Tag: Bellator 239

Video: Relive Brandon Girtz’s best moments ahead of Bellator 239

Watch Brandon Girtz’s highlights ahead of his Bellator 239 bout with Myles Jury.

From knockouts to submissions, [autotag]Brandon Girtz[/autotag] has established himself as a force to be reckoned with in Bellator.

The lightweight contender has picked up two submission wins and three KO/TKOs since joining the Bellator roster in 2012. Girtz (16-8 MMA, 8-6 BMMA) has topped notable names such as Derek Campos, Melvin Guillard, and most recently Saad Awad.

On Friday, Girtz will look to add another name to his record when he takes on former UFC contender Myles Jury in the co-main event of Bellator 239 at the WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Okla.

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Girtz hasn’t fought since March 2019, so before he sets foot in the cage Friday night, refresh your memory be reliving some of his best moments inside the Bellator cage in the video above.

Bellator 239’s main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie. Ed Ruth (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) vs. Yaroslav Amosov (22-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) headlines the event.

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4 burning questions heading into Bellator Dublin

MMA Junkie’s Simon Head picks out four key storylines to follow through Bellator’s first Euro series event of the year.

Bellator returns to one of the hotbeds of European MMA as Dublin’s 3Arena plays host to the first European Series event of 2020.

Following an injury to main event star James Gallagher, Bellator’s European matchmaker Jude Samuel has shuffled the deck, with Northern Irish women’s MMA pioneer [autotag]Leah McCourt[/autotag] set to take center stage in the biggest fight of her career.

The former IMMAF amateur world champion will headline the reshuffled fight card against Germany’s [autotag]Judith Ruis[/autotag] in a women’s featherweight main event, while a card packed with Irish and British prospects will look to wow the passionate and knowledgable Irish crowd on what is sure to be another wild night in Dublin.

Without further ado, here are four burning questions heading into Bellator Europe 7/Bellator 240.

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Will ‘The Curse’ be a main-event blessing for the Irish fight fans?

McCourt’s promotion from main card notable to main event star represents a huge jump in exposure for the affable Northern Irish starlet, and the fighter playfully nicknamed “The Curse” is looking to complete a hat-trick of wins at the 3Arena on Feb. 22.

McCourt’s first two appearances inside the Bellator cage both produced stoppage wins, with both fights taking place inside Dublin’s famously atmospheric venue. Now she faces Ruis (6-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) looking to make it three in a row in Bellator, and three in a row in the 3Arena.

Ruis will have other plans, of course. The German now faces a monumental occasion on her Bellator debut as she will not only face one of the stars of women’s MMA on this side of the pond, but she’ll have to do it under the glare of the main event spotlight.

It’s a daunting prospect, but she’ll head into the bout with confidence having picked up a pair of first-round submission finishes in her last two bouts prior to being snapped up by Bellator.

It promises to be a night to remember for one of these unexpected main event fighters, but who will get their hand raised at the end of the night? Will McCourt (3-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) rise to the occasion on the biggest stage of her career, or will Ruis step in and spoil the party with a dream performance on her debut?

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Kristina Williams wants to make impression in final fight of contract at Bellator 239

Kristina Williams will be a free agent after Bellator 239, which puts extra emphasis on her fight.

THACKERVILLE, Okla. – [autotag]Kristina Williams[/autotag] will be a free agent after Bellator 239, and she hopes the promotion will bring her back.

Williams (3-2 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) has fought all of her career bouts under the Bellator banner. She completes her current contract Friday with a matchup against kickboxing standout Denise Kielholtz (4-2 MMA, 4-2 BMMA), and thus far hasn’t been offered anything new.

It appears her performance against Kielholtz will influence what type of offers come her way going forward, and from whom.

“This is my last fight on my contract so I kind of want to see if Bellator is going to re-sign me,” Williams told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “I would like to be re-signed. I would just like to stay very active in the division.”

Bellator 239 takes place at WinStar World Casino and Resort. The women’s flyweight bout between Williams and Kielholtz is part of the prelims, which stream on MMA Junkie prior to the main card on Paramount.

Williams, who hasn’t fought since a TKO loss to Juliana Velasquez at Bellator 224 in July, said the matchup should bring out the best of her.

“I think she’s a really good opponent for me,” Williams said. “I think our styles are going to match up really well to make a really exciting fight for everyone.”

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Bellator 239 weigh-in video highlights, photos with potential welterweight barnburner in Oklahoma

Check out our exclusive video highlights and photo gallery from the Bellator 239 ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs in Thackerville, Okla.

THACKERVILLE, Okla. – For the first time in 2020, Bellator sets up shop this week in Oklahoma.

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

In the main event, Ed Ruth (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) takes on Yaroslav Amosov (22-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) in a fight between welterweight contenders. In the co-feature, Brandon Girtz (16-8 MMA, 8-6 BMMA) meets Myles Jury (18-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) at lightweight.

Thursday, the fighters made weight in the morning, then squared off at the ceremonial weigh-ins shortly after. Check out the highlights from the main card in the video above. And don’t miss our exclusive photo gallery below.

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Bellator 239 predictions: Three unanimous picks, one contentious fight in Oklahoma

Check out our staff members’ picks for the Bellator 239 main card in Oklahoma, featuring Ed Ruth vs. Yaroslav Amosov.

Ruth
vs.
Amosov		 Girtz
vs.
Jury		 Fortune
vs.
Johnson		 Ayala
vs.
Moldavsky
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2020: 16-10		 ruth2020
Ruth
(50.5%)		 jury2020
Jury
(71%)		 fortune2020
Fortune
(90%)		 moldavsky2020
Moldavsky
(78%)
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2020: 20-6		 ruth2020
Ruth		 jury2020
Jury		 fortune2020
Fortune		 moldavsky2020
Moldavsky
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2020: 20-6
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 amosov2020
Amosov		 jury2020
Jury		 fortune2020
Fortune		 moldavsky2020
Moldavsky
Dave Doyle
@davedoylemma
2020: 19-7		 amosov2020
Amosov		 jury2020
Jury		 fortune2020
Fortune		 moldavsky2020
Moldavsky
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2020: 19-7		 ruth2020
Ruth		 jury2020
Jury		 fortune2020
Fortune		 moldavsky2020
Moldavsky
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2020: 19-7		 ruth2020
Ruth		 jury2020
Jury		 fortune2020
Fortune		 moldavsky2020
Moldavsky
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2020: 19-7		 amosov2020
Amosov		 jury2020
Jury		 fortune2020
Fortune		 moldavsky2020
Moldavsky
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2020: 19-7		 amosov2020
Amosov		 jury2020
Jury		 fortune2020
Fortune		 moldavsky2020
Moldavsky
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2020: 19-7
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 ruth2020
Ruth		 jury2020
Jury		 fortune2020
Fortune		 moldavsky2020
Moldavsky
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2020: 18-8		 ruth2020
Ruth		 jury2020
Jury		 fortune2020
Fortune		 moldavsky2020
Moldavsky
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2020: 18-8		 amosov2020
Amosov		 jury2020
Jury		 fortune2020
Fortune		 moldavsky2020
Moldavsky
Simon Head
@simonhead
2020: 18-8
trophy copy 2019 Champion*		 amosov2020
Amosov		 jury2020
Jury		 fortune2020
Fortune		 moldavsky2020
Moldavsky
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2020: 17-9
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 amosov2020
Amosov		 jury2020
Jury		 fortune2020
Fortune		 moldavsky2020
Moldavsky
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2020: 16-10		 ruth2020
Ruth		 jury2020
Jury		 fortune2020
Fortune		 moldavsky2020
Moldavsky
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2020: 12-14		 ruth2020
Ruth		 jury2020
Jury		 fortune2020
Fortune		 moldavsky2020
Moldavsky

Bellator is back at its regular Oklahoma stomping grounds for the first of its back-to-back shows this week on two continents, and a welterweight showdown tops the bill.

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

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

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In the main event, [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) takes on the unbeaten [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] (22-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) in a welterweight fight that will keep one of them in the title picture. Amosov is a slight favorite with the oddsmakers, and the fight has the closest betting odds on the card. Our 14 MMA Junkie editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers have reflected that, as well – they have the fight split right down the middle at 7-7 in the picks.

For the rest of the main card in Thackerville, our pickers are unanimous at 14-0. All three fights have heavy favorites.

In the co-main event, [autotag]Myles Jury[/autotag] (18-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) returns for his second Bellator bout looking to rebound from a loss to former UFC and WEC champion Benson Henderson in his promotional debut. He’s nearly a 3-1 favorite against [autotag]Brandon Girtz[/autotag] (16-8 MMA, 8-6 BMMA) and he’s got a 14-0 shutout in the picks.

[autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag] (8-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) is a 7-1 favorite against [autotag]Timothy Johnson[/autotag] (12-6 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) in their heavyweight bout, and he’s a 14-0 pick. Fortune is looking to stay unbeaten and insert himself into the title picture. He has four straight knockout wins.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) is a 7-1 favorite, as well, and a 14-0 pick at heavyweight against [autotag]Javy Ayala[/autotag] (11-7 MMA, 6-4 BMMA).

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Ruth (50.5 percent), Jury (71 percent), Fortune (90 percent) and Moldavsky (78 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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Bellator 239: Cris Lencioni disappointed ‘boring’ Salim Mukhidinov won’t trash talk

Cris Lencioni is glad he finally has another fight, but he’s a little disappointed his opponent won’t help with the hype.

THACKERVILLE, Okla. – [autotag]Cris Lencioni[/autotag] is just happy to be back.

Friday night at Bellator 239, Lencioni (5-2 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) will partake in his first MMA bout since when he fights Salim Mukhidinov.

The American Top Team featherweight was supposed to return in October, but last-minute weigh-in drama involving opponent Robin van Roosmalen cancelled the fight. Waiting by his phone for months, Lencioni was raring and ready to go when he finally got the call for Bellator 239.

“I stayed constantly ready,” Lencioni told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “I was sparring hard. I was like, ‘Maybe we’ll get a rebooking pretty fast.’ This is the big show, so this is what happens. You can’t always get a quick turnaround. … I know how it is. Plus, I still got my show (money) or whatever for it, so it technically counts as a fight. I should have assumed I’d be waiting longer.”

Now paired with Tajikistan’s Mukhidinov (7-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA), Lencioni can’t complain about not having a fight on deck. However, Lencioni is a little disappointed the promotion didn’t give him someone who would banter with him in the fight’s lead-up.

“He’s so boring, man,” Lencioni said. “I hate to say it, but he didn’t even chat with me. (There was) no pitter-patter. You know what I’m saying? … (Trash talk) is fun, man. That’s what everybody wants. We don’t have to go after each others’ families and (expletive), but we’re fighting each other, right? We’re pretending we’re not fighting each other?”

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When it comes to the fight, Lencioni doesn’t have an ideal way to get the job done. Lencioni admitted however, there is something somewhat appealing to him about picking up his first professional TKO victory.

“I’m just coming to (expletive) knock him out,” Lencioni said. “Wouldn’t a knockout be cool? You always see me choking fools out. That’d be cool if I just went out there and knocked him out.”

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

Check out MMA Junkie’s full Bellator 239 pre-fight interview with Cris Lencioni in the video above.

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Bellator 239’s Timothy Johnson sees Tyrell Fortune as stepping stone to snap losing streak

Timothy Johnson has a big opportunity ahead of him in the form of Tyrell Fortune.

THACKERVILLE, OKLA. —[autotag]Timothy Johnson[/autotag] plans on taking his Bellator career in a different direction.

The veteran heavyweight seeks to shake off a two-fight losing streak which started his run with the Viacom-owned organization. Johnson (12-6 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) takes on blue-chip prospect Tyrell Fortune in the main card of Friday’s Bellator 239.

Despite his current position, Johnson knows he still has the time to turn things around in his career, even 10 years deep in the game.

“I’m getting up there, but I’m not an old man yet, I’m still 34,” Johnson told MMA Junkie. I have a couple of years left in me guaranteed, so I definitely want to make it a stepping stone, turn that around, you know.

“I’m on two-fight losing skid and that’s never happened to me before so that’s some uncharted territory. I definitely don’t want to make it three, but like I said, anything can happen in the fight game. A win would be great, get another contract and one thing I really want is to be more active, get three fights a year. That would be awesome.”

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Fortune is a former NCAA Division II national champion wrestler and is considered one of the most promising fighters in MMA today. He started his career in late 2016 and has gone 8-0 since, with six stoppage wins.

Johnson is well aware of the challenge that’s ahead.

“I think Tyrell is the most decorated prospect in the heavyweight division no matter what organization it is,” Johnson said.

“He’s got a heck of a name, he’s got a heck of a pedigree, he’s an undefeated prospect, and he goes in there and finishes people. So both of us want to put on a good fight, and that’s all you can ask for. And say things don’t go my way, losing to him is not the end of the world, as opposed to losing to a different prospect. Tyrell has a big future ahead of him in MMA and I think everyone knows that.”

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

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4 burning questions heading into Bellator 239

MMA Junkie’s Simon Head picks out four notable storylines to follow through fight night at Bellator 239.

The Bellator cage returns to the familiar surroundings of the WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Okla., on Friday  for Bellator 239 as a pair of surging welterweight contenders face off in the main event looking to position themselves for a shot at reigning 170-pound champion Douglas Lima.

The welterweight clash between [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] and [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] headlines a packed card that features a range of narratives worth following as a host of rising stars look to make an impact.

Without further ado, here are our four burning questions heading in.

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Which rising welterweight star will move one step closer to a title shot?

Ruth (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) has been considered a blue-chip prospect from the moment he inked his first fight contract with Bellator. Now nine fights into his MMA career, the former Penn State wrestling standout has the well-rounded skillset to make him a legitimate threat to the very best in the division.

With the dust still settling after the Bellator welterweight grand prix tournament, Ruth is eyeing a run at Lima’s 170-pound title but faces an acid test in the form of undefeated Ukrainian Amosov (22-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA), who followed up decision wins in his first two Bellator outings with an impressive submission of tough veteran David Rickels in his most recent appearance.

Amosov’s grappling-based attack should make for a fascinating contest with wrestling phenom Ruth, and the fight might end up being decided by whomever has the better striking.

The welterweight division is wide open right now, and a decisive win for either man could push them toward the front of the queue to face Lima later in the year. But who will leave Thackerville with the win?

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Bellator 239 weigh-in results and live video stream (10 a.m. ET)

Check out the results from the official Bellator 239 fighter weigh-ins in Thackerville, Okla.

THACKERVILLE, Okla. – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Thursday’s early and official Bellator 239 fighter weigh-ins, which kick off at 10 a.m. ET (7 a.m. PT).

The early weigh-ins take place at WinStar World Casino & Resort in Thackerville, Okla., and precede the ceremonial weigh-ins for the fans, which take place at 1 p.m. ET at MIST inside WinStar World Casino & Resort.

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

Among those weighing in are Ed Ruth (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) and Yaroslav Amosov (22-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA), who meet in the welterweight main event, and Brandon Girtz (16-8 MMA, 8-6 BMMA) and Myles Jury (18-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA), who fight in the lightweight co-feature.

The full Bellator 239 weigh-in results include:

MAIN CARD (Paramount, DAZN, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Ed Ruth () vs. Yaroslav Amosov ()
  • Brandon Girtz () vs. Myles Jury ()
  • Tyrell Fortune () vs. Timothy Johnson ()
  • Javy Ayala () vs. Valentin Moldavsky ()

PRELIMINARY CARD MMA Junkie, 6:15 p.m. ET)

  • Christian Edwards () vs. Marco Hutch ()
  • Shawn Bunch () vs. Keith Lee ()
  • Teejay Britton () vs. Gabriel Varga ()
  • Denise Kielholtz () vs. Kristina Williams ()
  • Gaston Bolanos () vs. Solo Hatley Jr. ()
  • Josh Hill () vs. Vinicius Zani ()
  • Grant Neal () vs. Claude Wilcox ()
  • Kyle Crutchmer () vs. Scott Futrell ()
  • Cris Lencioni () vs. Salim Mukhidinov ()
  • Adil Benjilany () vs. Kevin Croom ()
  • Lucas Brennan () vs. Jamese Taylor ()
  • Chris Gonzalez () vs. Aaron McKenzie ()
  • Davion Franklin () vs. J.W. Kiser ()