Tag: George Tokkos

Defying the odds: The 10 biggest MMA betting upsets of 2022

Check out the top 10 MMA betting upsets of 2022, according to the oddsmakers, across Bellator, the UFC, PFL and more.

Who doesnโ€™t love a good upset?

In 2022, MMA saw its fair share of underdogs who defied the odds in the UFC, Bellator and beyond. While everyone has an opinion of who should win and who should lose, the oddsmakers (and how the betting public responds) largely get the final say on what history reflects.

This year, with the help of MMA databaseย Tapology, MMA Junkie has compiled the top 10 betting upsets of 2022. Fights that were eligible were those that multiple major online sportsbooks recognized, and that Tapology recorded prior to the close of the betting line.

Promotions eligible include UFC, Bellator, PFL, KSW, DWCS, Road to UFC, Eagle FC, and One Championship.

Check out the top 10 MMA betting upsets of 2022 below. Only major MMA promotions were included in the tally.

Dana White signs two fighters to UFC after scouting Fury FC 53 in Denver

A Dallas-based middleweight and an a Glory MMA & Fitness standout are now on the UFC roster.

Two more fighters have been added to the UFC roster after promotion president Dana White scouted a regional show Sunday in Denver.

Fury FC 53 took place at Western National Complex and featured rising prospects from around the United States. White, along with friends Din Thomas and Matt Serra, were in attendance for the filming of an upcoming episode of “Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight.”

Dallas-area middleweight [autotag]Joseph Holmes[/autotag] (7-1) and Glory MMA & Fitness standout [autotag]Trey Ogden[/autotag] (15-4) impressed the UFC boss enough to receive contract offers, according to an Instagram post from their manager Jason House, CVO of Iridium Sports Agency.

Holmes, 26, was offered another opportunity to fight in front of White an after he won on Dana White’s Contender Series in October. Against a fellow DWCS alum [autotag]Jhonoven Pati[/autotag] (6-6), Holmes connected on a brutal knockout punch and follow-up shot that ended the fight in highlight reel fashion.

As for Ogden, he headlined Fury FC 53 against American Kickboxing Acadamy (AKA) prospect [autotag]JJ Okanovich[/autotag] (8-3) and won by second-round technical submission. Ogden shined on the ground where he largely controlled the fight for its entirety before he locked in an arm-triangle choke.

DWCS standout [autotag]Mo Miller[/autotag] (6-1) was unsuccessful in his second attempt to impress the UFC boss. He lost the first fight of his professional career when he was submitted by Jose Johnson (13-7).

https://www.instagram.com/p/CWR_LJOs9Gh/

Bellator alumnus [autotag]George Tokkos[/autotag] (6-2), DWCS alum [autotag]Ty Flores[/autotag] (9-3), former CFFC flyweight champion [autotag]Alberto Trujillo[/autotag] (6-2), former Combate Americas title challenger [autotag]Andres Quintana[/autotag] (19-3), and rising Elevation Fight Team lightweight [autotag]Arut Pogosjan[/autotag] (9-3) were among the others victorious on the card.

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Liz Carmouche vs. DeAnna Bennett, Campos vs. Huerta among Bellator 246 additions

The second half of Bellator’s shows on two consecutive nights has additions, including the debut of a former UFC title challenger.

The second half of Bellator’s shows on two consecutive nights has some new additions, including the promotional debut of a former UFC title challenger.

[autotag]Liz Carmouche[/autotag] (13-7 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) will fight in Bellator for the first time when she takes on [autotag]DeAnna Bennett[/autotag] (10-6-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) in a women’s flyweight bout on the Bellator 246 main card. Plus, [autotag]Derek Campos[/autotag] (20-10 MMA, 9-8 BMMA) is set to take on [autotag]Roger Huerta[/autotag] (24-12-1 MMA, 1-5 BMMA) in a lightweight bout.

On the prelims, [autotag]Ty Gwerder[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) fights [autotag]George Tokkos[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) at middleweight and [autotag]Davion Franklin[/autotag] (1-0 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) meets [autotag]Ras Hylton[/autotag] (6-4 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) in a heavyweight bout.

Bellator 246 takes place Saturday, Sept. 12, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie. One night prior, the same venue hosts Bellator 245.

Carmouche in 2013 made history when she became the first woman to step into a UFC cage for a fight when she challenged Ronda Rousey for the women’s bantamweight title. She lost with a first-round submission. In 2017, she dropped to flyweight and after back-to-back wins got a shot at UFC champ Valentina Shevchenko in August 2019. She lost that fight by unanimous decision. Now she makes her way to Bellator with a resume that includes 10 UFC fights, a pair of Invicta FC bouts and three fights in Strikeforce, where she also fought for a title.

Bennett fought on Season 26 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” She fought to a draw with Melinda Fabian at the TUF 26 Finale, which was her only official UFC bout. Most recently, she’s been with Invicta. In September 2019, she won her first two fights in the promotion’s single-night women’s flyweight tournament, but was submitted by Miranda Maverick in the third round of the tourney’s final.

With the additions, the Bellator 246 lineup now includes:

MAIN CARD (Paramount, DAZN, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Juan Archuleta vs. Patchy Mix โ€“ for vacant bantamweight title
  • Jon Fitch vs. Neiman Gracie
  • DeAnna Bennett vs. Liz Carmouche
  • Derek Campos vs. Roger Huerta

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie)

  • Daniel Madrid vs. Austin Vanderford
  • Ty Gwerder vs. George Tokkos
  • Davion Franklin vs. Ras Hylton

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Saul Rogers, Rob Whiteford set for featherweight ‘Battle of Britain’ at Bellator London

A featherweight “Battle of Britain” between England’s Saul Rogers and Scotland’s Rob Whiteford heads a list of preliminary matchups added to the fight card for Bellator Europe 8 in London.

A battle between two of the U.K.’s most familiar featherweight names has been added to the preliminary card for Bellator Europe 8 in London.

Former contender from “The Ultimate Fighter 22,” England’s [autotag]Saul Rogers[/autotag], will go head-to-head with Scottish former UFC featherweight [autotag]Rob Whiteford[/autotag] in a 145-pound preliminary bout at SSE Arena, Wembley on May 16.

Rogers (13-3 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) is looking to bounce back to winning ways after his decision loss to German contender Daniel Weichel in the first round of the Bellator featherweight grand prix, while Whiteford (16-4 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) will be keen to claim back-to-back victories for his new promotion following his dramatic last-gasp knockout of Sam Sicilia with just six seconds of the fight remaining at Bellator Europe 6 last November.

Also added to the preliminary slate is a lightweight bout between rising English prospects [autotag]Alfie Davis[/autotag] and [autotag]Tim Wilde[/autotag]. Davis (13-3 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) picked up a hat-trick of decision victories under the Bellator banner in 2019, and will be looking to kick off his 2020 campaign with an impressive win over Wilde (13-4 MMA, 1-1 BMMA), who rebounded from his gogoplata loss to Brent Primus in his debut by outpointing fellow Brit [autotag]Charlie Leary[/autotag] at Bellator Europe 8.

Leary (16-11-1 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) is also scheduled for action in London, and will face rising lightweight prospect [autotag]Akonne Wanless[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA), while English light heavyweight [autotag]Luke Trainer[/autotag] (3-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) will make his Bellator debut after earning a contract with the organization by winning three fights in one night at last October’s Euro Fight Night tournament. He will take on fellow newcomer [autotag]Alex O’Toole[/autotag] (4-3-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), who returns to action for the first time in two-and-a-half years to make his Bellator debut.

Also confirmed for the prelims in London is a featherweight bout between [autotag]Aiden Lee[/autotag] (8-4 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Jeremy Petley[/autotag] (13-8-1 MMA, 3-0 BMMA), and a middleweight matchup between [autotag]George Tokkos[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Andy Manzolo[/autotag] (23-8 MMA, 0-1 BMMA).

Bellator Europe 8 will be streamed live on Bellatorโ€™s official YouTube channel.

Confirmed fights for Bellator Europe 8 include:

MAIN CARD

  • James Gallagher vs. Cal Ellenor
  • Fabian Edwards vs. Costello van Steenis
  • James Haskell vs. TBA
  • Janay Harding vs. Leah McCourt

PRELIMINARY CARD

  • Alfie Davis vs. Tim Wilde
  • Saul Rogers vs. Robert Whiteford
  • Aiden Lee vs. Jeremy Petley
  • Alex O’Toole vs. Luke Trainer
  • Charlie Leary vs. Akonne Wanliss
  • Andy Manzolo vs. George Tokkos

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

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