs. Chad Robichaux (134.2 lbs.)
Wilson Reis (145.6 lbs.) vs. Patricio Freire (146.2 lbs.)*
Kenny Foster (146 lbs.) vs. Daniel Straus (145.4 lbs.)
*Patricio Freire has two hours to make weight.

Undercard:
Rudy Aguilar (223 lbs.) vs. Carlos Flores (248.8 lbs.)
Anthony Birchak (135.6 lbs.) vs. Tyler Bialecki (134.8 lbs.)
Michael Parker (145.4 lbs.) vs. Nick Piedmont (145.8 lbs.)
Brendan Tierney (185 lbs.) vs. Dano Moore (186 lbs.)
READ MORE - Bellator 41 Weigh-In Results

Video: New M-1 Challenge XXV Trailer

Friday, April 15, 2011


READ MORE - Video: New M-1 Challenge XXV Trailer

New FCF Radio: Daley vs. Diaz Review, The Ultimate Fighter, Vladimir Matyushenko

On this episode of Full Contact Fighter Radio, host Jeff Meszaros and co-host James Kellaris attempt to do their first-ever simulcast.  How do they do that?   They review the card for "Strikeforce Daley vs. Diaz" while watching the latest episode of The Ultimate Fighter.  Is that really a "simulcast"?  We're not sure, but that is what they're calling it, and we're not going to argue with them.  So, join them for a back-and-forth festival of MMA chatter as they wildly skip from reviewing the Strikeforce card to commentating on the fight happening before their eyes.  It isn't easy, but it is a sacrifice they are willing to make.  Questions asked and may be answered include: What exactly knocked Daley down?  Why did the referee stop the fight when Daley dropped, but let Diaz crawl around the ring like a drunk dog?  Is Brock Lesnar a jerk?  What's the difference between training hard and training like an idiot?  What about Melendez?  Is that even a question?   

Tune in and find out, then hang on as Vladimir "The Janitor" Matyushenko stops in to chat about his upcoming fight against Jason Brilz.  Hear what he has to say about his last fight and the bout he had with Jon Jones.  Plus, get his thoughts on St. Pierre vs. Shields and Couture vs. Machida.  What happens when you combine quality and awesomeness?  Quasomeness.   Listen and drink it in with your ears.
READ MORE - New FCF Radio: Daley vs. Diaz Review, The Ultimate Fighter, Vladimir Matyushenko

Bellator 41 Line-Up and Schedule

Thursday, April 14, 2011

By FCF Staff

Bellator will head to Arizona’s Cocopah Resort and Casino this Saturday, to host the promotion’s 41st event, which will feature both featherweight champion Joe Warren (pictured) and bantamweight champ Zack Makovsky competing in non-title bouts. Warren will take on Marcos Galvao while Makovsky will square off with Chad Robichaux.

Other main card action will include the semi-finals for Bellator’s Season 4 featherweight tourney, as Wilson Reis will meet Patricio Freire and Kenny Foster will fight Daniel Strauss.

The weigh-ins and pre-fight press conference for the event will take place Friday afternoon and will be streamed live on the official Bellator site beginning at 5:00PM PST.  The event itself, will be broadcast live on MTV 2 Saturday night.

Here is the complete line-up for Bellator 41:

Main Card
Joe Warren (6-1) vs. Marcos Galvao (9-3-1)
Zack Makovsky (12-2) vs. Chad Robichaux (11-0)
Wilson Reis (12-2) vs. Patricio Freire (15-1)
Kenny Foster (9-2) vs. Daniel Straus (15-3)

Undercard
Rudy Aguilar (0-1) vs. Carlos Flores (4-0)
Anthony Birchak (4-0) vs. Tyler Bialecki (7-3)
Michael Parker (0-1) vs. Nick Piedmont (4-1)
Brendan Tierney (6-2) vs. Dano Moore (5-4)
READ MORE - Bellator 41 Line-Up and Schedule

Michael McDonald vs. Nick Pace Added to UFC 133

By FCF Staff

Just a couple of weeks removed from Michael McDonald’s “Fight of the Night”, unanimous decision win over Edwin Figueroa, the UFC has announced that the bantamweight prospect will face Bellator vet Nick Pace, at UFC 133. Although no date or venue has been officially confirmed by the promotion, UFC 133 is expected to take place August 6th in Philadelphia.

Pace (6-1) is coming off a third round, submission win over Will Campuzano, at the TUF 12 Finale in December.  Prior to that, the former Ring of Combat champion lost by UD to Demetrious Johnson, at WEC 51 last September.

With the victory over Figueroa, McDonald (12-1) has won five straight fights, which includes a first round, submission win over Clint Godfrey at WEC 52 in November.

The bantamweight tilt between McDonald and Pace is the second to be confirmed for UFC 133; earlier in the week the promotion announced that middleweight Alessio Sakara and Jorge Rivera will fight on the card.
READ MORE - Michael McDonald vs. Nick Pace Added to UFC 133

Report: Anderson Silva Fighting Yushin Okami Aug. 27th

By FCF Staff

After earning ten victories in the Octagon, and defeating notable competitors like Nate Marquardt and Mark Munoz in his last two fights, Yushin Okami will finally face UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva on August 27th. UFC President Dana White confirmed the match-up to USA Today, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Pictured: Okami punching Silva at ROTR 8)

In Okami, Silva (28-4) will be facing the last man to defeat him, as he was disqualified when they fought at Rumble on the Rock 8 in January, 2006, for utilizing an illegal up kick against the Japanese middleweight. Since then Silva has gone on to win 14 straight bouts, which includes a first round, knockout of Vitor Belfort in his last outing at UFC 126.

Okami (26-5) has gone 10-2 since he arrived in the UFC, with his only defeats coming against former champion Rich Franklin and fellow contender Chael Sonnen. In addition to his aforementioned victories over Marquardt and Munoz, the Judo black belt has scored wins over Mike Swick, Jason MacDonald, and Alan Belcher.

The August 27th event will mark the first time the UFC has promoted an event in Brazil since 1998.

READ MORE - Report: Anderson Silva Fighting Yushin Okami Aug. 27th

Ben Askren Joins Roufusport Fight Team

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

By FCF Staff

Roufusport Fight Team has announced that Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren will look to build further on his striking and all round mixed-martial-arts game, under the guidance of Duke Roufus and his supporting crew in Milwaukee. The 4 time All American wrestler and 2008 Olympian will continue to be managed by Zinkin Entertainment.

“I think Duke can do a lot for my mixed martial arts game,” Askren was quoted saying in the press release announcing he has joined the renowned fight team.

“Obviously, Duke’s kickboxing background is going to improve my standup greatly,”added Askren. “But Roufusport has a really well-rounded team. So I can improve all aspects of my game at the same time, and not just my standup.”

Askren has been extremely successful since the accomplished grappler transitioned into MMA in 2009, defeating noteworthy vets like Ryan Thomas, Dan Hornbuckle and Lyman Good, en route to winning Bellator's championship. Most recently this past weekend, at Bellator 40, Askren worked his way to a unanimous decision win over former UFC competitor, Nick Thompson.

“Ben is a world class wrestler, and I’m very pleased to have him joining our fight team,” Duke Roufus noted. “I believe we’re going to help him take the next step in his career, while his wrestling will only benefit the other guys on the team.”

Other notable competitors in the Roufusport house include Anthony Pettis, Erik Koch, Daniel Downes, Pat Barry, Alan Belcher and Ben Rothwell.

READ MORE - Ben Askren Joins Roufusport Fight Team

Douglas Lima Reaching New Heights as MFC Champ

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

By Kelsey Mowatt; photo courtesy MFC

Despite signing with the Maximum Fighting Championship last year with a 15-4 record and possessing a reputation as a highly touted prospect, Douglas Lima was still an unfamiliar name to many throughout the MMA world. Now, after laying claim to the promotion’s welterweight title and then defending it in impressive fashion against Terry Martin this past weekend, the word is starting to get out on Lima’s flourishing career.

“It’s getting better now,” Lima told FCF, when asked if he’s being contacted more due to his recent successes. “People are starting to call me to talk about my fights. The MFC has been super important; they’ve really pushed my career where I needed it to be. Fighting on HDNet, beating three tough guys, it’s really what I needed to push my career even higher.”

Lima made his MFC debut last September, and immediately sent shockwaves throughout Canadian MMA , by tapping out former contender Ryan Ford in the second round. Just two months later at MFC 27, Lima battled through the refined wrestling and imposing top game of Jesse Juarez, and submitted the welterweight in the third round to become the MFC champ. While both victories were impressive and pivotal in furthering Lima’s career, this Saturday’s first round stoppage of UFC vet Terry Martin, may be the 23 year-old-fighter’s most noteworthy yet.

“It meant a lot to me,” said Lima while discussing his latest victory. “It shows that all the hard work I’ve been putting in is paying off. I trained really hard for that fight and I was really confident that I would get the win. I’m just really glad it turned out that way.”

“Ever since I signed to fight him I was hoping that it would push my career even higher,” Lima added. “Now I’m just going to sit back and see what happens next, but I’m sure it’s going to really put my name out there.”

Perhaps what made the win particularly memorable was that Lima utilized his striking, rather than his renowned submission game, to finish off the feared striker. Early on, Lima caught Martin with a hard right hook that sent the well traveled vet to the mat, before finishing him off with a series of follow up punches to secure his 18th pro win.

“Oh man it feels so good to show people what I can do with striking,” said Lima. “I don’t want them to think I’m just a jiu-jitsu guy. I’m really happy; people can see now that I can strike well you know?”

Now having begun his 2011 campaign with another win, to extend Lima’s winning streak to six, the American Top Team Atlanta fighter is hoping to compete again soon.

“I don’t know when I’m going to fight, but I could fight next week if I had to,” Lima said, when asked if he’s had any discussions about when he’ll return to the MFC for his next title defense. “I’m young, I didn’t get hurt, so the sooner the better.”

“I’d like to fight as much as I can, seven, eight times, if I could,” Lima added while talking about his hopes for 2011. “I’d fight every month but it’s not really easy to find fights. I just want to fight a lot and keep winning.”
READ MORE - Douglas Lima Reaching New Heights as MFC Champ

Video: M-1 Challenge XXV: Zavurov vs. Magomedov 2 Trailer


READ MORE - Video: M-1 Challenge XXV: Zavurov vs. Magomedov 2 Trailer

Malik Merad vs. Mikhail Zayats Added to M-1 Challenge XXV

By FCF Staff

M-1 Global continues to round out the line-up for the promotion’s upcoming April 28th event in St. Petersburg, Russia, as today the promotion has announced that light-heavyweight Mikhail Zayats (pictured) will fight Malik Merad on the card.

Zayats (13-5) will head into the bout having won three straight; most recently in December at M-1 Challenge 22, he tapped out David Tkeshelashvili with a first round, rear-naked-choke. Zayats last loss came in January, 2010, when he was stopped by Robert Jocz.

Merad (10-6) is coming off a recent loss to David Baudrier, who defeated him by unanimous decision at a Pancrase event earlier this month. In March, Merad stopped Egidijus Valavicius in the first round at a King of Kings event.

M-1 Challenge XXV will feature two title fights, as welterweight champion Shamil Zavurov will look to defend his belt against Rashid Magomedov, and Viktor Zemkov will battle Vinny Magalhaes for the vacant light-heavyweight championship.

The April 28th card will be streamed live on the official M-1 Global site. Here is the line-up to date for the event.

M-1 Challenge XXV Under Card:
TBA  vs. Alexander Kosarev (1-2)              

M-1 Challenge XXV Main Card (Streaming Live):
Malik Merad (10-6) vs. Mikhail Zayats (13-5)               
Juanma Suarez (6-0) vs. Arsen Temirkhanov (8-1)           
TBA vs. Ramzan Algeriev (1-0)               
Murad Magomedov (6-6) vs. Dmitry Samoilov (11-5-1)           
Denis Goltsov (2-1) vs. Alexander Volkov (10-3)            
Christian Eckerlin (6-0) vs. Alexander Yakovlev (10-3)          
Luigi Fioravanti (22-8) vs. Andrei Semenov (29-9-2)           
* Additional bouts to be announced shortly

Welterweight Championship Bout:
Shamil Zavurov, M-1 Challenge Champion (19-1) vs. Rashid Magomedov (8-1)

Light Heavyweight (205 Lbs) Championship Bout:
Viktor Nemkov (10-2) vs. Vinny Magalhaes (7-5)
READ MORE - Malik Merad vs. Mikhail Zayats Added to M-1 Challenge XXV