Tag: Bellator 245

Following his Bellator 245 win, Keith Lee targeting killers in his division

Keith Lee wants to continue rising to the occasion after his big win at Bellator 245.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Keith Lee[/autotag] wants to continue rising to the occasion after his big win at Bellator 245.

Lee (7-3, MMA, 2-0 BMMA) defeated Vinicius Zani at Mohegan Sun Arena to claim his second victory under the Bellator banner and pick up his fourth straight win overall.

Keith, younger brother of UFC lightweight Kevin Lee, is enjoying his best career stretch. After a rocky start to his pro MMA career that included two straight split-decision losses, Lee is starting to pave his own way and is ready to take on the division’s toughest challenges.

“I want a game opponent,” Lee told MMA Junkie at a post-fight news conference. “I want somebody that’s going to come in here and let me put on a show. I want somebody that other people think is a killer so I can come in here and do my thing.”

Lee mixed things up well during his performance, throwing an array of strikes to the body and head that wore down Zani, who came in four pounds overweight. The win was big for Lee, who had extra added motivation ahead of his bout with a baby girl due to be born just days after fight night.

“I’m very happy with the performance,” Lee said. “I’m happy that I was able to come out here and perform. I give all glory to God – everything that goes on is because of him. I felt solid in there; that guy was big. I don’t know if you could tell on camera, but he was huge! Every time I was shooting, it was like I was shooting into a brick wall, but I’m just thankful I came out with the victory.”

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Taylor Johnson says slowing things down brought a quickfire finish at Bellator 245

Following his impressive win over Ed Ruth on his Bellator debut, Taylor Johnson reflects on his performance at Mohegan Sun Arena.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Taylor Johnson[/autotag] took his Dana White’s Contender Series loss to Andre Muniz, slowed things down, and scored a quick-fire victory in his promotional debut at Bellator 245.

Johnson (6-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) lost out to now-UFC prospect Muniz at the UFC Apex in August 2019, missing out on a shot at a UFC contract. But a Bellator offer came a few months later and, after his planned debut at Bellator 243 fell through, he made his bow inside the “FightSphere” on Friday night, as he scored an eye-catching first-round submission win over highly touted welterweight prospect Ed Ruth (8-3 MMA, 8-3 BMMA).

Looking back on his performance, Johnson told reporters, including MMA Junkie, that his performance in the Contender Series taught him to stay calm and trust his skills ahead of his Bellator debut.

“The Contender Series loss was just me getting a little too excited, wanting to get that contract,” he explained. “Like my dad says, I went out there like I was killing snakes. I was just getting after it. This fight, I wanted to come out a little more reserved, and to pull out the ‘W’ in the first round, in the first couple of minutes, is a huge opportunity.”

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Johnson admitted that he prefers to finish his fights with his fists, but he was elated to score his first career submission and make his grappling coaches proud.

“It feels great,” Johnson said. “There’s something about just putting the 4x4s up against somebody’s head that I really enjoy doing, but leg locks are also something I’m also really passionate about. I noticed they’re always there when someone tries to grapple me or take me down, so leg lock.

“Getting a first sub is great, especially a heel hook. I know my coaches down in San Diego and my jiu-jitsu coaches at ATT Portland are super-stoked about that.”

After securing such a big-name win in his debut, the ceiling looks sky-high for Johnson, who said he’s ready to be thrown in with anyone, irrespective of name or record.

“Absolutely,” Johnson said. “I don’t have a lot of fights. I’ve had dozens and dozens of guys all across the West Coast that weren’t interested in fighting me, so I’ve had a lot of fights fall through. To have that opportunity against Ed, I have the ability to beat anybody. I’ve just got to go out there and do it.

“I’ll fight anybody. I’ll knock you out or tap you, that’s the goal, so whoever they want to put in front of me, I’m down to get in.”

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Peter Stanonik released from hospital, diagnosed with groin contusion after Bellator 245

Peter Stanonik says he’s in the clear after being stretchered out of Bellator 245 due to groin strikes.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Welterweight [autotag]Peter Stanonik[/autotag] is out of the hospital and is “clear” after suffering a pair of hard kicks to the groin in the Bellator 245 main card opener at Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday.

Stanonik (5-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), who was stretchered to the back during the announcement of the no contest verdict in his fight against [autotag]Raymond Daniels[/autotag], was released from the hospital at around 1 a.m. local time, posting a video to his Instagram story.

“We’re good to go y’all,” Stanonik said. “I’m at the hospital. My d*ck is cleared. Everything is (cleared). I just got a contusion in my groin. We’re Gucci now. I’ve got my ride waiting.”

The stoppage came early in the second round, after a competitive, striking-filled Round 1. After being drilled with an initial spinning back kick, Stanonik writhed in pain on the canvas. He needed nearly the full five-minute allowance in order to recover.

When the action resumed, Daniels (2-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) kicked Stanonik in the groin again. Immediately, Stanonik crumpled to the canvas, yelping out in pain. Frustrated and hurt, Stanonik punched the canvas multiple times – hard. Moaning and groaning, he crawled toward the fence. The cageside physician was called in by referee Jason Herzog. The physician advised the fight be waived off – a request Herzog obliged.

The fight was Stanonik’s Bellator debut and his first pro MMA fight since June 2018.

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Bellator 245 highlights: Relive the action as Phil Davis edges Lyoto Machida in rematch

Recap the best of the action from Bellator 245 as Phil Davis edged a split-decision verdict against light heavyweight rival Lyoto Machida.

The second meeting between [autotag]Phil Davis[/autotag] (22-5 MMA, 9-2 BMMA) and [autotag]Lyoto Machida[/autotag] (26-10 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) was every bit as competitive as the first, as the former Bellator light heavyweight champion squeezed past the former UFC 205-pound champ in the main event of Bellator 245.

The night also saw the promotional debut of former UFC women’s bantamweight title challenger [autotag]Cat Zingano[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 1-0 BMMA), who outpointed [autotag]Gabrielle Holloway[/autotag] (6-6 MMA, 1-3 BMMA) in their women’s featherweight matchup.

There was also an eye-catching debut from former Dana White’s Contender Series prospect [autotag]Taylor Johnson[/autotag] (6-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA), who submitted highly-rated welterweight prospect [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] (8-3 MMA, 8-3 BMMA) via first-round heel hook in their middleweight bout.

If that bout was eye-catching, the action was eye-watering in the opening main card fight of the night, as a pair of thumping low blows from [autotag]Raymond Daniels[/autotag] (2-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) left [autotag]Peter Stanonik[/autotag] (5-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) unable to continue, and the bout was ruled a no contest.

Bellator 245 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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Phil Davis calls for rematch against champion Vadim Nemkov, but open to Corey Anderson bout

Phil Davis says he wants champion Vadim Nemkov or Corey Anderson next.

[autotag]Phil Davis[/autotag] wants to avenge his most recent loss and regain a Bellator title all in one go.

The former Bellator light heavyweight champion wants a shot at newly crowned titleholder Vadim Nemkov following his most recent win in the main event of Friday’s Bellator 245. Davis (22-5 MMA, 9-2 BMMA) outpointed Lyoto Machida in a split decision. It was the second time Davis defeated Machida, as he had beat “The Dragon” seven years ago at UFC 163.

Davis, who lost to Nemkov in a split decision back in November 2018, wants to run it back with the Russian.

“He can fight whoever he wants to fight, but I know deep down inside a champion wants to fight that guy who was right on his ass,” Davis told reporters at the post-fight press conference. “I want that fight and I know he wants that fight.”

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With several contenders in the division angling to fight the champion, it’s uncertain if Davis will get the next shot at Bellator gold. If Nemkov is not an option, Davis is willing to welcome recent signee Corey Anderson to the promotion.

“Corey Anderson, he deserves a veterans welcome to the Bellator family,” Davis said. “But that would be something to talk about and maybe, only maybe, if Mr. Nemkov isn’t available.”

“Mr. Wonderful” is currently on a three-fight winning streak. The victory over Machida might not have been the most exciting bout in his current run, but he didn’t expect anything else when taking on someone as dangerous as Machida.

“Just getting out of the cage with your head on your shoulders after fighting Lyoto, that’s its own victory,” Davis explained. “You don’t want to be like, ‘Oh this fight means more because then you can fight that guy.’ No, just beat Lyoto, he’s no small feat.”

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Cat Zingano focused on improvement after Bellator 245 win: ‘This wasn’t the greatest performance of my life’

Cat Zingano expressed mixed emotions with her Bellator debut performance.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Cat Zingano[/autotag] didn’t have any expectations coming into Bellator 245.

From here on out, however, Zingano (11-4 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) is focused on improvement – and her co-main event unanimous decision win on Friday over Gabrielle Holloway (6-6 MMA, 1-3 BMMA) at Mohegan Sun Arena was just the building block to make that happen.

“I immediately can see where I can do better and where I’m capable of doing better,” Zingano told MMA Junkie at a post-fight news conference. “(There were) different places and positions where we got stuck that I’m going to take back to the drawing board and work on. It’s definitely not a perfect performance. I have a ton of things that I could do better – and I will. I want to do better since I will.”

Zingano, 38, had not competed in almost two years prior to Bellator 245. The former UFC bantamweight contender had a rough go preceding and following her UFC exit in 2019. An eye injury, a go-around with Breast Implant Illness (BII), and having only one win since 2014, Zingano didn’t set expectations for herself before her return Friday.

“I really didn’t know what to expect,” Zingano said. So much has changed since my last fight. I just came in with an open mind knowing I worked extremely hard every single day of this camp. I fought every single sparring session like I fought here today. I just did everything I could think of to get ready, so I could come in here and bring my best.”

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Despite her self-critiques, Zingano said she was proud of the win – even if it wasn’t, in her estimation, her greatest performance. A veteran of the sport, Zingano is keeping a level, balanced mind as her career moves past her promotional debut.

“Coming in here and getting that win and being able to take it home and show myself and show the people that I care about this exactly where I meant to be, silencing any doubt of my own or other people,” Zingano said. “Yeah, this wasn’t the greatest performance of my life. Gabby is a great, great fight for me to have. It’s only up from here.

“I’m also just still very humbled and know that at any moment you’re an underdog. At any moment, all of these people are tests, so I’ve just got to stay chill about it, keep working hard, take everything I felt, saw went through in this moment, take it home and prove it some way, shape or form.”

Bellator 245 took place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card aired on Paramount and streamed on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

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Bellator 245’s Raymond Daniels admits he pictured ‘an entire different ending’ than low-blow no-contest

Raymond Daniels was definitely looking to make headlines with his flashy kicks at Bellator 245 — just not the way it actually happened.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — [autotag]Raymond Daniels[/autotag] certainly didn’t go into his Bellator 245 main-card opener against Peter Stanonik looking to put his opponent out on a stretcher after a pair of horrific low blows.

But that’s what happened, as the fight ended early in the second round due to back-to-back spinning back kicks which landed below the waistline, the second of which ended the bout in a no-contest. And the champion kickboxer-turned-mixed martial artist, who does not have a reputation as a dirty fighter, was mortified with how things played out Friday night.

“I hope my opponent Peter is OK,” Daniels told MMA Junkie after the fight. “Obviously I never mean to hit anybody with any type of low blows, or any time you knock a person out or down, obviously, I want them to be OK, so I hope that he is OK.”

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It was clear from the outset Daniels (2-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) was looking for a highlight-reel knockout, as he threw flashy strikes throughout the fight. While Daniels believes his first one wasn’t far off the target, he said he knew right away the second one landed on Stanonik (5-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) way too low.

“I had an entire different ending in my mind, but unfortunately it didn’t get there,” Daniels said. “First time that’s ever kind of happened. The first time I thought it was a body shot, but my foot is kind of big so it covers a lot. The second time I definitely hit him in the groin pretty clean.

“He kicked me and kind of knocked me off balance, which made me miss my target a little bit. So, you know, it’s unfortunate. 2020 has been that kind of crazy year, all sorts of stuff has happened, I normally don’t miss my kicks like that.”

Daniels still has faith in his ability to throw spinning back kicks, which he believes is his greatest weapon. But he’s still in disbelief things played out as they did on Friday night.

“The spin kick is the hardest technique to throw in all of combat sports,” Daniels said. “My spin kick is my bazooka, my greatest grenade launcher, whatever you want to call it. It can end things in an instant, wherever it lands. Unforunately it landed in the wrong vicinity, I hope he’s OK, like I said, I never want to hurt my opponents in that way where they have to get carried off or anything like that.”

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