Tag: Christian Edwards

Bellator 259 predictions: What are our three unanimous picks on the main card?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the Bellator 259 main card, featuring Cris Cyborg vs. Leslie Smith.

Cyborg
vs.
Smith		 Caldwell
vs.
Higo		 Edwards
vs.
Vanderford		 Mandonca
vs.
Willis		 Edwards
vs.
Parrish
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2021: 66-45		 cyborg2021
Cyborg
(86%)		 caldwell2021
Caldwell
(77%)		 vanderford2021
Vanderford
(70%)		 willis2021
Willis
(85%)		 cedwards2021
C. Edwards
(83%)
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2021: 68-43		 cyborg2021
Cyborg		 caldwell2021
Caldwell		 vanderford2021
Vanderford		 willis2021
Willis		 cedwards2021
C. Edwards
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2021: 68-43		 cyborg2021
Cyborg		 caldwell2021
Caldwell		 vanderford2021
Vanderford		 willis2021
Willis		 cedwards2021
C. Edwards
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2021: 66-45		 cyborg2021
Cyborg		 caldwell2021
Caldwell		 vanderford2021
Vanderford		 mendonca2021
Mendonca		 cedwards2021
C. Edwards
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2021: 66-45
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 cyborg2021
Cyborg		 caldwell2021
Caldwell		 fedwards2021
F. Edwards		 willis2021
Willis		 cedwards2021
C. Edwards
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2021: 65-46
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 cyborg2021
Cyborg		 caldwell2021
Caldwell		 vanderford2021
Vanderford		 willis2021
Willis		 cedwards2021
C. Edwards
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2021: 65-46
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 cyborg2021
Cyborg		 caldwell2021
Caldwell		 vanderford2021
Vanderford		 willis2021
Willis		 cedwards2021
C. Edwards
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2021: 65-46		 cyborg2021
Cyborg		 caldwell2021
Caldwell		 vanderford2021
Vanderford		 willis2021
Willis		 cedwards2021
C. Edwards
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2021: 65-46		 cyborg2021
Cyborg		 caldwell2021
Caldwell		 vanderford2021
Vanderford		 willis2021
Willis		 cedwards2021
C. Edwards
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2021: 63-48
trophy copy 2020 Champion		 cyborg2021
Cyborg		 caldwell2021
Caldwell		 vanderford2021
Vanderford		 willis2021
Willis		 cedwards2021
C. Edwards
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2021: 62-49		 cyborg2021
Cyborg		 caldwell2021
Caldwell		 vanderford2021
Vanderford		 willis2021
Willis		 cedwards2021
C. Edwards
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2021: 61-50		 cyborg2021
Cyborg		 caldwell2021
Caldwell		 fedwards2021
F. Edwards		 willis2021
Willis		 cedwards2021
C. Edwards
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2021: 60-51		 cyborg2021
Cyborg		 caldwell2021
Caldwell		 vanderford2021
Vanderford		 mendonca2021
Mendonca		 cedwards2021
C. Edwards
BetMGM
Betting Favorites		 cyborg2021
Cyborg -1400		 caldwell2021
Caldwell -350		 vanderford2021
Vanderford -225		 mendonca2021
Mendonca -125		 cedwards2021
C. Edwards -650

Bellator is back this week with a title fight at the top of the card.

Bellator 259 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

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

In the main event, women’s featherweight champion [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] (23-2 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) puts her title on the line in a rematch with challenger [autotag]Leslie Smith[/autotag] (12-8-1 MMA, 2-2 BMMA). Cyborg is a huge favorite at -1400 at BetMGM, so it’s no surprise she’s one of three unanimous picks on the main card from our editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers.

In the co-feature, former bantamweight champ [autotag]Darrion Caldwell[/autotag] (14-4 MMA, 11-3 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Leandro Higo[/autotag] (20-5 MMA, 3-3 BMMA). Caldwell is a -350 favorite, and he’s a 12-0 unanimous pick from our staff members.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Austin Vanderford[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) in a middleweight bout. Vanderford is a -225 favorite, but two of our pickers are taking Edwards in an upset.

[autotag]Maycon Mendonca[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) is a slight favorite at -125 in his welterweight bout against [autotag]Jaleel Willis[/autotag] (14-2 MMA, 2-0 BMMA). But it’s Willis with a big 10-2 picks lead.

Unfortunately, the bout expected to open the main card, which saw [autotag]Christian Edwards[/autotag] (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) as a big -650 favorite at light heavyweight against [autotag]Ben Parrish[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), was called off following the day’s official weigh-ins. Edwards was our third unanimous pick.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Cyborg (86 percent), Caldwell (77 percent), Vanderford (70 percent), Willis (85 percent) and Christian Edwards (83 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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Christian Edwards removed from Bellator 259; Valerie Loureda elevated to main card

With Christian Edwards’ fight off, Valerie Loureda has been bumped up.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Widely regarded as one of Bellator’s top up-and-comers, [autotag]Christian Edwards[/autotag] will have to wait a little longer to step back inside the cage.

Following the Bellator 259 weigh-ins Thursday at Mohegan Sun, in which he came in underweight, Edwards (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) did not clear pre-fight medicals. With Edwards deemed medically unfit to compete, his fight against [autotag]Ben Parrish[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) was removed from Friday’s main card.

Promotion officials announced the news in between the official and ceremonial weigh-ins.

Despite the cancellation, Bellator 259 will still have a five-fight main card. Rising sensation [autotag]Valerie Loureda[/autotag] (3-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) has been elevated from the prelims and will take on [autotag]Hannah Guy[/autotag] (2-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) in a strawweight matchup.

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

  • Champ Cris Cyborg vs. Leslie Smith – for women’s featherweight title
  • Darrion Caldwell vs. Leandro Higo
  • Fabian Edwards vs. Austin Vanderford
  • Maycon Mendonca vs. Jaleel Willis
  • Hannah Guy vs. Valerie Loureda

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 5:30 p.m. ET)

  • Nate Andrews vs. Saad Awad
  • Tyree Fortune vs. Grant Neal
  • Sumiko Inaba vs. Kristina Katsikis
  • Sean Felton vs. Aviv Gozali
  • Davion Franklin vs. Tyler King
  • Janay Harding vs. Leah McCourt
  • Brett Johns vs. Danny Sabatello
  • Alfie Davis vs. Alexander Shabliy

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Christian Edwards wants ranked opposition if successful at Bellator 259

Christian Edwards previews his upcoming bout against Ben Parrish at Bellator 259.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Christian Edwards[/autotag] answered questions at a media day ahead of his bout with Ben Parrish at Bellator 259.

Edwards (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) meets Parrish (4-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) in a light heavyweight bout on Friday’s preliminary card at Mohegan Sun Arena. The 22-year-old looks to maintain his undefeated record and build towards title contention.

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Listen to Edwards discuss the matchup with Parrish and more in the video above.

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Cris Cyborg headlines Bellator 259 in rematch with Leslie Smith

One of the most dominant female fighters in MMA history will return this spring in a rematch.

[mm-video type=video id=01es22fgvjp05jjq0b playlist_id=01eqvpne7c1q486dvv player_id=01eqvpqbw4ymnv0rjh image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01es22fgvjp05jjq0b/01es22fgvjp05jjq0b-38820601d3cde418cd3fc34dc578fb1e.jpg]

One of the most dominant female fighters in MMA history will return this spring in a rematch.

[autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] (23-2 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) will put her women’s featherweight title on the line against [autotag]Leslie Smith[/autotag] (12-8-1 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) in the Bellator 259 main event. The promotion announced the headliner during Friday’s Bellator 255 broadcast, which was its debut on Showtime.

Bellator 259 is set for May 21 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card for that event will air on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie. In addition, [autotag]Christian Edwards[/autotag] (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) will fight [autotag]Ben Parrish[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) in a light heavyweight bout on the card, and [autotag]Georgi Karakhanyan[/autotag] (30-11-1 MMA, 8-9 BMMA) vs. [autotag]Adam Piccolotti[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 8-4 BMMA) has been booked at lightweight.

Cyborg and Smith first fought at UFC 198 in May 2016 in a 140-pound catchweight bout. That fight, in Cyborg’s home country of Brazil, was her UFC debut after signing as Invicta’s featherweight champion. She took Smith out with a TKO just 81 seconds into the fight.

[lawrence-related id=578970,570716,569601]

After she lost the UFC women’s featherweight title to current two-division champion Amanda Nunes in late 2018 – her first loss since her May 2005 pro debut – Cyborg had one more win in the UFC, then signed with Bellator.

In her promotional debut in January 2020, she took out longtime champion Julia Budd with a fourth-round TKO to win the belt. This past October, she had her first title defense and submitted Arlene Blencowe in the second round.

Smith signed a new deal with Bellator ahead of her shot at Cyborg’s title. It will be Smith’s first title bout in seven and a half years. She lost a fight for Invicta FC’s flyweight title to Barb Honchak in December 2013.

After that, Smith moved back to bantamweight in the UFC, where she went 4-3 in seven fights from 2014-2017. Her relationship with the UFC was a rocky one toward the end when it came to contract issues and, she has said, because of her involvement with Project Spearhead, an organization that wants to unionize MMA fighters.

Smith signed with Bellator and has gone 2-1 with decisions wins against Sinead Kavanagh and Amanda Bell sandwiched around a decision loss to Arlene Blencowe.

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Bellator 249 video: Jon Jones protege Christian Edwards squeezes way to first submission win

Christian Edwards doesn’t have the resume of Jon Jones but he took one small step closer on Thursday.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Christian Edwards[/autotag] doesn’t have the resumé of [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] but he took one small step in his mentor’s path Thursday.

Taking on American Top Team Portland’s [autotag]Hamza Salim[/autotag] on the Bellator 249 prelims, Edwards (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) showed poise, aggression, and speed in the opening round.

In Round 2, Edwards took the fight back to the mat, where he had success in the opening round. From there, Edwards was able to work a choke and get the tap.

The win was Edwards’ first career submission victory and his third finish in four fights.

Edwards, 21, trains out of Jackson Wink MMA in Albuquerque, N.M. and has been taken under the wing of the former UFC light heavyweight champion Jones. As recently as last week, Jones invited Edwards to his house to watch video and study for a fight against Salim (5-4 MMA, 0-2 BMMA).

Bellator 249 took place Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main aired on CBS Sports Network after prelims on CBSSports.com.

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Bellator 249’s Christian Edwards on training with Jon Jones and the roadmap to greatness

Bellator 249’s Christian Edwards on training with Jon Jones and the roadmap to greatness

Bellator 249’s Christian Edwards on training with Jon Jones and the roadmap to greatness

Bellator 243 loses two fights from Friday’s lineup in Connecticut

According to promotion officials, two fights have fallen off Friday’s card at Mohegan Sun.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Two fights have been canceled from Friday’s Bellator 243 card at Mohegan Sun.

Middleweight [autotag]Joel Bauman[/autotag] is out of his preliminary card bout against [autotag]Taylor Johnson[/autotag]. Additionally, [autotag]Ahmed Samir Hefny[/autotag], who was expected to fight [autotag]Christian Edwards[/autotag] at a 210-pound catchweight, is off the card. Neither Johnson nor Edwards will receive a replacement opponent.

A Bellator official informed MMA Junkie of the cancelations Tuesday, citing “undisclosed reasons” as the cause. The official noted Johnson and Edwards will be compensated, despite not fighting.

Edwards (3-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA), a recipient of the Jackson Wink-Mata Leon scholarship, is a training partner of UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. In November, Edwards, 21, went viral with a vicious 16-second head kick knockout over Cesar Bennett.

Johnson (5-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) recently signed with Bellator and was expected to make his promotional debut Friday. “Tombstone” dominated his competition in LFA prior to a Dana White’s Contender Series loss in August 2019.

With the changes, the Bellator 243 lineup includes:

  • Michael Chandler vs. Benson Henderson
  • Timothy Johnson vs. Matt Mitrione
  • Georgi Karakhanyan vs. Myles Jury
  • Sabah Homasi vs. Curtis Millender
  • Adam Borics vs. Mike Hamel
  • AJ Agazarm vs. Cris Lencioni
  • Dalton Rosta vs. Mark Gardner
  • Nainoa Dung vs. Charlie Campbell
  • Grant Neal vs. Hamza Salim
  • Valerie Loureda vs. Tara Graff

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Bellator 239 adds six fights to lineup: Javy Ayala, Christian Edwards, more

The Bellator 239 lineup is growing with the addition of six fights, including Javy Ayala vs. Valentin Moldavsky.

Bellator is bulking up its return to Thackerville, Okla.

The promotion recently added six fights to the Bellator 239 lineup, five of which were initially reported by Sherdog. Among the new additions, heavyweights [autotag]Javy Ayala[/autotag] and [autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag] collide in a main-card bout.

Surging up-and-comers [autotag]Lucas Brennan[/autotag], [autotag]Chris Gonzalez[/autotag], and [autotag]Christian Edwards[/autotag] all will look to keep their undefeated records alive, while rising prospect [autotag]Adil Benjilany[/autotag] hopes for a return to the win column.

Bellator also announced former UFC fighter [autotag]Carlo Pedersoli Jr.[/autotag] will make his promotional debut against highly touted prospect [autotag]Mark Lemminger[/autotag].

Bellator 239 takes place Friday, Feb. 21 at WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Okla. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Check out the six recently-booked fights below:

  • Heavyweight: Javy Ayala (11-7 MMA, 6-4 BMMA) vs. Valentin Moldavsky (8-1 MMA, 3-0 BMMA)
  • Featherweight: Lucas Brennan (2-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) vs. [autotag]Jamese Taylor[/autotag] (0-1 MMA, 0-1 BMMA)
  • Featherweight: Adil Benjilany (5-2 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) vs. [autotag]Kevin Croom[/autotag] (20-12 MMA, 0-1 BMMA)
  • Lightweight: Chris Gonzalez (3-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) vs. [autotag]Aaron McKenzie[/autotag] (7-1-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA)
  • Light heavyweight: Christian Edwards (2-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) vs. [autotag]Marco Hutch[/autotag] (3-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA)
  • Welterweight: Carlo Pedersoli Jr. (11-3 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) vs. Mark Lemminger (10-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA

Bellator 239 is currently headlined by a welterweight bout between Ed Ruth and Yaroslav Amosov. Other fights include Brandon Girtz vs. Myles Jury, Tyrell Fortune vs. Timothy Johnson, Denise Kielholtz vs. Kristina Williams, and Cris Lencioni vs. Salim Mukhidinov.

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