Tag: Cat Zingano

Bellator 256: Make your predictions for Ryan Bader vs. Lyoto Machida 2

We want your predictions for Friday’s Bellator 256 event in Connecticut.

We want your predictions for Friday’s Bellator 256 event in Connecticut.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Wednesdday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the Bellator 256 main card staff predictions we release Thursday ahead of the event. Bellator 256 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Make your picks for the fights below.

Cat Zingano vs. Olivia Parker booked for Bellator 256

A former UFC title challenger has her next fight booked – and a win could set her up for a Bellator title shot.

A former UFC title challenger has her next fight booked – and a win could set her up for a Bellator title shot.

[autotag]Cat Zingano[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) will take on promotional newcomer [autotag]Olivia Parker[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) in a women’s featherweight bout at Bellator 256 next month. A promotional official confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie following an initial report from ESPN.com.

Bellator 256 takes place April 9 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The event will be Bellator’s second in 2021 and second on Showtime.

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Zingano started her career 9-0, including wins in her first two UFC fights – TKOs of eventual bantamweight champions Miesha Tate and Amanda Nunes, who now is a two-division titleholder. She got a shot at Ronda Rousey’s bantamweight title, but was submitted in just 14 seconds.

After more than 16 months away, she returned at UFC 200 and dropped a decision to Julianna Pena. She was away another 20 months after that and returned to a split decision loss to Ketlen Vieira. After a decision win over Marion Reneau in July 2018, she moved to featherweight and had a TKO loss to Megan Anderson at UFC 232 in a fight in which she suffered an accidental eye poke only about a minute in.

Zingano was a high-profile free agent signing for Bellator in October 2019, but it was nearly a year before her promotional debut at Bellator 245 this past September. She stayed at featherweight and beat Gabby Holloway by unanimous decision. Because of the lack of depth of Bellator’s women’s featherweight division, a win over Parker could set Zingano up for a shot at champion Cris Cyborg.

The 39-year-old Parker is based in Tennessee and a teammate of UFC standout Ovince Saint-Preux. She started her pro career 4-0, including three stoppage wins under the Valor Fighting Challenge banner. In July 2020, she moved up a level, but was submitted in the first round by Chelsea Chandler at Invicta FC 40.

With the addition, the Bellator 256 lineup now includes:

  • Champ Ryan Bader vs. Lyoto Machida – for light heavyweight title; light heavyweight tournament opening round
  • Corey Anderson vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov – light heavyweight tournament opening round
  • Diana Avsaragova vs. Tara Graff
  • Nainoa Dung vs. Izzy William
  • Jaylon Bates vs. Jeffrey Glossner
  • Nathan Ghareeb vs. Cody Law
  • Jessica Borga vs. Talita Nogueira
  • Olivia Parker vs. Cat Zingano

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Bellator 245 highlights: Relive the action as Phil Davis edges Lyoto Machida in rematch

Recap the best of the action from Bellator 245 as Phil Davis edged a split-decision verdict against light heavyweight rival Lyoto Machida.

The second meeting between [autotag]Phil Davis[/autotag] (22-5 MMA, 9-2 BMMA) and [autotag]Lyoto Machida[/autotag] (26-10 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) was every bit as competitive as the first, as the former Bellator light heavyweight champion squeezed past the former UFC 205-pound champ in the main event of Bellator 245.

The night also saw the promotional debut of former UFC women’s bantamweight title challenger [autotag]Cat Zingano[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 1-0 BMMA), who outpointed [autotag]Gabrielle Holloway[/autotag] (6-6 MMA, 1-3 BMMA) in their women’s featherweight matchup.

There was also an eye-catching debut from former Dana White’s Contender Series prospect [autotag]Taylor Johnson[/autotag] (6-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA), who submitted highly-rated welterweight prospect [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] (8-3 MMA, 8-3 BMMA) via first-round heel hook in their middleweight bout.

If that bout was eye-catching, the action was eye-watering in the opening main card fight of the night, as a pair of thumping low blows from [autotag]Raymond Daniels[/autotag] (2-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) left [autotag]Peter Stanonik[/autotag] (5-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) unable to continue, and the bout was ruled a no contest.

Bellator 245 took place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card aired on Paramount Network and DAZN after prelims on MMA Junkie.

Check out the official highlights of the night, courtesy of Bellator, via the video above.

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Cat Zingano focused on improvement after Bellator 245 win: ‘This wasn’t the greatest performance of my life’

Cat Zingano expressed mixed emotions with her Bellator debut performance.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Cat Zingano[/autotag] didn’t have any expectations coming into Bellator 245.

From here on out, however, Zingano (11-4 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) is focused on improvement – and her co-main event unanimous decision win on Friday over Gabrielle Holloway (6-6 MMA, 1-3 BMMA) at Mohegan Sun Arena was just the building block to make that happen.

“I immediately can see where I can do better and where I’m capable of doing better,” Zingano told MMA Junkie at a post-fight news conference. “(There were) different places and positions where we got stuck that I’m going to take back to the drawing board and work on. It’s definitely not a perfect performance. I have a ton of things that I could do better – and I will. I want to do better since I will.”

Zingano, 38, had not competed in almost two years prior to Bellator 245. The former UFC bantamweight contender had a rough go preceding and following her UFC exit in 2019. An eye injury, a go-around with Breast Implant Illness (BII), and having only one win since 2014, Zingano didn’t set expectations for herself before her return Friday.

“I really didn’t know what to expect,” Zingano said. So much has changed since my last fight. I just came in with an open mind knowing I worked extremely hard every single day of this camp. I fought every single sparring session like I fought here today. I just did everything I could think of to get ready, so I could come in here and bring my best.”

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Despite her self-critiques, Zingano said she was proud of the win – even if it wasn’t, in her estimation, her greatest performance. A veteran of the sport, Zingano is keeping a level, balanced mind as her career moves past her promotional debut.

“Coming in here and getting that win and being able to take it home and show myself and show the people that I care about this exactly where I meant to be, silencing any doubt of my own or other people,” Zingano said. “Yeah, this wasn’t the greatest performance of my life. Gabby is a great, great fight for me to have. It’s only up from here.

“I’m also just still very humbled and know that at any moment you’re an underdog. At any moment, all of these people are tests, so I’ve just got to stay chill about it, keep working hard, take everything I felt, saw went through in this moment, take it home and prove it some way, shape or form.”

Bellator 245 took place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card aired on Paramount and streamed on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

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Bellator 245 results: Cat Zingano dominates Gabrielle Holliday in promotional debut

Cat Zingano couldn’t finish Gabrielle Holloway, but dominated almost the entire fight in a successful Bellator debut.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Cat Zingano[/autotag]’s Bellator debut took longer to occur than she might have anticipated, but it turned out to be worth the wait.

The popular former UFC title bantamweight title challenger, who signed with Bellator last October, was victorious Friday night in the co-feature bout of Bellator 245, as she defeated [autotag]Gabrielle Holloway[/autotag] via unanimous decision. Zingano (11-4 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) cruised over the first two rounds, then held off a third-round rally before regaining control and holding on for the victory. The judges’ scores were 29-27, 30-26, and 30-26.

“I wanted this to be a quick night, no one wants to stay in here the whole 15 minutes … we went the whole distance and that was good, it was an incredible fight.”

The bout was scheduled to be contested at featherweight, but Holloway missed weight Thursday, coming in at 150.7 pounds.

The first two rounds were a simple equation, as Zingano scored takedowns, then used top and side control to dominate the majority of the rounds. A 60-5 advantage in significant strikes over the first 10 minutes tells the story.

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Holloway (6-6 MMA, 1-3 BMMA) had her moments in the third round, as she managed to reverse position on the ground, then rained down punches and elbows from top position for the better part of a minute. But Zingano managed to regain control, and finished the fight raining down blows from top position.

Zingano landed 31 knees over the course of the fight to zero for Holloway, and scored five takedowns to Holloway’s one.

The victory, in her first fight since Dec. 2018, was the second in Zingano’s past three fights, and her third career decision win. Holloway lost for the fourth time in her past five bouts.

Bellator 245 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Up-to-the-minute Bellator 245 results:

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Bellator 245 predictions: Who’s picking Lyoto Machida over Phil Davis in their rematch?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the Bellator 245 main card in Connecticut, featuring Phil Davis vs. Lyoto Machida in a rematch.

Davis
vs.
Machida		 Holloway
vs.
Zingano		 Johnson
vs.
Ruth		 Daniels
vs.
Stanonik
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2020: 91-58		 davis2020
Davis
(56%)		 zingano2020
Zingano
(88%)		 ruth2020
Ruth
(86%)		 daniels2020
Daniels
(N/A)
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2020: 103-46		 davis2020
Davis		 zingano2020
Zingano		 ruth2020
Ruth		 daniels2020
Daniels
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2020: 102-47		 davis2020
Davis		 zingano2020
Zingano		 ruth2020
Ruth		 daniels2020
Daniels
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2020: 101-48		 davis2020
Davis		 zingano2020
Zingano		 ruth2020
Ruth		 daniels2020
Daniels
Simon Head
@simonhead
2020: 99-50
trophy copy 2019 Champion*		 davis2020
Davis		 zingano2020
Zingano		 ruth2020
Ruth		 daniels2020
Daniels
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2020: 98-51		 machida2020
Machida		 zingano2020
Zingano		 ruth2020
Ruth		 daniels2020
Daniels
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2020: 97-52
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 davis2020
Davis		 zingano2020
Zingano		 ruth2020
Ruth		 daniels2020
Daniels
Dave Doyle
@davedoylemma
2020: 96-53		 davis2020
Davis		 zingano2020
Zingano		 ruth2020
Ruth		 daniels2020
Daniels
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2020: 96-53		 machida2020
Machida		 zingano2020
Zingano		 ruth2020
Ruth		 daniels2020
Daniels
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2020: 96-53
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 davis2020
Davis		 zingano2020
Zingano		 ruth2020
Ruth		 daniels2020
Daniels
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2020: 93-56
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 davis2020
Davis		 zingano2020
Zingano		 ruth2020
Ruth		 daniels2020
Daniels
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2020: 92-57		 davis2020
Davis		 zingano2020
Zingano		 ruth2020
Ruth		 daniels2020
Daniels
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2020: 91-58		 davis2020
Davis		 zingano2020
Zingano		 ruth2020
Ruth		 daniels2020
Daniels
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2020: 89-60		 davis2020
Davis		 zingano2020
Zingano		 ruth2020
Ruth		 daniels2020
Daniels
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2020: 62-87		 davis2020
Davis		 holloway2020
Holloway		 johnson2020
Johnson		 stanonik2020
Stanonik

Bellator is back this week with back-to-back events in Connecticut, the first of which features a light heavyweight rematch.

Bellator 245 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, former Bellator light heavyweight champion [autotag]Phil Davis[/autotag] (21-5 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) takes on former UFC champ [autotag]Lyoto Machida[/autotag] (26-9 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) in a rematch. The two first met in the UFC, and Davis took a controversial decision in Brazil. Davis is a -350 favorite, and our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts have him with a big lead at 12-2.

In the co-main event, former UFC women’s bantamweight title challenger [autotag]Cat Zingano[/autotag] (10-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) makes her promotional debut at featherweight against [autotag]Gabrielle Holloway[/autotag] (6-5 MMA, 1-2 BMMA). Zingano is by far the biggest favorite on the card at 9-1, and she’s got a 13-1 picks lead.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) is a 3-1 favorite at middleweight against [autotag]Taylor Johnson[/autotag] (5-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), and Ruth has a 13-1 picks lead.

And kickboxing standout [autotag]Raymond Daniels[/autotag] (2-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) is a -365 favorite against [autotag]Peter Stanonik[/autotag] (5-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), and only one picker is taking Stanonik in an upset.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Davis (56 percent), Zingano (88 percent), Ruth (86 percent), and Daniels (N/A) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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Cat Zingano on moving from UFC to Bellator despite good relationship: ‘I got some ultimatums’

Cat Zingano found herself in the middle of a conflicting situation when filming her docuseries ‘Why I Fight.’

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Cat Zingano[/autotag] has entered a new chapter of her career, which officially kicks off Friday.

A former UFC bantamweight title challenger, Zingano (10-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) makes her promotional debut at Bellator 245 after signing with the promotion last October.

Wednesday, Zingano detailed to MMA Junkie her UFC departure to MMA Junkie on Wednesday. Zingano, who meets Gabrille Holloway (6-5 MMA, 1-2 BMMA) Friday, listed “ultimatums” involving her Emmy-nominated docuseries “Why I Fight” as one of the main reasons that led to a change in promotion.

“One of the things I was doing was – even just filming that series, there was a little bit of struggle there because ESPN owned the UFC (broadcasting rights) and I was filming for ESPN,” Zingano said. “I was kind of getting pulled in different directions as far as what I could do while I was filming as far as fighting.

“The documentary series meant a lot to me. It’s very deep and explains fighters to people in a way I don’t think everyone understands. It really was a big project – a big, important project. I don’t know. I guess there was a little bit of a patience issue with me being able to complete that and then I got some ultimatums. It wasn’t the first time I’ve ever gotten an ultimatum.”

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Despite the ultimatums, Zingano said she did not leave the UFC on bad terms. Her departure was also a reflection on a booming free agency period – and Bellator’s offer.

“I kind of reached out and saw what was out there and considered what free agency would look like,” Zingano said. “It was bright and it was beautiful and there was a lot of opportunities and options. I just felt excited about trying it and maybe trying a new chapter and closing that one.

“We’re good. (The UFC and I) still have a good relationship and rapport. It was right for me to make the move to make these changes. So far, I’m extremely happy about everything. It’s no hurt feelings or anything. It’s just got the option to bite and I bit. I took the chance.”

Zingano, 38, says she’s felt refreshed by the fun vibe she’s found at Bellator. Going through her first fight week with the promotion, Zingano feels confident she made the right decision.

“I did the shopping, due diligence on finding out what’s best for me and my career and my goals next. … It’s just a good vibe to be here. I watch everybody, every fighter, every employee around me is happy. It’s low-stress and you get to focus. Those are all the things that made me want to start these types of sports in the first place.”

With the past in the rear-view mirror, Zingano is focused on the future. She sees intriguing matchups on the horizon and likes the prospect of fighting at 145 pounds, a weight class she thinks will elongate her career.

“I got to go up a weight class, which I think is healthy for the longevity of the sport for me,” Zingano said. “I’ve done a lot at different weight classes. Going to be a bigger, healthier badass is something that’s just next for me. I like the opponents here. There are some badass women. I’m here to continue the legacy of things that I do and the way that I do it fighting my fights – just putting it all together on the stage that actually extremely proud of right now.”

Bellator 245 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card simulcasts on Paramount Network and DAZN after prelims on MMA Junkie.

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Spinning Back Clique: Who should fight Nick Diaz? Is Alistair Overeem a lock for the UFC Hall of Fame?

Check out “Spinning Back Clique,” which covers the fallout from UFC on ESPN+34, looks ahead to a busy Bellator weekend, and more.

Welcome to “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts. This week, Simon Head hosts and is joined by MMA Junkie Radio’s “Gorgeous” George and “Goze,” as well as MMA Junkie lead staff reporter John Morgan. Let’s get to it!

SHOW TOPICS

  • It seems beloved MMA veteran [autotag]Nick Diaz[/autotag] is prepping for a return to the cage in early 2021, in what would be his first fight since January 2015. So who should he fight in his UFC comeback?
  • The UFC has been a leader in the sporting world in dealing with COVID-19, but in recent weeks, a number of bouts have fallen out at the last minute. What should the UFC be doing better as a response?
  • Bellator hosts a big doubleheader at the FightSphere this weekend. But which card has the more intriguing main event? Is it Bellator 245 with a [autotag]Phil Davis[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Lyoto Machida[/autotag] rematch, or Bellator 246, with [autotag]Juan Archuleta[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Patchy Mix[/autotag] for the promotion’s vacant bantamweight title?
  • Speaking of Bellator titles, former UFC title challengers [autotag]Cat Zingano[/autotag] and [autotag]Liz Carmouche[/autotag] are each set to make their Bellator debuts this weekend. Which one has best shot at holding Bellator gold?
  • Lastly, [autotag]Alistair Overeem[/autotag] picked up a big win at UFC on ESPN+ 34 and says he wants to hold UFC gold before he calls it a career. Is he still a UFC Hall of Famer if he falls short of that goal?