Tag: Bellator 286

Bellator 286 weigh-in results: Two fighters miss weight

Check out the results from the official Bellator 286 fighter weigh-ins, which feature Patricio Freire vs. Adam Borics in Long Beach, Calif.

LOS ANGELES – MMA Junkie was on scene and reporting live from Friday’s official Bellator 286 fighter weigh-ins.

The weigh-ins took place at the Bellator host hotel in Los Angeles. The nearby Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, Calif., hosts Saturday’s event, which has a main card on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Among those weighing in were featherweight champion Patricio Freire (33-5 MMA, 21-5 BMMA) and challenger Adam Borics (18-1 MMA, 9-1 BMMA), as well as former featherweight champ A.J. McKee (18-1 MMA, 18-1 BMMA), who is moving up to lightweight for the first time to fight Spike Carlyle (14-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) – who came in heavy – in the co-main event.

The full Bellator 286 weigh-in results include:

MAIN CARD (Showtime 10 p.m. ET)

  • Champ Patricio Freire (144.6) vs. Adam Borics (145) – for featherweight title
  • Spike Carlyle (156.6)* vs. A.J. McKee (155.8)
  • Jeremy Kennedy (145) vs. Aaron Pico (144.6)
  • Juan Archuleta (141) vs. Enrique Barzola (137.4) – 141-pound contract weight fight

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie 7 p.m. ET)

  • Nick Browne (156) vs. Islam Mamedov (155.2)
  • Vladimir Tokov (154.6) vs. Jay Jay Wilson (156)
  • Khadzhimurat Bestaev (185.2) vs. Khalid Murtazaliev (186)
  • Sumiko Inaba (124.8) vs. Nadine Mandiau (125.8)
  • Weber Almeida (144.6) vs. Ryan Lilley (144)
  • Dominic Clark (158.2)* vs. Lance Gibson (155.4)
  • Mike Hamel (155.6) vs. Max Rohskopf (155.4)
  • Cee Jay Hamilton (135.2) vs. Richard Palencia (136)
  • Keoni Diggs (155.6) vs. Ricardo Seixas (156)
  • Miguel Peimbert (131.8) vs. Bobby Seronio III (136)

* Carlyle missed weight by 0.6 pounds; fine amount TBD
** Clark missed lightweight limit by 2.2 pounds on first attempt

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 286.

[listicle id=2584027]

[listicle id=2583981]

Spike Carlyle plots Bellator 286 upset of A.J. McKee to enter lightweight title picture

Spike Carlyle says his Bellator 286 matchup against A.J. McKee was “was ordained by a higher power.”

LOS ANGELES – When [autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag] first found out about fighting [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag], he was surprised. But now, with Bellator 286 almost upon him, “The Alpha Ginger” believes the matchup was meant to be.

“Oh yeah, 110 percent,” Carlyle told MMA Junkie during Wednesday’s media day. “I think this was ordained by a higher power for this to happen.”

Carlyle (14-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) gets the honor of welcoming former featherweight champion McKee (18-1 MMA, 18-1 BMMA) to lightweight in the Showtime-televised co-main event of Saturday’s card at Long Beach Arena. McKee, 27, is making his 155-pound debut after losing the 145-pound title to Patricio Freire in his last fight, which also served as the first loss of his 19-fight career.

[lawrence-related id=2585155]

Carlyle, a three-fight UFC veteran, has been on a five-fight winning streak since leaving the UFC in 2020. The way he sees it, a win over McKee puts him right right where he wants to be – square in the title picture at 155 pounds.

“I think once I win this fight, this puts me in title contention,” Carlyle said. “If they do a grand prix, I’m sure my name will be in the hat. … Maybe they’ll give me preferential treatment, and I’ll get to fight for the title in my first fight.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 286.

 

A.J. McKee says Nate Diaz ‘can get Long Beach slapped,’ welcomes fight in Bellator

A.J. McKee and Nate Diaz could’ve come to blows one time in a hotel ballroom, so perhaps it makes sense to settle things inside the cage?

LOS ANGELES –[autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] and [autotag]Nate Diaz[/autotag] could’ve come to blows one time in a hotel ballroom, so perhaps it makes sense to settle things inside the cage at some point.

“Run it up,” McKee told MMA Junkie on Thursday at Bellator 286 media day. “Like I said, I don’t turn down no fades, man. I’m in this for the long haul. I think that would be a good fight. I think it would be my first real huge fight into stardom.”

McKee and Diaz’s one encounter happened last December during the Jake Paul-Tyron Woodley 2 weigh-ins when members of both fighters’ crews started jawing at each other and nearly incited a brawl. Things didn’t get out of control, but video shows that McKee especially was heated.

“Ain’t no hard feelings, but he can get Long Beach slapped,” McKee said. “I could get Stockton slapped. Let’s see who slaps harder.”

[lawrence-related id=2585155,2582702,2581658]

McKee certainly wouldn’t mind fighting Diaz and the attention that would come with the former UFC star. Whether or not that’s likely to happen is up for debate, but it’s at least possible after Diaz fought out his UFC contract this month by beating Tony Ferguson at UFC 279.

Bellator president Scott Coker has expressed interest in trying to sign Diaz in some capacity once his exclusive negotiating period ends, which officially would make him a free agent.

As much as McKee would welcome the opportunity to throw down with Diaz, he’s realistic about the most lucrative option in front of him.

“I think he’s gonna probably be boxing,” McKee said. “It’s more ideal. He’s been through a lot, man. I’ve been watching him since I was a kid. He’s a great performer, great fighter. He’s just doing his thing.”

But if “doing his thing” should include Bellator, sign McKee up.

[vertical-gallery id=443084]

Undefeated Sumiko Inaba trusting the process laid out by Scott Coker and Bellator

Ahead of her return at Bellator 286, Sumiko Inaba reacts to her pairing against Nadine Mandiau, a fighter she’s already beaten once.

LOS ANGELES – [autotag]Sumiko Inaba[/autotag] doesn’t pick her fights. She simply fights in them.

At Bellator 286, that’ll be no different when Inaba (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) steps into the cage against Nadine Mandiau (2-5 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), a fighter she’s already faced and defeated once before.

“They gave me an opponent change,” Inaba told MMA Junkie on Thursday. “I think the original opponent they gave me had some issues getting here, so they gave me her and I took it. I wanted to fight on this card and I want to stay active.”

Inaba, 31, has been with Bellator since her pro debut, which followed a lopsidedly successful 6-1 amateur career. In her four pro appearances to date, Inaba racked up three TKO wins and one submission victory. She’s passed every test with flying colors and attributes that to Bellator’s prospect-build matchmaking.

“Bellator, they’re amazing,” Inaba said. “Everything so far, they take care of their fighters. I think that they have my best interest in mind. It’s showing. I can just keep winning and getting more fights and try to stay as active as I can. Hopefully, I can end up in the rankings.

“As I keep getting my wins, I think Bellator has me on the right track to get me to that point. … (I) trust the process, 100 percent. They are taking great care of me so far and I can only but put on great performances for them.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 286.

[vertical-gallery id=2585043]

Video: Watch Friday’s Bellator 286 ceremonial weigh-ins live on MMA Junkie at 3:30 p.m. ET

Bellator 286 ceremonial fighter weigh-ins take place Friday, and you can catch a live video stream on MMA Junkie at 3:30 p.m. ET.

LOS ANGELES – Bellator 286 ceremonial fighter weigh-ins take place Friday, and you can catch a live video stream of the proceedings here on MMA Junkie at 3:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. PT).

The weigh-ins take place at the Bellator host hotel in Los Angeles. The nearby Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, Calif., hosts Saturday’s event, which has a main card on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

In addition to the video stream above, you can check out the early and official Bellator 286 weigh-in results from earlier in the day.

[listicle id=2583981]

Patricio Freire planning eventual title chase at 135 – but says A.J. McKee trilogy looms, too

Bellator featherweight champ Patricio Freire already is the greatest fighter in the promotion’s history. A third title would cement that.

LOS ANGELES – Bellator featherweight champion [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] already is, arguably, the greatest fighter in the promotion’s history.

If he adds a title in a third division to his resume, the deal with be sealed for sure. And that’s just what “Pitbull” has in mind in the not-too-distant future.

“I want to defend the (145-pound) belt one more time after this fight, and try to take another belt again and become a champ-champ again,” Freire told MMA Junkie at Thursday’s Bellator 286 media day. “I want to take the (bantamweight) belt, but I have a big opponent to face – the scale. I’m not too big, but I’m strong so I have to see how it’s going to happen.”

Freire (33-5 MMA, 21-5 BMMA) on Saturday will put the featherweight title on the line against Adam Borics (18-1 MMA, 9-1 BMMA) in the Bellator 286 main event at Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, Calif. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Freire will be putting his belt on the line for the first time since he won it back from A.J. McKee in April with a unanimous decision. McKee beat him in July 2021 with a first-round submission for the title.

Freire said Borics is a more than game opponent. The oddsmakers and betting public seem to agree. Freire is just a -145 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook.

“He’s a great fighter. He’s evolved from his last loss,” Freie said of Borics, who comes in with a four-fight winning streak – all decisions. “I look at him as a complete fighter. He has only one defeat by submission, and he’s evolved a lot from his last loss. He’s a great kickboxer, but has great wrestling and trains a lot of jiu-jitsu. I know he’s complete and he’s dangerous. He has good kicks, good knees, his hands are fast – I have to pay attention to that.

“I saw he’s confident with dreams in his eyes. But I’m the same.”

Down the road, Freire said it’s inevitable he’ll fight McKee for a third time. Saturday, McKee (18-1 MMA, 18-1 BMMA) is fighting at lightweight against Spike Carlyle (14-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) in the co-main event.

The two already had a supposed verbal run-in at media day, though Freire denied anything happened that was started by him.

“There’s still some problems to resolve,” he said. “It ain’t over. We have to do the trilogy. I want that. I’m not surprised he’s running from that division. Now he’s at lightweight, but keeps talking sh*t. I can fight him now. If he talks sh*t about me, let’s go fight now.”

Before that trilogy can happen, though, or a planned move to bantamweight to go after a third title (Freire was the first simultaneous two-division champ in Bellator history when he had the lightweight title, as well as featherweight; he vacated the 155-pound belt, which now is held by his brother Patricky), Freire knows he has to get past Borics.

“I’m prepared for 25 minutes, but nobody knows when my left hand is going to catch his chin. If it’s going to be in the first round in the first minute, he’s going to go down.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 286.

[listicle id=2584027]

[vertical-gallery id=2538432]

A.J. McKee: Patricio Freire and I ‘need to settle this,’ but Bellator 286 is ‘Spike Carlyle’s night’

A.J. McKee is trying to focus on his lightweight debut at Bellator 286 as a potential trilogy with rival Patricio Freire lingers.

LOS ANGELES – [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] and [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] are not fighting each other this week, but they ran into each other during Bellator 286 media day despite the promotion’s best efforts to keep them far apart.

“He walked around saying something with his f*cked-up English, talking about ‘motherfucker, fucker, motherfucker’ something,” McKee told MMA Junkie on Thursday. “That’s his favorite word. I think that’s the only word he knows, but … whatever.”

It’s not quite whatever.

McKee (18-1 MMA, 18-1 BMMA) owns a first-round technical submission win over Freire from July 2021 to claim the 145-pound title. Freire got even when he reclaimed the belt with a unanimous decision win in the rematch this past April.

They don’t like each other, and with their series tied 1-1, McKee believes he and Freire should be settling the score Saturday at Long Beach Arena. Instead, Freire is defending his featherweight title against Adam Borics, while McKee makes his lightweight debut against [autotag]Spike Carlyle.[/autotag]

So why isn’t a trilogy happening at Bellator 286? Whose fault is that?

“I have no idea. It’s on somebody,” McKee said. “I think we know I want to fight. For me, it’s just let’s just fight, man. I think it’s good for his legacy, it’s good for my legacy, and got to find out who the best of the best is. One-and-one, regardless of whatever I felt or he felt – one-and-one is one-and-one. You’re not gonna walk away from a game one-and-one. We need to settle this.”

Perhaps they will – and perhaps it’ll happen at 155 pounds, where Freire used to be champion before vacating the title for his brother, Patricky, who is the current champ. Even if Patrico loses to Borics on Saturday, McKee said “there’s no reason not to” do a trilogy at lightweight.

[lawrence-related id=2585152,2584195]

For the time being, though, McKee, 27, is looking to make an impression in his first fight at 155 pounds after the first loss of his career.

Carlyle (14-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA), 29, is a three-fight UFC veteran who was released after going 1-2 there. Since leaving, Carlyle is on a five-fight winning streak, with victories in LFA, Cage Warriors, Bellator, and Rizin FF. He and McKee had an interesting faceoff “with a bit of tension” at media day, according to McKee.

That has the former Bellator champ focused on the task at hand.

“I’m not backing down, he’s not backing down, so it’s gonna be a war, man,” McKee said. “We’re gonna fight each other. But at the same time we respect each other enough, and that’s what it’s all about.”

While the rivalry with “Pitbull” remains on McKee’s mind, his focus is on the task at hand.

“Saturday is Spike Carlyle’s night, and I’m looking forward to just putting on a great show with him,” McKee said. “… I’m a knockout artist at 145. So at 155, just being a bit bigger, stronger and better, I’m gonna have some fun.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 286.

Adam Borics thinks Patricio ‘Pitbull’ near end of career, envisions bringing belt home to Hungary

Ahead of his Bellator 286 bout, Adam Borics explains why he thinks he’ll beat Patricio Freire – and his ultimate motivation to do so.

LOS ANGELES – [autotag]Adam Borics[/autotag] finally has his face on a poster, his image placed across from Bellator featherweight champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire.

At Bellator 286, Borics (18-1 MMA, 9-1 BMMA) will challenge for the first time for the promotion’s strap in a five-round main event bout in Long Beach, Calif.

“I don’t put extra pressure on myself,” Borics told MMA Junkie on Thursday. “I just try to enjoy the whole process.”

Seemingly unfazed by the change of environment, Borics likes his odds against one of the most prominent fighters in Bellator history. Freire (33-5 MMA, 21-5 BMMA) has become a title mainstay. In his career to date, he lost the title twice – but both times rebounded. While Borics has respect for “Pitbull,” he thinks he’ll be the third man to dethrone the Bellator staple.

“Yeah, definitely. He changed a lot. In the beginning of his career, he was a different fighter (than) right now. But I understand. I was very different five years ago. We just get better always. I think the time is working for me, because I’m getting better every day. Maybe, he’s like 35 or something. Everybody knows he’s at the end of his career. … He’s a great fighter. He’s well-rounded. I really respect him. He’s been a great champion, but this is my time now.”

[lawrence-related id=2585044,2585037]

The longer, younger fighter of the two, Borics thinks the matchup vs. Freire is favorable. He described how his most recent few camps have served as a working recipe, which he’ll replicate Saturday.

If it plays out the way Borics expects, his priority won’t be to buy new cars or unnecessary accessories. Instead, Borics continues to picture the joy that would come with bringing the belt to Hungary, his home country.

“I never would spend my money on some bullsh*t watch or something,” Borics said. “I’m not that kind of guy. I’m from a village of 2,000 people, so I’m a very simple guy. I’m going to help my family. I’m not that guy.

“… (The title) means a lot. I really want to do that, for the whole country. They are super excited and I just want to make them happy. … It’s a very, very big deal. Every news paper, every TV is talking about me right now.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 286.

[vertical-gallery id=2585043]

Video: Champ Patricio Freire, Adam Borics get face to face ahead of Bellator 286

Check out the faceoff highlights from the Bellator 286 media day in Long Beach, Calif.

LOS ANGELES – Ahead of Saturday’s featherweight title fight, the champ and challenger got face to face Thursday.

Titleholder [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (33-5 MMA, 21-5 BMMA) squared off with challenger [autotag]Adam Borics[/autotag] (18-1 MMA, 9-1 BMMA) at a media day for Bellator 286, which takes place Saturday at Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, Calif. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Borics has won four straight fights, all by decision, including a March win in a title eliminator against Mads Burnell. “Pitbull” Freire will be putting his belt on the line for the first time since he won it back from [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] in April with a unanimous decision. McKee beat him in July 2021 with a first-round submission for the title.

In addition to Freire and Borics’ faceoff, you can check out the one between co-main event fighters [autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) and McKee (18-1 MMA, 18-1 BMMA), who is moving to lightweight for the first time, and featherweights [autotag]Jeremy Kennedy[/autotag] (17-3 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Aaron Pico[/autotag] (10-3 MMA, 10-3 BMMA) in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 286.

[listicle id=2584027]

[listicle id=2583981]

Enrique Barzola out to ‘kill’ Juan Archuleta at Bellator 286: ‘I need to make the most of this opportunity’

Peru’s Enrique Barzola is still gunning for the Bellator title.

Despite a recent setback, [autotag]Enrique Barzola[/autotag]’s championship dreams in Bellator remain strong.

The winner of season two of “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America” is still gunning for the Bellator bantamweight title following his exit from the promotion’s grand prix. Barzola (18-6-2 MMA, 2-1 BMMA), who entered the tournament after defeating Nikita Mikhailov in the wild card qualifier, was eliminated by Magomed Magomedov in the quarter-final round this past June.

It was a tough loss, as Barzola was winning the fight to many, but got caught in a guillotine choke at the end of the fourth round.

“I’m coming off a loss, which was difficult for me because I had back-to-back wins before that,” Barzola told MMA Junkie in Spanish.

“After a defeat, you can learn a lot, obviously depending on the person and who you are as a fighter. You need to figure out a way to not let that stop you or slow you down from your objectives. More than anything, it was an extra weight, but not one that pulls you back, but pushes you forward. You visualize your mistakes, where you need to improve, and the skills you need to work on.

“I believe I did an excellent fight against Magomedov. It was tough and competitive. I did feel like I was playing my game in the first rounds, but I was a bit rushed. Unfortunately, my head coach Javier Mendez wasn’t there because he was at another fight. He always helps me calm down and works on me not getting ahead of myself. I came out too eager against Magomedov and a little mistake cost me. As we know, he locked in  well the guillotine and I wasn’t able to defend it.”

[lawrence-related id=2583965,2583770]

Barzola returns to the cage determined to get back to his winning ways and prove once again he’s a legit title contender.

He’ll get a chance to do just that, when he takes on former champion Juan Archuleta (25-4 MMA, 7-3 BMMA) this Friday on the main card of Bellator 286 in Long Beach, Calif. The Peruvian fighter thinks this is a great opportunity to get back on track and make another run for the belt.

“Obviously, we all want to fight for the belt, and the higher ranked you are, the better chance you have of challenging for the belt. I think depending on this fight and how the result plays out – if I win convincingly, I can show Bellator that I truly deserve that opportunity and the opportunity could come next year depending on results.

“Juan Archuleta is not just any fighter. He’s a great fighter, and he’s in the top three. They offered him to me for a reason. I think they recognize my great work and great level of fighting. So I need to make the most of this opportunity and kill Juan Archuleta, so I could have the opportunity to fight for the title in the future.”

[vertical-gallery id=2556570]