Tag: Bellator 264

Julius Anglickas thriving as alternate, underdog ahead of Bellator 268: ‘The pressure is off’

A tournament alternate, Julius Anglickas doesn’t think he has much to lose against Vadim Nemkov.

PHOENIX – [autotag]Julius Anglickas[/autotag] knows by most people’s standards he’s not supposed to win Saturday at Bellator 268 and that makes him feel a sense of comfort.

One of the Bellator light heavyweight grand prix alternates, Anglickas (10-1 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) enters the tournament in place of the ill Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and challenges champion Vadim Nemkov for the title in a semifinal bout. Despite the big stage, bright lights, and sudden attention, Anglickas isn’t rattled. In fact, he’s quite the opposite.

“I feel a little bit more calm than usual,” Anglickas told MMA Junkie on Thursday. “The media and all the little extra things I need to do just keep me distracted from just sitting in my room and getting nervous over stuff. Just interaction with people and media and just talking about it. It definitely helps to cope with things. At the same time, I think the pressure is off since all the pressure is on him. He’s the champion. He needs to defend it. I was an alternate and now I just need to go in and fight my best.

“Like, people already assume that he’s going to win just because he’s the champion and he’s fighting the alternate. I feel it takes a lot of pressure off me. I do feel more pressure when I know that I’m stepping into a fight that everybody knows I’m going to win. It’s like, ‘Oh my god. Now I really need to win.’ Yeah, it might throw me off my game. Now, nothing is off there that could throw me off. We’re just going to go in there, feel good, and perform good and just do the best I can. Well, that’s how I feel right now. Hopefully, that’s exactly how it is. That’s exactly how I feel it will be.”

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While he might not be a name now, Anglickas has the opportunity of a lifetime to instill himself into MMA folklore should he enter the grand prix in a win. In 2011, a largely-unknown wrestler-turned-fighter named Daniel Cormier entered the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix, upset Antonio Silva, and went on to beat Josh Barnett.

While Anglickas recognizes he could do something similar, he’s not thinking about that. His main motivation lies in representing his home country, his team, and his family.

“It would mean a lot (to become champion),” Anglickas said. “It’s like, ‘Wow.’ I would probably be speechless, just like right now. Like, what direction do I want to take? It’s a lot to take in. You’ve got to think you’re representing Lithuania, so you’ve got to think about that. You’re representing a gym. You’ve got to think about that. Your parents are excited. You’ve got to think about them. I’ll be going to see them after this fight back on Long Island.

“I would have a hard time knowing where to put my mind first or where to put my attention because you’re representing a lot. You’re representing Long Island. That’s where I grew up. I went to high school there. So I have a lot of friends and family. I also represent St-Louis because I’ve been here for so long. I’m representing Lithuania. I feel I’ll be representing a lot. A lot of people would be proud of it. It would be a big thing for me to win. The attention would come from all directions – and the love and support. I’m sure I’ll be overwhelmed with it.”

Bellator 268 takes place Saturday at Footprint Center. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

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Khadzhi Bestaev surprised he won – and thought about quitting in Round 1 at Bellator 264

The fans at Mohegan Sun Arena seemed surprised to hear Khadzhi Bestaev’s name called as the winner against Ty Gwerder. So did he.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – The fans at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., seemed surprised to hear [autotag]Khadzhi Bestaev[/autotag]’s name called as the winner against Ty Gwerder.

And maybe they had good reason. Their reaction at Bellator 264 has a lot of validity added to it if Bestaev himself was surprised at the outcome.

Bestaev (11-4 MMA, 1-0 BMMA), who was making his promotional debut, took a unanimous decision from Hawaii’s Gwerder (5-3 MMA, 1-3 BMMA) on the preliminary card. All three judges gave Bestaev the second and third rounds.

Gwerder took the first round thanks to a big head kick that put Bestaev on the canvas. But Gwerder couldn’t finish him, and ultimately that cost him.

“After he kicked me, I’m like, ‘I think it’s time to give up,'” Bestaev told MMA Junkie at the post-fight news conference. “And them I’m staying. I’m like, ‘I think I’m going to keep going.’ And then another punch – one-two. I’m like, ‘F*ck. It hurt. I want to give up now.’ … Second round, he hurt me again.”

Despite losing the first, and saying he was sure Gwerder would start to tire in the second and third rounds, Bestaev wasn’t sure he’d have his hand raised after 15 minutes.

If anything, he wondered if Gwerder’s hand would be up along with his.

“I’m still surprised with the decision,” he said. “I think it was a draw or a split decision. But I didn’t see the fight. I have to see it. In my head, he kicked and punched me so many times. … I dropped him a couple of times. I tried to finish him. Ask my (Brazilian jiu-jitsu) coach: Nobody gets away from my triangle (choke). He got away three times. That means something. … He’s tough.”

Check out Bestaev’s full post-fight interview in the video above.

Davion Franklin has heavyweight title aspirations – and wants Cheick Kongo and Jake Hager to get there

Davion Franklin might not be a Bellator household name, but he could get there soon with repeats of his Friday performance.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Davion Franklin[/autotag] might not be a household name in Bellator’s heavyweight division, but he could get there soon with repeats of his Friday performance.

Franklin (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) needed just 21 seconds at Bellator 264 to put away Everett Cummings (15-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA), who came into the bout unbeaten and with five times more pro experience than Franklin. But Franklin barely broke a sweat to notch his third first-round stoppage in four pro fights, all under the Bellator banner.

Franklin landed a front push kick to Cummings’ right oblique just seconds into the fight. Cummings stumbled backward, and it appeared evident the kick hurt him. From there, Franklin took advantage and before long his punches gave him his fastest finish yet.

After the fight, Cummings looked to be in rough shape on the leg Franklin hit with the kick, which was shades of Jon Jones. And that makes sense, given Franklin trains with the former UFC light heavyweight champion at the Jackson Wink MMA gym in Albuquerque, N.M.

After Franklin’s win, he talked about that kick, his quick rise at heavyweight, his hope to one day be a Bellator champion, his in-cage callout of Cheick Kongo and another callout of Jake Hager. Check out the full video above from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

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Pam Sorenson shook off her cage rust and now wants Arlene Blencowe after Bellator 264

After two years on the sidelines, Pam Sorenson returned Friday and shook off any cage rust she may have had and made a big callout.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – After two years on the sidelines, [autotag]Pam Sorenson[/autotag] returned Friday and shook off any cage rust she may have had.

Sorenson (9-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) took a split decision from Roberta Samad (5-2 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) in her promotional debut at Bellator 264 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. And while the back-and-forth fight wasn’t necessarily pretty, it was a big deal for Sorenson.

The last time Sorenson fought before Friday was at Invicta FC 36 in August 2019, when she won that promotion’s vacant women’s featherweight title against Kaitlin Young. And while she might not have a quick Bellator title shot on her mind at 145 pounds, she said she knows what she wants next on her way up the ladder.

Sorenson called out Arlene Blencowe after her win over Samad, talked about her long layoff and cage rust, her Bellator debut and more at her post-fight news conference. Check out the full video above.

Andrey Koreshkov thinks he’s back in contention, makes Page and Daley his key Bellator callouts

After nearly two years away from Bellator, former welterweight champion Andrey Koreshkov had a statement win in his return.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – After nearly two years away from Bellator, in part thanks to visa issues, former welterweight champion [autotag]Andrey Koreshkov[/autotag] had a statement win in his return.

Koreshkov (24-4 MMA, 14-4 BMMA) outworked a tough and game Sabah Homasi (15-10 MMA, 4-4 BMMA) for a unanimous decision in the Bellator 264 co-main event at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. It was Koreshkov’s first fight for Bellator since an October 2019 loss to Lorenz Larkin.

Koreshkov, who picked up a win in his home country of Russia earlier this year, said it took him a few minutes to find his groove against Homasi, and then settled in thanks to his corner.

“I was nervous – very nervous – because two years I (was on) hold and waiting till my visa was open,” Koreshkov told MMA Junkie after the fight. “Now I’ve come back, and it was a good win. Maybe the first round, I was a little bit unsure. Then I felt good and listened to my corner, listened to my coach, and did everything he said. You saw many flying knees – that was his command. I did it, and it was great.”

Knees were the name of the game for Koreshkov, who often fired them with precision at Homasi, both on the feet and when the fight hit the canvas. Koreshkov credited Homasi for his “hard, stone chin,” particularly after his TKO loss to Paul Daley in April. Koreshkov wondered if that loss was a sign he might be able to take Homasi out, but ultimately he had to go to the judges.

Still, after such a long time away from the Bellator cage, Koreshkov thinks his return puts him right back into the welterweight title picture. Koreshkov won the 170-pound title in 2015 against Douglas Lima and defended it against Benson Henderson. Then he lost it back to Lima in November 2016.

Since then, he’s gone 5-2 – including another loss to Lima in the 2018 welterweight grand prix. But with a win over Homasi, who had a four-fight winning streak before his back-to-back losses to Daley and Koreshkov, Koreshkov is ready for some focused callouts.

“I tried to show everybody I’m here and I can beat anyone,” he said. “I think I’m one of the top fighters in this division. In my opinion, I must fight someone for third, second or first (in the rankings). I’m open to anybody – it doesn’t matter: Neiman Gracie, Jason Jackson, Paul Daley, Michael ‘Venom’ Page … anybody.”

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Raufeon Stots doesn’t have a plan yet if he has to fight champion teammate Sergio Pettis

Raufeon Stots took one step closer to a Bellator title shot with a big upset win Friday.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Raufeon Stots[/autotag] took one step closer to a Bellator title shot with a big upset win Friday.

Stots (17-1 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) stayed perfect in the promotion with a unanimous decision over Magomed Magomedov (18-2 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) at Bellator 264 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. He impressed Bellator president Scott Coker with the win, and Coker said there may be good reason to have a bantamweight tournament in 2022.

That would be just fine with Stots, who called for just such a thing after his win. And one of the key reasons a tournament makes sense to him is, the division’s new champion is Sergio Pettis – his longtime teammate, key training partner and friend at Roufusport in Milwaukee.

In fact, Stots said if Bellator decided to fast-track a title shot for him – meaning he’d jump past former champ Juan Archuleta and Patchy Mix in the rankings – he’s not sure how it would play out back home.

“Me and Sergio have been out of sight, out of mind (about fighting each other),” Stots said at the Bellator 264 post-fight news conference. “Until it happens, we’re going to be boys no matter what. But we haven’t even talked about it. Me and my coaches haven’t talked about it. We’ve been focused on this (Magomedov) matchup. I’d love to train at Roufusport (if we get booked). I’m sure Sergio would love to train at Roufusport. … I don’t know what we’re going to do, but we’ll figure it out.”

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And while such a quick title shot for Stots might not seem likely, he thinks his win over Magomedov may have elevated him past Archuleta and Mix, meaning a title shot could be justified, at least in his mind, if Bellator wanted to do it.

“I definitely feel like this was the No. 1 contender fight,” Stots said. “I feel like I have a claim now to say I’m the best in the world. This guy beat Petr Yan, who I still regard as the champion of the UFC. (Yan) went 1-1 with this guy, and I kind of dismantled Magomed. So I feel like I’m the best in the world. No matter what promotion or no matter where, I’m the best bantamweight in the world.”

One way to lend credence to that claim would be a bantamweight tournament, particularly if Stots was on the opposite end of the bracket as Pettis – meaning the only way they could meet would be in the $1 million final for Pettis’ belt.

Depending on if it was an 8-man or 16-man tournament, Stots would either have to beat two or three other fighters before the final, where a win could prove his point. And ahead of a matchup with Pettis, he’d get to still keep training with him.

“I’m really hoping for a bantamweight tournament,” Stots said. “It’s up to Belaltor – what Bellator wants to do. But I feel like we have a lot of firepower in the bantamweight division, so I would love a tournament.

“On the plus side, I’d get to train with Sergio a little longer and I’d get to get better. The crazy thing about this is, me and Sergio have been training (together) so long, and we complement each other. I learn so much from Sergio, and Sergio would say the same – he learns so much (from me). I don’t want to stop learning from Sergio to have to fight him because I want to be the best martial artist I can. I understand if that’s what they want to do, but I would love a bantamweight tournament.”

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Scott Coker leaning toward bantamweight grand prix after Raufeon Stots’ Bellator 264 win

Raufeon Stots’ upset of Magomed Magomedov at Bellator 264 on Friday may have clinched the promotion’s next grand prix.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Raufeon Stots[/autotag]’ upset of Magomed Magomedov at Bellator 264 on Friday may have clinched the promotion’s next grand prix.

Stots (17-1 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) stayed unbeaten under the Bellator banner with a unanimous decision over Magomedov (18-2 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) in a key bantamweight bout on the main card. After champion Sergio Pettis, Bellator’s official rankings have Juan Archuleta and Patchy Mix in the top two spots.

Magomedov was No. 3 heading into Bellator 264 with Stots right behind him at No. 4. Stots almost certainly will move up a spot when the new rankings come out next week. But what might be even more important to him is his performance seemed to strike a nerve with Bellator president Scott Coker.

After Stots’ win, he contemplated the chances he could get an eventual title shot with Pettis – one of his teammates at Roufusport in Milwaukee. And absent that, he suggested a bantamweight tournament – which Coker might be on board with.

“Stots – wow. I mean, wow,” Coker told MMA Junkie after Bellator 264 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. “That kid is amazing. He fought a tough, tough, tough Magomedov and I think he clearly won.

“I know sooner or later, people are going to start talking about or whispering about the 135-pound tournament. I think it’s more and more likely that we’re going to head in that direction. We’ve got some great 135s, and maybe next year that will be the division (we do a tournament with). But when you see performances like that from Stots, I was really, really impressed.”

The 32-year-old Stots at times outwrestled Magomedov, known for his grappling, en route to the decision win – including a pair of 30-27 scores. It was his third straigght decision win, but over his most accomplished opponent yet in Bellator.

Pettis won the title in May with a unanimous decision over Archuleta. After 14 fights in the UFC, Pettis moved to Bellator and won the belt in his third fight in the promotion.

Bellator just wrapped up a featherweight tournament and the semifinals of its ongoing light heavyweight grand prix are set for October.

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Bellator 264 post-event facts: Andrey Koreshkov sets new welterweight wins record

Check out all the facts and figures from Bellator 264, which took place Friday in Uncasville, Conn.

Bellator 264 took place this past Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

[autotag]Gegard Mousasi[/autotag] (48-7-2 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) defended his Bellator middleweight title in the main event when he picked up a third-round TKO of [autotag]John Salter[/autotag] (18-5 MMA, 8-2 BMMA).

For more on the numbers, check below for 22 pre-event facts to come out of Bellator 264.

Austin Vanderford reflects on quick rise from ‘Mr. VanZant’ to Bellator title challenger

It’s only been about three years since Austin Vanderford got a submission win on DWCS, but wasn’t good enough to get a fight in the UFC.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – It’s only been about three years since [autotag]Austin Vanderford[/autotag] got a submission win on Dana White’s Contender Series, but wasn’t good enough to get a fight in the UFC.

When Vanderford fought Angelo Trevino on a DWCS card in July 2018, he was 4-0 – and criticized for getting a shot on the UFC tryout show just because his girlfriend was Paige VanZant, who at the time was one of the UFC’s most popular women fighters.

These days, a DWCS stoppage win is almost a lock to get into the UFC. But Vanderford’s second-round rear-naked choke win was passed over by White, and he found himself again looking for a major-promotion home.

Vanderford found it with Bellator a few months later, and his 5-0 start at middleweight and unbeaten overall record now has culminated in a title shot. After Gegard Mousasi’s (48-7-2 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) third-round TKO of John Salter (18-5 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) in Friday’s Bellator 264 main event at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., Vanderford (11-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) was on hand to get announced as Mousasi’s next title challenger and face off with him in the cage.

Even Vanderford seems to understand his ascension was quick.

“When I signed (with Bellator), did we think ‘Mr. VanZant’ would be up here fighting for the title five fights into his Bellator career?” Vanderford asked MMA Junkie after Bellator 264. “I don’t think a lot of people did. I got doubted a lot. But I’m here, I’m 11-0, and I’m excited to go out and test myself.”

Vanderford said critics continue to doubt him, even after his win over the highly touted Fabian Edwards in May. Mousasi joked at his post-fight news conference that he wasn’t quite sure who Vanderford was and wasn’t sure how to pronounce his name.

And playful little jabs like that are fine with Vanderford, who said he’ll have a chance to prove to people he’s not just married to a famous fighter. Since he first arrived on the scene, Vanderford and VanZant have gotten married, and VanZant has left the UFC to try her hands in the bareknuckle boxing game.

“One thing that’s changed is I’m Paige VanZant’s husband now. I run with it,” Vanderford said. “People doubt me, and they can continue to do that. But I feel like I’ve gone out there and proven it against Fabian Edwards that I’m a dog and I’m going to hurt people.

“… Hasn’t that been my entire career? I’m ‘only Paige VanZant’s husband,’ I’m only here because of that opportunity … it doesn’t faze me. (Mousasi will) find out. I’ve got all the respect in the world for Gegard, too. Personally, I think he’s the best middleweight in the world and I’m excited to go out there and take that spot from him.”

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Gegard Mousasi struggled to remember Austin Vanderford’s name, but knows he’s a challenging matchup

Gegard Mousasi vs. Austin Vanderford is next.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – In past weeks, [autotag]Gegard Mousasi[/autotag] struggled to remember [autotag]Austin Vanderford[/autotag]’s name during media rounds in anticipation of Friday’s Bellator 264.

Mousasi (48–7–2 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) retained his middleweight title when he defeated John Salter (18-5 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) by third-round TKO due to ground-and-pound. Immediately after the fight, Mousasi went face-to-face with his next challenger, Vanderford (11-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA).

“I now remember his name,” Mousasi laughed, at a post-fight news conference. “I had difficulties this week to remember. Vanderford, he’s going to bring the fight to me. He’s going to try to take me down, hold me. I’m not worried about getting hurt, but he’s a tough challenge. We face him and then I’ll be ready for him.”

Now with Vanderford’s name on the forefront of his brain, Mousasi recognizes the test his next opponent presents. Mousasi knows Vanderford is a good wrestler, but questions the damage that will accompany potential takedowns.

“Definitely, (Vanderford) feels confident,” Mousasi said. “He hasn’t tasted defeat yet. I’m pretty sure he’s confident and he’s going to be a tough fight. He’s a wrestler, another guy. But if they take me down, it’s not like they’re going to hurt me. I’ve never been ground-and-pounded. I’ve never been seriously hurt in a fight. Well, I got hurt in the (Alexander) Shlemenko fight, but it’s not like he can take me down and do a lot of damage.”

No timeline has been revealed for Mousasi vs. Vanderford, though Bellator president Scott Coker emphasized the promotion’s hope the fight gets done as soon as possible. Vanderford still awaits clearance after a procedure on his left arm.

Bellator 264 took place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card aired on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

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