SPIKE TV AND BELLATOR MMA PRESENTS NEW SPECIAL PROGRAMMING TO PROMOTE BELLATOR 123 FEATURING PAT CURRAN AND PATRICIO “PITBULL”

“Birth of A Rivalry: Curran Pitbull I” Premieres Friday, August 29 at 11pm

“Countdown to Curran-Pitbull II” Premieres Monday, September 1 at 11pm

Newport Beach, Calif. (August 15, 2014) – Spike TV and Bellator will present two compelling one-hour specials in promotion of the highly-anticipated Bellator 11 season premiere, Bellator 123, on Friday, September 5 at 8:00pm ET/PT headlined by a Featherweight Championship bout between Pat Curran and  Patricio “Pitbull” and co-feature fights showcasing King Mo, Cheick Kongo, and Bobby Lashley.

“Birth of A Rivalry: Curran Pitbull I” will debut on Spike on Friday, August 29 at 11pm ET/PT. The one-hour special will take fans back to the origin of the epic rivalry between Pat Curran and Patricio “Pitbull”. Viewers will relive every frame of their five-round, back-and-forth epic battle that featured Curran narrowly defending his world featherweight championship belt against the tenacious and relentless Pitbull via a controversial split decision.

“Countdown to Curran-Pitbull II” premieres Monday, September 1 at 11:00pm ET/PT. The one-hour special takes an inside look at one of Bellator’s biggest events this year showcasing the intense rivalry between Featherweight champ Pat Curran and his nemesis Patricio “Pitbull” and previews Cheick Kongo vs. Lavar Johnson, King Mo, and the Bellator MMA debut of Bobby Lashley.

The special delves into the psyche of both Curran and Pitbull as they prepare for their upcoming rematch. Since their memorable first fight, the rivalry has heated up through a war of words – setting up one of the sport’s most anticipated fights.  Will the mounting pressure and trash talk be too much for the reserved Curran or will Pitbull be able to back up his harsh words for his opponent? 

“Birth of A Rivalry: Curran Pitbull I” and “Countdown to Curran-Pitbull II” are jointly produced by Spike TV and Bellator MMA with Scott Fishman, Michael Sarnoski, Scott Coker, and Kevin Kay as Executive Producers.

Broadcast times:

Birth of a Rivalry: Curran/Pitbull 1

Friday, August 29 at 11pm       

Friday, September 5 at 6pm

Countdown to Curran/Pitbull II

Monday, September 1 at 11pm         

Thursday, September 4 at 11pm       

Friday, September 5 at 7pm     

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BellatorMMA        

Tom DeBlass Removed from Bellator 123 Fight Card Due to Injury; Marcus Sursa Will Face King Mo from Mohegan Sun on September 5th

Newport Beach, Calif. (August 13, 2014) – After suffering from a knee injury during training, Tom DeBlass has been removed from the Bellator 123 fight card and will be replaced by Marcus Sursa. Sursa will face King Mo in a light heavyweight battle from Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun Arena live on Spike TV. A Bellator newcomer, Sursa enters the fight riding a two-fight win streak and has recorded 12 of his 13 professional victories by KO or submission. Looking for the finish, Sursa will put his skills to the test against King Mo on September 5^th.

The full fight card is listed below.

MAIN CARD:Featherweight World Title Fight: Patricio Pitbull (21-2) vs. Pat Curran (20-5)
Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: King Mo Lawal (12-4) vs. Marcus Sursa (13-8)
Heavyweight Feature Fight: Josh Burns (8-7) vs. Bobby Lashley (10-2)
Heavyweight Feature Fight:  Lavar Johnson (18-9) vs. Cheick Kongo (21-9-2)

PRELIMINARY CARD:Bantamweight Feature Fight: Marvin Maldonado (1-1) vs. Rico Disciullo (2-0)
Bantamweight Feature Fight: Steve Garcia (4-0) vs. Kin Moy (4-0)
Heavyweight Feature Fight: Mike Wessel (14-7) v s. Josh Diekmann (14-5)
Middleweight Feature Fight: Tamdan McCrory (11-3) vs. Brennan Ward (9-2)
Middleweight Feature Fight: Perry Filkins (8-1) vs. Dan Cramer (10-4)
Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Mike Mucitelli (6-1) vs. Mark Griffin (3-3-1)
Featherweight Feature Fight: Phillipe Martins (0-1) vs. Pete Rogers Jr. (1-1)
Bantamweight Feature Fight: Brandon Fleming (3-2) vs. Blair Tugman (5-5)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Lucas Cruz (7-2) vs. Andrew Calandrelli (6-4)
Featherweight Feature Fight: Scott Cleve (14-4) vs. Matt Bessette (13-5)

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BellatorMMA        

BELLATOR 123 WILL START AT 8:00pm ET/PT ON SPIKE TV ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

Special Start Time For Season 11 Premiere

Newport Beach, Calif. (August 11, 2014) – Bellator will kick-off its 11^th season from Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun Casino on Friday, September 5^th at a special start time of 8:00pm ET/PT on Spike TV.  Bellator 123 (8:00-10:00pm ET/PT) will be headlined by the Featherweight Title fight as reigning Bellator Champion Pat Curran defends his belt against Brazilian striker Patricio Pitbull. Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased via TicketMaster.com:Bellator 123: Curran vs. Pitbull      

The following week, Bellator will return to its 9:00-11:00pm ET/PT timeslot.

“MMA fans know that Friday nights are all about great Bellator action on Spike,” noted Scott Coker, President, Bellator. “We have a huge night planned for September 5^th, and wanted to give fans an opportunity to enjoy what should be a very fun night in Connecticut from Mohegan Sun Casino.”  

The night will also showcase Cheick Kongo, King Mo, the Bellator debut of Bobby Lashley and a full preliminary card.

Kicking off the Spike.com portion of the night will be a battle of heavy hands between Connecticut’s own Josh Diekmann and Mike Wesssel. Riding a two-fight win streak, Diekmann has recorded all 14 of his victories by finish, but will put his skills to the test against Wessel, who has recorded eight KO wins, six coming in the first round.

Season 9 Middleweight Tournament winner Brennan Ward is ready to face Tamdan McCrory in front of his home state crowd. The always exciting Ward grabbed his previous four victories with strong finishes and is anxious to step back into the cage and put on an explosive fight for the Mohegan Sun fans and end his fight with McCrory as fast as possible.

Entering the fight on a six-fight win streak, “Filthy” Perry Filkins will battle fan favorite Dan Cramer in a middleweight bout. Having not fought since March of 2013, Cramer is looking to make a statement with his return to the bright lights of Bellator but will have to hold off the powerful punching of Filkins who has won six of his eight victories by knockout.

After a pulling off an exhilarating upset win over Diego Nunes at Mohegan Sun last year, Season 10 Featherweight Semifinalist Matt Bessette returns to the Bellator cage to fight Scott Cleve. Besssette has amassed a 13-5 professional record, but will face a strong opponent in Cleve who has won six of his previous seven fights, five coming by finish.

Looking to make his mark in his Bellator debut, Kin Moy will face Steve Garcia on September 5^th. Both with perfect 4-0 records, Garcia is confident heading into the fight after grabbing a 39-second knockout victory in his last fight at Bellator 121. 

After a three-year hiatus from the cage, Mark Griffin will put his skills to the test against Mike Mucitelli in a light-heavyweight battle, while fellow Connecticut native Andrew Calandrelli will take on Lucas Cruz.

At only 23-years of age, Brandon Fleming will face Blair Tugman in a bantamweight battle, along with Pete Rogers Jr. vs. Phillipe Martins, and Marvin Maldonado vs. Rico Disciullo rounding out the preliminary card. 

The full fight card is listed below.

MAIN CARD: 

Featherweight World Title Fight: Patricio Pitbull (21-2) vs. Pat Curran (20-5)
Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: King Mo Lawal (12-4) vs. Tom DeBlass (9-2)
Heavyweight Feature Fight: Josh Burns (8-7) vs. Bobby Lashley (10-2)
Heavyweight Feature Fight:  Lavar Johnson (18-9) vs. Cheick Kongo (21-9-2)

PRELIMINARY CARD: 

Bantamweight Feature Fight: Marvin Maldonado (1-1) vs. Rico Disciullo (2-0)
Bantamweight Feature Fight: Steve Garcia (4-0) vs. Kin Moy (4-0)
Heavyweight Feature Fight: Mike Wessel (14-7) v s. Josh Diekmann (14-5)
Middleweight Feature Fight: Tamdan McCrory (11-3) vs. Brennan Ward (9-2)
Middleweight Feature Fight: Perry Filkins (8-1) vs. Dan Cramer (10-4)
Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Mike Mucitelli (6-1) vs. Mark Griffin (3-3-1)
Featherweight Feature Fight: Phillipe Martins (0-1) vs. Pete Rogers Jr. (1-1)
Bantamweight Feature Fight: Brandon Fleming (3-2) vs. Blair Tugman (5-5)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Lucas Cruz (7-2) vs. Andrew Calandrelli (6-4)
Featherweight Feature Fight: Scott Cleve (14-4) vs. Matt Bessette (13-5)

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BellatorMMA   

Bellator 123 Full Card Finalized From Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun Casino on Friday, September 5th Live On Spike TV Curran vs. Pitbull Headline, Kongo Back In Action, King Mo Returns & Lashley Debuts

Newport Beach, Calif. (July 22, 2014) – Bellator will kick-off its 11^th season from Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun Casino on Friday, September 5^th live on Spike TV.  The event will be headlined by the Featherweight Title fight as reigning Bellator Champion Pat Curran defends his belt against Brazilian striker Patricio Pitbull.

The night will also showcase Cheick Kongo, King Mo, the Bellator debut of Bobby Lashley and a full preliminary card.  Tickets for the event are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com, Bellator.com or by visiting the Mohegan Sun Box Office.

Kicking off the Spike.com portion of the night, will be a battle of heavy hands between Connecticut’s own Josh Diekmann and Mike Wessel. Riding a two-fight win streak, Diekmann has recorded all 14 of his victories by finish, but will put his skills to the test against Wessel, who has recorded eight KO wins, six coming in the first round.

Season 9 Middleweight Tournament winner Brennan Ward is ready to face Tamdan McCrory in front of his home state crowd. The always exciting Ward grabbed his previous four victories with strong finishes and is anxious to step back into the cage and put on an explosive fight for the Mohegan Sun fans and end his fight with McCrory as fast as possible.

Entering the fight on a six-fight win streak, “Filthy” Perry Filkins will battle fan favorite Dan Cramer in a middleweight bout. Having not fought since March of 2013, Cramer is looking to make a statement with his return to the bright lights of Bellator but will have to hold off the powerful punching of Filkins who has won six of his eight victories by knockout.

After a pulling off an exhilarating upset win over Diego Nunes at Mohegan Sun last year, Season 10 Featherweight Semifinalist Matt Bessette returns to the Bellator cage to fight Scott Cleve. Besssette has amassed a 13-5 professional record, but will face a strong opponent in Cleve who has won six of his previous seven fights, five coming by finish.

Looking to make his mark in his Bellator debut, Kin Moy will face Steve Garcia on September 5^th. Both with perfect 4-0 records, Garcia is confident heading into the fight after grabbing a 39-second knockout victory in his last fight at Bellator 121. 

After a three-year hiatus from the cage, Mark Griffin will put his skills to the test against Mike Mucitelli in a light-heavyweight battle, while fellow Connecticut native Andrew Calandrelli will take on Lucas Cruz.

At only 23-years of age, Brandon Fleming will face Blair Tugman in a bantamweight battle, along with Pete Rogers Jr. vs. Phillipe Martins, and Marvin Maldonado vs. Rico Disciullo rounding out the preliminary card. 

The full fight card is listed below.

MAIN CARD:Featherweight World Title Fight: Patricio Pitbull (21-2) vs. Pat Curran (20-5)
Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: King Mo Lawal (12-4) vs. Tom DeBlass (9-2)
Heavyweight Feature Fight: Josh Burns (8-7) vs. Bobby Lashley (10-2)
Heavyweight Feature Fight:  Lavar Johnson (18-9) vs. Cheick Kongo (21-9-2)

PRELIMINARY CARD:Bantamweight Feature Fight: Marvin Maldonado (1-1) vs. Rico Disciullo (2-0)
Bantamweight Feature Fight: Steve Garcia (4-0) vs. Kin Moy (4-0)
Heavyweight Feature Fight: Mike Wessel (14-7) v s. Josh Diekmann (14-5)
Middleweight Feature Fight: Tamdan McCrory (11-3) vs. Brennan Ward (9-2)
Middleweight Feature Fight: Perry Filkins (8-1) vs. Dan Cramer (10-4)
Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Mike Mucitelli (6-1) vs. Mark Griffin (3-3-1)
Featherweight Feature Fight: Phillipe Martins (0-1) vs. Pete Rogers Jr. (1-1)
Bantamweight Feature Fight: Brandon Fleming (3-2) vs. Blair Tugman (5-5)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Lucas Cruz (7-2) vs. Andrew Calandrelli (6-4)
Featherweight Feature Fight: Scott Cleve (14-4) vs. Matt Bessette (13-5)

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BellatorMMA