Tag: Mads Burnell

Clay Collard vs. Mads Burnell headlines 2024 PFL 5 in Salt Lake City

Lightweights and light heavyweights are on tap when the PFL regular season touches down in Salt Lake City.

Lightweights and light heavyweights are on deck as regular season continues for 2024 PFL 5 in Utah.

PFL makes it’s debut in Salt Lake City, Utah on June 21 at Huntsman Center. The card will be headlined by a lightweight showdown between [autotag]Clay Collard[/autotag] and [autotag]Mads Burnell[/autotag], promotion officials announced Monday morning.

Utah’s own Collard (25-12-1) is No. 2 in the lightweight standings after finishing Patricky Freire by Round 2 TKO at 2024 PFL 2. Meanwhile, Burnell (18-6) will look to rebound after a second-round submission loss to Michael Dufort, who sits in the No. 1 spot.

In the co-main event, 2023 PFL light heavyweight champion [autotag]Impa Kasanganay[/autotag] (16-4) faces Slovenia’s [autotag]Jakob Nedoh[/autotag] (8-2). Despite finishing Alex Polizzi in the first round at 2024 PFL 2, Kasanganay finds himself at No. 4 in points, after Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (third), Josh Silveira (second), and Rob Wilkinson (first) all notched faster finishes on the same night. Nedoh was knocked out by Yagshimuradov in his first regular season matchup.

The PFL Week 5 lineup includes:

  • Mads Burnell vs. Clay Collard
  • Impa Kasanganay vs. Jakob Nedoh
  • Bruno Miranda vs. Patricky Pitbull
  • Josh Silveira vs. Rob Wilkinson
  • Simon Biyong vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov
  • Antonio Carlos Jr. vs. Alex Polizzi
  • Brent Primus vs. Solomon Renfro
  • Tom Breese vs. Sadibou Sy
  • Elvin Espinoza vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov
  • Michael Dufort vs. Adam Piccolotti
  • Sergio Cossio vs. Anthony Romero
  • Karl Albrektsson vs. Laurynas Urbonavicius
  • Brayhan Zurcher vs. TBA

[lawrence-related id=2732820,2732923]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2024, Week 5.

‘Super happy’ PFL season newcomer Mads Burnell explains excitement for fight schedule, new weight class

Former Bellator fighter Mads Burnell is “super happy” to enter the PFL’s season format while not worrying about cutting as much weight.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Mads Burnell[/autotag] is just days away from beginning a new fighting experience and couldn’t be happier about the future.

Burnell (18-5), who fought under the Bellator fighter from 2020-23, switched to PFL after it acquired the promotion. While some things will remain the same, such as some familiar faces behind the scenes, but when it comes to business inside the cage, there will be several differences for the Danish fighter.

“I’m excited about it,” Burnell told reporters at a media scrum at XTreme Couture. “The only difference is that now you kind of know when you’re fighting and stuff like that. I’m super happy about that. That’s actually why when I heard they were going to merge, I was like I need to get in that. If you fight for UFC, Bellator, or whatever, it can be a little inconsistent when you’re fighting. But here, you know when and where to fight, so it’s super cool.”

For the PFL season format, Burnell will also be making the move from featherweight to lightweight. He is aware that cutting weight so often is not a wise decision due to its negative effects on his performance.

“Now I got to make weight so often, and the last four or five times making ’45 have been super, super tough,” Burnell said. “So, I think it’s natural progression. When I started fighting, I was 19. I was walking around like 163, 164 soaking wet. I just turned 30 like two weeks ago, and the weight is a little different than it was when I was 19. I became a man, so it’s only natural progression I’m going up a weight class.”

Burnell’s new journey begins at 2024 PFL 2 on April 12, when he faces Michael Dufort (12-4) for his first regular season bout. He will be looking to extend his two-fight streak in what he hopes will be the first of many entertaining fights going forward.

“For me, it’s like I’m in this because I want to put on exciting fights,” Burnell said. “When it’s all said and done, I want the up-and-comers to look at me how I was looking at the (Arturo) Gatti, (Micky) Ward’s, the (Evander) Holyfield’s, stuff like that.  The million is just the cherry on top, but this just gives me extra opportunity to put on exciting fights, knowing when I’m fighting – it’s perfect.”

[lawrence-related id=2681297,2727857,2723946]

Bellator’s Mads Burnell blasts ‘soft as f*ck’ modern jiu-jitsu for making art less effective for MMA

Bellator featherweight Mads Burnell blasts the evolution of modern jiu-jitsu for making the art less effective for MMA.

[autotag]Mads Burnell[/autotag] is not happy with the evolution of jiu-jitsu, and thinks it comes with a cost, at least in MMA.

With jiu-jitsu vastly changing and evolving from self-defense to more of a sport in recent years, Burnell (17-5 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) thinks it’s become less effective in fighting. Returning at Bellator 299 this Saturday against Daniel Weichel (42-14 MMA, 11-6 BMMA), Burnell (17-5 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) was pretty vocal about the current state of jiu-jitsu.

“It’s soft as f*ck to say it mildly,” Burnell said at the Bellator 299 media day on Thursday. “They’re going for worm guard, spider guard, this guard, that guard. The old-school way like Renzo and Rickson (Gracie) did it like to get the takedown, get on top, get to mount, punch somebody in the face and choke people. That’s how it works in MMA. But this soft sh*t where they butt scoot and try to get each other’s foot, that sh*t don’t fly in MMA.”

It may be surprising to see Burnell critical of jiu-jitsu given that it’s his main weapon in MMA. Burnell has 10 stoppage wins in his record, and nine of those have come by way of submission.

“It’s funny because I’m good on the ground, but I actually think jiu-jitsu is soft,” Burnell said. “I actually don’t like it, especially how it is today. I really don’t like it. I don’t like the tournaments and how they call it fights. How can it be a fight when no one is getting slapped? I really don’t like how jiu-jitsu is today.”

[lawrence-related id=2681273,2680531]

Either way, Burnell is focused on MMA and not jiu-jitsu. He’s hoping to build momentum from his win over Justin Gonzales in April and further himself from that two-fight losing streak in 2022. The 29-year-old finds Weichel to be the perfect opponent to do just that.

“He’s a legend, that’s why I called him out,” Burnell said. “I’ve said this before, but it was mostly to reel him in. I’ve been wanting to fight this guy since I almost became a pro. He fought in Denmark when I was 10 years old in a fight card I was live watching in 2004, so it’s pretty cool to fight him.

“He’s all around a good fighter and has fought who’s who. If you look at his track record, that’s the type of record you want to have. He fought anybody, anytime, anywhere, and I respect that a lot.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030791]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 299.

UFC veterans in MMA, kickboxing, muay Thai and bareknuckle boxing action Sept. 22-23

Check out which veterans of the UFC are competing in combat sports across the globe this weekend.

This week, the UFC remains in Las Vegas for UFC Fight Night 228.

The event takes place at the UFC Apex and features a lightweight bout between [autotag]Rafael Fiziev[/autotag] and [autotag]Mateusz Gamrot[/autotag].

Elsewhere, many other combat sports events are taking place that feature a number of familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

Check out which veterans of the global MMA leader are competing in MMA, kickboxing, muay Thai and bareknuckle boxing this week from Sept. 22-23.

Check out the names and details about their bouts below.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (May 8-15)

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 8-15.

Bellator books Mads Burnell vs. Daniel Weichel on Dublin card

Mads Burnell asked for Daniel Weichel and now he’s got him at Bellator Dublin.

Ask and you shall receive.

[autotag]Mads Burnell[/autotag] called for a fight with former Bellator featherweight title challenger [autotag]Daniel Weichel[/autotag] and now he’s got one. The two fighters will face off Sept. 23 at 3Arena in Dublin, Bellator officials informed MMA Junkie on Monday.

Denmark’s Burnell (17-5 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) snapped a two-fight losing skid when he defeated Justin Gonzales by unanimous decision at Bellator 295 in April. Thus far in his Bellator tenure, Burnell has lost only decisions to title challengers Adam Borics and Pedro Carvalho. Ten of his 17 career victories have come inside the distance.

Germany’s Weichel (42-14 MMA, 11-6 BMMA) has alternated wins and losses since September 2019 – with a 3-3 record during that stretch. Following a knockout win over Robert Whiteford in May 2022, Weichel lost a unanimous decision to Timur Khizriev in November.

With the addition, the Bellator lineup for Dublin includes:

  • Champion Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards – for middleweight title
  • Brian Moore vs. Otto Rodrigues
  • Mads Burnell vs. Daniel Weichel

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

Mads Burnell aggressively calls out Daniel Weichel after Bellator 295 win: ‘Answer me, motherf*cker’

Back in the win column after Bellator 295, Mads Burnell wasted no time making his next callout.

HONOLULU – Back in the win column, [autotag]Mads Burnell[/autotag] wasted no time in making his next callout.

Burnell (17-5 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) defeated Justin Gonzales by unanimous decision in Saturday’s Bellator 295 event at Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu.

Following his win, Burnell proceeded to call out fellow top-10 ranked featherweight [autotag]Daniel Weichel[/autotag] (42-14 MMA, 11-6 BMMA), accusing him of ducking the fight.

“Daniel Weichel, stop f*cking running,” Burnell told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “I’ve been making f*cking memes about you all year, sh*t like that, saying I’ll make you Wiener schnitzel quicker than you could say auf Wiedersehen and you’ve been quiet like a f*cking church mouse. Answer me, motherf*cker.”

Burnell rebounded after suffering back-to-back losses to Adam Borics and Pedro Carvalho. The 29-year-old Xtreme Couture fighter acknowledges that his back could have been against the wall but wants to fight the toughest competition regardless.

“I asked to fight Justin, because I know he’s a great fighter,” Burnell said. “He has a great record, and I was like, ‘I know I’m one of the best featherweights, I can hang with everybody.’ I do it at my gym with Xtreme Couture. I f*cking stand and bang with middleweights, and all the motherf*ckers there can vouch for me.

“I got it on video and everything. I know I can hang with the best of the best of them. So I just told myself when that little b*tch on my shoulder starts to get nervous, I told myself, ‘Hey, this is what you want.’ You asked for this.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030791]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 295.

UFC veterans in MMA and boxing action April 21-23

Check out which UFC veterans are in MMA and boxing action across the globe this weekend.

This week, the UFC is back in Las Vegas at the UFC Apex for a heavyweight showdown. In the main event, [autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] in a fight scheduled for five rounds.

Elsewhere, many other MMA and boxing events are taking place that feature a number of familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

This weekend, there are a total of 18 veterans of the global MMA leader competing in MMA and boxing this week from April 21-23.

Check out the names and details about their bouts below.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (March 13-19)

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 March 13-19.

Bellator 285 post-event facts: Yoel Romero makes history with late knockout

Check out the numbers behind Bellator 285, where Yoel Romero added to one of the most unique records in MMA.

Bellator returned from a six-week hiatus on Saturday with Bellator 285, which went down at 3Arena in Dublin and featured a 13-fight lineup on the card.

The main event featured a dominant performance from former UFC and WEC lightweight champion [autotag]Benson Henderson[/autotag] (30-11 MMA, 7-6 BMMA), who shut down Ireland’s [autotag]Peter Queally[/autotag] (13-7 MMA, 2-3 BMMA) over the course of five rounds to win a unanimous decision and begin his late-career push toward the title.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the event, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from Bellator 285.