Tag: Keith Lee

Bellator 265 video: Jornel Lugo chokes Keith Lee unconscious as bell sounds in Round 1

Jornel Lugo used a slick rear-naked choke to remain undefeated at Bellator 265.

It took [autotag]Jornel Lugo[/autotag] exactly five minutes to pick up his third Bellator win.

In the opening fight of the Bellator 265 main card Friday, Lugo (7-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) notched his second career submission when he put [autotag]Keith Lee[/autotag] to sleep with a rear-naked choke as the bell sounded to close Round 1.

After a showcase of jabs and technicality on the feet, Lugo took the fight to the ground where he worked to the back position. From there, he quickly worked arm position and locked in a rear-naked choke.

The submission didn’t take long to prove effective. As Lee tried to fight his way out, his arms went noticeably limp. Lugo swung off his opponent as time expired, and Lee flattened out on the canvas, unconscious before he popped to his feet. When he did, he lost his balance and stumbled over to his stool. At the referee’s discretion, Lee was deemed out at the buzzer, and the fight was called off.

After the fight, Lugo called for a slot on the promotion’s targeted Nov. 5 card expected to take place in Dublin and alluded at a potential matchup vs. Brian Moore.

Bellator 265 took place Friday at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The main card aired on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

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‘Hey, my name is Keith’: How Bellator’s Keith Lee gained nearly 1 million TikTok followers through positivity

In time period where TikTokers are jumping into combat sports stardom, Keith Lee is doing the opposite.

“Hey, my name is Keith.”

It’s a simple introduction, but one that’s proven effective for Bellator bantamweight fighter [autotag]Keith Lee[/autotag] as his career outside the cage has taken on an expected life of its own.

Lee, 24, whose claim to fame for so long was, “Kevin Lee’s brother,” has made a name for himself in the world of TikTok. In the midst of Bellator 265 fight week, Lee’s account currently sits at over 860,000 followers – and is increasing at a rapid rate.

When Lee created his TikTok account in November 2020 during recovery from an injury and staph infection, he wasn’t thinking anything would come from it. It was never his goal to become a social media influencer. So how did it happen, then? Well, it just came naturally. According to Lee, he didn’t change anything. He just acted like himself. The only thing different was that a camera was recording.

“It’s organic,” Lee told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “It’s natural. … It is who I am. I just turned on a camera. I didn’t have a script. I don’t have a team working with me. It’s me and my wife and my sister. We literally sat around and I was like, ‘I’m going to start recording me cooking.’ … And they always believe in me. I have a really strong support system.”

@keith_lee125

Karter walking Vlog , I’ll stitch this when she’s fully walking 🚶🏾‍♂️

♬ original sound – Keith Lee

From instructional cooking videos to wholesome life experiences with his family to mental health awareness, Lee’s content has all revolved around one thing: positivity. During a period of time where MMA insults continue to get more personal, Lee thinks there’s a lesson to be learned when it comes to his success online. Positivity is something people buy into, it just needs to be presented to them in the right way.

“I know I have media day today,” Lee said. “Every single media outlet other than you is going to ask me to try and bad mouth my opponent. It’s been happening all week. It’s going to happen until I stop fighting. I already know how it goes. They want me to be the brash, mean guy and the second I come out and say something positive, it kind of goes to like, ‘Oh, OK, next question. Like, here you go, trying to be nice.’

“Again, I’m not trying to be nice. It’s just naturally who I am as a person and I just allow myself to be natural. I think that perspective comes across unique to other people and eventually, the people who aren’t on board yet are going to start to realize.”

In a day and age of TikTok and YouTube stars aspiring to test the waters in combat sports, Lee is the opposite. But the mesh of the two audiences is a powerful recipe – and Lee sits in a position to be that crossroads fighter. In fact, he almost participated in a recent bare-knuckle boxing event involving social media personalities.

@keith_lee125

Don’t be fooled by the label “Healthy” Read the labels and enjoy Yoursef. God bless you ✨ #foodtiktok

♬ Chill out lofi hip hop(912904) – osuga satoshi

Regardless of whatever happens in his fighting career, Lee now has something to hold onto outside the cage. His merch has sold successfully and allowed him to pocket a nice sum of cash during periods of inactivity.

“We started our own merch company, literally out of my own house,” Lee said. “We just woke up one day and was like, ‘Let’s just start selling hoodies. And the hoodies are out. We’re on our third season and we sell out of each season in like a week. It’s like, a batch of 200-300 hoodies a week.”

Lee isn’t sure what his ceiling is in the world of social media, but he knows it’s high if there is one. As the 1 million follower countdown winds down. Lee hopes he can pair with Bellator to do more work in the TikTok sphere – but things still have to occur organically.

“I believe my tongue is very powerful,” Lee said. “I believe I will be a superstar. I truly believe I will be a superstar. I’m going to reach pinnacles that I never imagined of reaching. I’m going to reach heights that I’ve never imagined of reaching. People that are joining now and are watching me now are just early to the joint, early to the party. I think we’re going to take this big.”

Bellator 265 takes place Friday at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

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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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4 burning questions heading into Bellator 253

MMA Junkie’s Simon Head takes a look at the storylines to follow ahead of Bellator 253 in Uncasville, Conn.

The Bellator featherweight grand prix will crown its first finalist at Bellator 253 as the promotion prepares to host its latest fight night at the Mohegan Sun Arena on Thursday night.

Once again, the featherweight tournament will take center stage, with the semifinal clash between former bantamweight champion [autotag]Darrion Caldwell[/autotag] and undefeated phenom [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] headlining the event, while former WEC and UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Benson Henderson[/autotag] returns to action against welterweight contender [autotag]Jason Jackson[/autotag] in the night’s co-headliner.

Undefeated prospects [autotag]Joey Davis[/autotag] and [autotag]Jay Jay Wilson[/autotag] are also set for action in as they bid to extend their perfect professional records, while bantamweight contenders [autotag]Keith Lee[/autotag] and [autotag]Raufeon Stots[/autotag] will face off as they attempt to progress toward a shot at championship gold at 135 pounds.

Bellator 253 takes place Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Here are four burning questions ahead of fight night.

Raufeon Stots vs. Keith Lee, ‘Baby Slice’ return among five fights added to Bellator 253

Five fights have been added to next week’s Bellator 253 lineup.

The Bellator 253 lineup is filling out.

On Monday, a promotion official informed MMA Junkie of five fights including [autotag]Raufeon Stots[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Keith Lee[/autotag] and the return of “Baby Slice” [autotag]Kevin Ferguson Jr.[/autotag], son of the late combat sports legend Kimbo Slice.

Bellator 253 takes place Thursday, Nov. 19 at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network after prelims on MMA Junkie.

Stots (14-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) vs. Lee (7-3 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) will take place on the main card, after Ferguson (3-2 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) battles [autotag]Kaheem Murray[/autotag] in a lightweight fight on the prelims. The matchup was first reported by MMA reporter James Lynch on Sunday.

Stots, 31, most recently competed at Bellator 242 in July when he submitted previously-undefeated Cass Bell by third-round rear-naked choke. Seven weeks later at Bellator 245, Lee defeated Vinicius Zani by unanimous decision.

Ferguson and Murray (3-3 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) were scheduled to fight at Bellator 241 in March 2020. However, the event was canceled hours prior to its scheduled start time due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

Also on the prelims, [autotag]Gaston Bolanos[/autotag] (5-3 MMA, 5-3 BMMA) fights [autotag]Johnny Soto[/autotag] (3-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) at a 140-pound contract weight, [autotag]Jaleel Willis[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) fights [autotag]Mark Lemminger[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) at welterweight, and [autotag]Marcus Surin[/autotag] (6-2 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Ricardo Seixas[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) at lightweight.

With the additions, the Bellator 253 lineup includes:

  • Darrion Caldwell vs. A.J. McKee
  • Joey Davis vs. Bobby Lee
  • Keith Lee vs. Raufeon Stots
  • Matt Bessette vs. Jeremy Kennedy
  • Lance Gibson Jr. vs. Shane Krutchen
  • Kevin Ferguson Jr. vs. Kaheem Murray
  • Gaston Bolanos vs. Johnny Soto
  • Mark Lemminger vs. Jaleel Willis
  • Ricardo Seixas vs. Marcus Surin

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Following his Bellator 245 win, Keith Lee targeting killers in his division

Keith Lee wants to continue rising to the occasion after his big win at Bellator 245.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Keith Lee[/autotag] wants to continue rising to the occasion after his big win at Bellator 245.

Lee (7-3, MMA, 2-0 BMMA) defeated Vinicius Zani at Mohegan Sun Arena to claim his second victory under the Bellator banner and pick up his fourth straight win overall.

Keith, younger brother of UFC lightweight Kevin Lee, is enjoying his best career stretch. After a rocky start to his pro MMA career that included two straight split-decision losses, Lee is starting to pave his own way and is ready to take on the division’s toughest challenges.

“I want a game opponent,” Lee told MMA Junkie at a post-fight news conference. “I want somebody that’s going to come in here and let me put on a show. I want somebody that other people think is a killer so I can come in here and do my thing.”

Lee mixed things up well during his performance, throwing an array of strikes to the body and head that wore down Zani, who came in four pounds overweight. The win was big for Lee, who had extra added motivation ahead of his bout with a baby girl due to be born just days after fight night.

“I’m very happy with the performance,” Lee said. “I’m happy that I was able to come out here and perform. I give all glory to God – everything that goes on is because of him. I felt solid in there; that guy was big. I don’t know if you could tell on camera, but he was huge! Every time I was shooting, it was like I was shooting into a brick wall, but I’m just thankful I came out with the victory.”

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Keith Lee keeps making his own name with win at Bellator 245

If Keith Lee keeps his up, people are going to stop calling him “Kevin Lee’s little brother” and recognize him in his own right.

If [autotag]Keith Lee[/autotag] keeps this up, people are going to stop calling him “Kevin Lee’s little brother” and simply consider him a rising competitor in his own right.

The younger sibling of the UFC lightweight standout was victorious again Friday night, where he won the evening’s opener at Bellator 245. Lee (7-3 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) defeated Vinicius Zani via unanimous decision in a bout contracted at 144 pounds. The judges’ scores were 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28.

Lee looked poised from the outset, as he carefully picked his spots, using body shots and 1-2 combos to the head to set up higher-impact moves like running knees and head kicks.

Zani (11-7 MMA, 0-2 MMA) ate a wicked head kick to the chin in the closing seconds of the opening round, and this turned into a recurring theme: While Zani never quite got any sustained offensive untracked, he took everything Lee dished out and then kept coming back for more.

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This made Lee have to become more patient in the second round, at least until Zani started noticeably slowing down. Lee seemed to know he was up on the cards in the third, as he fought at a methodical pace, but he turned up the heat in the final minute, going for a takedown, and when he didn’t get it, using a big flurry of strikes in the closing seconds.

In improving to 2-0 in Bellator, Lee has now won four consecutive fights. Zani has now dropped three in a row.

Bellator 245 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

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