Tag: Bellator 238

Bold statements: The 6 standout Bellator performances of 2020 so far

MMA Junkie’s Simon Head picks out six big statements made by Bellator fighters during the promotion’s curtailed 2020 event schedule.

With big-name signings, an ongoing $1 million tournament and growing excitement around the future of the promotion, 2020 looked set to be a big year for Bellator MMA. But the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic placed the sporting world – including Bellator – on an enforced hiatus as social distancing and quarantine measures were introduced in nations across the world.

It meant that Bellator’s event schedule hit the brakes after just three shows in 2020. But in those three events, we witnessed six fighters deliver contrasting, yet decisive, statements as they looked to further their respective careers inside the Bellator cage.

We take a look back at six big statements made inside the Bellator cage so far in 2020…

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Cris Cyborg ascends the throne

Bellator 238, Jan. 25, The Forum, Inglewood

Reports of [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag]’s demise following her UFC title defeat to Amanda Nunes were grossly exaggerated, and the Brazilian women’s MMA icon emphatically proved that fact on her Bellator debut as she overpowered long-reigning champion Julia Budd to capture the promotion’s women’s featherweight title at Bellator 238.

Cyborg (22-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) put the pedal to the metal from the first round and kept her foot flat on the floor as she pushed a relentless pace on the Canadian before eventually breaking down the champion in the championship rounds for a fourth-round TKO finish.

The victory put Cyborg’s name into the history books as the first fighter to win titles in four major MMA organizations, having captured titles in Strikeforce, Invicta FC, UFC, and now Bellator.

Now, with the Brazilian back on top, but with a much deeper pool of 145-pound contenders to defend against, the challenges should come thick and fast once Bellator restarts its event schedule.

Next up: Bellator’s “super prospect” bounces back with big KO

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Video: Bellator’s Jay Glazer and Robin Black administer ‘The Dose’

Jay Glazer and Robin Black team up to deliver a YouTube update on all things Bellator in the promotion’s newest video feature, “The Dose.”

Do you have Bellator fever? Then the only prescription is “The Dose.”

Jay Glazer and Robin Black have teamed up for the promotion’s latest video franchise, with the duo shooting the Bellator breeze as they look back at some of the biggest performances from recent events and look ahead to the big-time matchups to come.

In the first episode of “The Dose,” Glazer and Black preview the Bellator 239 main event in Oklahoma, as former collegiate wrestling standout [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) faces off against Ukraine’s undefeated [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] (22-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) in a pivotal welterweight bout, while also highlighting the co-main event between [autotag]Myles Jury[/autotag] (18-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Brandon Girtz[/autotag] (16-8 MMA, 8-6 BMMA).

The duo also take look back at flyweight champion [autotag]Ilima-Lei Macfarlane[/autotag] (11-0 MMA, 10-0 BMMA), who enjoyed a memorable win – and a memorable walkout – at Bellator 236, and the throwback fight between former PRIDE FC legends [autotag]Fedor Emelianenko[/autotag] (39-6 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) and [autotag]Quinton Jackson[/autotag] (38-13 MMA, 5-3 BMMA) at Bellator 237.

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We also hear from the fighters themselves, as Jenn Brown chats with newly-crowned featherweight queen [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] (22-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) and featherweight grand prix semifinalist [autotag]Darrion Caldwell[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 11-2 BMMA) following their winning performances at Bellator 238.

Finally, Glazer and Black run through the current state of play in the Bellator featherweight grand prix, with the second half of the bracket set to play out and produce the second semifinal matchup with [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (30-4 MMA, 18-4 BMMA) vs. [autotag]Pedro Carvalho[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) and [autotag]Emmanuel Sanchez[/autotag] (19-4 MMA, 11-3 BMMA) vs. [autotag]Daniel Weichel[/autotag] (40-11 MMA, 9-3 BMMA) set for Bellator 241 in Uncasville on Mar. 13.

Check out “The Dose” via the video above.

Bellator 238 Fight Night: Relive Cris Cyborg’s historic evening

Cris Cyborg made MMA history at Bellator 238, and you can relive the magic moment through Bellator’s “Fight Night” video series.

MMA history was made Jan. 25 in Inglewood, Calif.

On that night, [autotag]Cris Cyborg [/autotag] became the first fighter in mixed martial arts history, regardless of gender, to earn championships in four major promotions when she defeated Julia Budd to capture the Bellator featherweight title in the main event of Bellator 238 at The Forum.

By finishing her underrated foe with a fourth-round TKO, Cyborg added the  Bellator belt to a collection of 145-pound belts won in Strikeforce, Invicta FC and the UFC.

Now you can you see how Cyborg’s history-making night played out, from her arrival in Inglewood, to her fight preparation, to her celebration afterward.

Check out Bellator’s “Fight Night” video above to relive one of 2020’s first great MMA moments.

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Arlene Blencowe calls for new Bellator champ Cris Cyborg: ‘The fight I’ve always wanted’

Arlene Blencowe is hoping to get the first crack at newly minted Bellator women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg.

[autotag]Arlene Blencowe[/autotag] is hoping to get the first crack at newly minted Bellator women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg.

Following Cyborg’s (22-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) fourth-round TKO of Julia Budd at Bellator 238, company president Scott Coker said he’s leaving the door open for what his new champion wants next. Cyborg will have major influence in deciding her next move, but if she wants to fight MMA again soon and defend her title, he said a contender is waiting in the wings.

That contender is Blencowe (13-7 MMA, 6-3 BMMA), who Coker mentioned by name. He touted her experience of having the most appearances in Bellator women’s featherweight history, and Blencowe said she’s ready for the call.

“This is it,” Blencowe told MMA Junkie. “I’ve been looking at Cris Cyborg at the top of the featherweight rankings since I started fighting. She’s the fight I’ve always wanted. It’s the fight everyone should want, to fight the best.”

Blencowe has had a chance at Bellator gold once before. She suffered a split-decision loss to Budd at Bellator 189 in December 2017 but has put together a three-fight winning streak since.

The most recent victory, a unanimous decision over Leslie Smith at Bellator 233 in November, appears to have given Blencowe the push she needs to fight for that title once more. Now she hopes Cyborg and the Bellator brass will make it happen.

“My eyes are on that title,” Blencowe said. “I dropped the chance back in 2017, and I’ve worked my butt off to get back to having my chance again. This is it, all or nothing.”

What does Bellator do with Cris Cyborg? Four potential options after her title win

Breaking down the potential next fight options for Bellator women’s featherweight champ Cris Cyborg.

[autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] added another layer to her legacy to kick off 2020 when she claimed her fourth major promotional title by taking the Bellator women’s featherweight belt from Julia Budd.

Cyborg (22-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) has been the most dominant women’s featherweight fighter in MMA history. She may have lost to Amanda Nunes in the UFC, and a rematch may ended a similar way. But there is no one else who is her equal at the moment.

So what kind of predicament does that leave Bellator in? The promotion is kept to a lower standard and can get away with borderline grotesque mismatches more than its UFC counterpart. People have seen Cyborg in those types of fights for more than a decade, though, and it would be in Bellator’s best interest to seek out the biggest challenges.

Bellator president Scott Coker has even said he’s open to Cyborg taking a boxing match or any other unique challenges she wants to pursue. No one is raving to see that since MMA is the Brazilian’s best space. In light of that, here are four other more compelling options.

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1. Rematch with Budd

Let’s just get this one out of he way immediately: Yes, Cyborg’s fourth-round TKO of Budd was convincing, but it was also far less one-sided than most Cyborg fights. Budd’s size and strength automatically make her a compelling opponent, and if the Canadian can improve on some lessons learned from the initial encounter, she could potentially close the gap in a second fight.

And more so than anything, Budd deserves the opportunity. She distinguished herself as Bellator’s best female 145-pound fighter over a seven-fight winning streak and three title defenses before running into Cyborg. On paper, she is the most credible and legitimate opponent for Cyborg on the Bellator roster.

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Bellator 238 video: Cris Cyborg vs. Julia Budd highlights

If you missed one of MMA’s first magic moments of 2020, or simply want to relive it, check out the highlights of Bellator 238’s main event.

MMA history was made Saturday night at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif.

On that night, [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] became the first fighter in the sport’s history to win championships in four major promotions. Her fourth-round TKO of Julia Budd in the main event of Bellator 238 saw her capture the Bellator featherweight title to add to a career ledger that already included 145-pound belts in Strikeforce, Invicta FC and the UFC.

While defending champion Budd (13-3 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) certainly proved to be tough, Cyborg (22-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) was simply too much for the woman who held the title for nearly three years. The Brazilian slowly wore Budd down, then finished the Canadian with a trademark flurry of fists early in the fourth round.

The featherweight title fight formed the main event of Bellator 238 at The Forum. The main card streamed on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

If you happened to miss the fight, or simply wanted to relive one of MMA’s first magic moments of 2020, check out the video above.

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Bellator 238 reactions: Winning and losing fighters on social media

See how the Bellator 238 winners and losers reacted on social media outlets such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Since the early days when the sport was anything but a mainstream endeavor, the MMA industry has thrived and survived through various websites, forums and, perhaps most importantly, social-media platforms.

Fighters interact with fans, each other and many more through the likes of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, which helps outsiders get a deeper look into the minds of the athletes.

Following Saturday’s Bellator 238 event in Inglewood, Calif., several of the winning and losing fighters, along with their coaches, training partners or family members, took to social media to react to the event or share a message with supporters.

Check out some of those reactions.

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The defeated

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First pic: how I feel about my performance. Second pic: how I feel about my wife every day. I got the opportunity of a lifetime fighting for @bellatormma, against a legend in combat sports in @rd_goat, in a historic venue like @theforum. I felt like I was on top of the world…until the weight of “the big show” came crashing down on me, and all of the sudden I felt like I was carrying the entire world on my shoulders and I laid a goose egg of a performance. I did not know that would be my reaction, but I’m happy for the experience because if I am fortunate enough for another opportunity, I will be better prepared. Hats off to Raymond Daniels, I look forward to seeing what he does next (when he’s not aiming those kicks at me lol). My wife did a PHENOMENAL job executing her game plan, and I am so proud of her. Not because she won, but because of all the work she puts in daily to reach her goals. I love you. As for me, I will be spending the next couple days with my phone on silent, spending some much needed time off with Em. I appreciate all the love and support, and trolls gonna troll so let them lol. Next week I start back towards the path that leads me back to another big opportunity, the grind never stops. Soli Deo Gloria

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The victorious

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Last night we got it done. @bellatormma

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Where to begin… first and foremost I want to give glory to God, because all things are possible through Him. I want to thank my opponent @asianpersuasion_mma for challenging me to grow as a mixed martial artist. I wish him a speedy recovery and a safe trip home to his loved ones. People don’t understand how much heart and sacrifice it takes to step in that cage unless you’re a fighter yourself. Thank you @bellatormma and @dazn_usa for giving me the opportunity to shine on such a global stage. I also want to thank everyone that helped me prepare for this camp- My head coach at @classicfightteam @tylerwombles. My boxing coach Ramon Espada @espadaboxingdtla . My entire @treigninglab team and family for helping me, and the man behind my strength, conditioning and nutrition, Coach Cal. Thank you @markmunoz and @jmjitsu for being in my corner. Thank you @jarchmma for going thru the grind with me in the garage. Thank you to @dannyace for helping with my meal preps. Thank you to my sparring partners @seanstrickland @shaunnorthcutt @andrewalker @jaysilva and @hb_goodboy for always pushing me. A special thank you to my sponsors @shopgoatwork @97display @ghwong33 @lightspeed_vt @socalcutandsewmfg @nsbonline @evolutionfight @kesslerfamilywellness for always having my back. Thanks to the dopest mixer in the game @rwbuzbee AKA DJ BuzzyBee for creating the best walkout music in the entire MMA industry. Thank you to my entire @wckarate family for always being there for me. Thank you to my wife @colbeynorthcutt I love you and you make all of this worth it. Lastly, I would also like to dedicate this win to Steve “Nasty” Anderson, the Sport Karate world lost an incredible martial artist, but more importantly, a wonderful human being, Rest In Peace. Never let anyone stop your shine. Know that God only knows what you’ve been through, so don’t worry about what other people say about you. Never Stop Believing. #NSB #goatwork

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“I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what other people say about me. I am the beloved of God. It’s who I am. No one can take it from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share his love with the world.” @bobbyschuller @hour_of_power @shepherdsgrove I am blessed beyond measure to be able to share my God given talents with the world. So don’t be afraid to use your gifts, because that’s your way of glorifying Him. P.S. I know my wife @colbeynorthcutt and coach @tyler_wombles tell me I shouldn’t sing in public… but I don’t let that stop me lol. #ShepherdsGrove #irvinepresbyterian #HourofPower #BobbySchuller #Repost @bellatormma ・・・ 🐐 @RD_Goat made his return to MMA on Saturday night and put on a show for us all. Take a closer look at his hype leading up to and his performance at #Bellator238 at @TheForum.

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God is good ❤️

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The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

Spinning Back Clique: Does what Stephen A. Smith thinks about Donald Cerrone even matter?

For a man many claim knows nothing about MMA, Stephen A. Smith sure did occupy a massive space in the sport over the past week.

Welcome to “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts. In this week’s episode, “Gorgeous” George, “Goze” and John Morgan take a look at the unexpected biggest story of the past week, with Stephen A. Smith and Joe Rogan publicly expressing their differing positions on the evaluation of UFC 246’s main event between [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] and [autotag]Donald Cerrone[/autotag].

SHOW RUNDOWN:

  • Smith is known for his bold opinions and his willingness to argue them at length, but his knowledge in the sport of MMA is admittedly limited. But was there any truth to his claim that “Cowboy” quit in the bout with McGregor? And should anyone really even care what Smith’s thoughts are on big UFC events?
  • [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] made her Bellator debut over the weekend and picked up the company’s women’s featherweight title with a fourth-round TKO of former champ Julia Budd. Cyborg now owns belts in four different major promotions. Is that enough to call her the women’s GOAT of MMA, or does Amanda Nunes have that title locked down?
  • Bellator 238 also featured the continuation of Bellator’s featherweight grand prix, and former bantamweight champ [autotag]Darrion Caldwell[/autotag] looked stellar with a first-round finish of Adam Borics. Is “The Wolf” now the favorite to win the grand prix title and the accompanying $1 million prize?
  • [autotag]Aaron Pico[/autotag]’s career has been an absolute rollercoaster of emotions from the start, entering as a man labeled “the greatest prospect in MMA history” but sputtering at times along the way. Pico picked up a much-needed win at Bellator 238, snapping a two-fight losing streak in the process. Is Pico poised to finally deliver on his potential?
  • At UFC Raleigh, [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] picked up a big win over former champ Junior Dos Santos and made it clear he’s gunning for the title. Unfortunately, champ [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to step back in the cage. What’s going on with the UFC heavyweight division?

For answers to all of those questions, watch Episode 13 of “Spinning Back Clique.”

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UFC heavyweights jockey for title shot, Bellator 238 impresses and is Cyborg the GOAT once again? |S

MMA Junkie’s John Morgan is joined by MMA Junkie Radio’s own Gorgeous George and Goze to unpack the biggest storylines coming out of Bellator 238 and UFC Raleigh.

MMA Junkie’s John Morgan is joined by MMA Junkie Radio’s own Gorgeous George and Goze to unpack the biggest storylines coming out of Bellator 238 and UFC Raleigh.

Triple Take: Who was the biggest winner between UFC Raleigh and Bellator 238?

Who was the biggest winner on a UFC vs. Bellator head-to-head night? MMA Junkie’s Dave Doyle, Danny Segura, and Simon Samano give you their picks.

Saturday was another one of those wild and woolly MMA nights. The UFC and Bellator went head to head for the first time in 2020, with UFC on ESPN+ 24 and Bellator 238 going down on opposite coasts.

Plenty of stars shined on both shows, but who shined brightest? MMA Junkie’s Dave Doyle, Danny Segura, and Simon Samano sound off on who they think was the weekend’s biggest winner in the latest edition of Triple Take.

Without further ado …

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Dave Doyle: Cris Cyborg’s history-making performance the obvious choice

Full disclosure: As of this writing, I’ve yet to watch UFC Raleigh. I covered Bellator 238 at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., late in the night, and Sunday was my off day.

But that said? Working cageside meant I got to see [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag]’s handiwork up close and personal, and I’m quite confident nothing I’ll see when I catch up with the UFC show could convince me that anyone other than Cyborg was the weekend’s biggest winner. 

We’re on the back end of MMA’s third decade, and as the sport becomes more established and entrenched, history-making moments become fewer and further between. 

Saturday night was one of those nights, and Cyborg lived up to the moment. By finishing Julia Budd, she became the first fighter, regardless of gender, to win championships in four separate major promotions, all in the same weight class, 10-plus years apart. 

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But it’s not just the fact she got the job accomplished: It was how she did it. Budd’s a legit talent who has ruled over a Bellator women’s featherweight division that is deeper than the UFC’s version. Cyborg never let Budd get untracked. Cyborg has evolved as a fighter over the years, one capable of going into deep waters. The combination of ferocity and pinpoint accuracy Cyborg displayed in finishing Budd in the fourth round was the type of display she used to put on in the opening minutes of fights during her early days. 

An all-time great adding to her legacy and creating history in the process? Yeah, I’ll take that over anything else either card could possibly serve up.

Next page – Danny Segura: Michael Chiesa is quickly becoming a threat welterweight

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