Tag: Lance Gibson Jr.

Bellator 293 post-event facts: Unbeaten fighters fall on upset-heavy card

Check out all the facts and figures from Bellator 293, which featured a number of upsets, including a loss by a 16-1 favorite.

Bellator closed its March schedule Saturday with Bellator 293, which took place at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif.

The main event saw the late career success of [autotag]Daniel James[/autotag] (15-6-1 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) continue. He added to his case as a potential heavyweight contender to watch when he beat [autotag]Marcelo Golm[/autotag] (10-4 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) by third-round knockout.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from Bellator 293.

Bellator 293 salaries: Cat Zingano, Daniel James lead the pack with six-figure disclosed paydays

Check out the disclosed pay for all 30 fighters on Bellator 293, according to the California State Athletic Commission.

Thirty fighters competed Friday at Bellator 293 with [autotag]Cat Zingano[/autotag] and [autotag]Daniel James[/autotag] leading all disclosed payouts.

California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) executive director Andy Foster released a full list of fighter payouts Friday to MMA Junkie. The amounts reflect the disclosed payouts only and do not include any off-contract bonuses, sponsor payments, or discretionary bonuses.

The main event and co-main event winners were the only two fighters to pocket six-figure disclosed paydays as a result of their performances Friday. Former UFC bantamweight title challenger Zingano (14-4 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) earned $100,000 flat for her unanimous decision win over [autotag]Leah McCourt[/autotag] (7-2 MMA, 6-2 BMMA) in the co-main event. Then, main event winner James (15-6-1 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) earned to $50,000 show and a $50,000 win bonus for his victory over [autotag]Marcelo Golm[/autotag] (10-3 MMA, 1-3 BMMA).

Scroll below to see what the 30 fighters on Bellator 293 were paid – disclosed amounts only.

Bellator 293 video: Vladimir Tokov sleeps Lance Gibson Jr. with knockout in 62 seconds

At Bellator 293, top prospect Lance Gibson Jr. lost for the first time when he was knocked out cold by Vladimir Tokov.

[autotag]Vladimir Tokov[/autotag] became the first fighter to defeat [autotag]Lance Gibson Jr.[/autotag] – and he needed just over a minute to do it.

On Friday at Bellator 293 in Temecula, Calif., Tokov (8-2 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) slept Gibson (7-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) with a series of punches that ended their fight at 1:02 of Round 1. The lightweight bout took place as part of the prelims at Pechanga Resort Casino.

The finishing sequence started with a left jab, which clattered off Gibson’s face as he rushed toward the Russian. The quick shot floored Gibson, who landed on his back. As Gibson tried to scramble, Tokov dove with a right hand then two lefts.

Gibson, 28, was put unconscious with the strikes, as was exemplified with his confused denial of what happened once he reached the stool. His father, former UFC fighter Lance Gibson Sr., consoled Gibson and affirmed to him what the commission officials told him: He was out.

Tokov, 26, is the brother of former Bellator middleweight title challenger Anatoly Tokov. Through six Bellator fights, Tokov’s results are inconsistent but with more positives than negatives. His two losses in the promotion are split decisions against Jay Jay Wilson and Chris Gonzalez.

The up-to-the-minute Bellator 293 results include:

  • Vladimir Tokov def. Lance Gibson Jr. via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:02
  • Randi Field def. Ashley Cummins via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Bryce Meredith def. Brandon Carrillo via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:11
  • Mackenzie Stiller def. Maria Henderson via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 3:17

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 293.

Bellator 293 pre-event facts: Prelim fighter can make history with sixth straight first-round KO

No fighter in Bellator history has ever started their tenure with the promotion by earning six straight first-round knockouts.

For the first time since October 2019, Bellator will travel to Temecula, Calif., on Friday with Bellator 293, which takes place at Pechanga Casino Resort with a main card that airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

A matchup of surging heavyweight contenders will be featured in the main event. [autotag]Marcelo Golm[/autotag] (10-3 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) and [autotag]Daniel James[/autotag] (14-6-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) will put their unbeaten promotional records on the line as they meet in a five-round contest that will elevate the winner into the title conversation.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about Bellator 293.

Bellator 293 fight card finalized with additions of Sullivan Cauley, Joey Davis, more

Check out the full lineup for Bellator 293, a 16-fight card filled with various undefeated prospects.

The full fight card for Bellator 293 is locked, pending any unforeseen withdrawals.

As previously announced, the card is headlined by heavyweight contenders [autotag]Marcelo Golm[/autotag] (10-3 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) and [autotag]Daniel James[/autotag] (14-6-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA), and also features a co-main event between [autotag]Leah McCourt[/autotag] (7-2 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Cat Zingano[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 3-4 BMMA). The event airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

On Tuesday, the promotion announced its full 16-fight card for March 31 at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. New additions include undefeated top prospects [autotag]Sullivan Cauley[/autotag] (5-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA), [autotag]Joey Davis[/autotag] (8-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA), [autotag]Lance Gibson Jr.[/autotag] (7-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA), and [autotag]Lucas Brennan[/autotag] (7-0 MMA, 7-0 BMMA).

Additionally, Bellator has signed three-time NCAA Division I All-American [autotag]Bryce Meredith[/autotag] (3-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) to a multifight deal. He will debut against [autotag]Brandon Carrillo[/autotag] (1-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA).

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Below is the full Bellator 293 lineup:

MAIN CARD (Showtime, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Marcelo Golm vs. Daniel James
  • Leah McCourt vs. Cat Zingano
  • Aaron Jeffrey vs. John Salter
  • Rustam Khabilov vs. Jaleel Willis

PRELIMINARY CARD (7 p.m. ET)

  • Sullivan Cauley vs. Luke Trainer
  • Archie Colgan vs. Justin Montalvo
  • Jeff Creighton vs. Joey Davis
  • Lucas Brennan vs. Josh San Diego
  • Lance Gibson Jr. vs. Vladimir Tokov
  • Sara Collins vs. Pam Sorenson
  • Rakim Cleveland vs. Christian Edwards
  • Nick Browne vs. Mike Hamel
  • Ashley Cummins vs. Randi Field
  • Brandon Carrillo vs. Bryce Meredith
  • Maria Henderson vs. MacKenzie Stiller
  • Khonry Gracie vs. David Pacheco

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 293.

Bellator 286 post-event facts: Patricio ‘Pitbull’ adds to legacy with 12th title-fight win

Patricio Freire added to his records for most wins and title-fight victories in Bellator history with a dominant defense at Bellator 286.

The final stretch of Bellator’s 2022 schedule kicked off Saturday with Bellator 286, which took place at Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, Calif., and featured a 13-fight lineup.

The main event saw the most decorated fighter in company history further enhance his legacy when [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (34-5 MMA, 22-5 BMMA) cruised to a lopsided unanimous decision over [autotag]Adam Borics[/autotag] (18-2 MMA, 9-2 BMMA) to defend his featherweight title for the first time in what’s his third title reign in the division.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from Bellator 286.

Nate Diaz protege Chris Avila to box YouTuber on Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva card

Nate Diaz isn’t the only member of Nick Diaz Army trading in MMA gloves for boxing ones.

Nate Diaz isn’t the only member of Nick Diaz Army trading in MMA gloves for boxing ones.

Former UFC fighter [autotag]Chris Avila[/autotag] has joined the Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva card. Sticking with the theme of MMA vs. YouTubers, Avila will battle content creator [autotag]Mikhail Varshavski[/autotag] (0-0), also known as “Doctor Mike.” Most Valuable Promotions announced the bout Tuesday after an initial report by ESPN.

The event takes place Oct. 29 at Gila Rivera Arena in Glendale, Ariz., with the main card airing on Showtime pay-per-view.

A previously scheduled MMA bout between Avila and [autotag]Lance Gibson Jr.[/autotag] at Bellator 286 on Oct. 1 has been canceled, per promotion officials. Gibson (6-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) will now face replacement [autotag]Dominic Clark[/autotag] (15-12 MMA, 0-2 UFC).

Avila, 29, has bounced around in major combat sports organizations in recent years. Following an 0-2 stint in the UFC, Avila has gone 3-5 with stops in Bellator and Combate Global, among other promotions.

He most recently competed in a boxing match on the Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley 2 undercard when he defeated former Bellator fighter Anthony Taylor by majority decision. Prior to that, his previous boxing bout came in 2014 and was a unanimous decision loss.

Varshavski, 32, has found internet success since 2015 through his Instagram and YouTube channels. Named “The Sexiest Doctor Alive” by People magazine in 2015, Varshavski has since amassed 10.1 million followers on YouTube and another 4.4 million on Instagram. His videos feature a doctor’s perspective on a wide range of topics from pop culture to health hacks to everyday encounters with physicians – viewed through a medical lens.

“Doctor Mike” competed in his first and only amateur boxing match in May when he defeated fellow YouTuber personality iDubbbz by unanimous decision in the headlining bout of “Creator Clash” in Tampa, Fla.

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Bellator 279 ceremonial weigh-in faceoffs video: Title fights, grand prix bouts, and more

The event in Honolulu features Cris Cyborg vs. Arlene Blencowe, Juan Archuleta vs. Raufeon Stots, Patchy Mix vs. Kyoji Horiguchi, and more.

HONOLULU – The pre-fight necessities are in the books for the second of two Bellator events this week, and all that’s left to do is fight.

The Bellator 279 fighters got face to face for the first and only time, officially at least, at Friday’s ceremonial weigh-ins. Included in that mix were headliners [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] (25-2 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) and [autotag]Arlene Blencowe[/autotag] (15-8 MMA, 8-4 BMMA), who fight for Cyborg’s women’s featherweight title.

A few quick words were exchanged, though seemingly nothing personal. Cyborg sported artistically-worked facepaint of the Brazilian flag.

The most intense faceoff was between co-main eventers [autotag]Juan Archuleta[/autotag] (25-3 MMA, 7-2 BMMA) and [autotag]Raufeon Stots[/autotag] (17-1 MMA, 5-0 BMMA), who compete in an interim bantamweight title fight that doubles as a grand prix quarterfinal. The other quarterfinalists competing Saturday, [autotag]Patchy Mix[/autotag] (15-1 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Kyoji Horiguchi[/autotag] (29-4 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) had a lighter mood as the two flexed and shook hands.

Former women’s flyweight champion and Hawaii native [autotag]Ilima-Lei Macfarlane[/autotag] (11-1 MMA, 10-1 BMMA) showed a sign of respect to opponent [autotag]Justine Kish[/autotag] (7-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) when she presented her with a lei.

Saturday’s card at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu is the second of back-to-back Bellator events in Hawaii’s capital city. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie. Check out all the faceoffs for Bellator 279 in the video above.

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Bellator 268 salaries: Vadim Nemkov, Corey Anderson among five six-figure paydays

Five fighters pocketed more than $100,000 at Bellator 268 in Phoenix, according to documents obtained by MMA Junkie.

Bellator 268 featured two light heavyweight grand prix matchups, and the fighters involved were four of the five highest-paid athletes on the card.

Light heavyweight champion [autotag]Vadim Nemkov[/autotag] and fellow grand prix finalist [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] led all paydays, as they pocketed six figures as a result of their wins Oct. 16 at Footprint Center in Phoenix.

Grand prix participants [autotag]Julius Anglickas[/autotag] and [autotag]Ryan Bader[/autotag], who lost in the semfinals, and former UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Benson Henderson[/autotag], also took home six figures.

On Monday, MMA Junkie acquired a full list of Bellator 268 salaries from the Arizona Department of Gaming, which oversaw the event.

Check out a full list below.

Bellator 257: Make your predictions for Vadim Nemkov vs. Phil Davis

We want your predictions for Bellator 257, featuring champ Vadim Nemkov vs. Phil Davis in a title fight and light heavyweight tourney bout.

We want your predictions for Friday’s Bellator 257 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 Wednesdday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the Bellator 257 main card staff predictions we release Thursday ahead of the event. Bellator 257 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.