Tag: Henry Corrales

Bellator 273 pre-event facts: Can Benson Henderson snap career-worst skid?

Former UFC and WEC champ Benson Henderson enters Saturday’s Bellator 273 on the worst losing skid of his career.

Bellator kicks off its 2022 schedule on Saturday with Bellator 273, which takes place at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Ariz., with a main card that airs on Showtime following prelims streamed on MMA Junkie.

A heavyweight championship unification fight is featured in the main event. Reigning divisional kingpin [autotag]Ryan Bader[/autotag] (28-7 MMA, 6-2 BMMA) will face interim titleholder [autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag] (11-1 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) atop the card.

For more on the numbers, check below for 20 pre-event facts about Bellator 273.

Defying the odds: The 10 biggest MMA betting upsets of 2021

Check out the biggest upsets of 2021, according to the oddsmakers.

Who doesn’t love a good upset?

In 2021, 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 largely get the final say on what history reflects.

This year, with the help of MMA database Tapology, MMA Junkie has compiled the top 10 betting upsets of 2021. Fights that were eligible were those which numerous major online sports books recognized, and which Tapology recorded prior to line close.

Check out the top 10 MMA betting upsets of 2021 below, per Tapology. Note that only major MMA promotions were included in the tally.

Bellator 268 salaries: Vadim Nemkov, Corey Anderson among five six-figure paydays

Five fighters pocketed more than $100,000 at Bellator 268 in Phoenix, according to documents obtained by MMA Junkie.

Bellator 268 featured two light heavyweight grand prix matchups, and the fighters involved were four of the five highest-paid athletes on the card.

Light heavyweight champion [autotag]Vadim Nemkov[/autotag] and fellow grand prix finalist [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] led all paydays, as they pocketed six figures as a result of their wins Oct. 16 at Footprint Center in Phoenix.

Grand prix participants [autotag]Julius Anglickas[/autotag] and [autotag]Ryan Bader[/autotag], who lost in the semfinals, and former UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Benson Henderson[/autotag], also took home six figures.

On Monday, MMA Junkie acquired a full list of Bellator 268 salaries from the Arizona Department of Gaming, which oversaw the event.

Check out a full list below.

Bellator 258 post-event facts: Michael Page is the new Bellator knockout king

Check out all the facts and figures from Bellator 258, including Michael Page’s takeover of the company KO record.

Bellator saw its first title change of the year happen on Friday in the Bellator 258 headliner.

[autotag]Sergio Pettis[/autotag] (21-5 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) claimed the bantamweight title from [autotag]Juan Archuleta [/autotag](25-3 MMA, 7-2 BMMA) in their main event clash, taking a unanimous decision at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

For more on the numbers, check below for 20 post-event facts to come out of Bellator 258.

Bellator 258 video: Johnny Campbell shocks massive favorite Henry Corrales with finish

Henry Corrales dropped the ball as the biggest betting favorite on Friday’s Bellator 258 card.

[autotag]Henry Corrales[/autotag] dropped the ball as the biggest betting favorite on Friday’s Bellator 258 card.

According to the betting odds, Corrales was expected to have a layup of a fight against promotional newcomer [autotag]Johnny Campbell[/autotag], a longtime fighter making his Bellator debut.

Corrales (18-6 MMA, 6-6 BMMA) was dropping to bantamweight for the first time, and the matchmaking seemed slanted to see him win big. He was as high as a -1200 favorite. Campbell (21-13 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) had other plans, though. He dropped and stopped Corrales for the second-round finish.

After landing a big uppercut that led to a knockdown, Campbell pounced on Corrales and locked in a rear-naked choke for the tap at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. (via Twitter):

After the fight, Campbell used his mic time effectively and called out Irish star James Gallagher for a future clash.

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With Keith Lee out, Henry Corrales fights Johnny Campbell at Bellator 258

Henry Corrales will still fight at Bellator 258, but it won’t be against Keith Lee.

[autotag]Henry Corrales[/autotag] will still fight at Bellator 258, but it won’t be against [autotag]Keith Lee[/autotag].

With Bellator in need of a replacement after Lee recently withdrew, [autotag]Johnny Campbell[/autotag] has stepped in to take on Corrales (18-5 MMA, 6-5 BMMA), a promotion official informed MMA Junkie on Tuesday. No reason for Lee’s withdrawal was given.

Bellator 258 takes place Friday, May 7 at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

Corrales, 34, will drop to bantamweight for the first time when he fights Campbell (20-13 MMA, 0-0 BMMA). The Fight Ready MMA product snapped a two-fight losing skid at featherweight when he defeated Brandon Girtz at Bellator 250 in October. After the fight, Corrales voiced interest in moving to 135 pounds to pursue a rematch against champion Juan Archuleta.

As for Campbell, the promotional newcomer graced national headlines for a freak accident suffered in October at Taura MMA 10. Against Ary Farias, Campbell’s ear was nearly severed and the fight subsequently called off by a cageside physician. The injury’s graphic nature made it an instantly viral image on social media.

The loss snapped a four-fight winning streak for Campbell.

With the addition, the Bellator 258 lineup includes:

  • Champion Juan Archuleta vs. Sergio Pettis – for bantamweight title
  • Anthony Johnson vs. Yoel Romero – light heavyweight grand prix quarterfinal
  • James Gallagher vs. Patchy Mix
  • Josh Hill vs. Raufeon Stots
  • Weber Almeida vs. Johnny Soto
  • Johnny Eblen vs. Daniel Madrid
  • Henry Corrales vs. Keith Lee
  • Bryce Logan vs. Alan Omer
  • Hannah Guy vs. Valerie Loureda
  • Johnny Campbell vs. Henry Corrales

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Henry Corrales vs. Keith Lee among three additions to Bellator 258

Three fights have been added to Bellator’s first 2021 event.

The bantamweight theme continues for Bellator 258.

Like the first three additions to the May 7 card, the fourth is also a fight between two of the promotion’s 135-pound notables. [autotag]Henry Corrales[/autotag] and [autotag]Keith Lee[/autotag] are set to square off at the event, which takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

[autotag]Johnny Eblen[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Daniel Madrid[/autotag] (18-6 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) at middleweight, and [autotag]Weber Almeida[/autotag] (4-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) vs. [autotag]Johnny Soto[/autotag] (3-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) at featherweight, also have been added to the preliminary card.

Bellator officials confirmed the bookings to MMA Junkie on Tuesday. All three fights first were reported by Sherdog.

Corrales (18-5 MMA, 6-5 BMMA) drops to bantamweight for the first time in his Bellator career. The move down a weight class comes after a split decision win over Brandon Girtz at Bellator 250 in October. Corrales is 1-2 in his most recent three appearances.

Lee (7-4 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) most recently competed at Bellator 253 in November when his four-fight winning streak was snapped by Raufeon Shots via unanimous decision. The loss was Lee’s first in Bellator. He holds promotional wins over Vinicius Zani and Shawn Bunch.

With the addition, the Bellator 258 lineup includes:

  • Champion Juan Archuleta vs. Sergio Pettis – for bantamweight title
  • James Gallagher vs. Patchy Mix
  • Josh Hill vs. Raufeon Stots
  • Henry Corrales vs. Keith Lee
  • Johnny Eblen vs. Daniel Madrid
  • Weber Almeida vs. Johnny Soto

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Henry Corrales still thinks he beat Juan Archuleta, looks forward to Brandon Girtz at Bellator 250

Henry Corrales is ready to get back into the win column after a two-fight losing streak.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Ahead of Bellator 250, [autotag]Henry Corrales[/autotag] spoke to MMA Junkie on Tuesday.

Corrales (17-5 MMA, 5-5 BMMA) discussed his prior loss to now featherweight champion Juan Archuleta, his excitement to fight Brandon Girtz (16-9 MMA, 8-7 BMMA), how he adjusted to training without Eddie Cha by his side, and more.

You can watch the full interview in the video above.

Bellator 250 takes place Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network after prelims streamed on MMA Junkie.

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Brandon Girtz explains drop to featherweight for Bellator 250: ‘It’s a bunch of new blood’

Brandon Girtz is ready to test the featherweight division’s new blood.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Brandon Girtz[/autotag] has fought under the promotion’s banner for almost eight years, but Bellator 250 will mark a first.

Lightweight, no more. Girtz (16-9 MMA, 8-7 BMMA) will make his featherweight debut against [autotag]Henry Corrales[/autotag] in Thursday’s co-main event. The drop-down is something Girtz has contemplated for a while.

“It’s always been a thing, like, if 150 was a weight class, that’s where I would’ve been at,” Girtz told MMA Junkie on Tuesday. “I’ve always been a little bit smaller 155-er. I was kind of in-between that. During this pandemic… I kind of wasn’t hitting the weights the same. It’s just natural that my weight got a little smaller. We looked at it and were like, ‘Maybe this is the time to go to 145.'”

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Having competed against the who’s who of the Bellator lightweight roster, Girtz is excited by the new matchups featherweight presents.

“It’s a bunch of new blood,” Girtz said. “It’s not new blood to me, it’s literally new blood, younger guys, some up-and-comers. I think it has some of the most exciting people at 145. That’s what I want. I want to get excited and I want to go against guys that are trying to take my head off.”

Bellator 250 takes place Tuesday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network after prelims on MMA Junkie.

Check out MMA Junkie’s full Bellator 250 pre-fight interview with Brandon Girtz in the video above.

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