Tag: Bellator 244

Lucas Brennan pleased to earn Bellator 244 win in same arena his father fought at UFC 35

Lucas Brennan’s win on Friday night was a nod to his dad’s MMA career.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Lucas Brennan isn’t the only member of the Brennan to have competed at Mohegan Sun Arena.

At UFC 35 in 2002, his father, Chris Brennan, fought his final UFC fight in this very venue. Chris lost to Gil Castillo by unanimous decision.

On Friday at Bellator 244, Lucas Brennan defeated Will Smith by second-round TKO, punching the Brennan name into the win column at Mohegan Sun 18 years after the first failed attempt.

Despite having a father who competed in the same sport at the highest levels, Lucas said he doesn’t feel any added pressure to perform.

“He tries really hard to not put that pressure on me,” Lucas said at a post-fight news conference. “I don’t, just because I think it would be different if I were like Gozali. His dad still fights on his cards, so I’m sure they go home and have a little bit of, ‘I finished before you did. You do the chores.’ That whole thing. (My dad) retired forever ago, so I don’t feel anything weird about it. We have a weird lineage with me and him. My last two fights were at WinStar (World Casino). That’s where his last two were. This was where his last UFC fight was 18 years ago. It’s weird.”

Check out Lucas Brennan’s full Bellator 244 post-fight news conference in the video above.

Bellator 244 took place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card simulcasted on Paramount Network and DAZN after prelims on MMA Junkie.

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Bellator 244 highlights: Relive the best of the action as Vadim Nemkov captures 205-pound title

Recap the best of the action from Bellator 244 as Vadim Nemkov dethroned Ryan Bader to capture the light heavyweight title.

Bellator has a new light heavyweight champion after the title changed hands in dramatic fashion at Bellator 244 on Friday night.

Russia’s [autotag]Vadim Nemkov[/autotag] stepped into the “FightSphere” and dethroned two-division champion [autotag]Ryan Bader[/autotag] in the main event in Uncasville to claim the promotion’s 205-pound title and in the process avenge the defeat of his mentor, Fedor Emelianenko.

Bader (27-6 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) finished “The Last Emperor” in just 35 seconds in the Bellator heavyweight grand prix as he captured the heavyweight title and became the promotion’s first simultaneous two-division champion.

But Nemkov (13-2 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) exacted painful revenge as he dropped Bader with a head kick, then battered “Darth” until referee Kerry Hatley waved off the bout at the 3:02 mark of the second round.

Bellator 244 took place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card aired on Paramount Network and DAZN after prelims on MMA Junkie.

Check out the official highlights of the night, courtesy of Bellator, via the video above.

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Bellator 244 winner Weber Almeida seeking championship gold – before becoming movie star

Could Weber Almeida be Bellator’s first champion turned movie star?

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Weber Almeida[/autotag]’s main goal is to become a Bellator champion, but it’s not his only aspiration.

Almeida (4-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA), a protege of former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, brutalized Salim Mukhidinov (7-5 MMA, 1-2 BMMA) before earning a first-round TKO on Friday night at Bellator 244. The win was the fourth in as many career fights – all of which have ended by knockout or TKO.

In a post-fight news conference, Almeida revealed he had recently been featured in a movie. He hopes to pursue more acting gigs but only after he becomes Bellator champion.

Bellator 244 took place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card simulcasted on Paramount Network and DAZN after prelims on MMA Junkie.

Check out Almeida’s full Bellator 244 post-fight news conference in the video above.

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Bellator champ Vadim Nemkov feels like No. 1 light heavyweight in world, thanks Jon Jones

Vadim Nemkov dismantled Ryan Bader inside two rounds, which makes him feel like the undisputed king of the division.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – At Bellator 244, [autotag]Vadim Nemkov[/autotag] became the first Russian fighter to earn a major promotion’s light heavyweight title when he defeated Ryan Bader by second-round TKO.

Minutes after walking out of the cage Friday, Nemkov (13-2 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) spoke to reporters huddled backstage at Mohegan Sun Arena. A protege of Fedor Emelianenko, Nemkov spoke about the importance of becoming the first person to achieve the feat for his homeland.

“When I was training for this fight, I was actually mentally preparing for the historic value of the fight being the first Russian, not to just win, but to fight for a major 205-pound title,” Nemkov told MMA Junkie through an interpreter at the post-event news conference. “I feel like I made history – a small part of history.”

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The victory solidified Nemkov’s place, but the Russian champion also thinks it secured his slot as not only the best 205-pound fighter in Bellator – but in the world.

“I feel like with all the changes going on in the 205-pound division and the caliber of opponent I just beat (the guy is a two-time champion in two different weight classes), I feel like I’m No. 1 right now,” Nemkov said. “To back up why I’m saying this, I didn’t just go through five rounds of a fight. I finished a top, top contender in decisive manner in two rounds. I feel like I’m No. 1.”

After the fight, longtime UFC light heavyweight champion [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag], who vacated his title earlier this week, took to Twitter to congratulate Nemkov on his victory. Upon hearing of Jones’ compliment, Nemkov graciously accepted the sentiment.

“I just want to thank him,” Nemkov said. “It means a lot to hear, especially from such a legend as Jon Jones.”

Looks like Russia has a light heavyweight champion, congratulations

As for what’s next, Nemkov has his eyes locked on one fight in particular. Although Bellator just signed former UFC contender Corey Anderson, Nemkov said he thinks the winner of the Sept. 11 bout between Lyoto Machida and Phil Davis makes more sense.

“The situation is a little unclear right now,” Nemkov said. “Machida is fighting Phil Davis, so I’d say probably the winner of that fight will be my first title defense. I know Corey Anderson just signed, but I feel like it’d be wrong for him to get a title shot coming over from the UFC. I feel like he should probably have a fight before that. At the end of the day, I’ll fight whoever they put in front of me.”

Check out Nemkov’s full Bellator 244 post-fight news conference in the video above.

Bellator 244 took place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card simulcasted on Paramount Network and DAZN after prelims on MMA Junkie.

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Bellator 244 results: Vadim Nemkov brutalizes, finishes Ryan Bader to win light heavyweight title

Vadim Nemkov looked impressive in his title win over Ryan Bader at Bellator 244.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Before Friday, it had been three years since Bellator light heavyweight champion [autotag]Ryan Bader[/autotag] competed at 205 pounds. When he stepped into the cage against [autotag]Vadim Nemkov[/autotag], the champion faced a rude welcoming.

Nemkov (12-2 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) knocked out Bader (27-6 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) in an elongated mauling, which Bader survive multiple onslaughts in the second round. Nemkov finally was able to put him out, finishing the fight with strikes at 3:02 of Round 2.

The first round was competitive, with Nemkov finding success on the feet. Bader was able to drag the fight to the mat, but only momentarily. Bader landed one hard punch late in Round 1, which connected flush on the Russian.

In Round 2, Nemkov took over. After aggressive, high-paced stalking, Nemkov landed a high kick that floored Bader, who covered up. Nemkov pounced, and Bader survived, despite eating dozens of hard shots. Somehow, someway, Bader got up to his feet.

However, Nemkov didn’t let Bader off the hook and connected with a series of follow-up shots that floored the American. Referee Kerry Hatley saw enough and stepped in.

With the victory, Nemkov becomes the first fighter to beat Ryan Bader in over four years. The victory extends Nemkov’s winning streak to seven straight. He’s finished 12 of his 13 victories inside the distance.

Bellator 244 marked the first loss for Ryan Bader since his UFC tenure, when he was defeated by Anthony Johnson in January 2016. Bader still holds the Bellator heavyweight title.

Bellator 244 took place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card simulcasted on Paramount Network and DAZN after prelims on MMA Junkie.

Complete Bellator 244 results include:

Bellator 244 results: Julia Budd back to winning ways with decision over Jessy Miele

Julia Budd was mostly dominant over 15 minutes of work at Bellator 244.

[autotag]Julia Budd[/autotag] is back to her winning ways.

In her first fight since losing the women’s featherweight chamionship, Budd was mostly dominant as she earned a unanimous decision win over a game [autotag]Jessy Miele[/autotag] on Friday at Bellator 244. After 15 minutes, the judges scored it 30-26, 30-27 and 30-27 for Budd (14-3 MMA, 8-1 BMMA), who expressed how important it was for her to get back on track after losing the title to Cris Cyborg in January.

If there was a theme to Budd’s performance, it might’ve been best summed up by the old adage “it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” as she came out hesitant in the early going of the first two rounds.

Fighting southpaw, Miele (9-4 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) landed the first good strike of Round 1, a hard kick to the body, and it appeared to affect Budd’s approach. She was hesitant, with Miele choosing to close distance but also getting pegged each time. It wasn’t until the final minute that Budd secured a dominant position, taking the action from a standing clinch to the mat to close out the round.

Miele again came out string in the early going of Round 2, but Budd was able to stave off anything serious until she secured another takedown and finished with hard ground-and-pound.

By the third round, Budd clearly had her confidence and secured a third takedown about a minute in and remained in dominant top position until the final seconds. She worked hard for a finish, trying to secure an arm-triangle choke but couldn’t.

It didn’t matter, though, as she was dominant for much of the fight to earn the win.

Up-to-the-minute Bellator 244 results include: