Tag: Denise Kielholtz

Denise Kielholtz won’t rip judges after Bellator 262 title-fight loss: ‘I only blame myself’

Denis Kielholtz stopped short of labeling her Bellator 262 loss to champion Juliana Velasquez as a robbery.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Despite emotions running high, [autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag] was all class in the wake of her loss to Juliana Velasquez in Friday’s Bellator 262 main event.

Kielholtz (6-3 MMA, 6-3 BMMA) could not have come closer to taking the women’s flyweight title from Velasquez (12-0 MMA, 7-0 BMMA) at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. She dropped a split decision, with scores of 48-47, 47-48, and 48-47.

With damage all over her face and tears in her eyes, Kielholtz attended the Bellator 262 post-fight news conference. Clearly heartbroken, she had a platform and opportunity to lash out at the judges. She didn’t, however, and instead took the high road.

“They always say don’t let it in the hands of the judges,” Kielholtz told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “I don’t blame anyone. I only blame myself that I didn’t do more and I know I can do more, so that’s just disappointing to myself. The judges, they do their work and I’m not in their eyes the champion tonight, but for sure I will be in the future.”

Kielholtz, a Bellator kickboxing champion, was only competing in her ninth MMA fight, yet managed to give the champion a run for her money. She thinks she “proved to everyone that I’m not just a kickboxer, I can also be an MMA champion,” but she didn’t get the nod at Bellator 262.

The result only drives Kielholtz to be better moving forward, she said. She intends to return to training in her native Holland as soon as she’s fit to do so, and she is already thinking about a second crack at the belt.

“It’s really disappointing, this feeling right now,” Kielholtz said. “It was a really close fight. I thought I was the one that came to fight and bring the fight. Unfortunately, the judges saw it just a small way to her. Split decision loss, that hurts. For now, it’s disappointment in myself, and I just go back to Holland, work harder and I think maybe a rematch in Amsterdam.”

Kielholtz said she would be open to taking on another contender such as Ilima-Lei Macfarlane or Liz Carmouche if the promotion decides against an immediate rematch.

She thinks she has a good case to run it back immediately, though. It was an entertaining and tactical affair for 25 minutes, and Kielholtz is confident a sequel might be even better.

“I think so. I think the next fight will be more fun. That’s for sure. Who knows? It all depends on Bellator.”

Watch Kielholtz’s full post-fight press conference above.

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Bellator 262 results: Juliana Velasquez retains title with split decision over Denise Kielholtz

Check out how the main event of Bellator 262 unfolded between Juliana Velasquez and Denise Kielholtz.

[autotag]Juliana Velasquez[/autotag] has successfully defended her Bellator flyweight title for the first time.

The main event of Bellator 262 was a closely contested championship fight between champ Velasquez (12-0 MMA, 7-0 BMMA) and challenger [autotag]Denise Kielholz[/autotag].

The event took place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card aired on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

The first round started out with both fighters feeling out the striking range. The challenger, Kielholtz (6-3 MMA, 6-2 BMMA) put together quick combinations while Velasquez’s output was lower with single strikes throughout the round. With 30 seconds left, Kielholtz unleashed a beautiful five-punch combo to get the champ’s attention and put a stamp on the first five minutes of action.

In the second round, Velasquez worked behind a right-hand jab and started to increase her striking volume as she appeared to figure out her opponent’s range. Kielholtz seemed game for the change of pace, as she also answered with punches of her own.

The pair continued to trade strikes in the center of the cage early in the third round. Kielholtz led the charge by pressing forward with combinations, but Velasquez would circle away from danger before getting too close to the fence. Kielholtz controlled the center of the cage for the majority of the round, while Velasquez looked to counter with punches.

With 15 seconds left in the round, Velasquez secured her first takedown, but with a short time remaining, nothing significant came from it.

The fourth started similarly to the previous round as Kielholtz continued to keep the pressure on the champ as she circled on the outside. Velasquez’s right-hand jab continued to find the mark as the blood and bruising on Kielholtz’s face became more visible. The champ appeared to have her opponent’s timing and distance down, as she became more fluid defensively.

The final round started with a huge right hand from Kielholtz to briefly knock the champ off balance. Perhaps sensing the fight was close, the challenger turned up the pressure. The champ found the range again and returned to working from the outside while countering with punches. Kielholtz stuffed a takedown with a minute to go and led the striking exchanges until time expired.

Two of the judges scored the bout in favor of Velasquez with scores of 48-47, while the dissenting judge turned in a score of 48-47 in favor of Kielholtz.

Velasquez improves to 12-0 in her professional career, picking up her first flyweight title defense by split decision after becoming champion by defeating Ilima-Lei Macfarlane in December.

Kielholtz’s winning streak ends at four after falling to Velasquez in Friday’s main event. After losing to Veta Arteaga by second-round submission in 2018, Kielholtz went on a tear of four straight finishes to earn a shot at the Bellator title. However, she was one judge’s scorecard away from victory on Friday evening.

The full results of Bellator 262 are below:

  • Juliana Velasquez def. Denise Kielholtz via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)
  • Tyrell Fortune def. Matt Mitrione via submission (strikes) – Round 1, 1:45
  • Matheus Mattos def. Cee Jay Hamilton via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:33
  • Arlene Blencowe def. Dayana Silva via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:00
  • Johnny Eblen def. Travis Davis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
  • Said Sowma def. Ronny Markes via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:09
  • Cody Law def. Theodore Macuka via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:54
  • Diana Avsaragova def. Gabriella Gulfin via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Adil Benjilany def. Johnny Soto via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Charlie Campbell def. Nicholas Giulietti via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:30

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Bellator 262 faceoff video highlights: Juliana Velasquez, Denise Kielholtz take long look

Neither woman wanted to back down ahead of their flyweight title fight.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Bellator makes its return Friday, and the women’s flyweight title will be on the line.

Bellator 262 takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena with the main card airing on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie. Atop the bill is 125-pound champion [autotag]Juliana Velasquez[/autotag] making her first title defense against [autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag].

The co-main event features two friends fighting each other as heavyweights [autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag] and [autotag]Matt Mitrione[/autotag] will meet inside the cage.

Following Thursday’s official Bellator 262 weigh-ins, the athletes came face to face for some traditional pre-fight staredowns.

Check out the faceoffs below, including Velasquez vs. Kielholtz, Fortune vs. Mitrione, the return of [autotag]Diana Asvaragova[/autotag], and more.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (May 17-23)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie from May 17-23.

Juliana Velasquez set to defend title vs. Denise Kielholtz in Bellator 262 headliner

Bellator will stick around at Mohegan Sun for a July 16 event, in which the women’s 125-pound title is on the line.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Bellator women’s flyweight champion [autotag]Juliana Velasquez[/autotag] has her first title defense scheduled.

At Bellator 262 on July 16, Velasquez (11-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) will take on first-time challenger [autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag] in the card’s main event at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

Promotion officials announced the matchup Friday. MMA DNA was the first to report the news.

Velasquez, 34, won the 125-pound strap when she defeated longtime champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane via unanimous decision at Bellator 254 in December. Prior to the title-clinching performance, Velasquez defeated Bruna Ellen, Kristina Williams, and Alejandra Lara.

Kielholtz (6-2 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) enters Bellator 262 on a four-fight winning streak. Five of her six professional wins have come inside the distance. Despite entering MMA with an extensive kickboxing background, Kielholtz has secured three submission victories. Her wins include Kate Jackson and Kristina Williams.

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Bellator 247 predictions: Do we like Kate Jackson or Denise Kielholtz in the new main event?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the Bellator 247 main card in Milan, Italy.

Jackson
vs.
Kielholtz		 Novenyi
vs.
Zerhouni
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2020: 106-68		 kielholotz2020
Kielholtz
(61%)		 novenyi2020
Novenyi
(88%)
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2020: 117-57		 jackson2020
Jackson		 novenyi2020
Novenyi
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2020: 116-58		 jackson2020
Jackson		 novenyi2020
Novenyi
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2020: 116-58		 kielholotz2020
Kielholtz		 novenyi2020
Novenyi
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2020: 114-60		 jackson2020
Jackson		 novenyi2020
Novenyi
Simon Head
@simonhead
2020: 113-61
trophy copy 2019 Champion*		 kielholotz2020
Kielholtz		 novenyi2020
Novenyi
Dave Doyle
@davedoylemma
2020: 113-61		 jackson2020
Jackson		 novenyi2020
Novenyi
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2020: 113-61
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 jackson2020
Jackson		 novenyi2020
Novenyi
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2020: 110-64
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 kielholotz2020
Kielholtz		 novenyi2020
Novenyi
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2020: 109-65		 kielholotz2020
Kielholtz		 novenyi2020
Novenyi
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2020: 107-67		 jackson2020
Jackson		 novenyi2020
Novenyi
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2020: 106-68		 kielholotz2020
Kielholtz		 novenyi2020
Novenyi
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2020: 105-69
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 kielholotz2020
Kielholtz		 novenyi2020
Novenyi
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2020: 103-71		 kielholotz2020
Kielholtz		 novenyi2020
Novenyi
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2020: 73-101		 jackson2020
Jackson		 zerhouni2020
Zerhounni

(Note: The main card lineup additions of Simone D’Anna vs. Brian Moore and Chris Duncan vs. Iamik Furtado came too late for our picks deadline. In addition, a previously scheduled main card fight between Ilias Bulaid and Ivan Naccari was moved to Bellator’s Oct. 10 event, leaving us with just two picks for this card.)

Bellator is back this week with its first of what will become regular Thursday events.

Bellator 247 takes place Thursday at Allianz Cloud in Milan, Italy. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network following prelims on on MMA Junkie and Bellator’s YouTube page.

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

The planned main event between Paul Daley (42-17-2 MMA, 8-4 BMMA) and Derek Anderson (16-3 MMA, 7-3 BMMA) at welterweight was scrapped Wednesday when Daley became ill and was removed from the card.

That left our only contentious fight, at women’s flyweight, as the main event. [autotag]Kate Jackson[/autotag] (11-4-1 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag] (5-2 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) in the new headliner. Our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts see the fight as a close one. Jackson has just a slim 8-6 lead in the picks.

It’s nearly unanimous in the middleweight co-main event. [autotag]Norbert Novenyi[/autotag] (4-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) has a 13-1 picks blowout against promotional newcomer [autotag]Laid Zerhouni[/autotag] (7-5 MMA, 0-0 BMMA).

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Kielholtz (61 percent) and Novenyi (88 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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Full fight card announced for Bellator 247 in Milan

The full fight card for Bellator 247 set for Milan, Italy on Oct. 3, has been confirmed.

The fight card for the second leg of Bellator’s Italian triple-header has now been confirmed.

Bellator 247 takes place Thursday, Oct. 1 at the Allianz Cloud in Milan, with a 10-fight preliminary lineup preceding a four-bout main card.

The night’s main event features a welterweight battle between England’s [autotag]Paul Daley[/autotag] (42-17-2 MMA, 8-4 BMMA) and America’s [autotag]Derek Anderson[/autotag] (16-3 MMS, 7-3 BMMA), while the co-main event sees middleweight London Shootfighters prospect [autotag]Norbert Novenyi[/autotag] (4-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) take on French newcomer [autotag]Laid Zerhouni[/autotag] (7-5 MMA, 0-0 BMMA).

Also set for main card action is England’s former flyweight title challenger [autotag]Kate Jackson[/autotag] (11-4-1 MMA, 3-2), who takes on Dutch Bellator kickboxing champion [autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag] (5-2 MMA, 5-1 BMMA), while the opening bout of the main card offers a showcase for Moroccan striker [autotag]Ilias Bulaid[/autotag] (2-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA), who takes on the debuting Italian [autotag]Ivan Naccari[/autotag] (0-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA).

With the additions, the Bellator 247 card now includes:

MAIN CARD (CBS Sports Network, 4 p.m. ET)

  • Paul Daley vs. Derek Anderson
  • Norbert Novenyi vs. Laid Zerhouni
  • Kate Jackson vs. Denise Kielholtz
  • Ilias Bulaid vs. Ivan Naccari

PRELIMINARY CARD (12:15 p.m. ET, MMA Junkie)

  • [autotag]Simone D’Anna[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Brian Moore[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Justin Burlinson[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Bobby Pallett[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Lewis Long[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Giovanni Melillo[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Mandy Bohm[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Griet Eeckhout[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Chris Duncan[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Iamik Furtado[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Walter Gahadza[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Uros Jurisic[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Constantin Gnusariev[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Kywan Gracie[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Lee Chadwick[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ederson Cristian Macedo[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Salah Elkas[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Blaine O’Driscoll[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Jade Jorand[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Monika Tochlikova[/autotag]

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Video: Michael ‘Venom’ Page stars in Bellator recap of classic London moments

With its Saturday event in London postponed, Bellator has released a highlight reel featuring classic finishes from past London events.

Under normal circumstances, MMA fans in London would be getting themselves ready for a packed card of fights at the SSE Arena, Wembley for Bellator Europe 8 on Saturday. But as we all know, right now we don’t live under normal circumstances.

The continued restrictions to combat the COVID-19 pandemic mean U.K.-based MMA fans will have to sit tight and wait a little longer to get their live dose of Bellator action. But in the meantime, the promotion has offered a small taster of what fans can expect when Bellator’s European Series events get back up and running later this year by releasing a highlight reel featuring a fistful of fight finishes from previous events in London.

[lawrence-related id=507221,465417,324395]

Playing a starring role, as usual, is London’s own [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag], whose one-punch KO of Gianni Melillo was one of the highlights of the night at Bellator Europe 6 in November 2019. Also on that card, former kickboxing ace [autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag] showcased her evolving grappling game with an Americana finish of Sabriye Sengul, while rising English lightweight prospect [autotag]Akonne Wanliss[/autotag] showed off some slick submission skills of his own as he finished Tim Barnett via D’Arce choke.

Also featured on the video showcase is Irish middleweight fan-favorite [autotag]Charlie Ward[/autotag], who highlighted his “Relentless” ground and pound style to defeat Justin Moore at Bellator 223 in London in June 2019. And there was also a highlight-reel moment from “Mr. Wonderful” as former light heavyweight champion [autotag]Phil Davis[/autotag] scored a spectacular high-kick knockout of the U.K.’s own Linton Vassell at Bellator 200.

Check out Bellator’s highlight-reel montage in the video above.