Tag: Karl Moore

Bellator 285 adds Albrektsson vs. Moore, Poclit vs. Schiro to Dublin lineup

The lineup for Bellator’s return to Ireland this fall continues to grow with the addition of two more fights.

The lineup for Bellator’s return to Ireland this fall continues to grow with the addition of two more fights.

Sweden’s [autotag]Karl Albrektsson[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) will take on Ireland’s [autotag]Karl Moore[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) in a light heavyweight bout at Bellator 285. And at welterweight, [autotag]Dante Schiro[/autotag] (8-3 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) will take on [autotag]Luca Poclit[/autotag] (6-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), an SBG Ireland fighter who will make his Bellator debut on his home turf. The promotion announced the two new matchups Thursday.

Bellator 285 takes place Sept. 23 at 3Arena in Dublin. The main card will air on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Albrektsson will bring a four-fight winning streak to the bout. He has toggled back and forth between Superior Challenge in Sweden and Bellator for those bouts. His two Bellator wins are decisions over Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov this past October and Viktor Nemkov in April 2021. The three losses in Albrektsson’s career have all been to either former champions or future champions: former Bellator titleholder Phil Davis (2019), current UFC champ Jiri Prochazka (2017) and then-future interim Bellator champ Valentin Moldavsky (2016).

Moore is a former Cage Warriors champion who return to the Bellator cage for his first fight in three years. His most recent bout came at Bellator 227 in front of his home-country fans in Dublin in September 2019. HE took a split decision from Lee Chadwick in that bout, but hasn’t fought since then.

With the additions, the Bellator 285 lineup now includes:

MAIN CARD (Showtime, 4 p.m. ET)

  • Benson Henderson vs. Peter Queally
  • Melvin Manhoef vs. Yoel Romero
  • James Gallagher vs. Brett Johns
  • Mads Burnell vs. Pedro Carvalho
  • Leah McCourt vs. Dayana Silva

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 12:30 p.m. ET)

  • Ciaran Clarke vs. Georges Sasu
  • Brian Moore vs. Arivaldo Lima Silva
  • Karl Albrektsson vs. Karl Moore
  • Darragh Kelly vs. Kye Stevens
  • Georgi Karakhanyan vs. Kane Mousah
  • Alex Bodnar vs. Kenny Mokhonoana
  • Luca Poclit vs. Dante Schiro

Bellator parts ways with 15 fighters including A.J. Matthews, Mandy Bohm, Will Fleury, more

Fifteen fighters are no longer on the promotion’s roster – including one 10-year veteran.

Over a dozen fighters are no longer with Bellator MMA.

Promotion officials recently informed MMA Junkie of 15 athletes who have parted ways with the promotion, though they didn’t specify if the departures are a result of contract termination, free agency or something else.

Twelve of the 15 names are fighters from the promotion’s European series, which has not held an event since October 2020.

Scroll below to see the names who have parted ways with Bellator.

James Gallagher vs. Cal Ellenor to headline Bellator Europe 7 in Dublin on Feb. 22

James Gallagher will play the starring role once again on home soil as Bellator returns to Dublin in February 2020.

The first European Series event of Bellator’s 2020 schedule has been confirmed, with the promotion announcing its return to Dublin, Ireland on Feb. 22.

The atmospheric 3Arena will play host to Bellator Europe 7, which will be headlined by the organization’s biggest Irish star, bantamweight [autotag]James Gallagher[/autotag], who will take on England’s [autotag]Cal Ellenor[/autotag].

The pair were originally booked to face off at Bellator Europe 4 in September, but issues with Ellenor’s brain scans forced the Sunderland native off the card, as the Englishman released an emotional statement explaining his situation.

Gallagher (10-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) stayed on the card and defeated short-notice replacement Roman Salazar via guillotine choke in just 35 seconds, while Ellenor (8-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) chased a second opinion on his scans and subsequently received the news that he was cleared to fight again.

“Ellenor has been medically cleared by a licensed physician to return to active competition, following an incorrect reading initially provided by a doctor in South Africa,” explained Bellator via a press release announcing the rearranged fight.

“Bellator MMA, as well as the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulations, which oversees the organization’s international events, maintains that athletes pass all medical requirements, ensuring they are held to the highest standards in safety and regulation.”

[lawrence-related id=447559,446342,445899]

Now Gallagher and Ellenor are set to face off at the second time of asking, at the same venue, in February, with Gallagher looking to register the 11th win of his professional career, and Ellenor bidding to claim his second straight victory under the Bellator banner.

Also announced for the Feb. 22 card is a trio of fights featuring Irish fighters. [autotag]Philip Mulpeter[/autotag] (10-6 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) will look for another victory in Dublin when he drops down to lightweight to take on former BAMMA featherweight champion [autotag]Daniel Crawford[/autotag] (10-3 MMA, 0-2 BMMA), while [autotag]Ryan Roddy[/autotag] (8-1-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) welcomes undefeated Scot [autotag]Chris Duncan[/autotag] (5-0 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) to the Bellator cage in a second lightweight matchup.

Former Cage Warriors light heavyweight champion [autotag]Karl Moore[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) has also been booked for the card. He’ll take on [autotag]Arunas Andriuskevicus[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) at 205 pounds.

Confirmed fights for Bellator Europe 7 include:

  • James Gallagher vs. Cal Ellenor
  • Philip Mulpeter vs. Daniel Crawford
  • Ryan Roddy vs. Chris Duncan
  • Karl Moore vs. Arunas Andriuskevicus