Tag: Adil Benjilany

Matt Mitrione and two other fighters released following Bellator 262

A trio of fighters have been released following Bellator 262, including heavyweight Matt Mitrione.

MMA heavyweight competitor [autotag]Matt Mitrione[/autotag] has been released from his contract with Bellator.

MMA Junkie confirmed Mitrione was a part of roster cuts following a report from MMA Fighting on Monday evening. Also included in the round of cuts were [autotag]Ronny Markes[/autotag] and [autotag]Adil Benjilany[/autotag] who both also competed at Bellator 262.

After departing from the UFC, Mitrione (13-9 MMA, 4-4-1 BMMA) started his Bellator run on a hot streak of four wins in a row, including a first-round knockout of MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko. Mitrione has since hit a rough skid, going winless in his five straight appearances with the promotion, including four losses and one no contest.

The promotion has opted to part ways with the heavyweight following his most recent first-round loss to Tyrell Fortune at Bellator 262, a stoppage that Mitrione was upset about due to a clash of heads during a takedown.

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Markes (19-9 MMA, 0-2 MMA) lost by first-round stoppage against Said Sowma at Bellator 262. The former UFC middleweight failed to record a victory in two outings in the Bellator heavyweight division.

Benjilany (6-3 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) is coming off a unanimous decision win over Johnny Soto at Bellator 262, which ended a two-fight skid. According to his cornerman and UFC welterweight contender Belal Muhammad, Benjilany asked to be released due to lack of activity.

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Bellator 262 results: Juliana Velasquez retains title with split decision over Denise Kielholtz

Check out how the main event of Bellator 262 unfolded between Juliana Velasquez and Denise Kielholtz.

[autotag]Juliana Velasquez[/autotag] has successfully defended her Bellator flyweight title for the first time.

The main event of Bellator 262 was a closely contested championship fight between champ Velasquez (12-0 MMA, 7-0 BMMA) and challenger [autotag]Denise Kielholz[/autotag].

The event took place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card aired on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

The first round started out with both fighters feeling out the striking range. The challenger, Kielholtz (6-3 MMA, 6-2 BMMA) put together quick combinations while Velasquez’s output was lower with single strikes throughout the round. With 30 seconds left, Kielholtz unleashed a beautiful five-punch combo to get the champ’s attention and put a stamp on the first five minutes of action.

In the second round, Velasquez worked behind a right-hand jab and started to increase her striking volume as she appeared to figure out her opponent’s range. Kielholtz seemed game for the change of pace, as she also answered with punches of her own.

The pair continued to trade strikes in the center of the cage early in the third round. Kielholtz led the charge by pressing forward with combinations, but Velasquez would circle away from danger before getting too close to the fence. Kielholtz controlled the center of the cage for the majority of the round, while Velasquez looked to counter with punches.

With 15 seconds left in the round, Velasquez secured her first takedown, but with a short time remaining, nothing significant came from it.

The fourth started similarly to the previous round as Kielholtz continued to keep the pressure on the champ as she circled on the outside. Velasquez’s right-hand jab continued to find the mark as the blood and bruising on Kielholtz’s face became more visible. The champ appeared to have her opponent’s timing and distance down, as she became more fluid defensively.

The final round started with a huge right hand from Kielholtz to briefly knock the champ off balance. Perhaps sensing the fight was close, the challenger turned up the pressure. The champ found the range again and returned to working from the outside while countering with punches. Kielholtz stuffed a takedown with a minute to go and led the striking exchanges until time expired.

Two of the judges scored the bout in favor of Velasquez with scores of 48-47, while the dissenting judge turned in a score of 48-47 in favor of Kielholtz.

Velasquez improves to 12-0 in her professional career, picking up her first flyweight title defense by split decision after becoming champion by defeating Ilima-Lei Macfarlane in December.

Kielholtz’s winning streak ends at four after falling to Velasquez in Friday’s main event. After losing to Veta Arteaga by second-round submission in 2018, Kielholtz went on a tear of four straight finishes to earn a shot at the Bellator title. However, she was one judge’s scorecard away from victory on Friday evening.

The full results of Bellator 262 are below:

  • Juliana Velasquez def. Denise Kielholtz via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)
  • Tyrell Fortune def. Matt Mitrione via submission (strikes) – Round 1, 1:45
  • Matheus Mattos def. Cee Jay Hamilton via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:33
  • Arlene Blencowe def. Dayana Silva via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:00
  • Johnny Eblen def. Travis Davis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
  • Said Sowma def. Ronny Markes via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:09
  • Cody Law def. Theodore Macuka via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:54
  • Diana Avsaragova def. Gabriella Gulfin via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Adil Benjilany def. Johnny Soto via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Charlie Campbell def. Nicholas Giulietti via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:30

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Matt Mitrione-Tyrell Fortune, Linton Vassell-Marcelo Golm among Bellator 262 additions

A pair of heavyweight fights are among the latest additions to next month’s Bellator 262 event.

A pair of heavyweight fights are among the latest additions to next month’s Bellator 262 event.

[autotag]Matt Mitrione[/autotag] (13-8 MMA, 4-3 BMMA) is set to take on [autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 10-1 BMMA) in a rebooking after Mitrione withdrew from their original matchup at Bellator 255 in April. Plus, [autotag]Marcelo Golm[/autotag] (8-3 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) will meet former title challenger [autotag]Linton Vassell[/autotag] (21-8 MMA, 9-5 BMMA) on the main card.

Promotion officials announced the new bookings Thursday. Bellator 262 takes place July 16 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

In addition, Bellator announced three new fights for the prelims. [autotag]Arlene Blencowe[/autotag] (13-8 MMA, 6-4 BMMA) will meet [autotag]Dayana Silva[/autotag] (9-6 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) in a women’s featherweight bout; [autotag]Ronny Markes[/autotag] (19-8 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Said Sowma[/autotag] (6-2 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) at heavyweight; and [autotag]Adil Benjilany[/autotag] (5-3 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) vs. [autotag]Johnny Soto[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) is lined up at featherweight.

Mitrione will try to snap a three-fight skid, the worst slump of his career. After coming to Bellator from the UFC in 2016, the former NFL player won his first four fights in the promotion, including a stoppage of Fedor Emelianenko and a win over fellow “Ultimate Fighter 10” cast member Roy Nelson.

But his slide started with a loss to Ryan Bader in Bellator’s heavyweight tournament, then a TKO setback in a rematch with Sergei Kharitonov after a no contest six months prior and a first-round TKO loss to Tim Johnson in September 2020.

Fortune started his career 8-0, all with Bellator, and was on a four-fight finishing streak when he was upset by Johnson at Bellator 239 in February 2020. After a no contest with Jack May in September 2020, he bounced back with a decision win over Sowma this past November and a first-round TKO of May in April on short notice after his Mitrione fight was scrapped.

Golm will make his promotional debut. After going 1-3 in the UFC, he exited on a three-fight skid. But he picked up a knockout win over D.J. Linderman in October 2020 and a submission over Brandon Hebert in January.

Vassell has a two-fight winning streak after a three-fight skid that started when he lost a title fight against Bader at Bellator 186 in November 2017. After losses to Phil Davis and Valentin Moldavsky, In November 2019, he finished former champ Sergei Kharitonov with a second-round TKO, and this past December stopped Markes in the second round.

The Bellator 262 lineup now includes:

MAIN CARD (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Champ Juliana Velasquez vs. Denise Kielholtz – for women’s flyweight title
  • Tyrell Fortune vs. Matt Mitrione
  • Marcelo Golm vs. Linton Vassell

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 5:30 p.m. ET)

  • Arlene Blencowe vs. Dayana Silva
  • Ronny Markes vs. Said Sowma
  • Adil Benjilany vs. Johnny Soto

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Combat Rewind, May 20: A man called ‘Knuckles’ eats a huge head kick

Adil Benjilany scores a highlight-reel finish over Tyeray Knuckles at XFO 58 in today’s helping of historic fight finishes on Combat Rewind.

There’s “Flashback Friday” and “Throwback Thursday” (and Tuesday, too, if you want). But at MMA Junkie, we figured why not expand that to every day?

“Combat Rewind” brings you some of combat sports’ best highlights from every calendar day of the year. It’s a look back at history, courtesy of the UFC Fight Pass archives, featuring stellar finishes and classic moments in MMA and beyond on their anniversaries.

So kick back and relive the following bits of greatness in the video above:

Fight footage courtesy of UFC Fight Pass, the UFC’s official digital subscription service, which is currently offering a seven-day free trial. UFC Fight Pass gives fans access to exclusive live UFC events and fights, exclusive live MMA and combat sports events from around the world, exclusive original and behind the scenes content and unprecedented 24-7 access to the world’s biggest fight library.

Combat Rewind – May 20

“Combat Rewind” brings you some of combat sports’ best highlights from every calendar day of the year, courtesy of the UFC Fight Pass archives.

“Combat Rewind” brings you some of combat sports’ best highlights from every calendar day of the year, courtesy of the UFC Fight Pass archives.

Bellator 239 adds six fights to lineup: Javy Ayala, Christian Edwards, more

The Bellator 239 lineup is growing with the addition of six fights, including Javy Ayala vs. Valentin Moldavsky.

Bellator is bulking up its return to Thackerville, Okla.

The promotion recently added six fights to the Bellator 239 lineup, five of which were initially reported by Sherdog. Among the new additions, heavyweights [autotag]Javy Ayala[/autotag] and [autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag] collide in a main-card bout.

Surging up-and-comers [autotag]Lucas Brennan[/autotag], [autotag]Chris Gonzalez[/autotag], and [autotag]Christian Edwards[/autotag] all will look to keep their undefeated records alive, while rising prospect [autotag]Adil Benjilany[/autotag] hopes for a return to the win column.

Bellator also announced former UFC fighter [autotag]Carlo Pedersoli Jr.[/autotag] will make his promotional debut against highly touted prospect [autotag]Mark Lemminger[/autotag].

Bellator 239 takes place Friday, Feb. 21 at WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Okla. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Check out the six recently-booked fights below:

  • Heavyweight: Javy Ayala (11-7 MMA, 6-4 BMMA) vs. Valentin Moldavsky (8-1 MMA, 3-0 BMMA)
  • Featherweight: Lucas Brennan (2-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) vs. [autotag]Jamese Taylor[/autotag] (0-1 MMA, 0-1 BMMA)
  • Featherweight: Adil Benjilany (5-2 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) vs. [autotag]Kevin Croom[/autotag] (20-12 MMA, 0-1 BMMA)
  • Lightweight: Chris Gonzalez (3-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) vs. [autotag]Aaron McKenzie[/autotag] (7-1-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA)
  • Light heavyweight: Christian Edwards (2-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) vs. [autotag]Marco Hutch[/autotag] (3-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA)
  • Welterweight: Carlo Pedersoli Jr. (11-3 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) vs. Mark Lemminger (10-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA

Bellator 239 is currently headlined by a welterweight bout between Ed Ruth and Yaroslav Amosov. Other fights include Brandon Girtz vs. Myles Jury, Tyrell Fortune vs. Timothy Johnson, Denise Kielholtz vs. Kristina Williams, and Cris Lencioni vs. Salim Mukhidinov.

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