Tag: Kent Kauppinen

Cage Warriors 120: Kent Kauppinen claims first decision win, becomes instant contender

After a career spent winning his fights inside the distance, Kent Kauppinen marked his Cage Warriors debut with a first: A decision win.

[autotag]Kent Kauppinen[/autotag] marked his debut as a Cage Warriors fighter with a first: A decision win.

Former Bellator campaigner Kauppinen (13-6) had claimed each of his previous victories inside the distance, but was forced to battle all the way to the scorecards against former middleweight title challenger [autotag]Jamie Richardson[/autotag] at Cage Warriors 120 in London as he positioned himself as a serious title contender at 185 pounds.

The first round saw Kauppinen immediately take the center of the cage as he walked down Richardson (9-7), who seemed happy to work off the back foot and frustrate the veteran. Despite his aggressive positioning, Kauppinen was economical with his output through the opening five minutes as he spent much of the round trying to draw shots from Richardson to open his man up for counter punches.

Round 2 saw Richardson give Kauppinen what he wanted by upping his work rate and giving the former Bellator man opportunities to counter. A solid lead uppercut reminded Kauppinen that he had to be wary, however, as both men started to load up in the middle round.

Richardson worked the jab well and followed up with some decent straight shots, while Kauppinen, after finding his man’s chin a little hard to locate with his counters, switched up his attack and connected with a thumping body shot.

Kauppinen came out of his corner for the final round and immediately looked to connect with big shots, while Richardson stayed elusive on the back foot. After a clinch battle against the cage, Kauppinen again tried to walk down Richardson, and fended off a takedown attempt from the former title challenger.

Then, with 35 seconds remaining in the fight, Kauppinen made the crucial breakthrough. He dropped his man with a huge right hand but, rather than follow him to the mat in search of a ground and pound finish, he called for Richardson to get back to his feet. He then connected with a big body kick and, even though he was subsequently taken down, Kauppinen connected with a succession of elbows off his back to put the seal on his most decisive round of the fight.

After the final horn had sounded, all three judges were in agreement as Kauppinen earned scores of 29-28 across the board to seal a debut victory and push him right into the title mix at 185 pounds.

Cage Warriors 120 live results (3:15 p.m. ET)

A battle of middleweight contenders takes center stage as Cage Warriors kicks off its first “Trilogy” of 2021 with Cage Warriors 120.

Cage Warriors returns to action with the opening leg of the U.K. promotion’s first “Trilogy” of 2021.

Cage Warriors 120 kicks off the promotion’s three-night residency at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, with a battle between two middleweight contenders headlining the card.

Former Bellator fighter [autotag]Kent Kauppinen[/autotag] (12-6) will make his promotional debut after his release by the U.S. promotion earlier this year. The hard-hitting 29-year-old, who has a knockout win over Alessio Sakara on his record, will look to blast his way into immediate title contention against the last man to challenge for the belt.

Meanwhile, [autotag]Jamie Richardson[/autotag] (9-6) looked good early against reigning 185-pound champion Nathias Frederick, but eventually succumbed to a third-round knockout in his title challenge at Cage Warriors 118. Now “Young Gun” is looking to regroup and reposition himself for another shot at the gold.

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The night’s co-main event features a pivotal bout in the Cage Warriors featherweight division. “The Honey Badger,” [autotag]James Hendin[/autotag] (5-0), has registered four wins in a row under the Cage Warriors banner, and now the undefeated prospect will look to push himself to the front of the featherweight queue.

He’ll face a tough test, however, as he faces an opponent who returns to the cage looking to bounce back from his first career defeat.

Ireland’s [autotag]Paul Hughes[/autotag] was touted as a potential champion in waiting, but lost a split decision to England’s Jordan Vucenic in their featherweight title eliminator at Cage Warriors 119. Now Hughes (6-1) is looking to return to form by handing Hendin his first career loss and putting himself next in line to face the winner of the title fight between champion Morgan Charriere and Vucenic at Cage Warriors 122 on Saturday.

Cage Warriors 120 takes place Thursday at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London. The card streams live on UFC Fight Pass.

Full Cage Warriors 120 results include:

MAIN CARD (5 p.m. ET, UFC Fight Pass)

  • Kent Kauppinen vs. Jamie Richardson
  • James Hendin vs. Paul Hughes
  • Will Currie vs. Christian Duncan
  • Kieran Lister vs. Decky McAleenan
  • Michal Figlak vs. Steven Hooper

PRELIMINARY CARD (3:15 p.m. ET, UFC Fight Pass)

  • Coner Hignett vs. Leigh Mitchell
  • Manny Akpan vs. Ben Ellis
  • Mateusz Figlak vs. Josh Plant
  • Matthew Elliott vs. Scott Pedersen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGfGeQzhdwk

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Bellator Europe 8 results: Costello van Steenis earns split decision over Fabian Edwards

Costello van Steenis scored yet another impressive win at Bellator Europe 8.

[autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] is no longer undefeated.

The heralded Bellator middleweight contender dropped a split decision to [autotag]Costello van Steenis[/autotag] in the main event of Saturday’s Bellator Europe 8 event. The card went down at the Allianz Cloud in Milan, Italy.

As the judges’ 29-28, 28-27, 28-29 scores indicate, the bout was close and competitive. Van Steenis (13-2 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) had success early. “The Spaniard” did well in the striking department in the first round, pushing the action and landing several leg kicks  while avoiding most of Edwards’ (9-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) strikes. The second round was more clear for van Steenis, as he took down Edwards and controlled the action to eventually advance positions and finish out on mount.

In the third round the tide turned for Edwards. The British fighter pushed the action and took van Steenis’ back off a failed takedown. He remained on top position for the majority of the round.

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In addition to the 185-pound main event, two other middleweights had dominant performances in Milan.

[autotag]Will Fleury[/autotag] used his superior ground game and control to outpoint [autotag]Kent Kauppinen[/autotag]; while [autotag]Michael Shipman[/autotag] outstruck [autotag]Pietro Penini[/autotag] for the majority of their contest. Both Shipman and Fleury picked up 30-27 scores in all three judges’ scorecards for unanimous decisions.

Complete results Bellator Europe 8 results:

MAIN CARD

  • Costello van Steenis vs. Fabian Edwards via split decision (28-29, 28-27, 29-28)
  • Mike Shipman def. Pietro Penini via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Will Fleury def. Kent Kauppinen via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

PRELIMINARY CARD

  • George Hardwick def. Nicolo Solli via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Ion Pascu def. Stefano Paterno via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Alfie Davis def. Akonne Wanliss via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Daniele Scatizzi def. Gavin Hughes via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 1:41
  • Aidan Lee def. Jeremy Petley via knockout (knee) – Round 2, 1:22
  • Frans Mlambo def. Cory Tait via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-27)
  • Luke Trainer def. Alex O’Toole via TKO (unanswered strikes) – Round 1, 1:22
  • Richie Smullen def. Harry Hardwick via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Chiara Penco def. Aleksandra Toncheva Plamenova via TKO (unanswered strikes) – Round 2, 4:27
  • Danni Neilan def. Claire Lopez via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:45

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Bellator Europe 8 results and live stream

Follow the action live as the Bellator cage returns to European soil for Bellator Europe 8 in Milan, Italy.

The Bellator cage returns to European soil as the Allianz Cloud in Milan, Italy plays host to Bellator Europe 8.

The main event features a battle of European middleweight contenders, as England’s [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] (9-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) takes on the Netherlands’ [autotag]Costello van Steenis[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 4-1 BMMA), while the co-main event showcases two more middleweights looking to deliver a statement performance, as Italy’s [autotag]Pietro Penini[/autotag] (9-1-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) faces off against England’s [autotag]Mike Shipman[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 4-2 BMMA).

The main card’s middleweight flavor continues with Ireland’s [autotag]Will Fleury[/autotag] (7-3 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) against England’s [autotag]Kent Kauppinen[/autotag] (12-5 MMA, 2-2 BMMA), while the preliminary card is packed with a host of European prospects, including a notable lightweight battle between fellow Brits [autotag]Alfie Davis[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) and [autotag]Akonne Wanliss[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA).

Follow the action via Bellator’s official live stream above, and stay up to date with the official results below.

MAIN CARD (MMA Junkie, 5 p.m. ET)

  • Fabian Edwards vs. Costello van Steenis
  • Pietro Penini vs. Mike Shipman
  • Will Fleury vs. Kent Kauppinen

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 1:15 p.m. ET)

  • George Hardwick vs. Nicolo Solli
  • Ion Pascu vs. Stefano Paterno
  • Alfie Davis vs. Akonne Wanliss
  • Gavin Hughes vs. Daniele Scatizzi
  • Aidan Lee vs. Jeremy Petley
  • Frans Mlambo vs. Cory Tait
  • Alex O’Toole) vs. Luke Trainer
  • Harry Hardwick vs. Richie Smullen
  • Chiara Penco vs. Aleksandra Toncheva Plamenova
  • Claire Lopez vs. Danni Neilan

Bellator Europe 8 predictions: Is it Fabian Edwards or Costello van Steenis in Italy?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the Bellator Europe 8 main card in Milan, Italy.

Edwards
vs.
Van Steenis		 Fleury
vs.
Kauppinen		 Penini
vs.
Shipman
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2020: 104-62		 edwards2020
Edwards
(57%)		 kauppinen2020
Kauppinen
(56%)		 shipman2020
Shipman
(77%)
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2020: 113-53		 vansteenis2020
Van Steenis		 fleury2020
Fleury		 shipman2020
Shipman
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2020: 111-55		 vansteenis2020
Van Steenis		 kauppinen2020
Kauppinen		 shipman2020
Shipman
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2020: 110-56
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 edwards2020
Edwards		 fleury2020
Fleury		 shipman2020
Shipman
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2020: 110-56		 vansteenis2020
Van Steenis		 fleury2020
Fleury		 shipman2020
Shipman
Dave Doyle
@davedoylemma
2020: 109-57		 vansteenis2020
Van Steenis		 fleury2020
Fleury		 shipman2020
Shipman
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2020: 108-58		 edwards2020
Edwards		 fleury2020
Fleury		 shipman2020
Shipman
Simon Head
@simonhead
2020: 108-58
trophy copy 2019 Champion*		 edwards2020
Edwards		 fleury2020
Fleury		 shipman2020
Shipman
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2020: 106-60
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 edwards2020
Edwards		 kauppinen2020
Kauppinen		 shipman2020
Shipman
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2020: 104-62		 edwards2020
Edwards		 fleury2020
Fleury		 shipman2020
Shipman
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2020: 103-63		 edwards2020
Edwards		 fleury2020
Fleury		 penini2020
Penini
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2020: 101-65		 vansteenis2020
Van Steenis		 fleury2020
Fleury		 shipman2020
Shipman
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2020: 101-65
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 edwards2020
Edwards		 fleury2020
Fleury		 shipman2020
Shipman
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2020: 99-67		 edwards2020
Edwards		 kauppinen2020
Kauppinen		 shipman2020
Shipman
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2020: 69-97		 vansteenis2020
Van Steenis		 kauppinen2020
Kauppinen		 penini2020
Penini

Bellator is back this week with its first overseas event since the start of the pandemic.

Bellator Europe 8 takes place Saturday at Allianz Cloud in Milan, Italy. The card streams on MMA Junkie and Bellator’s YouTube page.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] (9-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) tries to keep his unbeaten record intact when he takes on fellow middleweight [autotag]Costello van Steenis[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 4-1 BMMA). It’s a close matchup with our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts. Edwards has just a slim 8-6 lead in the picks.

In the co-main event, [autotag]Pietro Penini[/autotag] (9-1-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) meets [autotag]Mike Shipman[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) in a middleweight bout. Shipman has a big 12-2 picks lead.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Will Fleury[/autotag] (7-3 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Kent Kauppinen[/autotag] (12-5 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) in a third bout at 185 pounds. Fleury has a big 10-4 lead in the picks.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Edwards (57 percent), Shipman (77 percent) and Kauppinen (56 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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Bellator Europe 6 medical suspensions: Josie Blaber gets 180 days, others out indefinitely

Check out the full list of medical suspensions from Bellator Europe 6 in London.

Bellator finished closed out its 2019 European series schedule Saturday in London with Bellator Europe 6, which took place at The SSE Arena, Wembley.

In the main event, [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] ran through Italian newcomer [autotag]Giovanni Melilla[/autotag] by picking up another first-round knockout. The co-headliner saw [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] edge out a split decision win against [autotag]Mike Shipman[/autotag].

On Monday, MMA Junkie received medical suspensions from Mohegan Sun Tribe Department of Regulation president Mike Mazzulli, who oversaw regulation of the event. Among those facing lengthy suspensions is [autotag]Sam Sicilia[/autotag]. The Washington-based fighter was knocked out by fellow UFC veteran Robert Whiteford and will need neurological clearance to return. Whiteford was suspended indefinitely for a potential ankle/foot injury.

After his win over [autotag]Terry Brazier[/autotag], [autotag]Soren Bak[/autotag] was suspended indefinitely until his right knee is cleared by a physician.

Additionally, [autotag]Josie Blaber[/autotag] was suspended 180 days or until cleared by a doctor. Blaber was on the receiving end of brutal, dragged-out attack by [autotag]Charlotte McIntyre[/autotag] in the card’s curtain jerker.

Check out the full Bellator Europe 7 medical suspensions below:

  • Josie Blaber: Suspended 180 days on until X-ray of face is cleared by physician; also suspended 45 days
  • Charlotte McIntyre: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Raphael Uchegbu[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Shane Campbell[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Tim Barnett[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days for knock down
  • [autotag]Akonne Wanliss[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Harry Hardwick[/autotag]: Suspended 45 for deep laceration
  • [autotag]Nathan Rose[/autotag]: Suspended indefinitely until physician grants ortho clearance on right ankle injury; also suspended 30 days
  • [autotag]Tom Means[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days for laceration
  • [autotag]Jeremy Petley[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Auden Lee[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Damian Frankiewicz[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Kevin Fryer[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]George Tokkos[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Alessandro Botti[/autotag]:
  • [autotag]Alfie Davis[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Andy Manzolo[/autotag]: Suspended indefinitely until physician grants clearance on left leg X-ray; also suspended 30 days
  • [autotag]Kent Kauppinen[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Benjamin Brander[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Chris Bungard[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Lew Long[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Walter Gahadza[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • Sam Sicilia: Suspended 60 days for knockout, needs neurological clearance from physician
  • Robert Whiteford: Suspended indefinitely until physician grants ortho clearance on left ankle/foot; also suspended 30 days
  • [autotag]Pietro Penini[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Charlie Ward[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days for laceration
  • [autotag]Charley Leary[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days for laceration
  • [autotag]Tim Wilde[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days for laceration
  • [autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Sabine Sengal[/autotag]: Suspended 45 laceration
  • Terry Brazier: Suspended 45 laceration
  • Soren Bak: Suspended indefinitely until physician grants orthopedic clearance on right knee injury; also suspended 30 days
  • [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Michael Shipman[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Giovanni Melilla[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days

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Bellator Europe 6 post-event facts: Michael Page elevates places in record book

Check out all the facts and figures from Bellator London, which took place Saturday and saw Michael Page win in the main event.

Bellator hosted its final European event of the years on Saturday with Bellator Europe 6, which went down at The SSE Arena, Wembley in London and streamed on the Bellator app following prelims on MMA Junkie.

England’s own [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] (16-1 MMA, 12-1 BMMA) was triumphant yet again in the main event when he elevated his record with a first-round knockout of replacement opponent [autotag]Giovanni Melillo[/autotag] (13-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) in the welterweight matchup.

The finish by “MVP” etched his name further in the record books. For more on the numbers, check below for 25 post-event facts to come out of Bellator Europe 6.

* * * *

General

Betting favorites went 3-0 on the main card.

Betting favorites improved to 13-7 (with two no contests and one draw) in Bellator main events this year.

Total fight time for the three-bout main card was 31:47.

Main card

Page’s 12 victories in Bellator welterweight competition are third most in divisional history behind Andrey Koreshkov (13) and Douglas Lima (13).

Page’s nine stoppage victories in Bellator welterweight competition are tied with Lima for most in divisional history.

Page’s eight knockout victories in Bellator competition are third most in company history behind Lima (nine) and Patricky Freire (nine).

Page’s eight knockout victories in Bellator welterweight competition are tied with Lima for most in divisional history.

Melillo fell to 1-3 in his past four fights dating back to August 2018.

Melillo has suffered all five of his career losses by first-round knockout.

[autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] (9-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) became the first fighter to earn four Bellator victories in 2019.

Edwards’ four-fight Bellator winning streak at middleweight is tied with Rafael Lovato Jr. for the second longest active streak in the division behind Anatoly Tokov (five).

[autotag]Mike Shipman[/autotag]’s (13-3 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) suffered consecutive losses for the first time in his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since November 2018.

Shipman suffered the first decision loss of his career.

[autotag]Terry Brazier[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) suffered the first decision loss of his career.

Preliminary card

[autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag]’s (4-2 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) four victories in Bellator women’s flyweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (nine).

Kielholtz’s three stoppage victories in Bellator women’s flyweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Macfarlane (six).

Kielholtz’s two submission victories in Bellator women’s flyweight competition are third most in divisional history behind Macfarlane (six) and Emily Ducote (three).

Kielholtz’s 32-second finish of Sabriye Sengul marked the fastest submission in Bellator women’s flyweight history.

[autotag]Charlie Ward[/autotag] (7-4 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) fell to 4-1 since he returned to the middleweight division in November 2017. He’s 6-1 overall in his career at the weight class.

Ward suffered the first decision loss of his career.

[autotag]Sam Sicilia[/autotag] (17-11 MMA, 2-3 BMMA) fell to 2-6 in his past eight fights dating back to November 2015.

Sicilia has suffered nine of his 11 career losses by stoppage.

[autotag]Kent Kauppinen[/autotag] (12-5 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) was successful in his return to the middleweight division.

Kauppinen has earned all 12 of his career victories by stoppage. He’s finished seven of those wins in Round 1.

[autotag]Alfie Davis[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) has earned three of his four Bellator victories by decision.

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Bellator Europe 6 free fight: Kent Kauppinen brutalizes Alessio Sakara in his own backyard

Kent Kauppinen silenced the Italian crowd at Bellator 211 in a matter of 70 seconds.

Riding a two-fight losing streak, [autotag]Kent Kauppinen[/autotag] entered enemy territory in December 2018.

Taking on a home crowd favorite in Italian MMA legend Alessio Sakara at Bellator 211, the chips were seemingly stacked against Kauppinen. However, in jiust 70 seconds, he quickly erased any and all doubt. The English middleweight silenced the RDS Stadium Arena in Rome when he knocked Sakara out cold at 1:10 of the first round.

Upon landing a vicious counter left hook, Kauppinen appeared to hesitate on throwing any follow-up shots. However, referee Dan Miragliotta was reluctant to waive off the contest. As a result, Kauppinen finished off the job with two hard right hands.

Immediately following the finish, Kauppinen displayed concern for his downed opponent, who struggled to regain consciousness. The win was Kauppinen’s first under the Bellator banner.

The victory set Kauppinen up for another marquee matchup in his next outing. At Bellator 223 in June, Kauppinen battled Melvin Manhoef in the evening’s co-main event, which he lost by unanimous decision.

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Saturday night, Kauppinen (11-5 MMA, 1-2 BMMA) returns to the cage at Bellator Europe 6 when he takes on Andy Manzalo (22-6 MMA, 0-0 BMMA).

Bellator Europe 6 takes at The SSE Arena, Wembley in London. The card streams on MMA Junkie.

Ahead of his Bellator Europe 6 return, watch Kent Kauppinen’s brutal knockout of Alessio Sakara at Bellator 211 in the video above.

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