Middleweight Tournament Finals Delayed With Brett Cooper Out Due to Back Injury

Newport Beach, Calif. (May 5, 2014) – The Bellator Middleweight Tournament Finals will be on hold as Brett Cooper has been forced off of the Bellator 119 card from Casino Rama as the California native is dealing with a back injury. Cooper was scheduled to face the undefeated Brandon Halsey for a guaranteed title shot against reigning Bellator Middleweight Champion Alexander Shlemenko.  

“After my fight with Kendall [Grove], my back just hasn’t been where I need it to be to have a proper training camp for one of the biggest fights of my career,” Cooper said. “It’s a setback, but with some time off, I should be ready to go by late July. I never like missing time, but I know this is the right move. I’ll be back stronger, and I’m looking forward to winning another tournament and getting another shot against Shlemenko.”

Also, Shamhalaev vs. Guerreiro will also be removed from the card after passport issues forced the featherweight fight to be postponed. Two of the most explosive featherweights in the sport, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney is confident fans will still get to see the matchup shortly.

“Unfortunately issues arose in the passport process for Guerreiro, and because the fight is in Ontario, we weren’t confident these issues with be resolved by May 9^th,” Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “However, we should have news shortly on when this fight will be rescheduled, as these are two guys I’ve wanted back in our cage, and it should make for a great fight.”

With the changes, the current Bellator 119 card can be found below. Bellator 119 takes place on Friday, May 9^th from Ontario’s Casino Rama.

MAIN CARD:
 

Bellator Featherweight Tournament Final: Daniel Weichel (33-8) vs. Desmond Green (11-2) 
Featherweight Feature Fight: Chris Horodecki (20-4-1) vs. Marlon Sandro (24-5-1)

Welterweight Feature Fight: Marius Zaromskis (19-8) vs. Vaughn Anderson (16-2-1)

Heavyweight Feature Fight: Raphael Butler (8-0) vs. Nick Rossborough (23-18)

PRELIMINARY CARD:
Catchweight Feature Fight (160 lbs): Eric Wisely (22-8) vs. John Alessio (34-17)
Middleweight Feature Fight: Brian Rogers (10-6) vs. Adrian Miles (14-5)
Heavyweight Feature Fight: Stuart Austin (7-0) vs. Craig Hudson (4-3)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Jason Meisel (4-3) vs. Remy Bussieres (3-0)

Catchweight Feature Fight (130 lbs.): Chris Kelades (6-0) vs. Malcolm Gordon (4-0)

Lightweight Feature Fight: Behrang Yousefi (5-4) vs. Chad Freeman (8-5)

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          

FORMER NEF MMA TITLEHOLDER TO COMPETE IN BELLATOR FINALS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Lewiston, Maine (April 30, 2014) – New England Fights Mixed Martial Arts (NEF MMA), the Northeast’s premier mixed martial arts promotion, is proud to acknowledge the accomplishments of the fight promotion's former lightweight champion Desmond "The Predator" Green (12-2).  On May 9, Green will face Germany's Daniel Weichel (33-8) in the final round of the Bellator MMA Season 10 featherweight tournament.  The bout, which will originate from Rama, Ontario, CN, is scheduled to be featured on Spike TV.  The winner will receive $100,000 in addition to a future shot at the Bellator Featherweight Championship.

"We're so proud of Dez," said NEF MMA co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo.  "We knew he had that star quality the first time he stepped in the NEF cage as an amateur.  It's hard to believe that was only two years ago.  He made it so far in such a short time."

A native of Rochester, New York, Green was a standout wrestler in high school, earning himself a scholarship to the University of Buffalo.  In late 2011, Green took an amateur MMA fight last minute and was victorious.  Soon after, he joined Ryan Ciotoli's well-respected Team Bombsquad and began competing regularly on MMA cards across the Northeast.  Green won his NEF MMA debut at NEF I in February 2012 over Nate Charles (1-7) before scoring professional victories over Bruce Boyington (6-7) and Brandon Fleming (3-2).  He became a quick favorite of the Maine fight fans who would cheer wildly the second his "Buffalo Soldier" entrance music would play.  In May 2013, Green met and defeated UFC veteran Henry Martinez (9-6) in a dominant performance to capture the Maine State MMA Lightweight Championship at NEF VII.

Just weeks after winning the title, however, Green would vacate the belt to sign with top national fight promotion Bellator.  Losing his first Bellator bout, Green rebounded with an impressive second-round stoppage of Angelo Sanchez (11-6) a month later in a non-tournament bout.  He would then enter the featherweight tournament in Season 10 of Bellator where he would score back-to-back decision victories over Michael "The Marine" Richman (16-4) and Will Martinez (9-3-1) to earn his spot in the finals.

"In two weeks I will be fighting for a chance to win a world title and I am so focused and ready," said Green when reached for comment. "I've been training super hard in Ithaca and Rochester with Matt Lee at Ultimate Athletics.  This has been a short but rigid road to get here in the past two years, and I really am appreciative for NEF helping me get here through their support of me and giving me fights and allowing me to have my first championship through them."

"Dez is the blueprint of what we strive for all NEF athletes to become," said NEF MMA co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson. "We want to properly promote fighters, get them the right fights to develop themselves, and launch them to Bellator or the UFC.  That is the goal here.  There are several fighters on the NEF roster right now who are just a win or two away from becoming the next 'Dez Green.'  When NEF comes to town, if you're a fan of the sport, get your tickets, because you never know when you're going to see the next big breakout star in MMA on one of our cards!"

NEF MMA's next event, “NEF XIII,” is scheduled to take place onSaturday, May 10, 2014 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine with a bell time of 7:00 pm.  In the main event of the evening, “The" Ryan Sanders (6-4) will rematch Maine State MMA Welterweight Champion Gil de Freitas (15-5) nearly two years after de Freitas defeated Sanders for the inaugural title.  Tickets for "NEF XIII" start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling The Colisee box office at 207.783.2009 x 525.  For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF MMA videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

About New England Fights

New England Fights Mixed Martial Arts (“NEF MMA”) is a Mixed Martial Arts promotions company. NEF MMA’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF MMA’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

Bellator Weigh-In Results from Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City, Utah (March 27, 2014) – The Bellator MMA weigh-ins have been completed from Salt Lake City in preparation for Bellator MMA’s March 28^th event, which will feature the Bellator Middleweight World Title fight and the Bellator Featherweight Semifinals.

Bellator MMA will take place from the Maverik Center on Friday, March 28^th with the first fight taking place at 5 p.m. MST and streaming LIVE on Spike.com. The televised portion of the night will begin at 7 p.m. MST and will air LIVE on Spike TV.

MAIN CARD:Bellator Middleweight World Title Fight: Brennan Ward (184.4) vs. Alexander Shlemenko (184.8)
Bellator Featherweight Tournament Semifinal: Desmond Green (145.8) vs. Will Martinez (145.5)
Bellator Featherweight Tournament Semifinal: Daniel Weichel (145.9) vs. Matt Bessette (145.6)
Bellator Middleweight Tournament Semifinal: Kendall Grove (185) vs. Brett Cooper (185.5)

PRELIMINARY CARD:Featherweight Feature Fight: Rad Martinez (145.9) vs. Edson Berto (145.8)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Justin Wilcox (155.1) vs. Jason Fischer (155.7)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Bubba Jenkins (156) vs. Sean Powers (154.9)
Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Linton Vassell (205.1) vs. Trevor Carlson (205.6)
Welterweight Feature Fight: Gavin Sterritt (170.8) vs. Mike Estus (168.7)
Middleweight Feature Fight: Jose Rodriguez (184.4) vs. Eric Wahlin (186)

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

Bellator 114 Fight Card Finalized From Utah’s Maverik Center on March 28th Live On Spike

Hometown Favorite Rad Martinez Returns In Featherweight Action

Newport Beach, Calif. (March 4, 2014) – A “Storm” is coming to Salt Lake as the always dangerous Alexander Shlemenko will put his Middleweight World Title and twelve-fight win streak on the line against Tournament winner Brennan Ward live on Spike TV Friday, March 28^th from Utah’s Maverik Center at Bellator 114. The Bellator Featherweight Tournament continues with Desmond Green fighting Will Martinez and Daniel Weichel facing Matte Bessette in the semifinal rounds. The night will also feature the Bellator return of fan favorite and Utah’s own Rad Martinez, who fights Edson Berto in a featherweight battle.

The event will broadcast live at 9 p.m. EST/ 8 p.m. CST on Spike TV. The preliminary card will be streamed live and free on Spike.com beginning at 7 p.m. EST/ 6 p.m. CST. Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster.com, Bellator.com and the Maverik Center Box Office.

Former NCAA wrestling champion and All-American Bubba Jenkins will kick off the Spike.com portion of the night in a fight against Sean Powers. As one of the top MMA prospects in the sport, Jenkins has a 6-1 professional record and will rely on his strong wrestling to get past Powers on March 21^st.

Utah’s own Rad Martinez returns to the Bellator cage to face Edson Berto. After being introduced to the world on ESPN’s “Outside The Lines” for his incredibly moving story of being the primary caretaker for his seriously injured father was told, Martinez made his mark in Bellator, compiling a 4-1 record. Now 35, Martinez is aware that time isn’t on his side, and has decided this fight will be the last in his impressive career.

No stranger to the Bellator cage, Travis Marx will face Isaac De Jesus in a featherweight bout. De Jesus will fight one of his toughest opponents yet in Marx, who was has fought in 26 professional fights and was a Season 9 Bantamweight Tournament Finalist.

Known for ending fights quickly, Season 9 Welterweight Tournament Finalist Ron Keslar will fight Jordan Smith. Keslar has five victories by first round finish and is anxious to get back in the cage to end his fight with Smith as fast as possible. 

After making his Bellator debut in November, Linton Vassell returns to the Bellator cage to face Trevor Carlson. With only one professional loss, Carlson will put his skills to the test against Vassell who is riding a seven-fight win streak with four wins by first round finish.

At 13-6 Justin Wilcox will face Jason Fischer in a lightweight battle. After making it to the Season 9 Featherweight Finals in his first run through the Toughest Tournament In Sports, Wilcox is ready for a battle with Fischer, who has grabbed all three of his Bellator victories by submission.

Both stepping under the bright lights of Bellator for the first time, Mike Arrant will face Aaron Wilkinson. Known for his strong submission tactics, Wilkinson will look to his ground game to hold off Arrant who has won his previous seven fights and recorded 10 victories by first round finish. 

England’s own Gavin Sterritt will round out the preliminary card in a fight against Mike Estus. Entering the cage on a five-fight win streak, Sterritt plans on maintaining his undefeated Bellator record and is ready to put on an exciting fight for the Maverik Center fans. 

The full fight card is listed below.

MAIN CARD:Bellator Middleweight World Title Fight: Brennan Ward (9-1) vs. Alexander Shlemenko (49-7)
Bellator Featherweight Tournament Semifinal: Desmond Green (10-2) vs. Will Martinez (9-2-1)
Bellator Featherweight Tournament Semifinal: Daniel Weichel (32-8) vs. Matt Bessette (13-4)
Bellator Middleweight Tournament Semifinal: Kendall Grove (19-13) vs. Brett Cooper (19-9)

PRELIMINARY CARD:Featherweight Feature Fight: Rad Martinez (14-3) vs. Edson Berto (17-11-1)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Justin Wilcox (13-6) vs. Jason Fischer (6-2)
Welterweight Feature Fight: Ron Keslar (11-5) vs. Jordan Smith (18-5-1)
Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Linton Vassell (12-3) vs. Trevor Carlson (7-1)
Welterweight Feature Fight: Gavin Sterritt (5-1) vs. Mike Estus (5-1)
Welterweight Feature Fight: Aaron Wilkinson (11-6) vs. Mike Arrant (13-8)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Bubba Jenkins (6-1) vs. Sean Powers (8-4)

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         

“Fight Master” Finals Set For November 2nd as Joe “Diesel” Riggs Meets Mike “The Greek” Bronzoulis On Spike TV Pay-Per-View Prelims

Newport Beach, CA. (September 20^th, 2013) – Often times, patience can be a virtue. After originally scheduled to meet on September 7^th, the “Fight Master” Finals will now be featured on the Spike TV pay-per-view prelims as veterans Joe “Diesel” Riggs and Mike “The Greek” Bronzoulis meet to determine who is the first Bellator Fight Master. The fight will now join a card that features Featherweight Champion Pat Curran defending his title against Daniel Straus, King Mo vs. Emanuel Newton for the Interim Light Heavyweight Title, the rematch of 2011’s fight of the year between Michael Chandler and Eddie Alvarez for the Lightweight World Title, as well as the main event of the evening, Rampage Jackson vs. Tito Ortiz.

“Rampage vs. Tito” will be held at Southern California’s Long Beach Arena on Saturday, November 2nd, with tickets on sale now. Tickets can be purchased on Bellator.com, Ticketmaster.com, as well as at The Long Beach Arena Box Office.

Riggs was guided to the finals by world-renowned trainer Greg Jackson, while Bronzoulis choose Xtreme Couture and was under the tutelage of former Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture. An eye injury to Riggs delayed the original fight date of September 7^th, but with both fighters now healthy, the two will meet for the Fight Master $100,000 prize and a spot in the next Bellator Welterweight Tournament.   

Five fights have now been confirmed for Bellator’s November 2^nd Pay-Per-View:

Pay-Per-View Main Card

Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Rampage Jackson (32-11) vs. Tito Ortiz (16-11-1)

Lightweight Title Fight: Michael Chandler (12-0) vs. Eddie Alvarez (24-3)

Light Heavyweight Interim Title Fight: King Mo Lawal (11-2) vs. Emanuel Newton (21-7-1)

Featherweight Title Fight: Pat Curran (19-4) vs. Daniel Straus (21-4)

Spike TV Preliminary Fights

Fight Master Welterweight Finals: Joe Riggs (39-14) vs. Mike Bronzoulis (15-5)

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  

Bellator Adds Top Featherweight Daniel Weichel To Loaded Division

#1 Ranked Prospect Will Enter 2014 Tournament

Newport Beach, CA. (September 11^th, 2013) – In a division currently featuring Bellator Champion Pat Curran, Daniel Straus, Patricio Pitbull, Diego Nunes, and Frodo Khasbulaev, the featherweight ranks in Bellator just got deeper with the addition of German powerhouse Daniel Weichel. Only 28, the 31-8 submission ace becomes an instant threat within the division, and has his sights set on the next Bellator Featherweight Tournament.

“It´s like a dream come true fighting for Bellator MMA,” Weichel said. “I can´t wait to enter the cage and begin the toughest tournament out there. Fighting in the US and live on Spike TV is a thrill; so I will go out there to make my team at MMA Spirit and the greatest fans in the world as proud. I always wanted to compete with the best fighters and I can do just that at Bellator. My hard work has paid off and you will get to see another beast at featherweight, I can promise that.”

Already a fan favorite in Europe, the former lightweight standout is ready to make his presence felt stateside, and continue his winning ways inside the Bellator cage. After moving from welterweight to lightweight in 2009, Weichel has gone 13-2, including victories over Khasbulaev, Georgi Stoyanov, and Jose Figueroa.

“Since our inception, we’ve strived to bring in the best talent from around the world, and Daniel certainly fits that bill,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “We’ve had our eye on Daniel for quite some time so we’re all excited to get Daniel into our next Featherweight Tournament.”

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