Kana Watanabe – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Bellator 255 lineup finalized; Patricio Freire vs. Emmanuel Sanchez tops 13-fight card

On Friday, Bellator returns with it’s first event of 2021 – and its Showtime debut.

Barring any unforeseen fight week cancellations, the Bellator 255 lineup is set.

Tuesday, promotion officials announced the finalized 13-fight card and bout order, which includes a five-fight main card and eight prelims. Bellator 255 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

The event is headlined by Bellator featherweight champion [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (31-4 MMA, 19-4 BMMA) and challenger [autotag]Emmanuel Sanchez[/autotag] (20-4 MMA, 12-3 BMMA) who will face off in a grand prix semifinal fight.

In the co-main event, welterweight contenders [autotag]Neiman Gracie[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Jason Jackson[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) will face off in a fight that could have potential title shot implications for the winner.

Rounding out the main card is a heavyweight rematch between [autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 9-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Jack May[/autotag] (11-7 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), the promotional debut of [autotag]Usman Nurmagomedov[/autotag] (11-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) as he takes on [autotag]Mike Hamel[/autotag] (7-4 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) at lightweight, and a women’s flyweight fight between [autotag]Alejandra Lara[/autotag] (9-3 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) and [autotag]Kana Watanabe[/autotag] (9-0-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA).

The finalized Bellator 255 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET)

Champion Patricio Freire vs. Emmanuel Sanchez – for Bellator featherweight title, grand prix semifinal
Neiman Gracie vs. Jason Jackson
Tyrell Fortune vs. Jack May
Mike Hamel vs. Usman Nurmagomedov
Alejandra Lara vs. Kana Watanabe

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 6 p.m. ET)

[autotag]Cee Jay Hamilton[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Magomed Magomedov[/autotag]
[autotag]Mukhamad Berkhamov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Herman Terrado[/autotag]
[autotag]Mandel Nallo[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ricardo Seixas[/autotag]
[autotag]Fabio Aguiar[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Khalid Murtazaliev[/autotag]
[autotag]Chris Gonzalez[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Roger Huerta[/autotag]
[autotag]Jose Augusto[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jonathan Wilson[/autotag]
[autotag]Roman Faraldo[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Trevor Gudde[/autotag]
[autotag]Branko Busick[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jordan Newman[/autotag]

Bellator 255: Make your predictions for Patricio Freire vs. Emmanuel Sanchez 2

We want your predictions for Friday’s Bellator 255 event in Connecticut.

We want your predictions for Fridady’s Bellator 255 event in Connecticut.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Wednesday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the Bellator 255 main card staff predictions we release Thursday ahead of the event. Bellator 255 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Make your picks for the fights below.

Bellator 255 adds Kana Watanabe vs. Alejandra Lara to lineup

Undefeated RIZIN standout Kana Watanabe has a date and opponent for her Bellator debut.

One of the newest additions to the Bellator women’s flyweight division, [autotag]Kana Watanabe[/autotag] has a date and opponent for her first fight in the promotion.

Watanabe (9-0-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), a former RIZIN standout, will face off with former Bellator women’s flyweight title challenger [autotag]Alejandra Lara[/autotag] at Bellator 255 on April 2, a promotion official informed MMA Junkie on Monday. The matchup first was reported by ESPN.

In December, Bellator president Scott Coker revealed Watanabe’s signing in an interview with MMA Junkie. Coker praised Watanabe’s judo skills and well-rounded attack, which was on display when she defeated Ilara Joanne at Bellator 237 in December 2019. That fight was a one-off since Watanabe represented RIZIN at the cross-promotional event. She is now under an exclusive multi-fight deal with Bellator.

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Lara (9-3 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) will ride back-to-back victories into Bellator 255. Following consecutive losses to Ilima-Lei Macfarlane and Juliana Velasquez, Lara defeated Taylor Turner and Veta Arteaga. Like Watanabe, Lara hasn’t competed since December 2019.

Bellator 255 takes place Friday, April 2, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card streams on Showtime.

With the addition, the Bellator 255 lineup includes:

Champion Patricio Freire vs. Emmanuel Sanchez – for Bellator featherweight title, grand prix semifinal
Magomed Magomedov vs. Jared Scoggins
Tyrell Fortune vs. Matt Mitrione
Alejandra Lara vs. Kana Watanabe

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Bellator signs undefeated Japanese standout Kana Watanabe to multifight contract

The influx of new Bellator signings keeps on growing.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Undefeated Japanese standout [autotag]Kana Watanabe[/autotag] is headed to Bellator.

The latest member of a recent influx of rising talent to sign with Bellator, Watanabe (9-0-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has inked a multifight deal, Bellator president Scott Coker told MMA Junkie on Wednesday.

“Kana Watanabe is an Olympic judo qualifier, so she’s got extremely great judo technique. She fought last year in the RIZIN show against Bellator, and she beat one of our Brazilian girls, so she kind of caught my eye a little bit,” Coker said. “She’s been working on her striking over there, and she’s working on her complete game. We had the opportunity to sign her through RIZIN, so we made a deal.”

At this time, no specific opponent, date, or location have been set for Watanabe’s debut.

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Watanabe, 32, competed in a one-off for Bellator in December 2019. At Bellator 237 in Saitama, Watanabe defeated surging contender Ilara Joanne by third-round ground-and-pound stoppage.

Prior to her Bellator debut, Watanabe competed for the RIZIN and DEEP JEWELS promotion in Japan. In her nine professional victories, Watanabe has finished six fights – including three submissions and three knockouts.

Watanabe joins the Bellator women’s flyweight division headed by champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane and contenders Juliana Velasquez, Liz Carmouche, and Denise Keilholtz.

On Thursday, the Bellator women’s flyweight title will be on the line at Bellator 254. The event, which takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena, is headlined by Macfarlane as she takes on Velasquez. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network after prelims on MMA Junkie.

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Fight Tracks: The walkout songs of Bellator 237

Check out all the fighter walkout songs from Saturday’s Bellator 237 event.

While it takes intense training, world-class skills and maybe even a bit of luck to register a Bellator win, picking the right song to accompany you to the cage is a key talent, as well.

See what the fighters from Bellator 237 went with as their backing tracks in Saitama, Japan.

* * * *

Fedor Emelianenko def. Quinton Jackson via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:33

[autotag]Fedor Emelianenko[/autotag]: “Христе Боже” by Оригинал

[autotag]Quinton Jackson[/autotag]: PRIDE theme song

Michael Chandler def. Sidney Outlaw via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:59

[autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag]: ” 晴れわたる丘” by RYO the SKYWALKER

[autotag]Sidney Outlaw[/autotag]: “Montana” by French Montana

Michael Page def. Shinsho Anzai via knockout (punch) – Round 2, 0:23

[autotag]Michael Page[/autotag]: “Montana” by French Montana

[autotag]Shinsho Anzai[/autotag]: “Rollin'” by Limp Bizkit

Lorenz Larkin def. Keita Nakamura via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)

[autotag]Lorenz Larkin[/autotag]: N/A

[autotag]Keita Nakamura[/autotag]: “Fly Again” by Man With a Mission

Kana Watanabe def. Ilara Joanne via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 4:39

[autotag]Kana Watanabe[/autotag]: “Be the Best Together” by Fight League feat. Yshidakyoudia

[autotag]Ilara Joanne[/autotag]: “Arya Stark Is Coming To Town” by House of Snark, feat. Liane Walls & the Baby Snark Choir

Goiti Yamauchi def. Daron Cruickshank via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:11

[autotag]Goiti Yamauchi[/autotag]: “Speed TK (Remix)”

[autotag]Daron Cruickshank[/autotag]: “Real American” by Rick Derringer

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

Bellator 237 results: Kana Watanabe survives early storm, stops Ilara Joanne late

Taking some big punches early in the fight seemed to wake up Kana Watanabe at Bellator 237.

SAITAMA, JAPAN – Taking some big punches early in the fight seemed to wake up [autotag]Kana Watanabe[/autotag] at Bellator 237, because she rallied to stop [autotag]Ilara Joanne[/autotag] on Saturday’s card.

Watanabe (9-0-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) managed to stay undefeated by staying composed in the bad early striking exchanges until she found a groove with her grappling and pounded out Joanne (9-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) for the TKO with just 21 seconds remaining in the fight.

The women’s flyweight bout went down at Bellator 237, which took place at Saitama Super Arena in Japan. The card aired on Paramount and streamed on DAZN.

Joanne’s striking advantage was evident from the outset. She tagged Watanabe with some heavy, heavy shots. Watanabe desperately went for a judo-style takedown, but the moment the fight hit the mat, Joanne was active. Joanne locked in a triangle choke from bottom almost immediately, but she couldn’t finish it. Watanabe escaped and got side control, where she dominated position and hit Joanne with some solid ground-and-pound in the final 90 seconds to make up some distance on the scorecards.

They went right to grappling to begin Round 2, with Joanne pressing Watanabe against the fence and working toward a takedown. Watanabe countered with another judo throw, but it was partially stuffed and the ensuing grappling exchange saw Joanne end up on top. There wasn’t much in terms of meaningful work from Joanne on top, and Watanabe kept active from bottom by peppering her opponent with short strikes. It was an uneventful round, but Watanabe seemingly had the slight edge.

With the fight hanging in the balance, Watanabe wasted no time pushing for a takedown attempt to begin the final round.. She had quick success, planting Joanne on her back. That was the final story of the fight, because Watanabe rode out position and attacked with efficient ground-and-pound. Watanabe forced Joanne to give up her back then blasted away with strikes until referee Kevin MacDonald decided he’d seen enough and waves it off at the 4:39 mark of Round 3.

“I’m so very happy I was able to bring this victory to all the fans, all the people who are representing Rizin,” Watanabe said through an interpreter in her post-fight interview. “I knew during the three rounds Joanne was very strong, but I was able to bring out the best of my and I’m very relieved now.”

Up-to-date Bellator 237 results include:

Kana Watanabe def. Ilara Joanne via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 4:39
Goiti Yamauchi def. Daron Cruickshank via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:11

Ilara Joanne’s new ‘kill list’: Beat Kana Watanabe, then submit champ Ilima-Lei Macfarlane

Ilara Joanne has updated her ‘kill list’ and says she hopes a win over Kana Watanabe will lead to a flyweight title shot in 2020.

TOKYO – [autotag]Ilara Joanne[/autotag] has updated her ‘kill list’.

Joanne (9-4 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) takes on undefeated judoka [autotag]Kana Watanabe[/autotag] this Saturday (Sunday locally), where she hopes a win will lead to a title shot against Bellator flyweight champ [autotag]Ilima-Lei Macfarlane[/autotag].

In her last outing, Macfarlane notched her fourth successful title defense, when she defeated Kate Jackson via unanimous decision at Bellator 236.

And from what Joanne saw of Macfarlane’s last performance, she’s confident that she can take her out.

“She has a great game,” Joanne told reporters, including MMA Junkie, through translation. “She has a grappling game but she wasn’t able to apply her game and get that submission, but against me, we’re a good matchup. She’s good in grappling, I’m good in grappling, but I’m going to submit her.”

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But first, she has to get through Watanabe (8-0-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), where Joanne is actually the betting underdog going into the fight, but will look to relish that position.

“I like being the underdog because a lot of people start cheering against me but then when I get the victory, I get all the media so yes I’m going against a judo player, she’s undefeated but I’m the more complete fighter and I’m better prepared.”

“I feel real calm but it is because I’ve been doing this game since 2013. I’ve been a pro fighter so it’s all been worth it to arrive at this point but now I’m just here, I’m ready to do my job.”

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Bellator 237 predictions: Who’s picking ‘Rampage’ over Fedor in Japan?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the Bellator 237 main card in Japan.

	Emelianenko vs. Jackson	Chandler vs. Outlaw	Anzai vs. Page	Larkin vs. Nakamura	Joanne vs. Watanabe	Cruickshank vs. Yamauchi
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2019: 221-130 (63%)	Emelianenko (54%)	Chandler (83%)	Page (88%)	Larkin (88%)	Watanabe (66%)	Yamauchi (57%)
Simon Head @simonhead 2019: 138-71 (66%)	Emelianenko	Chandler	Page	Larkin	Joanne	Yamauchi
Nolan King @mma_kings 2019: 131-73 (64%)	Emelianenko	Chandler	Page	Larkin	Joanne	Yamauchi
Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2019: 225-126 (64%)	Jackson	Chandler	Page	Larkin	Watanabe	Yamauchi
Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2019: 224-127 (64%)	Emelianenko	Chandler	Page	Larkin	Watanabe	Yamauchi
Brian Garcia @thegoze 2019: 223-128 (64%) 2017 Champion	Emelianenko	Jackson	Page	Larkin	Watanabe	Yamauchi
John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2019: 222-129 (63%)	Emelianenko	Chandler	Page	Larkin	Watanabe	Yamauchi
Simon Samano @SJSamano 2019: 220-131 (63%)	Emelianenko	Chandler	Page	Nakamura	Joanne	Yamauchi
Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2019: 218-133 (62%) 2014 Champion	Jackson	Chandler	Page	Larkin	Watanabe	Yamauchi
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2019: 122-76 (62%)	Emelianenko	Chandler	Page	Larkin	Joanne	Yamauchi
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2019: 215-136 (61%)	Emelianenko	Chandler	Page	Larkin	Watanabe	Yamauchi
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2019: 212-139 (60%)	Emelianenko	Chandler	Page	Larkin	Joanne	Yamauchi
Dave Doyle @davedoylemma 2019: 147-112 (57%)	Emelianenko	Chandler	Page	Larkin	Joanne	Yamauchi
Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2019: 185-166 (53%)	Jackson	Outlaw	Anzai	Nakamura	Watanabe	Cruickshank

For the first time, Bellator this week has touched down in “The Land of the Rising Sun” with a pair of heavyweight legends at the top of the ticket.

Bellator 237, the promotion’s debut in Japan, takes place Saturday (Sunday locally) at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, near Tokyo. 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.)

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In the main event, [autotag]Fedor Emelianenko[/autotag] (38-6 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) takes on fellow PRIDE veteran [autotag]Quinton Jackson[/autotag] (38-13 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) in a bout between two fan favorites among the Japanese fans. Emelianenko is a slight favorite at the sports books, but he’s got a heavy lead from our 13 MMA Junkie editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers at 9-4 in the picks.

In the co-main event, former lightweight champion [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] (19-5 MMA, 16-5 BMMA) takes on short-notice opponent [autotag]Sidney Outlaw[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 2-0 BMMA), who will step in for Benson Henderson. Chandler is a heavy favorite in the 160-pound contract weight bout, and only one of our pickers is going against him.

[autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] (16-1 MMA, 12-1 BMMA) is the biggest favorite on the card at as much as 10-1 n his 173-pound contract weight fight against [autotag]Shinsho Anzai[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 0-0 BMMA). He’s got a heavy 12-1 lead in the picks.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Lorenz Larkin[/autotag] (21-7 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) meets [autotag]Keita Nakamura[/autotag] (35-10-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) at welterweight. Larkin is a 5-1 favorite and has a heavy 11-2 picks lead.

Our most competitive fight, picks-wise, is at women’s flyweight between [autotag]Ilara Joanne[/autotag] (9-4 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) and [autotag]Kana Watanabe[/autotag] (8-0-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), who is just a slight favorite. Watanabe has the slimmest possible edge in the picks at 7-6.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Daron Cruickshank[/autotag] (22-12 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) is a heavy underdog against [autotag]Goiti Yamauchi[/autotag] (24-4 MMA, 10-3 BMMA), who has a massive 12-1 lead in the picks.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Emelianenko (54%), Chandler (83 percent), Page (88 percent), Larkin (88 percent), Watanabe (66 percent) and Yamauchi (57 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

Bellator 237: Make your predictions for Fedor Emelianenko vs. ‘Rampage’ Jackson

We want your predictions for Bellator 237 in Japan.

We want your predictions for this week’s Bellator 237 event in Japan.

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the Bellator 237 event staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. Bellator 237, the promotion’s debut in Japan, takes place Saturday (Sunday locally) at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, near Tokyo. The main card streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Make your picks for all six main card fights inside.

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Bellator 237, Rizin FF 20 cards begin to fill out with multiple additions, including five crossover bouts

Multiple new additions have been added to December’s dual Bellator and Rizin FF cards in Japan, including five crossover contests.

Five additional fights have been added to the upcoming Bellator and Rizin FF joint cards being held in Saitama, Japan.

Bellator president Scott Coker shared the news of three crossover bouts that are headed to the Bellator 237 card at Saitama Super Arena, as well as two crossover bouts added to the Rizin FF 20 card also taking place at the same venue, two days later.

On the Bellator card, UFC veterans [autotag]Lorenz Larkin[/autotag] (21-7 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) and [autotag]Keita Nakamura[/autotag] (35-10-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) will both make quick turnarounds and square off in a welterweight bout. Since dropping his first two promotional bouts with Bellator, Larkin has won his last three in a row, most recently picking up a split-decision win over Andrey Koreshkov at Bellator 229. Nakamura made good in his Rizin debut, scoring a first round finish over Marcos Yoshio de Souza at Rizin FF 19.

Also headed to Bellator 237 is a women’s flyweight bout between [autotag]Ilara Joanne[/autotag] (9-4 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) and [autotag]Kana Watanabe[/autotag] (8-0-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA). Joanne recently picked up the biggest win of her career, submitting UFC veteran Bec Rawlings in her Bellator debut last month. Joanne, who’s riding a three-fight winning streak, recently called out 125-pound champ Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, but instead draws Japan’s undefeated Watanabe.

The third bout added to Bellator 237 is a lightweight bout between [autotag]Goiti Yamauchi[/autotag] (24-4 MMA, 10-3 BMMA) and [autotag]Daron Cruickshank[/autotag] (22-12 MMA, 0-0 BMMA). Yamauchi is coming off back-to-back wins that include a decision over Daniel Weichel and a first-round submission over Saad Awad at October’s Bellator 229. Cruickshank, has dropped his last two in a row to Damien Brown and Tofiq Musaev, and he now looks to get back in the win column.

The collaboration continues Dec. 28 at @BellatorMMA Japan. pic.twitter.com/s8Wt4lYuzA

— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) November 14, 2019

Meanwhile, on the Dec. 31 Rizin card, two bouts will take place under the Japanese promotion’s ruleset. [autotag]Yuki Motoya[/autotag] (23-7) faces undefeated [autotag]Patrick Mix[/autotag] (12-0) in a bantamweight bout, while [autotag]Mikuru Asakura[/autotag] (11-1) will take on [autotag]John Macapa[/autotag] (23-42) in a featherweight clash.

These two bouts take place inside the @rizin_PR ring. pic.twitter.com/gmGSSlQvNN

— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) November 14, 2019

Meanwhile, Rizin officials announced a series of post-lim bouts to take place at Bellator 237, which the Japanese promotion is calling “Bellator Japan powered by RIZIN.”

The matchups include [autotag]Andy Nguyen[/autotag] (6-8) vs. [autotag]Ai Shimizu[/autotag] (5-1), [autotag]Ryuichiro Sumimura[/autotag] (14-7) vs. [autotag]Jon Tuck[/autotag] (10-5), [autotag]Jarred Brooks[/autotag] (15-2) vs. [autotag]Haruo Ochi[/autotag] (19-7-2) and [autotag]Hiroto Uesako[/autotag] (16-8) vs. [autotag]Yusuke Yachi[/autotag] (20-9).