Tag: Gabrielle Holloway

Cris Cyborg set for next boxing match, faces former Bellator fighter on Crawford-Avanesyan undercard

Bellator champ Cris Cyborg will compete on the Terence Crawford vs. David Avanesyan undercard, which takes place Dec. 10.

As she maneuvers through MMA free agency, [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] continues her delve into the world of professional boxing.

In a press release Tuesday, boxing promotion BLK Prime announced Cyborg will face former Bellator fighter [autotag]Gabrielle Holloway[/autotag] in a four-round lightweight boxing bout.

The “special feature” boxing match will take place Dec. 10 on the undercard of the Terence Crawford vs. David Avanesyan event at CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. The event will stream on video-on-demand pay-per-view with a $39.99 price point.

“This is a great opportunity for me to make a splash in the boxing world,
especially on a card with Terence Crawford, the best boxer in the world,” Cyborg said. “Boxing has always been a big part of my training and I feel I can compete at the highest level. I’m expecting Holloway to be in great shape, and I know she’s coming to win. That said, I’m taking this fight very seriously. I feel confident, and I can’t wait to showcase my boxing skills to the world.”

Most recently under contract with Bellator MMA, Cyborg took her first boxing match in September when she defeated Simone Silva at Fight Music Show 2 in Curitiba, Brazil. Conflict remains about whether or not the bout was considered professional or exhibition, as Silva was under medical suspension from the TDLR, the Texas commission at the time of her bout.

BoxRec, the official record holder of the ABC, told ESPN the bout was not professional. Cyborg’s team disputed the claim and said the Associacao Paranaense de Lutas, a Brazilian commissioning body oversaw the event.

Regardless, Cyborg won the eight-round bout by unanimous decision.

Her upcoming opponent Holloway is 0-2 in professional boxing. Her MMA record is 6-6 and includes a 1-3 record in Bellator. Her most recent boxing match was in 2016 and her most recent MMA fight was in 2020.

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Cyborg is the current Bellator women’s featherweight champion. She has yet to lose under the promotion’s banner since her UFC departure in August 2019. Following her April win over Arlene Blencowe, Cyborg’s contract was complete. While both Cyborg and Bellator president Scott Coker have voiced hopes to continue their business relationship, a deal has not been done yet.

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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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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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Davis-Machida 2, Archuleta-Mix title fight lead back-to-back Bellator shows Sept. 11-12

Bellator is no stranger to putting on back-to-back shows in Connecticut. Now the promotion will go down that road again next month.

Bellator is no stranger to putting on back-to-back shows in Connecticut. Now the promotion will go down that road again next month.

Bellator 245 and Bellator 246 are slated for consecutive nights Sept. 11-12 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. A person with knowledge of the events confirmed the news to MMA Junkie on Wednesday following an initial report from ESPN.

The Bellator 245 headliner will be a rematch between former Bellator light heavyweight champion [autotag]Phil Davis[/autotag] (21-5 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) and former UFC champ [autotag]Lyoto Machida[/autotag] (26-9 MMA, 2-1 BMMA). In addition, former UFC title challenger [autotag]Cat Zingano[/autotag] (10-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) will make her promotional debut against [autotag]Gabrielle Holloway[/autotag] (6-5 MMA, 1-2 BMMA).

At Bellator 246, the vacant bantamweight title will be on the line between [autotag]Juan Archuleta[/autotag] (24-2 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Patchy Mix[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA). Plus, [autotag]Jon Fitch[/autotag] (32-7-2 MMA, 1-1-1 BMMA) is set to take on [autotag]Neiman Gracie[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) at welterweight.

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Davis and Machida fought at UFC 163 a little more than seven years ago in Brazil, where Davis won a mildly controversial unanimous decision. Although all three judges scored the fight for him 29-28, none of the media members tracked by MMADecisions.com scored the fight for Davis.

Davis won Bellator’s light heavyweight title in 2016, but lost it in his first defense to current dual champion Ryan Bader. Since that setback, he’s gone 4-1, including back-to-back wins over former champ Liam McGeary and Karl Albrektsson in 2019. His lone loss in that stretch was a split call to Vadim Nemkov, who on Friday challenges Bader for the light heavyweight belt.

Machida will be looking to rebound from a split decision loss to Gegard Mousasi in September 2019. Prior to that, he had four straight wins, including his first two in Bellator after coming over from the UFC in 2018 as a free agent. He took a split call from Rafael Carvalho in his promotional debut and stopped Chael Sonnen with a second-round TKO before his loss to Mousasi.

Archuleta was cruising through the Bellator ranks and had fought at both featherweight and bantamweight. He earned a title shot against 145-pound champ Patricio Freire in September 2019, but lost a unanimous decision for his first setback in the promotion. In January, he bounced back with a win over Henry Corrales at featherweight, but now he’ll drop back down to 135 pounds to go after a belt.

Mix stayed unbeaten this past December in a crossover fight at Rizin 20 when he submitted Yuki Motoya in the first round on New Year’s Eve. Earlier in the year, he picked up first-round submission wins in his first two Bellator bouts against Ricky Bandejas an Isaiah Chapman. He has nine of his first 13 career wins by submission.

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