Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Episode No. 316 of “The MMA Road Show with John Morgan,” featuring MMA Junkie’s Nolan King, is now available for streaming and download.
Episode No. 316 of “The MMA Road Show with John Morgan” podcast is now available for streaming and download.
MMA Junkie lead staff reporter John Morgan hosts the show while traveling the world to cover the sport.
It’s a busy week in the MMA space, and John Morgan and Cold Coffee sit down to discuss it all. At long last, the great Nolan King also joins from the FightSphere to help preview Bellator 257.
Check it out on iTunes or at themmaroadshow.com. You can also subscribe via RSS.
MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom takes a closer look at the Bellator 257 main event rematch between Vadim Nemkov and Phil Davis.
MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the Bellator’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main event for Bellator 257.
Bellator 257 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.
MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom takes a closer look at the Bellator 257 main event rematch between Vadim Nemkov and Phil Davis.
MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the Bellator’s top bouts. Today, we look at the co-main event for Bellator 257.
Bellator 257 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.
Corey Anderson may have drawn the least notable name in the Bellator light heavyweight grand prix, but his goal remains the same.
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] may have drawn the least notable name in the current Bellator light heavyweight grand prix, but his goal remains the same.
In the opening round of the tournament, Anderson meets [autotag]Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov[/autotag] in the co-main event of Bellator 257 on Friday.
Yagshimuradov (18-5-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) is relatively unknown to even hardcore fans and certainly doesn’t have the name value of UFC veterans such as Anthony Johnson or Yoel Romero, who are also in th grand prix. But Anderson (14-5 MMA, 1-0 BMMA), who initially admitted he had to do a Google search of his opponent, knows that Yagshimuradov belongs and is in the tournament for a reason.
“All organizations have great fighters,” Anderson told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “Over at ACA where he was, he was a great fighter there, so now he gets to come showcase his skills here. I don’t think anybody in the world matches up with my skills. That’s just the way you’ve got to be when you step in the cage.
“We train to be the best. We don’t train to be mediocre. We don’t train to get by. You train to dominate everybody. Now, can he compete in the 205 division? Yes. Can he compete with me? I don’t believe so, and Friday I’m going to show you why.”
As he looks to progress in the Bellator grand prix, Anderson will look to mirror some of the success he had in the UFC, where he was a top-ranked light heavyweight contender. During his almost four-year tenure with the promotion, “The Ultimate Fighter 19” winner was able to score big wins over the likes of current UFC light heavyweight champ Jan Blachowicz and top contender Glover Teixeira.
So after notching a second-round finish of Melvin Manhoef in his Bellator debut, Anderson is looking to do more of the same against Yagshimuradov.
“Keys to victory for me is like it is in every fight,” Anderson said. “I was watching my UFC fights this morning, all the fights I won and dominated, it was always a simple gameplan. Nothing crazy, nothing fancy. Do me, keep the pressure, work the fakes, work the hands, work the kicks, work the takedowns. Use everything. Be a mixed martial artist. Don’t go out there, be a striker. Don’t go out there, be a wrestler. Put everything together, mix it up and that’s how you come away with the ‘W.'”
Bellator 257 takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.
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Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here, and you can join the live stream on SportsCastr.
Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here, and you can join the live stream on SportsCastr at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).
On Episode 3,149, the guys recap an impressive win by Christian Lee at Wednesday’s ONE on TNT II event, as well as look ahead to a busy weekend with UFC on ESPN 22, Bellator 257 and Triller Fight Club.
Tune in!
Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at OmnyStudio. You can also catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.
Check out the results from the official Bellator 257 fighter weigh-ins, featuring light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov vs. Phil Davis.
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Thursday’s official Bellator 257 fighter weigh-ins.
The weigh-ins take place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The same venue hosts Friday’s event, which has a main card on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.
Among those weighing in are light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov (13-2 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) and Phil Davis (22-5 MMA, 9-2 BMMA), who meet in the main event. That fight also is a quarterfinal bout in Bellator’s light heavyweight tournament.
The full Bellator 257 weigh-in results include:
MAIN CARD (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET)
PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 6 p.m. ET)
Ahead of Bellator 257, Vadim Nemkov discusses his rematch with Phil Davis, competing on the same card as his brother, and more.
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Vadim Nemkov[/autotag] enters Bellator 257 the champion, but with the hunger of a contender.
In the third of four Bellator light heavyweight grand prix quarterfinal matchups, Nemkov (12-2 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) faces Phil Davis (22-5 MMA, 9-2 BMMA) in a rematch of their November 2018 fight. Not only is Friday’s headliner a tournament fight, but it’s also Nemkov’s first title defense, too.
“It’s no pressure on me at all,” Nemkov told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “I know that I’m the champion. I know it, but I enter this tournament like a fighter, a hungry fighter. I know that I’m champion, but there isn’t pressure on me. Not any milligram.”
Nemkov won the promotion’s 205-pound title at Bellator 244 in August, when he finished longtime champion Ryan Bader with strikes in Round 2. The finish was Nemkov’s fourth in five Bellator fights and won him the first major promotional title of his career.
“I’m very proud that I’m on this level that Bellator made posters of me and my picture is on the arena, on the cage,” Nemkov said. “I enjoy it. I’m happy. I’m really happy that Bellator trusts me, this moment that I’m on the posters. I’m working really hard with my team to give them the same, to show them that they’re also really happy to be in Bellator.”
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In his own estimation, Nemkov, 28, has changed a lot since the first time he fought Davis. That night he won a split decision but did so without the mature mentality he now has. Familiar with what Davis brings to the cage, Nemkov alluded to an even better outing the second time around.
“First of all, for me, I think I’ve grown up mentally,” Nemkov said. “I’m not worried anymore like I was worried when I was younger, when I didn’t have as much experience. I know this guy. I already had a fight with him, so I know his moves. He’s not a surprise for me anymore. I’m on the top of Bellator and I’m in the top light heavyweights in the world, so it’s given me more confidence.”
Vadim won’t be the only Nemkov competing on Friday’s card. His older brother, Viktor, will make his promotional debut on the undercard against Karl Albrektsson. The Russian champion hopes the Nemkov name brings two wins back to the homeland.
“I want all the best for my brother,” Nemkov said. “We are professionals. Of course, I’m going to worry about it. I’m going to watch his fight, but I know this is a professional sport. Anything can happen, but I wish for both of us to bring to Russia victories. Two ‘W’s.”
Bellator 257 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.
We want your predictions for Bellator 257, featuring champ Vadim Nemkov vs. Phil Davis in a title fight and light heavyweight tourney bout.
We want your predictions for Friday’s Bellator 257 event in Connecticut.
Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Wednesdday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).
Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the Bellator 257 main card staff predictions we release Thursday ahead of the event. Bellator 257 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.
Make your picks for the fights below.
Folks will have to wait a little bit longer to see Anthony Johnson and Yoel Romero throw down in the cage.
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The Bellator light heavyweight grand prix received a shakeup Friday – but don’t worry: All four quarterfinal matchups are still on.
Bellator announced Friday that [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov[/autotag] – originally scheduled for April 9 – has been moved back one week to Bellator 257 on April 16. In addition, the highly anticipated bout between former UFC title challengers [autotag]Anthony Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] also has been postponed – from April 16 to May 7 at Bellator 258.
No reason was given for the change in dates. Both grand prix bouts will serve as the co-main events of Bellator 257 and Bellator 258, which take place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
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With the changes, below are the updated lineups for Bellator 256, 257 and 258:
MAIN CARD (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET)
PRELIMS (Bellator YouTube, MMA Junkie)
MAIN CARD (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET)
PRELIMS (Bellator YouTube, MMA Junkie)
MAIN CARD (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET)
PRELIMS (Bellator YouTube, MMA Junkie)
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Use our fight booking wire throughout the week to keep tabs on all the latest matchups in the UFC, Bellator, PFL, ONE Championship and more.
MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.
But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got you covered.
Each week, we’ll compile all the new fight bookings right here – in one spot. Worried you missed a UFC or Bellator matchup, a playoff pairing for the PFL, or a title fight scheduled for ONE or LFA?
Our fight booking wire will keep tabs on it all and will update any time we’ve got new matchups — so you’ll want to come back throughout the week to see the latest.
Here are fight announcements that have been broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie for this week, March 8-14:
