Tag: Bellator MMA

Jaguars VP Tony Khan denies report of interest in Bellator MMA

Tony Khan says there’s no truth to a report that he and his dad are interested in purchasing Bellator MMA.

Jacksonville Jaguars executive vice president Tony Khan vehemently denied a report that he and his father, Jaguars owner Shad Khan, are a party interested in purchasing Bellator MMA.

“I was surprised to see that report,” Tony Khan said, in part, via mixed martial arts reporter Jed I. Goodman. “I haven’t had any conversations with them about that, so I don’t know what that was about. My father hasn’t had any conversations with them either. I’m not even sure who you talked to. I don’t even know, honestly, who owns the promotion. Is Scott Coker the owner? Or the president? I’m not sure.”

On Wednesday, MMA reporter Ariel Helwani said on his show, The MMA Hour, that the Khan family were among the interested parties in Bellator.

“I can also tell you that the Khan family has looked into [Bellator],” Helwani reported on the show. “To what degree is unclear.”

Bellator MMA is a promotion that has existed since 2008 and is currently owned by Paramount Global. It is reportedly in talks to be sold with Professional Fighters League (PFL) among the favorites to acquire the organization.

In addition to the Jaguars, the Khans own Fulham Football Club of the English Premier League and All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Tony Khan serves as the president of AEW and has multiple executive titles with Fulham F.C.

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Former Penn State wrestling champion Phil Davis is back in September

Former Penn State wrestling champion Phil Davis is ready to make his MMA return this September.

September 18 is a big day for Penn State fans as Penn State football will take on Auburn under the lights of ABC Saturday Night Football from Beaver Stadium in the White Out. Also that night, we will see a former Penn State wrestling champion make his return to the MMA Cage.

Bellator MMA announced that former Penn State wrestling champion Phil Davis will make his return to the cage when he takes on Yoel Romero in the main event of Bellator 266, which will take place on September 18 from San Jose on Showtime.

The last time we saw Phil Davis in the cage was in April 2021 when he lost to Vadim Nemkov for the Bellator Light Heavyweight Title.

Phil Davis is from Harrisburgh and has a career record of 22-6. Davis won the NCAA championship in 2008 at 197 pounds.

All of Penn State will be pulling for Davis when he enters the cage as he works his way back to the top.

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Phil Davis wants “to go big or go home” in rematch with Nemkov

Phil Davis reflected on his time at Penn State and how it helped mold him to be the MMA star he is today.

Penn State’s own Phil Davis has gone from being a wrestling program great to one of the top stars in the world of mixed martial arts. On Friday night, Davis will headline Bellator 257 with a rematch with Vadim Nemkov to open the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal. The light heavyweight title is also on the line.

Davis lost a split decision against Nemkov in November 2018, so a chance for redemption is something Davis cherishes.

“Just being included in the grand prix is such a great opportunity to test my skills against all these other great fighters. But to get the champion first, you want those situations. You want to go big or go home.”

 

“Just being included in the grand prix is such a great opportunity to test my skills against all these other great fighters. But to get the champion first, you want those situations. You want to go big or go home.”

Phil Davis is a former Penn State wrestler and he became an NCAA wrestling champion in 2008. Davis was also an NCAA All-American from 2005-2008 during his time at Happy Valley. Davis said being a part of the Penn State wrestling program helped keep him at the top of his game.

“It was just the atmosphere. The team, my coaches. Everyone in the room is pushing you,” Davis told Nittany Lion Wire. “Everyone in the room is challenging you.”

Bellator 257 pre-event facts: Phil Davis on the cusp of history

“To get to the next level of being good at a sport and of being great at a sport, you have to accept every challenge,” Davis explained. “I just remember feeling there was no day I would let my team down. I would show up every day and I would kick butt every day.”

 

Davis is a former Light Heavyweight Champion in Bellator MMA, defeating Liam McGreary at Bellator 163 in 2016. He now looks to recapture the belt and move on in the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix.

Phil Davis will battle Nemkov on Friday, April 16 from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion.

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