Tonight was the big night for Bellator MMA and Spike as Bellator 85 opened the promotions eighth season in their new home. The event was stacked with two title fights as well as three of the four opening round bouts in the light heavyweight tournament. A tournament that quickly has been turned upside down as two underdogs pulled off big wins.
Bellator is set to return with it’s 8th season as they move into the new home on Spike TV on a new night. After their long ans at time rough stint with the UFC, Spike has moved on and will now being airing the weekly tournament. This Thursday, yes I said Thursday, Bellator will have two title fights plus the beginning of the light heavyweight tournament at Bellator 85.
The 2012 year ended with a barrage of event in December, including UFC 155 that would reshape to the top of the heavyweight MMA rankings. Junior Dos Santos defended his title in a rematch against Cain Velasquez in the night’s main event with the challenger avenging his only loss and recapturing the title.
Things have been slow the last few months with regards to change amongst the MMA rankings. Injuries to champions and top fighters along with dominate champions have limited the movement but things are beginning to pick up. In November the UFC saw one of its champions return to action after a long layoff due to injury and the final month of the year will see many highly ranked fighters step into the cage.
Coming off a great opening round of the featherweight tournament at last week, it’s the lightweights turn this Friday at Bellator 77. The field of eight lightweights features many new faces, a couple of returning fighters and one MMA veteran that has nearly as many fights as the only seven fighters combined.
Besides the quarterfinal round of the season seven featherweight tournament, Friday’s Bellator 76 saw two fighters’ lightweights heading in opposite directions. The main event bout between former Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and Patricky Freire was fun while it lasted, but once over, left one fighter in the worst slump of his career and the other in a powerful position.
Pat Curran is a pocket-sized rock’em sock’em robot. The Bellator 145 pound kingpin earned his title by destroying Joe Warren at Bellator 60. Patricio “Pitbull” Freire is 17-1 and his lone loss was a disputed split decision loss to former champion Joe Warren. When these two combustible agents meet on August 24th, an MMA explosion is the sure fire result.
After a week off, Bellator Fighting Championship returned to the Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada tonight for Bellator 67. The card was headlined by a super-fight between the Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler against Pride and UFC veteran Akihiro Gono.
UFC on FOX 7: Henderson vs. Melendez Weigh-in Pictures
Due to a previously scheduled Arena Football game at the HP Pavilion, today’s UFC on FOX 7 weigh-ins were held less than a mile away at the California Theater. The small theater was completely filled with cheering fans and all the fighters they came to see made weight.
The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale Weigh-in Pictures
Amidst everything else going on, the UFC has themselves a busy day today with the UFC on FX 6 taking place in Australia and The Ultimate Fighter 16 finale weigh-ins. All 24 fighters made weight today for tomorrow’s event that will crown The Ultimate Fighter 16 welterweight winner.
UFC on FUEL TV 4 Weigh-in Results and Photos
SAN JOSE, Cal. – Still recovering from Saturday’s UFC 148, MMAValor.com was inside the HP Pavilion for today’s UFC on FUEL TV 4 weigh-ins. A few of the fighters would need to step onto the scale behind a towel but all 22 fighters on the UFC on FUEL TV 4 fight card made weight.
TUF Live Finale Live Results and Event Pictures
The long grind of the first live version of The Ultimate Fighter ends tonight at the TUF Live Finale in Las Vegas. Featuring 12 of the 16 TUF Live contestants, the 10 bout card will be headlined by an important match-up in the welterweight division between Jake Ellenberger and Martin Kampmann.
TUF Live Finale Weigh-in Results and Pictures
All the fighters for tomorrow’s TUF Live Finale were on weight as they stepped onto the scales inside the Pearl at the Palms. The 20 fighters, including 12 of the 16 TUF Live fighters will begin entering the Octagon tomorrow starting at 2:45pm PT / 5:45pm ET.
