Tag: Leandro Higo

Bellator Champions Series: Belfast results: Strong third round lifts Leandro Higo past James Gallagher

Leandro Higo and James Gallagher were pretty evenly matched until one of them pulled away late in their Bellator Belfast fight. 

[autotag]Leandro Higo[/autotag] and [autotag]James Gallagher[/autotag] were pretty evenly matched until one of them pulled away late in their Bellator Champions Series: Belfast fight.

Higo (23-6 MMA, 6-4 BMMA) used a strong third-round performance to close out a unanimous decision win over Gallagher (12-3 MMA, 9-3 BMMA) on Friday at SSE Arena. After 15 minutes, all three judges saw the fight 29-28 in Higo’s favor, which was hard to argue.

After a cautious few minutes from both men in Round 1, Higo landed the first big shot when he wobbled Gallagher with a spinning elbow with about 1:45 remaining. Higo pointed at Gallagher and then rushed in to take him down to the mat. Gallagher did his best from bottom position to try for an ankle lock, but Higo punished him with ground-and-pound to ensure the round was his.

Round 2 proved much closer as there wasn’t a ton of action, although Gallagher was beginning to find a rhythm in the striking department before Higo hit him with an inadvertent kick to the groin. After the timeout, Gallagher closed out strong in the standup.

Likely tied one round apiece, the third round was all Higo, who lifted Gallagher off his feet for huge takedown with about 2:20 remaining. From there, he controlled Gallagher on the mat and inflicted damage in the final minute with a lot of strikes. Gallagher didn’t have much of an answer at that point, which proved to be enough for Higo to get the win.

Higo now has won two fights in a row, while Gallagher failed to keep momentum in his favor following a split decision win against James Gonzalez last August.

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Up-to-the-minute BCS: Belfast results include:

  • Leandro Higo def. James Gallagher via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Manoel Sousa def. Tim Wilde via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 4:48
  • Ciaran Clarke def. Darius Mafi submission (arm-triangle choke)
  • Alfie Davis def. Oscar Ownsworth unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Luke Trainer def. Grant Neal unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Nathan Kelly def. Vikas Singh Ruhil knockout (elbow)
  • Abraham Bably def. Isaiah Pinson unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event page for Bellator Champions Series: Belfast.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC, PFL, Bellator fights announced in the past week (Feb. 26-March 3)

Check out the UFC, PFL and Bellator fights that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC, PFL, and Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by the promotions from Feb. 26-March 3.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (June 19-25)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by a promotion from June 19-25.

Bellator 297 loses two bouts including former title challenger

Two fights have been removed from next week’s Bellator 297 card in Chicago, bringing the lineup down to 16 bouts.

Bellator 297 has taken a pair of hits the week prior to the June 16 event at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

Former Bellator middleweight title challenger [autotag]Austin Vanderford[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) was expected to face [autotag]Imamshafi Aliev[/autotag] (9-0 MMA, 1-0 BMMA), but that fight has been canceled for undisclosed reasons.

Additionally, the bantamweight bout between [autotag]Leandro Higo[/autotag] (21-6 MMA, 4-4 BMMA) and [autotag]Nikita Mikhailov[/autotag] (10-2 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) is off due to an illness with the former.

The card is set to proceed with 16 bouts including a light heavyweight title fight in the main event, as champion Vadim Nemkov (16-2 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) tries to defend his title against former UFC title challenger Yoel Romero (15-6 MMA, 2-1 BMMA).

In the co-main event, Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Freire (35-5 MMA, 23-5 BMMA) looks to become the first fighter to win three divisional titles in the same major promotion when he takes on Bellator bantamweight champion Sergio Pettis (22-5 MMA, 9-5 BMMA).

With the cancellations, the Bellator 297 card includes:

  • Champion Vadim Nemkov vs. Yoel Romero – for light heavyweight title
  • Champion Sergio Pettis vs. Patricio Freire – for bantamweight title
  • Corey Anderson vs. Phil Davis
  • Daniel James vs. Gokhan Saricam
  • David McKinney vs. Max Metzgar
  • Wladmir Gouvea vs. Gabriel Sayeg
  • Kyle Crutchmer vs. Bobby Nash
  • Pieter Buist vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov
  • Ramazan Kurmagomedov vs. Jaleel Willis
  • Mike Hamel vs. Shamil Nikaev
  • Norbert Novenyi vs. Kamil Oniszczuk
  • Archie Colgan vs. Emmanuel Sanchez
  • Karl Moore vs. Alex Polizzi
  • Timur Khizriev vs. Richie Smullen
  • Jordan Newman vs. Matthew Perry
  • Edwin Chavez vs. Cody Law

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (May 1-7)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie from May 1-7.

James Gallagher out of Bellator 292 bout vs. Leandro Higo

For the third time in four bookings, James Gallagher has withdrawn from a scheduled Bellator bout.

For the third time in four bookings, [autotag]James Gallagher[/autotag] has withdrawn from a fight.

Gallagher (11-2 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) is out of Bellator 292 for undisclosed reasons, and his bout vs. [autotag]Leandro Higo[/autotag] (21-6 MMA, 4-4 BMMA) has been scrapped. The bantamweight contenders were expected to throw down March 10 at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif..

Promotion officials confirmed the cancellation Thursday to MMA Junkie after an initial report by Severe MMA. Higo will not remain on the card.

Gallagher, 26, has competed once since the end of 2020, a submission loss to Patchy Mix that snapped a three-fight win streak. In between the Mix and Higo matchups, Gallagher was booked to partake in Bellator’s bantamweight grand prix. However, a hand injury that required surgery forced him out. Gallagher later withdrew from a Brett Johns matchup scheduled for September.

Higo, 34, competed in the Bellator bantamweight grand prix. He was eliminated by Danny Sabatello by unanimous decision in the quarterfinal round. The loss snapped a three-fight winning streak.

With the cancellation, the Bellator 292 lineup includes:

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

  • Champion Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Benson Henderson – grand prix quarterfinal for lightweight title
  • Tofiq Musayev vs. Alexander Shabliy – lightweight grand prix quarterfinal
  • Valentin Moldavsky vs. Linton Vassell
  • Michael Page vs. Goiti Yamauchi

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Enrique Barzola vs. Erik Perez
  • Bruna Ellen vs. Keri Taylor Melendez
  • Cass Bell vs. Josh Hill
  • Islam Mamedov vs. Shamil Nikaev
  • Tony Johnson vs. Khalid Murtazaliev
  • Julius Anglickas vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov
  • Alberto Garcia vs. Bobby Seronio III
  • Laird Anderson vs. Rogelio Luna
  • Wladmir Gouvea vs. Sean Tucker
  • Theo Haig vs. Adam Wamsley
  • Demetri Georgiades vs. Dupree Stewart

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 292.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Jan. 16-22)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie from Jan. 16-22.

James Gallagher set to face Leandro Higo at Bellator 292 in San Jose

A fun bantamweight matchup between James Gallagher and Leandro Higo has been added to Bellator 292 in San Jose, Calif.

A fun bantamweight matchup has been added to the upcoming Bellator 292 card.

Wednesday the promotion officially announced [autotag]James Gallagher[/autotag] will share the Bellator cage with [autotag]Leandro Higo[/autotag] at the event set to take place at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. on March 10. The event airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Gallagher (11-2 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) will return to the cage for the first time since a submission loss to Patchy Mix at Bellator 270 in November 2021. Due to injury, he was forced out of last year’s bantamweight grand prix, and later had to pull out of a scheduled fight against Brett Johns at Bellator 285.

Prior to his loss to Mix, Gallagher, 26, ripped through four straight opponents, finishing Steven Graham, Roman Salazar and Cal Ellenor in the first round.

Higo (21-6 MMA, 4-4 BMMA) was also set back in his last outing, ending up on the wrong end of a unanimous decision against Danny Sabatello in the bantamweight grand prix quarterfinals. The loss snapped a three-fight win streak which included second-round submissions of Shawn Bunch and Ricky Bandejas.

The 33-year-old Higo will not only look to get back into the win column, but also stay above .500 in Bellator.

With the addition, the Bellator 292 lineup includes:

  • Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Benson Henderson – for lightweight title/grand prix quarterfinal
  • Tofiq Musayev vs. Alexander Shabily – lightweight grand prix quarterfinal
  • James Gallagher vs. Leandro Higo
  • Enrique Barzola vs. Erik Perez
  • Cass Bell vs. Josh Hill
  • Wladmir Gouvea vs. Sean Tucker
  • Theo Haig vs. Adam Wamsley

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Bellator 282 results: Danny Sabatello embraces boos, smothers Leandro Higo to advance in grand prix

Danny Sabatello egged on the crowd all the way through the Bellator 282 post-fight interview, until Raufeon Stots changed the mood.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Danny Sabatello[/autotag] might not make it look pretty, but he doesn’t seem to care.

Through the boos and jeers, Sabatello (13-1 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) remained consistently dominant against [autotag]Leandro Higo[/autotag] (21-6 MMA, 4-4 BMMA) and cruised to a unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) in the Bellator 282 co-main event Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Sabatello wasted no time. Like he’s done in his other Bellator appearances, Sabatello dragged Higo to the canvas and showed heavy control skills on the back. Sabatello coasted much of the rest of the round in this position – and returned to it again in Round 2. However, this time Higo reversed position and snatched Sabatello’s back – where he rode out the round.

In Round 3, there were some brief striking exchanges before the inevitable occurred. The fight hit the canvas again. This time, it was Sabatello in control. The boo birds showed up quite a bit and Round 3 was no different. Referee Dan Miragliotta saw enough in his estimation, as Sabatello was allowed to ride out the round on top. Sabatello taunted the crowd after the end-of-round horn.

In the championship rounds, Sabatello shot again. He got the takedown and entered guard after Higo briefly threatened an arm-in guillotine choke. Sabatello wet-blanketed Higo some more. Higo continuously got to his feet, only to be dragged back down again. Sabatello separated with 10 seconds left, got wild, and ate a spinning backfist before the round.

The final round was more of the same. Sabatello grappled more. Higo struggled more. The crowd booed more. Sabatello cruised to a decision as he avoided brief submission attempts and made sure to mouth off more after the final horn.

With the win, Sabatello advances to the Bellator bantamweight grand prix semifinal round where he’ll face interim champion Raufeon Stots later this year. Widely regarded as one of Bellator’s budding stars, Sabatello has not only looked dominant inside the cage – but also has built himself with his mic skills outside of it. His two other wins in Bellator include Jornel Lugo and Brett Johns.

Meanwhile, Higo has a three-fight winning streak snapped. The most recent time he lost prior to Friday was a September 2018 knockout defeat against Aaron Pico.

The full Bellator 282 results include:

  • Danny Sabatello def. Leandro Higo via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) – bantamweight grand prix quarterfinal
  • Magomed Magomedov def. Enrique Barzola via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 4, 1:27 – bantamweight grand prix quarterfinal
  • Brennan Ward def. Kassius Kayne via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:11
  • Killys Mota def. Dan Moret via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Lucas Brennan def. Johnny Soto via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:34
  • Alexander Shabliy def. Brent Primus via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 1:22
  • Cat Zingano def. Pam Sorenson via unanimous decision (29-26, 29-27, 29-27)
  • Anatoly Tokov def. Muhammad Abdullah via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:28
  • Sabah Homasi def. Maycon Mendonca via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 0:58
  • Ilara Joanne def. Alejandra Lara via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27, 29-27)
  • James Gonzalez def. Cody Law via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 30-26)
  • Aaron Jeffery def. Fabio Aguiar via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:32
  • Mandel Nallo def. Bryce Logan via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:07

Bellator 282 ceremonial faceoffs video: Main eventers stay respectful after Danny Sabatello and Leandro Higo mouth off

Check out the Bellator 282 ceremonial faceoffs which featured Gegard Mousasi, Cat Zingano, and Danny Sabatello vs. Leandro Higo.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – The Bellator 282 ceremonial faceoffs took place Thursday outside Mohegan Sun Arena box office where MMA Junkie reported live.

Among those partaking in the ceremonial event was champion [autotag]Gegard Mousasi[/autotag] (49-7-2 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) and challenger [autotag]Johnny Eblen[/autotag] (11-0 MMA, 7-0 BMMA), who will fight in the main event Friday at the same casino.

Also on the card, heated rivals and grand prix quarterfinal opponents [autotag]Leandro Higo[/autotag] (21-5 MMA, 4-3 BMMA) and [autotag]Danny Sabatello[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) locked eyes and pressed faces as the theme of trash talk boiled over into their faceoff. Their fellow tournament participants [autotag]Enrique Barzola[/autotag] (18-5-2 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) and [autotag]Magomed Magomedov[/autotag] (18-2 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) kept their hands to themself, though words were exchanged.

None of these were as heated as [autotag]Sabah Homasi[/autotag] (16-10 MMA, 5-4 BMMA) and [autotag]Maycon Mendonca[/autotag] (11-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA), however who were restrained after a physical altercation on stage – then were separated backstage, too.

Also on the card, former UFC women’s bantamweight title challenger [autotag]Cat Zingano[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) squared off with [autotag]Pam Sorenson[/autotag] (9-4 MMA, 1-1 BMMA).

Check out the full Bellator 282 ceremonial faceoffs in the video above.

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