Denise Kielholtz – Page 3 – Syndication Server

Bellator 239 post-event facts: Yaroslav Amosov extends remarkable streak

Check out all the facts and figures from Bellator 239, which took place Friday in Thackerville, Okla.

Bellator hosted its second event of the year on Friday with Bellator 239, which took place at WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Okla., with a main card that aired on Paramount following prelims on MMA Junkie.

In the main event, [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] (23-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) continued the longest MMA winning streak among Bellator fighters when he edged [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) by unanimous decision in the matchup of welterweight contenders.

For more on the numbers behind the card, check below for 25 post-event facts to come out of Bellator 239.

* * * *

General

Betting favorites went 3-1 on the main card.

Betting favorites improved to 2-0 in Bellator main events this year.

Total fight time for the four-bout main card was 47:35.

Main card

Amosov’s 23-fight winning streak in MMA competition is the longest among active Bellator fighters.

Amosov has earned three of his four Bellator victories by decision.

Ruth fell to 2-2 in his past four fights after starting his career 6-0.

Ruth fell to 3-2 since he dropped to the Bellator welterweight division in June 2018.

Ruth suffered the first decision loss of his career.

Myles Jury. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

[autotag]Myles Jury[/autotag] (18-5 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) snapped his three-fight losing skid for his first victory since December 2017.

Jury improved to 1-1 since he returned to the lightweight division in September.

[autotag]Brandon Girtz[/autotag] (16-9 MMA, 8-7 BMMA) fell to 2-5 in his past seven Bellator appearances dating back to November 2016.

Girtz has suffered four of his seven Bellator losses by decision.

[lawrence-related id=492546]

[autotag]Timothy Johnson[/autotag] (13-6 MMA, 1-2 BMMA) has earned 10 of his 13 career victories by stoppage.

[autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMA) had his eight-fight winning streak snapped for the first defeat of his career.

[autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag]’s (9-1 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) four-fight Bellator winning streak at heavyweight is the second longest active streak in the division behind Tyrell Fortune (eight).

Moldavsky has earned three of his four Bellator victories by decision.

[autotag]Javy Ayala[/autotag] (11-8 MMA, 6-5 BMMA) fell to 3-5 in his past eight fights dating back to June 2015.

Preliminary card

[autotag]J.W. Kiser[/autotag] (5-3 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) suffered the first decision loss of his career.

[autotag]Gaston Bolanos[/autotag] (5-3 MMA, 5-3 BMMA) suffered the first decision loss of his career.

[autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag]’s (5-2 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) five victories in Bellator women’s flyweight competition are tied with Juliana Velasquez for second most in divisional history behind Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (10).

Kielholtz’s three-fight Bellator winning streak at women’s flyweight is the third longest active streak in the division behind Macfarlane (10) and Velasquez (five).

Kielholtz’s four stoppage victories in Bellator women’s flyweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Macfarlane (seven).

Kielholtz’s three submission victories in Bellator women’s flyweight competition are tied with Emily Ducote for second most in divisional history behind Macfarlane (six).

[autotag]Kristina Williams[/autotag] (3-3 MMA, 3-3 BMMA) suffered the first submission loss of her career.

[autotag]Shawn Bunch[/autotag] (9-5 MMA, 6-4 BMMA) fell to 2-2 since he returned to Bellator for a second stint in November 2018.

[vertical-gallery id=492496]

After Bellator 239 win, Denise Kielholtz says she’s one win away from a title shot

Denise Kielholtz is confident that with one more win she’ll be ready for a shot at the Bellator women’s flyweight title.

THACKERVILLE, Okla. – Dutch kickboxing starlet [autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag] is confident that she’s one step away from conquering another sport.

Kielholtz (5-2 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) scored a first-round submission finish over Kristina Williams at Bellator 239 as she notched her third straight win. It was a big step forward in her MMA career, and one that she believes should catapult her to a title eliminator bout in her next appearance.

“I think we hope one more fight, one more win and then I’m one-thousand percent ready for the world champion, for Ilima-Lei or someone else, but for the title shot,” Kielholtz told reporters, including MMA Junkie, backstage at WinStar World Casino.

Kielholtz already holds Bellator’s women’s flyweight kickboxing title, but remains committed to her MMA journey and is hopeful that her continued progression will result in an MMA title somewhere down the line.

“It all depends on Bellator, but if I have to be honest, in kickboxing I am the world champion for years and I fought the best of the best and I won,” she said. “I have six world titles, so there’s no more fire in that division for me, and in MMA there’s so much more.

“I think if I have to be honest I think that, in MMA, I find my place and I’m really eager and hungry to get a better version of myself and to go one day for the belt. So I now see my future in MMA. I see more progression.”

Kielholtz showed off her evolving MMA skillset by making quick work of Williams on the ground, as she proved that she’s certainly not a one-dimensional fighter.

“Everybody thinks, ‘Oh, she’s a kickboxer,’ but I want to show everyone yes, I am a kickboxer, but I can do so many things also on the ground,” she explained. “And now that I have my new head coach, Bob Schrijber, with Team Schrijber, I see myself so much more growing as an MMA fighter. Like you see in my fights, (I’m) now more than just a kickboxer.”

Kielholtz capitalized on a telegraphed spinning back kick by Williams, as she grabbed a hold of her opponent, then took her to the ground, where she quickly transitioned to the back and locked up a rear-naked choke for the win.

“Miss Dynamite” admitted she was a little surprised by the way the fight panned out.

“I wasn’t planning on going to the ground because I was planning to keep my stand up, but I saw that she made a mistake, she turned her back and then I saw a chance. OK, I take her down and I didn’t even think I could make a rear-naked choke, because now at this point, I feel I can’t believe it. I see myself growing as an MMA fighter, so I’m still flabbergasted.”

Bellator 239: Denise Kielholtz full post-fight interview

4 burning questions heading into Bellator 239

MMA Junkie’s Simon Head picks out four notable storylines to follow through fight night at Bellator 239.

The Bellator cage returns to the familiar surroundings of the WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Okla., on Friday for Bellator 239 as a pair of surging welterweight contenders face off in the main event looking to position themselves for a shot at reigning 170-pound champion Douglas Lima.

The welterweight clash between [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] and [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] headlines a packed card that features a range of narratives worth following as a host of rising stars look to make an impact.

Without further ado, here are our four burning questions heading in.

****

Which rising welterweight star will move one step closer to a title shot?

Ruth (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) has been considered a blue-chip prospect from the moment he inked his first fight contract with Bellator. Now nine fights into his MMA career, the former Penn State wrestling standout has the well-rounded skillset to make him a legitimate threat to the very best in the division.

With the dust still settling after the Bellator welterweight grand prix tournament, Ruth is eyeing a run at Lima’s 170-pound title but faces an acid test in the form of undefeated Ukrainian Amosov (22-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA), who followed up decision wins in his first two Bellator outings with an impressive submission of tough veteran David Rickels in his most recent appearance.

Amosov’s grappling-based attack should make for a fascinating contest with wrestling phenom Ruth, and the fight might end up being decided by whomever has the better striking.

The welterweight division is wide open right now, and a decisive win for either man could push them toward the front of the queue to face Lima later in the year. But who will leave Thackerville with the win?

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Bellator 239: Denise Kielholtz predicts she’ll beat two more contenders, then Ilima-Lei Macfarlane

With a victory Friday, flyweight Denise Kielholtz thinks she’ll be within arm’s reach of Bellator gold.

THACKERVILLE, Okla. – With a victory Friday, flyweight [autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag] thinks she’ll be within an arm’s reach of Bellator gold.

A kickboxing star turned MMA fighter, Kielholtz (4-2 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) looks to extend her win streak to four when she takes on Kristina Williams at Bellator 239.

“Camp went really, really good,” Kielholtz told MMA Junkie. “I feel very excited to get back in there. I think every training camp is good, but every training camp is different. I learned more to explore (how to be) an MMA fighter.”

According to Kielholtz, Williams (3-2 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) poses some threats – but not unconquerable ones. Kielholtz complimented the Oklahoman’s toughness and grit, which she expects will be on display at Bellator 239.

“I think I’m going to see the best version of Kristina Williams,” Kielholtz said. “She’s a really good fighter with good kicks. She has a tough heart. I think she’s the perfect opponent for me. I think we have a plan. With how we train, she’s the perfect opponent to work this plan against. I have all the respect for her and I’m really excited to fight her because she’s a good opponent.”

In Kielholtz’s mind, there’s no question she’ll walk away from Bellator 239 victorious. While the Dutch fighter doesn’t expect to get an immediate title shot, Kielholtz thinks one more victory post-Bellator 239 should do the trick.

“I think I’m really close,” Kielholtz said. “Of course, I’m going to win this fight. I hope to get, after this fight, another challenge who’s a ground fighter. After those two wins, I’m 1,000 percent ready for the title shot.”

[lawrence-related id=491005,490797,490787]

If she picks up two more victories and the Bellator flyweight title doesn’t change hands in the meantime, Kielholtz expects to square off with [autotag]Ilima-Lei Macfarlane[/autotag]. Despite the Hawaiian champion’s career dominance, Kielholtz says she’s seen weaknesses in Macfarlane’s game.

“I’ve seen a lot of her fights and I think she’s a really good fighter,” Kielholtz said. “She’s really tough on the ground, but I also see some things where I think, ‘Hey, I can take her (here). This is her weakest point.’ I saw some holes in her fight game. I hope to fight her one day and get the win from (exposing) those holes.

“I think if she has a really good challenge from a fighter (like) I am, I think she gets a better fight. She’s a good champion and I hope to get two wins to fight her one day.”

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

[vertical-gallery id=391998]

Bellator 239: Denise Kielholtz full pre-fight interview

Bellator 239 adds Tyrell Fortune vs. Timothy Johnson, Denise Kielholtz vs. Kristina Williams

Two more fights are official for the growing Bellator 239 lineup.

Two bouts have been added to Bellator’s return to WinStar World Casino.

Heavyweights will collide when [autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag] meets [autotag]Timothy Johnson[/autotag] on the main card. Women’s flyweights [autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag] and [autotag]Kristina Williams[/autotag] will square off on the prelims.

A Bellator official informed MMA Junkie of both bookings on Wednesday.

One of Bellator’s rising heavyweight stars, Fortune (8-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) looks to keep his undefeated record going against Johnson (12-6 MMA, 0-2 BMMA). The two were briefly linked for a matchup in 2019, but the pairing never came to fruition.

Johnson is seeking his first promotional victory since joining Bellator in mid-2018. He’s suffered back-to-back first-round knockout losses since his UFC departure.

As for Kielholtz (4-2 MMA, 4-1 BMMA), the kickboxing star travels into enemy territory to face her most experienced opponent to date. Oklahoma’s Williams (3-2 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) looks to rebound following a TKO loss to Juliana Velasquez in July.

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.

With the addition, the updated Bellator 239 card includes:

Yaroslav Amosov vs. Ed Ruth
Brandon Girtz vs. Myles Jury
Tyrell Fortune vs. Timothy Johnson
Cris Lencioni vs. Salim Mukhidinov
Denise Kielholtz vs. Kristina Williams

[vertical-gallery id=461284]

Bellator Europe 6 medical suspensions: Josie Blaber gets 180 days, others out indefinitely

Check out the full list of medical suspensions from Bellator Europe 6 in London.

Bellator finished closed out its 2019 European series schedule Saturday in London with Bellator Europe 6, which took place at The SSE Arena, Wembley.

In the main event, [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] ran through Italian newcomer [autotag]Giovanni Melilla[/autotag] by picking up another first-round knockout. The co-headliner saw [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] edge out a split decision win against [autotag]Mike Shipman[/autotag].

On Monday, MMA Junkie received medical suspensions from Mohegan Sun Tribe Department of Regulation president Mike Mazzulli, who oversaw regulation of the event. Among those facing lengthy suspensions is [autotag]Sam Sicilia[/autotag]. The Washington-based fighter was knocked out by fellow UFC veteran Robert Whiteford and will need neurological clearance to return. Whiteford was suspended indefinitely for a potential ankle/foot injury.

After his win over [autotag]Terry Brazier[/autotag], [autotag]Soren Bak[/autotag] was suspended indefinitely until his right knee is cleared by a physician.

Additionally, [autotag]Josie Blaber[/autotag] was suspended 180 days or until cleared by a doctor. Blaber was on the receiving end of brutal, dragged-out attack by [autotag]Charlotte McIntyre[/autotag] in the card’s curtain jerker.

Check out the full Bellator Europe 7 medical suspensions below:

Josie Blaber: Suspended 180 days on until X-ray of face is cleared by physician; also suspended 45 days
Charlotte McIntyre: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Raphael Uchegbu[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Shane Campbell[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Tim Barnett[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days for knock down
[autotag]Akonne Wanliss[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Harry Hardwick[/autotag]: Suspended 45 for deep laceration
[autotag]Nathan Rose[/autotag]: Suspended indefinitely until physician grants ortho clearance on right ankle injury; also suspended 30 days
[autotag]Tom Means[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days for laceration
[autotag]Jeremy Petley[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Auden Lee[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Damian Frankiewicz[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Kevin Fryer[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]George Tokkos[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Alessandro Botti[/autotag]:
[autotag]Alfie Davis[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Andy Manzolo[/autotag]: Suspended indefinitely until physician grants clearance on left leg X-ray; also suspended 30 days
[autotag]Kent Kauppinen[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Benjamin Brander[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Chris Bungard[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Lew Long[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Walter Gahadza[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
Sam Sicilia: Suspended 60 days for knockout, needs neurological clearance from physician
Robert Whiteford: Suspended indefinitely until physician grants ortho clearance on left ankle/foot; also suspended 30 days
[autotag]Pietro Penini[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Charlie Ward[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days for laceration
[autotag]Charley Leary[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days for laceration
[autotag]Tim Wilde[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days for laceration
[autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Sabine Sengal[/autotag]: Suspended 45 laceration
Terry Brazier: Suspended 45 laceration
Soren Bak: Suspended indefinitely until physician grants orthopedic clearance on right knee injury; also suspended 30 days
[autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Michael Shipman[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Michael Page[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Giovanni Melilla[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days

[vertical-gallery id=465578]

Bellator Europe 6 post-event facts: Michael Page elevates places in record book

Check out all the facts and figures from Bellator London, which took place Saturday and saw Michael Page win in the main event.

Bellator hosted its final European event of the years on Saturday with Bellator Europe 6, which went down at The SSE Arena, Wembley in London and streamed on the Bellator app following prelims on MMA Junkie.

England’s own [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] (16-1 MMA, 12-1 BMMA) was triumphant yet again in the main event when he elevated his record with a first-round knockout of replacement opponent [autotag]Giovanni Melillo[/autotag] (13-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) in the welterweight matchup.

The finish by “MVP” etched his name further in the record books. For more on the numbers, check below for 25 post-event facts to come out of Bellator Europe 6.

* * * *

General

Betting favorites went 3-0 on the main card.

Betting favorites improved to 13-7 (with two no contests and one draw) in Bellator main events this year.

Total fight time for the three-bout main card was 31:47.

Main card

Page’s 12 victories in Bellator welterweight competition are third most in divisional history behind Andrey Koreshkov (13) and Douglas Lima (13).

Page’s nine stoppage victories in Bellator welterweight competition are tied with Lima for most in divisional history.

Page’s eight knockout victories in Bellator competition are third most in company history behind Lima (nine) and Patricky Freire (nine).

Page’s eight knockout victories in Bellator welterweight competition are tied with Lima for most in divisional history.

Melillo fell to 1-3 in his past four fights dating back to August 2018.

Melillo has suffered all five of his career losses by first-round knockout.

[autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] (9-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) became the first fighter to earn four Bellator victories in 2019.

Edwards’ four-fight Bellator winning streak at middleweight is tied with Rafael Lovato Jr. for the second longest active streak in the division behind Anatoly Tokov (five).

[autotag]Mike Shipman[/autotag]’s (13-3 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) suffered consecutive losses for the first time in his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since November 2018.

Shipman suffered the first decision loss of his career.

[autotag]Terry Brazier[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) suffered the first decision loss of his career.

Preliminary card

[autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag]’s (4-2 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) four victories in Bellator women’s flyweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (nine).

Kielholtz’s three stoppage victories in Bellator women’s flyweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Macfarlane (six).

Kielholtz’s two submission victories in Bellator women’s flyweight competition are third most in divisional history behind Macfarlane (six) and Emily Ducote (three).

Kielholtz’s 32-second finish of Sabriye Sengul marked the fastest submission in Bellator women’s flyweight history.

[autotag]Charlie Ward[/autotag] (7-4 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) fell to 4-1 since he returned to the middleweight division in November 2017. He’s 6-1 overall in his career at the weight class.

Ward suffered the first decision loss of his career.

[autotag]Sam Sicilia[/autotag] (17-11 MMA, 2-3 BMMA) fell to 2-6 in his past eight fights dating back to November 2015.

Sicilia has suffered nine of his 11 career losses by stoppage.

[autotag]Kent Kauppinen[/autotag] (12-5 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) was successful in his return to the middleweight division.

Kauppinen has earned all 12 of his career victories by stoppage. He’s finished seven of those wins in Round 1.

[autotag]Alfie Davis[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) has earned three of his four Bellator victories by decision.

[vertical-gallery id=465578]

Bellator Europe 6 ceremonial weigh-in video highlights: ‘MVP’ upstaged by Edwards-Shipman scuffle

If the Bellator Europe 6 co-main event was flying under the radar before Friday, maybe people will pay attention now.

LONDON – If the Bellator Europe 6 co-main event was flying under the radar before Friday, maybe people will pay attention now.

The weigh-ins are in the books for Saturday’s event, which takes place at The SSE Arena, Wembley in London. The card streams on MMA Junkie. And at Friday’s ceremonial weigh-ins, things got pretty heated between a pair of middleweights.

[autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] (8-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) and [autotag]Mike Shipman[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) had to be separated when punches were thrown during their faceoff. You can check out the madness in the video above.

That video also includes the event’s welterweight headliners, [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] (15-1 MMA, 11-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Giovanni Melillo[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), as well as [autotag]Soren Bak[/autotag] (13-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) vs. [autotag]Terry Brazier[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag] (3-2 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) vs. [autotag]Sabriye Sengul[/autotag] (0-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA).

Check out the ceremonial weigh-ins video above.