Tag: Kana Watanabe

2024 PFL 4 video: Liz Carmouche beats buzzer with armbar of Kana Watanabe, clinches playoffs

Former UFC title challenger Liz Carmouche has arguably never looked better.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Over 13 years into her professional career, [autotag]Liz Carmouche[/autotag] might be hitting new highs with nine straight wins.

At 2024 PFL 4 on Thursday, Carmouche (22-7) submitted [autotag]Kana Watanabe[/autotag] (13-3-1) with eight seconds left in the fight to earn four points and clinch her spot in the women’s flyweight playoffs. The stoppage came at 4:52 of Round 3. The fight took place at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Carmouche was on the bottom, in guard, when she threw up a lightning-fast submission attempt and locked it in. The tap came mere seconds later.

The fight was a rematch of a June 2021 bout in Bellator that Carmouche also won. That one was by 35-second standing TKO.

The up-to-the-minute 2024 PFL 4 results include:

  • Liz Carmouche def. Kana Watanabe via submission (armbar) – Round 3, 4:52
  • Taila Santos def. Taila Santos via split decision
  • Oleg Popov def. Davion Franklin via unanimous decision
  • Tyrell Fortune def. Marcelo Golm via unanimous decision
  • Ilara Joanne def. Shanna Young via unanimous decision
  • Tim Johnson def. Danilo Marques via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:14
  • Juliana Velasquez def. Lisa Mauldin via TKO (ground-and-pound) – Round 2, 1:30
  • Sumiko Inaba def. Saray Orozco via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL 4.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (May 22-28)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported 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 or officially announced by a promotion from May 22-28.

Bellator free fight: Liz Carmouche swarms Kana Watanabe with punches in quick TKO win

Watch Liz Carmouche run through Kana Watanabe at Bellator 261.

[autotag]Liz Carmouche[/autotag] proved she still has power in Bellator.

Back in the summer of 2021, Carmouche (18-7 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) picked up her first TKO victory since putting away Jessica Andrade in 2013 during her UFC days, as she quickly dispatched [autotag]Kana Watanabe[/autotag] in a first-round TKO win at Bellator 261.

It was a quick and dominant finish that got a chance to fight for the Bellator women’s flyweight title – an opportunity she made the most of by dethroning then-champ Juliana Velasquez at Bellator 278 last April.

You can watch her impressive finish in the video above.

Now, a year later, Carmouche is scheduled to make her second title defense. She takes on DeAnna Bennett (13-7-1 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) this Friday in the main event of  Bellator 294, which takes place Friday at Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu.

The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 294.

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Kana Watanabe: Ilima-Lei Macfarlane ‘a really good grappler, but I’m also confident in my grappling’

“She’s a really good grappler, but I’m also confident in my grappling.”

HONOLULU – [autotag]Kana Watanabe[/autotag] isn’t afraid to hit the ground with [autotag]Ilima-Lei Macfarlane[/autotag].

Watanabe (11-1-1 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) meets former flyweight champion Macfarlane (12-2 MMA, 11-2 BMMA) in Saturday’s Bellator 295 co-main event at Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Macfarlane ruled the flyweight division for two years with four title defenses. Despite her opponent’s experience, Watanabe says wherever the fight goes, she’ll be ready.

“She’s a really good grappler, but I’m also confident in my grappling,” Watanabe told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “If the fight turns into striking, that’s not a problem for me. … I’ve watched her past bouts a lot, and I’ve studied a lot her fighting styles and patterns, and I’m ready for it.”

Flyweight champion Liz Carmouche and her Bellator 294 title challenger DeAnna Bennett have expressed interest in fighting Watanabe. Carmouche and Watanabe already fought before. It took Carmouche just 35 seconds to score the TKO win at Bellator 261.

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Watanabe is happy to have her name linked to the title fight, and is ready to show her improvements when she faces Macfarlane.

“I’m very happy that Liz, the champion, is wishing for me to fight again with her,” Watanabe said. “I wasn’t able to show my own strength last time, so in the next match against her, I want to show my strength more… I’m planning to win this Saturday’s fight, so I’m very happy to fight whoever wins. It doesn’t matter if it’s Liz or DeAnna. I’m very happy to fight against the champion.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 295.

Sara McMann’s debut, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane’s return, more added to Bellator’s Hawaii doubleheader

Sara McMann will begin the next chapter of her career in Bellator when the promotion returns to Honolulu in April.

Former UFC title challenger [autotag]Sara McMann[/autotag] has a date and opponent for her Bellator debut.

McMann will take on veteran and former Bellator title challenger [autotag]Arlene Blencowe[/autotag] (15-9 MMA, 6-3 BMMA) in a women’s featherweight bout at Bellator 294. The event is part of a two-night series set to go down on April 21 and April 22, which marks Bellator’s return to Hawaii.

News of the matchup was announced Wednesday by the promotion.

Both Bellator 294 and Bellator 295 go down at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu.

McMann (13-6 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) was last seen in action in March, when she defeated Karol Rosa by unanimous decision at UFC on ESPN 33. That was her only fight in 2022. McMann was scheduled to make a return in two other separate occasions in 2022, one in August and the other in September, against Aspen Ladd, but both bouts fell through due to Ladd’s weight-cutting issues. Following the cancelations, McMann was released from her final fight of her UFC contract, and she signed with Bellator shortly after.

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Additionally on that card, a heavyweight matchup between [autotag]Tim Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Said Sowma[/autotag] will serve as the co-main event. Johnson (15-9 MMA, 3-5 BMMA) looks to snap a three-fight losing streak. His last win came against Cheick Kongo back in 2020. Sowma (8-4 MMA, 2-3 BMMA) looks to snap a losing streak himself as he lost his two most recent bouts.

Bellator 295 also saw an addition to its lineup. Former women’s flyweight champion [autotag]Ilima-Lei Macfarlane[/autotag] returns against top contender [autotag]Kana Watanabe[/autotag].

Both fighters look to build momentum and turn it into streaks as Macfarlane (12-2 MMA, 11-1 BMMA) is coming off a decision win over Bruna Ellen last August, while Watanabe (11-1-1MMA, 3-1 BMMA) is on the heels of a submission finish over Denise Kielholtz last May.

Below are the updated lineups for both Bellator 294 and Bellator 295:

Bellator 294

  • Liz Carmouche vs. DeAnna Bennett
  • Tim Johnson vs. Said Sowma
  • Arlene Blencowe vs. Sara McMann

Bellator 295

  • Raufeon Stots vs. Patchy Mix
  • Adil Edwards vs. Kai Kamaka III
  • Charlie Leary vs. Yancy Medeiros
  • Keoni Diggs vs. Weber Almeida
  • Sumiko Inaba vs. Veta Arteaga
  • Bobby King vs. Aalon Cruz
  • Davion Franklin vs. Kasim Aras

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.

Bellator 261 results: Liz Carmouche swarms Kana Watanabe for 35-second knockout

Liz Carmouche recorded the fastest victory of her career against Kana Watanabe at Bellator 261.

[autotag]Liz Carmouche[/autotag] wasted no time making her statement for a title shot at Bellator 261.

Not only did Carmouche (16-7 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) take the unbeaten record from [autotag]Kana Watanabe[/autotag] (10-1-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA), but she did it in a mere 35 seconds, finishing the women’s flyweight co-headliner by knockout at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

The former UFC title challenger came out of the gate on fire. She pressured Watanabe and hurt her with a big right hand, forcing the Japanese fighter to back up against the fence.

Carmouche was relentless once she had Watanabe in trouble, throwing a flurry of strikes and tagging her opponent over and over. Although Watanabe didn’t go down, the referee decided he’d seen enough and waved it off.

It was Carmouche’s intention to deliver a memorable performance, and she did just that with the fastest win of her career. Now she wants the winner of the next title fight between Juliana Velasquez and Denise Kielholtz on July 17.

“I wanted that finish. I want that belt and I know tonight I needed to put on a strong finish,” Carmouche said in her post-fight interview with John McCarthy. “I wanted her, when she looks back at that loss on her record, she remembers me and a hard finish.”

The latest Bellator 261 results include:

  • Liz Carmouche def. Kana Watanabe via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:35
  • Sidney Outlaw def. Myles Jury via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 4:44
  • Daniel Weichel def. Keoni Diggs via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
  • Christian Edwards def. Simon Biyong via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • John De Jesus def. John Teixeira via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Taylor Johnson def. Lance Wright via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:58
  • Jaylon Bates def. Cody Matthews via submission (armbar) – Round 2, 4:04
  • Corey Samuels def. Isaiah Hokit via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:10
  • Soren Bak def. Bobby Lee via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27, 29-27)

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Bellator 261 faceoff video highlights: Co-main event staring contest nearly doesn’t end

Check out the ceremonial weigh-in faceoffs ahead of Bellator 261 at Mohegan Sun.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Bellator makes its return Friday, and the promotion is implementing an interim heavyweight title.

Bellator 261 takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena with the main card airing on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie. Atop the bill are top heavyweight contenders [autotag]Tim Johnson[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) and [autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 5-0 BMMA). They will compete for the interim strap in the absence of undisputed champion Ryan Bader, who is partaking in the promotion’s light heavyweight grand prix.

The co-main event features a women’s flyweight fight. Former UFC title challenger [autotag]Liz Carmouche[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) faces [autotag]Kana Watanabe[/autotag] (10-0-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA).

Following Thursday’s official Bellator 261 weigh-ins, the athletes came face to face for some traditional pre-fight staredowns.

Check out the faceoffs below, including Johnson vs. Moldavsky, Carmouche vs. Watanabe, [autotag]Keoni Diggs[/autotag] vs. [autotag] Daniel Weichel[/autotag], [autotag]Myles Jury[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Sidney Outlaw[/autotag], and [autotag]Simon Biyong[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Christian Edwards[/autotag].

Bellator 255 video highlights: Patricio Freire cruises into showdown with A.J. McKee

Bellator got back to work Friday with its first event in 2021 and a new broadcast home on Showtime, and we’ve got the main card highlights.

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Bellator got back to work Friday with its first event in 2021 and a new broadcast home on Showtime.

In the main event, lightweight and featherweight champion [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (32-4 MMA, 20-4 BMMA) defended his 145-pound title with relative ease with a first-round technical submission of [autotag]Emmanuel Sanchez[/autotag] (20-5 MMA, 12-4 BMMA) in a rematch. The win pushed “Pitbull” into the final of Bellator’s featherweight tournament, where he’ll take on the unbeaten A.J. McKee later this year.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Jason Jackson[/autotag] (14-4 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) worked through an odd eye injury to get past [autotag]Neiman Gracie[/autotag] (10-2 MMA, 8-2 BMMA); [autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 10-1 BMMA) let the bad blood come out and took care of [autotag]Jack May[/autotag] (11-8 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) in their rematch from a no contest; [autotag]Usman Nurmagomedov[/autotag] (12-0 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) looked good in his promotional debut against a gritty [autotag]Mike Hamel[/autotag] (7-5 MMA, 0-2 BMMA); and [autotag]Kana Watanabe[/autotag] (10-0-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) stayed unbeaten in a close fight against former title challenger [autotag]Alejandra Lara[/autotag] (9-4 MMA, 3-3 BMMA).

You can check out the highlights from the main card at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., in the video above. And don’t miss our photo gallery from the event below.

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