Tag: Bellator 297

Norbert Novenyi Jr.: 46-second knockout at Bellator 297 ‘definitely opened some eyes’

Norbert Novenyi Jr. sees his quick knockout at Bellator 297 as a turning point in his career.

LONDON – [autotag]Norbert Novenyi Jr.[/autotag] sees his quick knockout at Bellator 297 as a turning point in his career.

The undefeated London Shootfighters prospect needed just 46 seconds to stop Kamil Oniszczuk in June – his sixth finish in seven professional wins.

“Some of the comments and tweets I read after the fight, I feel like now people are understanding the kind of level I’m on and a lot of people are taking me seriously,” Novenyi told MMA Junkie. “I feel like it definitely opened some eyes.”

Novenyi (7-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) started to get notoriety after he beat SBG Ireland staple Will Fleury in 2019. But after he took out Oniszczuk in less than a minute, Novenyi feels like he sent the middleweight division a message.

“I feel like the Will Fleury fight was a big fight, as well, because it went to a decision,” Novenyi said. “Even though it was a very fun fight, a lot of people didn’t pay as much attention to it, whereas this fight, he was very legit, and I managed to finish it so quick in such good fashion,” Novenyi said. “I think that’s why everyone understood what I’m about.”

Novenyi called out Charlie Ward (10-6 MMA, 7-3 BMMA) after his win, but Ward was booked shortly after against Gregory Babene (22-11 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) for Sept. 23 at Bellator 299 in Dublin.

Novenyi, who’s targeting a return at the end of the year, still hopes he can face Ward next. But with little time left in the year after Ward fights, the 23-year-old knows it may not be a possibility.

“The reason why (I want) Charlie Ward is because I was supposed to fight him before, and I think that’s like a little bit of an unfinished business in my life,” Novenyi said. “It’s nothing to do with him. I’ve got a lot of respect for him. He’s a nice guy, and he used to actually train at London Shootfighters. But I just feel like that fight has to happen for my sake.

“To be fair, I like both of those guys. Both of those guys are veterans and had a lot of fights and are very good, so I’d love to fight both of those. I want to get a fight in before the end of the year, so I’m not sure if it’s going to be one of them. I’d definitely want to fight any of them, but mainly Charlie Ward. I think that fight has to happen because that’s when I tore my ACL.”

Prior to his fight with Oniszczuk, MMA Junkie released a mini-documentary on Novenyi, “On his way to greatness’: Norbert the Shootfighter,” which can be viewed below.

 

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Patchy Mix compares finishing ability to UFC’s Charles Oliveira: ‘I’m not a point fighter’

Patchy Mix views himself as one of the most prolific finishers in the sport.

CHICAGO – [autotag]Patchy Mix[/autotag] views himself as one of the most prolific finishers in the sport.

Mix (18-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) has finished 14 of his 18 professional wins – most recently knocking out Raufeon Stots to capture the interim bantamweight title and win the grand prix at Bellator 295 in April.

Most of Mix’s finishes have come by submission, and the 29-year-old is confident he would pose a serious threat to any bantamweight. He compared his finishing game to Charles Oliveira, the UFC’s all-time leader in stoppage wins.

“With me, I think I can dominate and finish anyone in the world,” Mix told MMA Junkie and others backstage. “So, I do what I do best. I think I could take anyone down, I think I could put anyone away on the floor. I’m a submission king. The only one that has similar finishes to me is Charles Oliveira in the last five years, and I have more than him.

“I’m a finisher on the ground, and I just showed I could knock people out. On the feet, on the mat, anywhere, I feel like I could finish either one. I would really like to test myself and when I do fight either one (Pettis or Freire), what I can promise is that I’m going out there to hunt them, and I’m going to go out there to finish them. I’m not a point fighter.”

Mix was in attendance for bantamweight champion Sergio Pettis’ (23-5 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) successful title defense against Patricio Freire this past Friday in the Bellator 297 headliner. The pair faced off after the fight, and Mix is now slated to unify his belt with undisputed champ Pettis in a date to be announced.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.

Bellator 297 winner Kyle Crutchmer ready to turn corner to next level after TKO win

Kyle Crutchmer is right where he wants to be and ready to make his next move up in the Bellator welterweight division.

CHICAGO – [autotag]Kyle Crutchmer[/autotag] defeated Bobby Nash by TKO this past Friday at Bellator 297, winning with punches in the first round of their fight at WinStar Arena.

Afterward, Crutchmer (10-2 MMA, 6-2 BMMA) discussed his performance, his recent switch from American Kickboxing Academy to Fortis MMA, what it means for his career moving forward, and more.

You can watch his post-fight news conference in the video above.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.

Irish Bellator 297 winner Karl Moore sees path to title through Dublin this fall

Karl Moore has high expectations for himself now that he’s 4-0 in the light heavyweight division to start his Bellator tenure.

CHICAGO – [autotag]Karl Moore[/autotag] defeated Alex Polizzi by unanimous decision this past Friday at Bellator 297, earning three scores of 29-28 from the judges at WinStar Arena.

Afterward, Moore (12-2 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) discussed his performance, his undefeated start to his Bellator tenure, his championship aspirations, and more – all with a Giordano’s pizza in front of him.

You can watch his post-fight news conference in the video above.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.

Jordan Newman not smiling despite Bellator 297 success: ‘I want to hurt somebody’

What’s up with Jordan Newman’s intense demeanor? Well, it’s part focus and part genetic.

CHICAGO – [autotag]Jordan Newman[/autotag] admits he’s not a smiley guy.

Following his Bellator 297 submission win Friday over Matthew Perry (5-4 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) at Winstar Arena, Newman (6-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) roared and spit in celebration. There was no visible sense of elation, though intensity was aplenty.

That’s just who he is and how he operates, Newman explained afterward.

“I’m in here and I want to hurt somebody,” Newman told MMA Junkie and other reporters during a post-fight news conference. “I want to go home and see my bulldogs, see my family. I’m just here to prove to myself why I’m here and – this sounds bad – hurt people. I don’t know. I’ve got something inside of me, and it’s good to give it to someone else for a few minutes.”

While his inherently fired-up nature is undeniable, Newman said it may be amplified by his genetics. That, he can’t be blamed for.

“‘Big’ John (McCarthy) told me yesterday before the weigh-ins. He’s like, ‘Jordan, smile. You know you can smile, right?’ I’ve been told that since I was a little kid,” Newman said – then cracked a rare grin. “I don’t know. I think it’s just my face.”

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Stone-cold killer demeanor aside, Newman is racking up win after win as he ascends up the Bellator middleweight hierarchy. Although he is yet to fight a fellow member of the promotion’s long-term roster, Newman appears ready to take a crack at some ranked talent next.

“Look at my record,” Newman said. “I’m 6-0. I think it’s time I start getting pushed up. You look at the rankings and who’s ahead of me, I think there’s some winnable fights. We’re going to see where that takes me. So far, my competition has been decent. I just want to keep getting better and better competition (and) keep improving myself, improving myself, improving myself – and to everybody else while I’m here.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.

Jamahal Hill, Corey Anderson trade barbs on best light heavyweight: ‘My resume will always read champion’

Jamahal Hill and Corey Anderson sparked a debate on which promotion has the best light heavyweight.

[autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] and [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] sparked a debate on which promotion has the best light heavyweight.

UFC light heavyweight champion Hill took exception to Anderson’s claim that Bellator 205-pound champ Vadim Nemkov could be UFC champion, and that the top three in the division are himself, Nemkov, and Magomed Ankalev.

Hill responded to Anderson (17-6 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) in a video on his YouTube channel, prompting Anderson to fire back.

Anderson, a former UFC light heavyweight, holds notable wins over former champs Jan Blachowicz and Glover Teixeira. In his most recent appearance this past Friday, Anderson defeated ex-UFC fighter Phil Davis at Bellator 297.

Hill claimed the vacant light heavyweight belt by battering Teixeira for five rounds at UFC 283 in January.

Scroll below to see Hill and Anderson’s back-and-forth.

Spinning Back Clique: The latest horrifying McGregor headline, Jones-Ngannou, Bellator sale rumors, more (noon ET)

This week’s Spinning Back Clique is live at noon ET. Our panel discusses Conor McGregor, Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou, Bellator and more.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts. This week’s panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Mike Bohn and Nolan King join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate:

  • Conor McGregor is in the news again for the wrong reasons. A woman has accused him of “violently” sexually assaulting her at Game 4 of the NBA Finals in Miami earlier this month – and there’s video of McGregor taking his accuser by the hand and appearing to take her to a bathroom. McGregor has denied the allegations, but this is not the first time there have been headlines for him about something of this nature. Apart from the obvious, this brings up all kinds of issues for the UFC, “The Ultimate Fighter” and just MMA in general.
  • Francis Ngannou left the UFC and now has a deal with PFL. He was in attendance for Week 5 in Atlanta – as was UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who won the belt Ngannou vacated when he bailed after a contract dispute. They got face to face and had words, but who came out looking better?
  • There were some big results this past weekend, including Sergio Pettis’ title defense against Bellator GOAT Patricio Freire, Vadim Nemkov’s title defense over Yoel Romero and Jared Cannonier’s record-setting win over Marvin Vettori. What were the other big moments in the UFC, Bellator and PFL?
  • Bellator president Scott Coker confirmed Viacom, its parent company, is in discussions with potential partners – including what could be a merger with the PFL. Would something like that be good for the sport?

Norbert Novenyi Jr. embraces ‘biggest prospect’ tag, angles for Charlie Ward fight after Bellator 297 win

Born with a famous last name, Norbert Novenyi Jr. has figured out how to use pressure as fuel.

CHICAGO – [autotag]Norbert Novenyi Jr.[/autotag] sees the glowing tweets and stories, and hears the podcasts and opinions.

Being deemed the “biggest prospect” in MMA is high praise. Despite the heightened expectations that comes with such pedestal-putting tags, Novenyi (7-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) typically embraces it all – as he did Friday with a scintillating knockout of Kamil Oniszczuk (9-3 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) at Bellator 297.

“Like they say, pressure makes diamonds,” Novenyi told MMA Junkie and others at a pre-fight news conference. “I thrive under pressure. That’s what I like to do. I like the lights. I like everything. I feel like now people are understanding the level I’m on. It’s crazy to think. Someone said that I’m the best hidden secret talent in MMA. Another guy said I’m the biggest prospect in MMA. I feel like now people are seeing that.

“It took me a lot of work. I’ve been fighting since I was a year-and-a-half. I started karate and I’ve been fighting since I was a kid. Now, it’s kind of paying off. I had two-and-a-half-years of injuries and now I’m here and performing and proving these people right who supported me. It’s an absolute pressure.

The performance was exciting and flash for as long as it lasted Friday. Novenyi came out in a typical karate stance. His hands were down by his sides. After many cuts in and out, Novenyi found his target with a brutal punch and finished the fight 46 seconds after it began.

The highlight went semi-viral and Novenyi likely registered on some radars he hadn’t previously. Novenyi thinks the win could finally elevate him into a matchup against a big name.

“I had to miss out on that Charlie Ward fight (in November 2021) and that’s really annoying,” Novenyi said. “I feel like that’s a fight that I kind of need to have. It would put me on that level of competition, as well, for the title. Maybe Dublin. If not Dublin, a fight after. I want to fight at the end of the year. I want to get three fights out this year, make some money, knock some people out. Happy days. What a comeback, huh?”

Novenyi, 23, is the son of the famous Hungarian Olympic wrestling gold medalist and kickboxing champion who bears the same name. With Friday’s win, Novenyi has six finishes in seven professional outings.

Prior to the fight, MMA Junkie released a mini-documentary on Novenyi, “‘On his way to greatness’: Norbert the Shootfighter,” which can be viewed below.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.

Archie Colgan interested in ‘a certain Irish lad in September’ after Bellator 297 win

Two weeks ago, Archie Colgan and his wife had a child – so there’s only one matchup that could pull him out of Dad life in the immediate.

CHICAGO – [autotag]Archie Colgan[/autotag] knew what he was getting himself into Friday at Bellator 297, but somehow, he was still surprised.

For the first time as a professional MMA fighter, Colgan (8-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) needed all 15 minutes to pick up a victory, when he defeated former featherweight title challenger Emmanuel Sanchez (20-9 MMA, 12-8 BMMA) via unanimous decision in a lightweight bout.

The decision win marked the end of his career-long finishing streak. While Colgan believed in his opponent’s reputation as a tough out, Sanchez’s stalwartness and durability was even above expectations.

“I did truly believe that I was going to get the finish in that fight,” Colgan told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “Leading into the fight, I believed that. Even during the fight, I was hitting him with some big shots. I was doing the damage and I believed until we heard 30 seconds left. Up until that point, I still believed that I was going to find a finish. I didn’t, but I see now why he is 20 fights in Bellator and has yet to be finished.”

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Colgan, 27, isn’t rushing to get back into the cage. His life is in the midst of a major personal event. Two weeks ago, Colgan and his wife welcomed their second child into the world.

“I would like to take a little bit of time off and enjoy Dad life and really get a bond with my second son, as I haven’t been able to really do that in the midst of this camp,” Colgan said. “Maybe late this year, October, November, or if a certain Irish lad in September needs a dance partner, they can get me out for that one.”

While Colgan didn’t specifically namedrop which Irishman, Peter Queally (13-8-1 MMA, 2-4 BMMA) is the lone 155-pounder from Ireland on the promotion’s roster. Queally, 34, most recently competed in February when he was finished with strikes by Bryce Logan.

The promotion’s September event, Bellator 299, takes place Sept. 23 in Dublin, the city which Queally fights out of.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.

Bellator 297 post-event facts: Vadim Nemkov achieves rare feat in dominant title defense

Check out all the facts from Bellator 297, where Vadim Nemkov took another step toward arguably the greatest resume in Bellator history.

Bellator’s lone event of the month went down Friday with Bellator 297 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, and it was arguably the promotion’s biggest show of the year thus far.

Two championship bouts topped the card, and both men who entered the cage with belts, lefts with them, too. [autotag]Vadim Nemkov[/autotag] (16-2 MMA, 9-0 BMMA) handily defeated [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) by unanimous decision in the headliner to retain the light heavyweight strap, while [autotag]Sergio Pettis[/autotag] (23-5 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) kept hold of bantamweight gold with a unanimous decision over [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (35-6 MMA, 22-6 BMMA).

For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from Bellator 297.

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