Check out the best highlights from this day in history with MMA Junkie’s “Combat Rewind.”
There’s “Flashback Friday” and “Throwback Thursday” (and Tuesday, too, if you want). But at MMA Junkie, we figured why not expand that to every day?
“Combat Rewind” brings you some of combat sports’ best highlights from every calendar day of the year. It’s a look back at history, courtesy of the UFC Fight Pass archives, featuring stellar finishes and classic moments in MMA and beyond on their anniversaries.
So kick back and relive the following bits of greatness in the video above:
Strikeforce Challengers 15: [autotag]James Terry[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Josh Thornburg[/autotag] – April 1, 2011
Strikeforce Challengers 15: [autotag]Lorenz Larkin[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Scott Lighty[/autotag] – April 1, 2011
Shooto Japan: [autotag]Wataru Miki[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Takayoshi Ono[/autotag] – April 1, 2011
Victory FC 49: [autotag]Raufeon Stots[/autotag] vs. [autotag]William Joplin[/autotag] – April 1, 2016
Fight footage courtesy of UFC Fight Pass, the UFC’s official digital subscription service, which is currently offering a seven-day free trial. UFC Fight Pass gives fans access to exclusive live UFC events and fights, exclusive live MMA and combat sports events from around the world, exclusive original and behind the scenes content and unprecedented 24-7 access to the world’s biggest fight library.
The new year has begun, but it’s time for one last look back at how the final important event of 2019 affected the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.
As we turn the page to 2020, we must take one last look back at the final meaningful event of 2019.
Bellator made its Japanese debut with the epic Bellator 237 at Saitama Super Arena just outside Tokyo on Dec. 28. Among the most noteworthy winners on the evening were two of the company’s best welterweights: [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] and [autotag]Lorenz Larkin[/autotag].
So how did these high-quality performances by “MVP” and “Da Monsoon” affect the standings at 170 pounds? And was there anything else noteworthy on the week? And most important, how did this all play out in this week’s USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings?
Let MMA Junkie’s own “Gorgeous” George Garcia and John Morgan walk you through all the changes of note in the video above.
Take a look at the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie MMA rankings for Dec. 31 after Bellator 237 caused change at 170 pounds.
We’re finally done with 2019, but the holiday season didn’t come and go until one final fight card with rankings implications went down.
Bellator 237 was the company’s debut in Japan, and with it came heavy doses of firepower, headlined by Fedor Emelianenko’s knockout of Quinton Jackson.
But the most relevant fights of the night, at least for rankings purposes, went down at welterweight, where both [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] and [autotag]Lorenz Larkin[/autotag] scored big wins.
So where did that duo place in the current USA Today Sports/MMA Junkie rankings? To find out where “MVP” and “Da Monsoon” are now ranked, or to check out where you favorite — or least favorite — fighter stands, check out the rankings above.
If you missed Fedor Emelianenko’s knockout of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson the first time around, here’s your chance to catch it.
Bellator put on it’s first-ever card in Japan on Saturday, bringing some of their biggest names to the iconic Saitama Super Arena just outside of Tokyo.
And what a night it was, as several of Bellator’s best brought their A-game to the venerated venue. [autotag]Goiti Yamauchi[/autotag], [autotag]Ilara Joanne[/autotag], [autotag]Lorenz Larkin[/autotag], [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag], and [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] all put on great shows leading up to the fight which brought everyone to the house: The return of the legendary [autotag]Fedor Emelianenko[/autotag], who made short work of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in a battle of former world champions.
Whether you missed the show the first time or watched it live and want to relive a night filled with slam-bang highlights, you can now watch the best moments from Bellator 237. Watch the video linked above.
“Rampage” Jackson is among six Bellator 237 main card combatants facing medical suspensions.
With five finish losses and two weight misses among them, many of Bellator 237’s main card competitors are facing medical suspensions.
Most prominently, headliner [autotag]Quinton Jackson[/autotag] (38-14 MMA, 5-3 BMMA) has been suspended 60 days as a result of his first-round knockout loss to [autotag]Fedor Emelianenko[/autotag] (39-6 MMA, 3-2 BMMA).
Winners [autotag]Lorenz Larkin[/autotag] (22-7 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) and [autotag]Goiti Yamauchi[/autotag] (25-4 MMA, 11-3 BMMA) are facing indefinite suspensions until they’re cleared by a kidney doctor, presumably because both fighters missed weight at Friday’s weigh-ins.
In a list acquired by MMA Junkie, six of the 12 main card combatants have received medical suspensions from commission head Mike Mazzulli, who oversaw Saturday’s event in Japan.
Check out the Bellator 237 main card medical suspensions below:
Daron Cruickshank: no suspension
Goiti Yamauchi: suspended indefinitely until kidney check cleared by a nephrologist (Yamauchi missed weight)
Kana Watanabe: no suspension
Ilara Joanne: suspended 30 days for TKO loss
Keita Nakamura: no suspension
Lorenz Larkin: suspended indefinitely until kidney check cleared by a nephrologist (Larkin missed weight)
Shinsho Anzai: suspended indefinitely until MRI is cleared by doctor; also suspended 60 days for knockout loss
Michael Page: no suspension
Sidney Outlaw: suspended 60 days for knockout loss
Michael Chandler: no suspension
Quinton Jackson: suspended 60 days due to knockout loss
Fedor Emelianenko: no suspension
Bellator 237, the promotion’s debut in Japan, took place Saturday (Sunday locally) at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, near Tokyo. The main card aired on Paramount and streamed on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.
A recap of the most important storylines from Bellator 237, where Fedor knocked out “Rampage” in the main event.
What mattered most at Bellator 237 in Saitama, Japan? Here are a few post-fight musings …
* * * * *
1. ‘Rampage’ was fun … until he wasn’t
[autotag]Quinton Jackson[/autotag] executed fight week perfectly right up until the moment he got in the cage, and the referee said “fight.” He was in vintage form and endlessly entertaining every time he appeared in front of the media, then rolled out an epic PRIDE-style walkout for his return to Japan after eight years that served as a major nostalgia trip for anyone who lived through that era.
But then the fight against [autotag]Fedor Emelianenko[/autotag] started, and it was a sad state of affairs. While “Rampage” has blown up in weight every fight since moving to heavyweight three years ago, this was by far the worst he’s physically looked. And it translated into an embarrassing result.
The 265-pound Jackson plodded around the cage, struggling to get his footing to target a meaningful punch. The best thing he did the entire fight was check a leg kick from Emelianenko. Otherwise he was a sitting duck, and Emelianenko took advantage as he put together smooth striking combinations before a final overhand stunned Jackson and led to his first knockout loss in 14 years.
No one wants to see that version of Jackson again. If he follows through on his post-fight message about shedding his unnecessary weight and making a return to light heavyweight, where he was once a UFC champion, then perhaps some intrigue will be restored. But if it’s going to be the guy who showed up Saturday night, then he might as well hang up the gloves.
Check out all the facts and figures from Bellator 237, which took place Saturday in Saitama, Japan.
The final Bellator event of the year took place Saturday with Bellator 237, which went down at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, with a card that aired on Paramount and streamed on DAZN.
In the main event, [autotag]Fedor Emelianenko[/autotag] (39-6 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) knocked out [autotag]Quinton Jackson[/autotag] (38-14 MMA, 5-3 BMMA) in the first round of their heavyweight clash. It was the first time “Rampage” has been stopped with strikes since 2005.
Check below for 31 facts coming out of Bellator 237.
* * * *
General
Betting favorites went 5-1 on the main card.
Betting favorites improved to 14-8 (with two no contests and one draw) in Bellator main events this year.
Total fight time for the six-bout main card was 43:56.
Main card
Emelianenko improved to 5-2 since he returned from retirement in December 2015.
Emelianenko improved to 9-2 (with one no contest) when facing former UFC champions.
Emelianenko has earned 31 of his 39 career victories by stoppage. That includes all three of his Bellator wins.
Emelianenko has earned all three of his Bellator victories by first-round knockout.
Fedor Emelianenko and “Rampage” Jackson at Bellator 237. (Photo courtesy Bellator)
Jackson fell to 4-4 in his career in heavyweight fights.
Jackson has suffered four of his six career stoppage losses by knockout.
Jackson suffered his first knockout loss since Apr. 23, 2005 – a span of 5,362 days (nearly 15 years) and 24 fights.
[autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] (20-5 MMA, 17-5 BMMA) has earned 15 of his 20 career victories by stoppage. That includes 12 of his 17 Bellator wins.
Chandler’s 17 victories in Bellator competition are second most in company history behind Patricio Freire (18).
Chandler’s 12 stoppage victories in Bellator competition are most in company history.
[autotag]Sidney Outlaw[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) suffered his first knockout loss since Sept. 13, 2014 – a span of 1,932 days (more than five years) and 13 fights.
Outlaw has suffered three of his four career losses by stoppage.
Michael Page at Bellator 237. (Photo courtesy Bellator)
[autotag]Michael Page[/autotag]’s (17-1 MMA, 13-1 BMMA) earned his third victory in a 92-day stretch. He’s finished all of those wins by knockout.
Page’s 10 stoppage victories in Bellator competition are fourth most in company history behind Chandler (12), Patricio Freire (11) and A.J. McKee (11).
Page’s nine knockout victories in Bellator competition are tied with Douglas Lima and Patricky Freire for most in company history.
[autotag]Lorenz Larkin[/autotag] (22-7 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) improved to 7-3 since he dropped to the welterweight division in January 2015.
Larkin’s four-fight Bellator winning streak at welterweight is tied for the third longest active streak in the division behind Logan Storley (five) and Joey Davis (five).
Larkin has earned nine of his past 12 victories by decision. That includes all four of his Bellator wins
[autotag]Keita Nakamura[/autotag] (35-11-2 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) has alternated wins and losses over his past 10 fights.
Nakamura has suffered nine of his 11 career losses by decision.
Goiti Yamauchi at Bellator 237. (Photo courtesy Bellator)
[autotag]Goiti Yamauchi[/autotag] (25-4 MMA, 11-3 BMMA) improved to 6-1 since he moved up to the Bellator lightweight division in October 2016.
Yamauchi has earned 21 of his 25 career victories by stoppage. That includes nine of his 11 Bellator wins.
Yamauchi’s nine stoppage victories in Bellator competition are tied for fifth most in company history behind Chandler (12), Patricio Freire (11), McKee (11) and Page (10).
Yamauchi’s eight submission victories in Bellator competition are most in company history.
Yamauchi’s five submission victories in Bellator lightweight competition are tied for the most in divisional history.
Yamauchi’s five submission victories by rear-naked choke in Bellator competition are most in company history.
[autotag]Daron Cruickshank[/autotag]’s (22-13 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) three-fight losing skid is tied for the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since September 2018.
Cruickshank has suffered 10 of his 13 career losses by stoppage.
Bellator president Scott Coker says Lorenz Larkin could be the first man to challenge welterweight champion Douglas Lima in 2020.
SAITAMA, Japan – Bellator president Scott Coker says [autotag]Lorenz Larkin[/autotag] is in pole position to be the first man to challenge Bellator welterweight champion Douglas Lima in 2020.
The departure of Rory MacDonald from Bellator to the PFL squashed any thoughts of a championship rematch between the Brazilian and the Canadian, and opened up a path to the gold for the next top contender at 170 pounds.
Coker says that man is Larkin (22-7 MMA, 4-2 BMMA), who he puts just ahead of the likes of [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] in the welterweight pecking order to face three-time Bellator champ Lima in the New Year.
Larkin missed weight for his bout with Keita Nakamura before going the distance with the seasoned Japanese grappler at Bellator 237. But when chatting to reporters, including MMA Junkie, backstage Coker said he wouldn’t penalize the American for his faux-pas on the scale.
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“We can look past that,” he said. “He came a long way and it’s not an easy task. I think that the flight, the trip, it’s just a different environment. I think in the timeframe that was different, that had a lot to do with it. The guy has fought – I don’t know his record offhand – but I think in 24 fights he has never missed weight. So we’ve got to give him a pass for that one.”
And Coker says the fact that Larkin is not just a top contender, but one that hasn’t yet faced Lima inside the Bellator cage, makes “Da Monsoon” the compelling choice to face “The Phenom” next.
“To me, I think the fight that we would like to see is Lorenz fight Lima, because he hasn’t fought him before,” he explained. “But I’d also like to see Lorenz fight ‘MVP,’ too. So, we’ll see. We’re going to mix it up and have some fun with that weight class.”
Larkin joked with reporters backstage after his win that he and Page were related and couldn’t possibly fight each other, but Coker’s grinning response to that suggested that he certainly sees the pair going head to head next year.
“Oh, is that what he said?” Coker laughed. “You know what, we’ll have a conversation with him. Don’t get too close!”
Lorenz Larkin has a new nickname for former opponent Paul Daley.
SAITAMA, Japan – [autotag]Lorenz Larkin[/autotag]’s performance Saturday night may have been his best since joining the promotion in March 2017.
On the Bellator 237 main card, Larkin (22-7 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) put on a high-level striking clinic against fellow former UFC fighter Keita Nakamura (35-11-2 MMA, 0-1 BMMA). As a result of his efforts, Larkin walked away with an unanimous decision victory.
While Larkin won handily, he faced some controversy the morning prior to fight day. The California native missed the mark on the scales Friday, weighing in 173.5 pounds.
“The thing is, I did the same weight cut I always do,” Larkin told MMA Junkie, post-fight “I think I might have came in a little too heavy. It’s funny because I look at all the little comments and stuff on the internet. (I’ve) got 30-plus fights, and this isn’t including my amateur fights. I’ve never missed weight. Never came close to missing weight. Always have been on point.”
“This time, it is what it is. It happens. The first hour that I was in the tub, I dropped 3.4 (pounds). The next hour, it went from 3.4 to 0.4. So, that’s it. I’m not stupid when it comes to all of this. I listen to my body. … It’s not like I’m known for this.”
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So what’s next for Larkin? The welterweight contender wouldn’t commit to a name and said he’s leaving his options open. However, there is one British fighter in particular Larkin refuses to rematch at this point in time.
“I don’t know,” Larkin said. “They always give me a name, but Leonardo – I’m not fighting his ass until he fights (Andrey) Koreshkov. And by Leonardo, I mean Paul Daley. (Expletive) Ninja Turtle looking – so, anyways. That’s what it is.
“Anybody else, we can set it up and I’ll talk to Scott. But for the turtle out there, you can’t fight me until you fight Koreshkov. Stop ducking.”
Bellator237, the promotion’s debut in Japan, took place Saturday (Sunday locally) at Saitama Super Arena. The main card aired on Paramount and streamed on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.
Check out Larkin’s full Bellator 237 post-fight media scrum in the video above.
Check out all the fighter walkout songs from Saturday’s Bellator 237 event.
While it takes intense training, world-class skills and maybe even a bit of luck to register a Bellator win, picking the right song to accompany you to the cage is a key talent, as well.
See what the fighters from Bellator 237 went with as their backing tracks in Saitama, Japan.
[autotag]Daron Cruickshank[/autotag]: “Real American” by Rick Derringer
The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.
