Sunday, April 24, 2016

4/24/16

The next few months are jam packed with action from all the major MMA promotions and it all started this past weekend.

Legacy FC 54 saw undefeated Middleweight Andrew "The Sniper" Todhunter keep his streak alive with a first round rear naked choke of Even Thompson at 2:28. In the main event Rafael Lovato claimed the vacant Middleweight title by defeating Marcelo Nunes via TKO at 4:51 of round 2.

Bellator made its way back to the states for Bellator 153 after last weeks successful debut in Italy. Welterweight Evangelista Santos shocked opponent Brennan Ward with a heel hook coming at just :30 of round 1. Former Lightweight champion Patricio "Pitbull" Freire took another step closer to regaining his title when he defeated Henry Corrales via guillotine at 4:09 of round 2. Welterweight champion Andrey Koreshkov destroyed former UFC and WEC champion Benson Henderson in a five round assault that ended with a Koreshkov unanimous decision.

Two belts were on the line at UFC 197. But before that, Featherweight Yair "Pantera" Rodriguez knocked out Andre Fili at 2:15 of round 2, earning him a spot on the Sports Center top 10 in the process. Lightweight Edson Barboza earned an impressive unanimous decision win over fromer champion Anthony Pettis. Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson successfully defended his Flyweight belt with a TKO of Henry Cejudo at 2:45 of round 1. In the main event Jon Jones made his return. Jones got past Ovince Saint Preux by way of unanimous decision, which got him the interim Light Heavyweight strap.

The wait is over. A rematch between Welterweights Josh Koscheck and Paul "Semtex" Daley has been booked as the co-main event for Bellator 158 in London.

All week long a confusing controversy with UFC Featherweight champion Conor McGregor has unfolded. The result of said controversy is that McGregor will no longer be fighting Nate Diaz at UFC 200.

Sunday, April 17, 2016

4/17/16

From the Philippines to London, from Italy to Tampa, this past weekend was rocking with fights all around the world. If you missed out, don't worry, I have you covered.

Starting off with ONE Championship 41, Flyweight Geje Eustaquio dominated Gianni Subba for a unanimous decision victory. Welterweight champion Ben Askren won via unanimous decision in a non title fight against Nikolay Aleksakhin.

After what seemed like a lifetime of being absent from the scene, Cage Warriors returned with Cage Warriors 75. Young Featherweight prospect Paddy Pimblett defeated Asleigh Grimshaw by way of unanimous decision. In the main event Jack Hermansson kept his Middleweight title with a KO of Alan Carlos at 4:45 of round 3.

Two titles were on the line at RFA 37. Leandro Higo claimed the vacant Bantamweight belt over Joey Miolla with a rear naked choke at just 2:07 of round 1. The inaugural Light Heavyweight title went to Devin Clark after Rafael Viana failed to answer the third round bell due to a broken finger. Clark got the official victory by TKO at 5:00 of round 2.

Bellator made its international debut (not counting the Canadian fight cards early in its history) with Bellator 152. Featherweight A.J. McKee defeated Danilo Bellurado via TKO at 2:44 of round 1. Light Heavyweight Alessio Sakara out struck Brian Rogers in front of his home crowd for a second round TKO win at 2:29. In a lackluster main event, Lightweight Patricky "Pitbull" Freire won a unanimous decision against Kevin Souza.

Finishing off the weekend was UFC on FOX 19. Lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov made his comeback (finally) against UFC newcomer Darrell Horcher. Nurmagomedov outclassed his opponent on his way to a TKO at 3:38 of round 2. Women's Strawweight Rose Namajunas defeated Tecia Torres via unanimous decision. In the main event Light Heavyweight Glover Teixeira knocked out former champion Rashad Evans at 1:48 of round 1.

Monday, April 11, 2016

4/10/16

In a weekend dominated by two huge European events, Legacy FC 53 snuck under the radar. While the beginning of the fight card was submission heavy, the night closed with three straight decisions. Flyweight C.J. Hamilton defeated Jacob Hebeisen by split decision. Welterweight Dave Vitkay utilized take downs to secure a decision over Cody Wilson. And in the main event former UFC and TUF fighter Dhiego Lima defeated fellow Welterweight Antonio Trocoli via decision.

At M-1 Challenge 65 Alexey Kunchenko claimed the Welterweight title by defeating fellow Russian Murad Abdulaev via corner stoppage at 3:12 of round 4. The main event saw Ramazan Emeev move on in the M-1 Grand Prix Middleweight tournament after submitting Maiquel Falcaio at 2:50 of round 1. Emeev will now face former Bellator champion Alexander "Storm" Shlemenko in the championship.

The UFC made its first ever trip to Croatia this past Sunday for UFC Fight Night 86. Heavyweight Derrick Lewis - despite having no idea where Croatia was on a map - knocked out Gabriel Gonzaga in devastating fashion at 4:48 of round 1. The main event saw Junior "Cigano" Dos Santos land body shot after body shot on Ben Rothwell on his way to a unanimous decision.

Bellator 157: Dynamite 2 is set for St. Louis, Missouri on June 24 and will feature a Catchweight bout between Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Satoshi Ishii.  

A second title will be on the line at Invicta FC 17, as Livia Renata Souza looks to defend her Strawweight belt against TUF veteran Angela Hill. The event is headlined by Bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger and Colleen Schneider.

Miesha Tate will defend her Women's Bantamweight belt for the first time at UFC 200 against Amanda Nunes. Julianna Pena and Cat Zingano will also face off on the card. The event, which takes place July 9, is headlined by a Welterweight rematch between "Notorious" Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz.