Tag: Bellator 301

Spinning Back Clique REPLAY: UFC 295 fallout for Alex Pereira, Tom Aspinall and more, plus a look at Bellator 301

Our “Spinning Back Clique” crew discusses the fallout from the reshuffled UFC 295, looks ahead to Bellator 301 and much 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, we welcome in guest panelist John Gooden, the UFC’s play-by-play voice for most of its shows in Europe and Asia and one of the promotion”s chief analysts. He’ll join Mike Bohn, Nolan King and Simon Samano with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate:

  • The light heavyweight title continued its game of musical chairs Saturday when [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] won it against former champ Jiri Prochazka in the UFC 295 main event. Jon Jones, Jan Blachowicz, Glover Teixeira, Prochazka, [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag], and now Pereira – all since 2020. So what makes sense as the next move for Pereira? Is it Hill, or should an [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] MMA trilogy fight happen for him?
  • [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] became the interim heavyweight champion at UFC 295. In theory, now he’s supposed to wait for champ [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] to fight ex-titleholder [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag], and then he’ll get the winner. But that’s a long ways off thanks to Jones’ injury. Should the UFC change its mind and keep Aspinall active? If so, how will that work with titles and interim belts and all the craziness?
  • Highly decorated grappler [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag] came to the UFC with tons of promise, but it hasn’t panned out the way she likely hoped. The up-and-down nature of her UFC career continued Saturday when she was knocked down four times by former women’s strawweight champ [autotag]Jessica Andrade[/autotag] and eventually was pounded out for a TKO setback. Has the ship sailed for her potential, or can she bounce back and live up to the expectations? And what of Andrade? Is she a gatekeeper now, or can she contend for a title again?
  • The UFC announced three big title fights for 2024: new champ Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis at middleweight; long-reigning titleholder Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria at featherweight; and new champ Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera at bantamweight. Did the UFC get those bookings right, and which one is the most intriguing?
  • Alex Pereira is the ninth fighter to win titles in two divisions in the UFC, and he did it faster than anyone else. Of the nine to do it, who did it best?
  • … and much more.

Raufeon Stots reveals he fainted during weight cut before loss to Patchy Mix, wants rematch

Raufeon Stots doesn’t think Patchy Mix beat his best version.

[autotag]Raufeon Stots[/autotag] doesn’t think he was in the ideal circumstances to win the Bellator bantamweight grand prix this past April.

Stots lost his Bellator interim title and the opportunity to crown himself winner of the 135-pound bantamweight tournament that the promotion launched last year, as he was quickly knocked out by Patchy Mix in the main event of Bellator 295.

Although Stots (19-2 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) respects Mix, he’s convinced he didn’t enter 100 percent into the cage, as he fainted during his weight cut prior to the fight.

“I’m hoping that I can have my rematch against Patchy,” Stots told MMA Junkie Radio. “I feel like I went into that fight not compromised, but knowing something I didn’t know before. I messed up in my nutrition the last two camps. I didn’t know that I was doing it to myself. I wasn’t eating all that I needed to be eating. My weight cut suffered because of it, and I passed out because of the weight cut.

“I would like the chance to fight him again. Not saying that’s the reason he won, but I know I would be able to attack the fight differently. … That one left a kind of sour taste in my mouth because I feel like I wasn’t able to truly fight and see where I’m at with Patchy. That’s kind of where my head is at.”

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Stots, who returns to the cage against Danny Sabatello (14-3 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) on Nov. 11 at Bellator 301, says he changed his meal preparation company two fights ago and was having issues with his performance.

He said the meal preparation company was fine, but it was he who wasn’t doing the things he was instructed to do to be in optimal shape.

“It was purely my fault,” Mix explained. “I would eat three (meals), and then I would be full, but I was supposed to be supplementing that with protein and other food. It was clearly laid out for me in the layout they sent me. It was on me.

“Every day, I would not eat the fourth meal just because I ate in the morning, I ate in the day, and I ate at night. … On my low days, I would feel kind of depleted and that would affect my training. I wasn’t eating all the meals I should eat, and I wasn’t supplementing the way I was supposed to be. … I just wasn’t doing any of that and that was purely my fault. … I’m a person who always goes the extra mile, and it just felt like it was way harder to do. And going into the weight cut, my weight was good, but then when I got all the way down – nobody knows this – but these last two weight cuts I really struggled, and I passed out before the fight.”

Stots didn’t say anything to the promotion or the commission overseeing the event in Hawaii. He felt he could still beat Mix, but he was wrong.

“We tried to keep it under wraps because I didn’t want to lose the fight and I didn’t think it was a problem,” Stots said. “I just feel like I would be able to perform better. I think it had an impact on me. It’s just something I know I can do better. Obviously, fighting skills and technique (I can do) better in the fight, but I feel like that (the weight cut) I know that I can do better. … It just so happened that it happened in these last two fights where I changed meal prep companies.”

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Jason Jackson before Bellator 301: Yaroslav Amosov ‘one of the best welterweights on this planet’

For Jason Jackson, his Bellator welterweight title shot was earned not given, and he’s amped for the test in front of him.

For [autotag]Jason Jackson[/autotag], his Bellator welterweight title shot was earned not given.

Jackson (16-4 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) challenges 170-pound champion [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] (27-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) in the main event of Bellator 301 on Nov. 17 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

Jackson has won six straight fights en route to a title shot, including victories over Benson Henderson, Neiman Gracie, Paul Daley, and former champion Douglas Lima. Jackson takes confidence in knowing that he had to fight his way to the top.

“I had to work and earn my title shot and when I go out there, a man who earned his way here is not just going to give it all up,” Jackson told MMA Junkie Radio. “You have to kill me to get it from me because it wasn’t given to me, and I’m not going to take it for granted.

“So, if they think I’m just going to come lay down, I’m definitely getting my hand raised and I’m going to put every single thing into it that I have. I’m dedicated, I’m motivated. I have beaten champions, former champions, former UFC guys, so it just tells you that I belong here. I have earned my way here.”

Jackson knows dethroning Amosov will be a tall order considering the Ukranian fighter has never lost. He rates Amosov amongst the best 170-pounders regardless of promotion.

“Yaroslav is one of the best welterweights on this planet, if not the best welterweight on the planet,” Jackson said. “The record he brings to the table and the skillset, he knows how to win fights. He’s been fighting for a while. He fought a lot of tough guys. So, I will say he’s up there in the rankings.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 301.

Bellator 301’s Patchy Mix: Sergio Pettis ‘most dangerous opponent I’ve ever fought’

Patchy Mix is taking Sergio Pettis very seriously ahead of their bantamweight title unification bout at Bellator 301 in Chicago.

[autotag]Patchy Mix[/autotag] is taking [autotag]Sergio Pettis[/autotag] very seriously.

Interim bantamweight champion Mix (18-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) faces undisputed champ Pettis (23-5 MMA, 9-5 BMMA) in a title unification bout that co-headlines Bellator 301 on Nov. 17 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

This will mark Mix’s second undisputed title opportunity after falling short to Juan Archuleta in 2020. Mix has since won five straight en route to winning the bantamweight grand prix with a knockout of Raufeon Stots. Although his streak includes wins over Kyoji Horiguchi, Magomed Magomedov, and Stots, he views Pettis as his toughest test to date.

“I fought for this belt before. I lost it against Juan Archuleta (on) Sept. 12, 2020, and I’m here with vengeance,” Mix told MMA Junkie Radio. “I’m here fully prepared this time. It’s my fourth 25-minute fight in a row and I’m going to make it count.

“I’m fighting the most dangerous opponent I’ve ever fought in Sergio Pettis. He’s coming off a win over Patricio ”Pitbull’ (Freire), the guy that knocked out Michael Chandler. He’s dangerous as hell right now. He’s just entering in his prime, just turned 30 years old – it’s such a dangerous fight.”

Pettis has also racked up an impressive resume with wins over Archuleta, a knockout of Horiguchi, and most recently a title defense against arguably the promotion’s best fighter Patricio Freire. Mix has finished four of his past five opponents, and hopes he can add Pettis to that list.

“I’m searching for that high,” Mix said. “I really want to finish this guy and I really want to feel what it feels like to take out someone the calibre of Sergio Pettis.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 301.

Ex-champ Juliana Velasquez, Keri Melendez among new additions to Bellator 301 in Chicago

The lineup for Bellator’s second trip to “The Windy City” in five months continues to build with a former champion set for the prelims.

The lineup for Bellator’s second trip to “The Windy City” in five months continues to build with a former champion set for the prelims.

Former women’s flyweight champ [autotag]Juliana Velasquez[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 7-2 BMMA) will try to get back on track when she takes on fellow Brazilian [autotag]Paula Cristina[/autotag] (6-2 MMA, 0-1 BMMA). Additionally, the undefeated [autotag]Keri Melendez[/autotag] (5-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) will take on promotional newcomer [autotag]Sabriye Sengul[/autotag] (3-3 MMA, 0-1 BMMA).

Bellator 301, which features two title fights and a lightweight grand prix semifinal on the main card, takes place Nov. 17 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie. The event will be Bellator’s third trip to Chicago in a year.

In addition, lightweight prospect [autotag]Archie Colgan[/autotag] (8-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Pieter Buist[/autotag] (17-7 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Matheus Mattos[/autotag] (13-2-1 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) meets former LFA bantamweight champion [autotag]Richard Palencia[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) on the preliminary card. Bellator officials informed MMA Junkie of the new bookings Sunday. An official announcement is expected Monday.

Velasquez had a perfect 12-0 start to her career, and in December 2020 upset Ilima-Lei Macfarlane to win the women’s flyweight title. She defended it seven months later against Denise Kielholtz. But in April 2022, she was submitted by Liz Carmouche in Hawaii and lost the belt. Eight months later, she was submitted by her in a rematch at Bellator 289. Cristina has dropped two of her past three fights after a 5-0 pro start. In May, she lost a decision to Kielholtz in her Bellator debut.

With the additions, the Bellator 301 lineup now includes:

MAIN CARD (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Champ Yaroslav Amosov vs. Jason Jackson – for welterweight title
  • Champ Sergio Pettis vs. interim champ Patchy Mix – bantamweight title unification bout
  • Danny Sabatello vs. Raufeon Stots
  • A.J. McKee vs. Sidney Outlaw
  • Patricky Freire vs. Alexander Shabliy – lightweight grand prix semifinal

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 5 p.m. ET)

  • Ali Isaev vs. Daniel James
  • Tyrell Fortune vs. Marcelo Golm
  • Justin Gonzales vs. Timur Khizriev
  • Pieter Buist vs. Archie Colgan
  • Paula Cristina vs. Juliana Velasquez
  • Keri Melendez vs. Sabriye Sengul
  • Matheus Mattos vs. Richard Palencia
  • Mike Hamel vs. Tim Wilde
  • Sumiko Inaba vs .Denise Kielholtz
  • Islam Mamedov vs. Killys Mota

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 301.

A.J. McKee targeted for return against Sidney Outlaw at Bellator 301

Bellator is looking to beef up its November event with the return of former champ A.J. McKee.

Former Bellator champion [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] is targeted to return to action in a key lightweight bout in November.

Bellator is in the process of finalizing a matchup between McKee (20-1 MMA, 20-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Sidney Outlaw[/autotag] for its upcoming November event. Multiple sources with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the targeted booking with MMA Junkie following a first report from ESPN.

Bellator 301 takes place Nov. 17 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, and features two title fights at the top of the card. In the main event, welterweight champion Yaroslav Amosov puts his title on the line against Jason Jackson. The bantamweight title will be unified in the co-feature, as champion Sergio Pettis faces interim champion Patchy Mix.

McKee, 28, will compete for the first time in 2023. The former featherweight champion was set to fight Patricky Freire at Bellator X Rizin 2 in July, but a staph infection forced him to withdraw from the bout. McKee last competed at Bellator X Rizin 1 on New Year’s Eve, where he defeated Roberto de Souza by unanimous decision.

Outlaw (17-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC) will look to keep the momentum going from a unanimous decision win over Islam Mamedov at Bellator 298 in August. The 31-year-old lightweight suffered a setback to Tofiq Musayev in the bout prior, which followed a pair of wins over Adam Piccolotti and Myles Jury.

With the addition, the current Bellator 301 lineup includes:

  • Yaroslav Amosov vs. Jason Jackson – for welterweight title
  • Sergio Pettis vs. Patchy Mix – to unify bantamweight title
  • Patricky Freire vs. Alexander Shabliy
  • Raufeon Stots vs. Danny Sabatello
  • A.J. McKee vs. Sidney Outlaw
  • Ali Isaev vs. Daniel James
  • Tyrell Fortune vs. Marcelo Golm
  • Justin Gonzales vs. Timur Khizriev
  • Mike Hamel vs. Tim Wilde
  • Sumiko Inaba vs. Denise Kielholtz
  • Islam Mamedov vs. Killys Mota

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 301.

Bellator 301 set for Chicago: 2 title fights, including Sergio Pettis vs. Patchy Mix, grand prix semifinal, grudge rematch

Despite the uncertain times for Bellator MMA, the promotion has booked a big show for Chicago in November.

Despite the uncertain times for Bellator MMA, the promotion continues to book events.

Wednesday, promotion officials informed MMA Junkie that Bellator 301 will take place Nov. 17 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago with two title fights, a tournament fight, and a grudge rematch already scheduled for the main card. The card was first announced on “The MMA Hour.”

In the main event, Bellator welterweight champion [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] (27-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) defends his title against [autotag]Jason Jackson[/autotag] (16-4 MMA, 7-1 BMMA). The co-main event features a highly-anticipated bantamweight unification bout between undisputed champion [autotag]Sergio Pettis[/autotag] (23-5 MMA, 9-5 BMMA) and interim champion [autotag]Patchy Mix[/autotag] (18-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA).

The Bellator lightweight grand prix rolls on in the featured bout with a semifinal fight between [autotag]Patricky Freire[/autotag] (25-11 MMA, 16-9 BMMA) and [autotag]Alexander Shabliy[/autotag] (23-3 MMA, 4-0 BMMA). Additionally, a bantamweight grudge match will be run back as [autotag]Danny Sabtello[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) gets a home state fight vs. [autotag]Raufeon Stots[/autotag] (19-2 MMA, 7-1 BMMA).

The full Bellator 301 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Champion Yaroslav Amosov vs. Jason Jackson – for welterweight title
  • Champion Patchy Mix vs. interim champion Patchy Mix – for bantamweight title unification
  • Patricky Freire vs. Alexander Shabliy
  • Danny Sabatello vs. Raufeon Stots

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 5 p.m. ET)

  • Ali Isaev vs. Daniel James
  • Tyrell Fortune vs. Marcelo Golm
  • Justin Gonzales vs. Timur Khizriev
  • Mike Hamel vs. Tim Wilde
  • Sumiko Inaba vs. Denise Kielholtz
  • Islam Mamedov vs. Killys Mota

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