Don’t Blink: “No Mercy” Melvin Manhoef Meets Joe Schilling From San Diego’s Valley View Casino Center On Saturday, November 15th

Middleweight Clash Joins Ortiz-Bonnar, Chandler-Brooks, Mo-DeBlass

Newport Beach, Calif. (October 3, 2014) – When Melvin Manhoef joined Bellator in July, fans instantly began creating their own dream matchups for the Dutch finisher. Bellator President Scott Coker wasted no time putting Manhoef in a fight fans couldn’t wait to see, pitting “No Mercy” against “The Rhino” Doug Marshall, and Manhoef didn’t disappoint, delivering a violent one punch blow that ended Marshall’s night in under two minutes. With momentum on his side, Manhoef is set to meet his next challenger, #1 Ranked GLORY Kickboxing Middleweight Joe Schilling. Nicknamed “Stich ‘Em Up” for his devastating fight style, Schilling returns to the MMA cage for the first time in since 2008 and is very clear on his expectations for November 15^th.

“My name is Joe Schilling. You might not know it today but you will very soon. I'm one if the best strikers on the planet, and if you want to see people get laid the hell out, just watch me fight on November 15^th.”

Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased on Bellator.com, AXS.com, as well as the Valley View Casino Center.

“I’ve said since the day I began my career in combat sports that styles make fights,” Coker said. “I came to Bellator to create the most compelling fights possible, and Manhoef vs. Schilling has the chance to be fight of the night on November 15th. When you put together guys like Manhoef and Schilling, records sort of go out the window. You know when that cage door shuts, these two guys are going to stand up and engage in what should be an insanely entertaining fight. We’ve just added this fight to a card that already features Tito and Bonnar, Chandler and Brooks, and Mo and DeBlass. November 15^th is going to be a very fun night, and we’ve got more coming.”

In addition to Manhoef and Schilling, the night will also feature one of the biggest grudge matches in the sport as MMA icons clash when Tito “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Ortiz returns to the Bellator cage to face “The American Psycho” Stephan Bonnar in a light heavyweight affair, while Michael Chandler and Will Brooks will battle for the vacant Bellator Lightweight Title.

With the addition, Bellator 131 now features:

Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Tito Ortiz (17-11) vs. Stephan Bonnar (15-8)

Lightweight Feature Fight: Michael Chandler (12-2) vs. Will Brooks (14-1)

Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: King Mo (13-4) vs. Tom DeBlass (9-2)

Middleweight Feature Fight: Melvin Manhoef (29-11 MMA, 37-12 Kickboxing) vs. Joe Schilling (1-3 MMA, 17-7 Kickboxing)

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

King Mo vs. Tom DeBlass Added To Bellator 131 Fight Card On Saturday, November 15th From San Diego’s Valley View Casino Center

Light Heavyweight Showdown Joins Tito vs. Bonnar, Chandler vs. Brooks

Newport Beach, Calif. (September 22, 2014) –  The fight card for Bellator 131 continues to grow as one of the most controversial figures in MMA returns to the Bellator cage as King Mo will take on Tom DeBlass in a light heavyweight affair live on Spike TV on Saturday, November 15^th from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California. Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased on Bellator.com, AXS.com, as well as the Valley View Casino Center.

The night will also feature one of the biggest grudge matches in the sport as MMA icons clash when Tito “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Ortiz returns to the Bellator cage to face “The American Psycho” Stephan Bonnar in a light heavyweight affair, while Will Brooks and Michael Chandler will battle for the vacant Bellator Lightweight Title.

Originally scheduled to meet in September, DeBlass withdrew from the fight against Mo after suffering an injury that forced the New Jersey native out of the fight. Mo went on to fight Dustin Jacoby at Bellator 123, and earned an impressive knockout victory over Jacoby. Now finally scheduled to clash, both Mo and DeBlass are ready to finally settle the score. 

“Tom has been talking since we were supposed to fight in September. He’s a good fighter, but my jab is going to erase his teeth and swell up his eyes. My right is going to make him see stars and bright lights. Another fight, another win.”

“Listen, I respect Mo and I think he’s a world class athlete,” DeBlass said. “That being said, I know what I’m capable of, and I not only believe that I will win the fight, but I’m going to finish him. Bellator has treated me incredible, and I’ve been asking for big fights. Let Mo do his talking. His mouth is his best weapon.”

With the addition, Bellator 131 now features:

Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Tito Ortiz (17-11) vs. Stephan Bonnar (15-8)

Lightweight Feature Fight: Michael Chandler (12-2) vs. Will Brooks (14-1)

Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: King Mo (13-4) vs. Tom DeBlass (9-2)

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       

Curran vs. Pitbull Headline September 5th Kickoff From Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun Arena Live On Spike At Bellator 123

Kongo Back In Action, King Mo Returns & Lashley Debuts

Newport Beach, Calif. (July 16, 2014) – Bellator delivers a night of must-see fights for MMA fans featuring some of the most exciting fighters in the sport as Pat Curran, Patricio Pitbull, King Mo, Cheick Kongo & Bobby Lashley return to action on Friday, September 5 from the Mohegan Sun Arena live on Spike TV.

Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased on Ticketmaster.com, Bellator.com or by visiting the Mohegan Sun Box Office.

The night will be headlined by a Featherweight Title fight between two of the very best in the sport as reigning Bellator Champion Pat Curran defends his belt against Brazilian striker Patricio Pitbull. The fight has been nearly two years in the making after Curran successfully defeated Pitbull in 2013 with a narrow split decision victory. After Pitbull stormed through the Season 9 Featherweight Tournament, both Pitbull and Curran have engaged in verbal sparring matches via social media that has resulted in one of the most anticipated fights of 2014.

“I’ve been wanting this rematch with Curran for a long time, and it’s finally here,” Pitbull said. “I won that first fight, and I should be Bellator Featherweight Champion right now. This time, I’m not going to let it go to the judges. Curran has started to get cocky and he's disrespecting me. He has no idea what I've been through to get to the title.”

“Pitbull has been running his mouth a lot lately and everyone is sick of hearing it,” Curran said. “I'm ready to shut him up for good. I'm an even better fighter now than I was the first time we fought and I'll show you him how a true champion fights on September 5th.”

King Mo returns to the cage after his controversial loss to Rampage Jackson at Bellator 120, as the American Top Team product will square off against New Jersey native Tom DeBlass. DeBlass enters the fight 2-0 in Bellator and is looking for the biggest win of his career against King Mo on September 5^th.

“Listen, I respect Mo and I think he’s a world class athlete,” DeBlass said. “That being said, I know what I’m capable of, and I not only believe that I will win the fight, but I’m going to finish him. Bellator has treated me incredible, and I’ve been asking for big fights. Mo is the next step to get to my ultimate goal, and I’m not taking it lightly. I’m fighting in a huge fight back on the East Coast for a promotion I love. It doesn’t get much better than this.”

The main card will be rounded out by the Bellator debut of fan favorite Bobby Lashley, who brings a 10-2 record into the cage while also currently holding the TNA Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship. Lashley will square off against Bellator veteran Josh Burns in a heavyweight clash to open the September 5^th show live on Spike TV.

The night will also feature a clash of heavyweights as Cheick Kongo returns to the Bellator cage to face the heavy handed Lavar Johnson. Both veterans of the sport, the two giants will engage in a slugfest that should produce fireworks live on Spike TV.

More announcements on the September 5^th fight card from Mohegan Sun Arena will be made in the coming weeks.

MAIN CARD:

Bellator Featherweight Title Fight: Pat Curran (20-5) vs. Patricio Pitbull (21-2)

Bellator Heavyweight Feature Fight: Cheick Kongo (21-9) vs. Lavar Johnson (18-9)

Bellator Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: King Mo (12-4) vs. Tom DeBlass (9-2)

Bellator Heavyweight Feature Fight: Bobby Lashley (10-2) vs. Josh Burns (8-7)

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

Bellator’s Roster Expansion Continues with Multiple Signings Including DeBlass, Sosnovskiy, Garcia & Sokoudjou

Newport Beach, Calif. (May 22, 2014) – As Bellator prepares to embark on its 2014 Summer Series and Season 11 this fall,  the promotion continues to add to the roster with a collection of new signings to bolster an already impressive collection of talent. With the latest additions, Bellator now boasts a lineup of over 180 fighters from around the world.

With the likes of Rampage Jackson, King Mo, Emanuel Newton, Tito Ortiz and Liam McGeary, the Bellator Light Heavyweight division has seen a dramatic makeover in the last year and the additions continue with Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou joining an already impressive division. “The African Assassin” will make his Bellator debut on June 6^th and wants to make his mark on the Bellator Light Heavyweight division quickly.

“I’m very excited to be joining the Bellator family,” Sokoudjou said. “They have some of the best fighters in the world fighting in their cage and it’s something I want to be a part of. Bellator always has exciting fights for the fans, and it’s something I’m going to continue for Bellator in every one of my fights.”

New Jersey native Tom DeBlass is also joining the Bellator Light Heavyweight ranks after two TKO victories inside the Bellator cage in 2013. The Ricardo Almeida Jiu-Jitsu product has signed a long term extension with Bellator, and is looking to take the next step in his career with a memorable 2014.

“I really feel at home here at Bellator and I appreciate what the promotion is doing,” DeBlass said. “I love fighting, and I have never felt better during my career. I have a great relationship with Bellator, they take care of me, and now with this new deal, it’s time for me to show them I’m one of the best fighters on the roster.”

Currently riding a six-fight win streak that includes four submission finishes and two knockouts, the French born Malik Merad joins Bellator looking to build on an already impressive career. The submission ace boasts 17 finishes in his 19 victories and will look to continue that trend inside the Bellator cage.

Undefeated Russian heavyweight Dmitry Sosnovskiy has joined Bellator fresh off a first round knockout victory over Aleksander Emelianenko. Sosnovskiy joins a division currently featuring Russian heavyweights Vitaly Minakov and Alexander Volkov, and looks to continue in their footsteps.

When New Mexcio’s own Steve Garcia was matched up against Shawn Bunch at Bellator 105, most assumed Bunch and his All-American wrestling credentials would be too much for Garcia. No one told that to the man they call “The Mean Machine”, and Garcia delivered a stunning third round knockout to Bunch that shook up the bantamweight division. The victory earned Garcia a long term contract with Bellator, and the undefeated knockout artist is set to prove his undefeated record isn’t a fluke.

“I’ve said it before, our Scouting and Talent Development team is the best in the business and with another great season in the books, they are back 100% focused on signing exciting, explosive fighters from every corner of the globe,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “I’m very excited about a rash of our recent signings and we’ll be making many more announcements over the summer months”

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BellatorMMA