Tag: Matheus Mattos

Bellator 301 video: Matheus Mattos climbs Richard Palencia to secure choke for submission win

Matheus Mattos overcame adversity at Bellator 301 and then utilized some slick BJJ skills to submit Richard Palencia.

[autotag]Matheus Mattos[/autotag]’ rally Friday at Bellator 301 was topped off by a slick standing submission.

Dropped and nearly finished moments prior, Mattos (14-2-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) survived, slowed the pace, and utilized slick Brazilian jiu-jitsu to submit [autotag]Richard Palencia[/autotag] (10-2 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) with a standing rear-naked choke. The tap came at 3:20 of Round 2.

With the win, Mattos is victorious in back-to-back outings, whereas Palencia has now lost two consecutive fights.

The up-to-the-minute Bellator 301 results include:

  • Matheus Mattos def. Richard Palencia via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:20
  • Ramazan Kuramagomedov def. Randall Wallace via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:49
  • Islam Mamedov def. Killys Mota via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Cody Law def. Jefferson Pontes via unanimous decision (30-27,30-27, 30-27)
  • Tim Wilde def. Mike Hamel via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 2:47
  • Yves Landu def. Isao Kobayashi via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 301.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Sept. 18-24)

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 the promotions from Sept. 18-24.

Ex-champ Juliana Velasquez, Keri Melendez among new additions to Bellator 301 in Chicago

The lineup for Bellator’s second trip to “The Windy City” in five months continues to build with a former champion set for the prelims.

The lineup for Bellator’s second trip to “The Windy City” in five months continues to build with a former champion set for the prelims.

Former women’s flyweight champ [autotag]Juliana Velasquez[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 7-2 BMMA) will try to get back on track when she takes on fellow Brazilian [autotag]Paula Cristina[/autotag] (6-2 MMA, 0-1 BMMA). Additionally, the undefeated [autotag]Keri Melendez[/autotag] (5-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) will take on promotional newcomer [autotag]Sabriye Sengul[/autotag] (3-3 MMA, 0-1 BMMA).

Bellator 301, which features two title fights and a lightweight grand prix semifinal on the main card, takes place Nov. 17 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie. The event will be Bellator’s third trip to Chicago in a year.

In addition, lightweight prospect [autotag]Archie Colgan[/autotag] (8-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Pieter Buist[/autotag] (17-7 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Matheus Mattos[/autotag] (13-2-1 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) meets former LFA bantamweight champion [autotag]Richard Palencia[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) on the preliminary card. Bellator officials informed MMA Junkie of the new bookings Sunday. An official announcement is expected Monday.

Velasquez had a perfect 12-0 start to her career, and in December 2020 upset Ilima-Lei Macfarlane to win the women’s flyweight title. She defended it seven months later against Denise Kielholtz. But in April 2022, she was submitted by Liz Carmouche in Hawaii and lost the belt. Eight months later, she was submitted by her in a rematch at Bellator 289. Cristina has dropped two of her past three fights after a 5-0 pro start. In May, she lost a decision to Kielholtz in her Bellator debut.

With the additions, the Bellator 301 lineup now includes:

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

  • Champ Yaroslav Amosov vs. Jason Jackson – for welterweight title
  • Champ Sergio Pettis vs. interim champ Patchy Mix – bantamweight title unification bout
  • Danny Sabatello vs. Raufeon Stots
  • A.J. McKee vs. Sidney Outlaw
  • Patricky Freire vs. Alexander Shabliy – lightweight grand prix semifinal

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

  • Ali Isaev vs. Daniel James
  • Tyrell Fortune vs. Marcelo Golm
  • Justin Gonzales vs. Timur Khizriev
  • Pieter Buist vs. Archie Colgan
  • Paula Cristina vs. Juliana Velasquez
  • Keri Melendez vs. Sabriye Sengul
  • Matheus Mattos vs. Richard Palencia
  • Mike Hamel vs. Tim Wilde
  • Sumiko Inaba vs .Denise Kielholtz
  • Islam Mamedov vs. Killys Mota

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 301.

Bellator 262 faceoff video highlights: Juliana Velasquez, Denise Kielholtz take long look

Neither woman wanted to back down ahead of their flyweight title fight.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Bellator makes its return Friday, and the women’s flyweight title will be on the line.

Bellator 262 takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena with the main card airing on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie. Atop the bill is 125-pound champion [autotag]Juliana Velasquez[/autotag] making her first title defense against [autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag].

The co-main event features two friends fighting each other as heavyweights [autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag] and [autotag]Matt Mitrione[/autotag] will meet inside the cage.

Following Thursday’s official Bellator 262 weigh-ins, the athletes came face to face for some traditional pre-fight staredowns.

Check out the faceoffs below, including Velasquez vs. Kielholtz, Fortune vs. Mitrione, the return of [autotag]Diana Asvaragova[/autotag], and more.

With Matheus Mattos out, Brett Johns faces Titan FC champ Danny Sabatello at Bellator 259

Just a week out from his Bellator debut, Brett Johns is getting a new opponent.

Just a week out from his Bellator debut, [autotag]Brett Johns[/autotag] is getting a new opponent.

Johns (17-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), who was originally scheduled to face [autotag]Matheus Mattos[/autotag], will now take on Titan FC bantamweight champion [autotag]Danny Sabatello[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) at Bellator 259, promotion officials announced Thursday.

Bellator 259 takes place May 21 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Johns took to Instagram to say that Mattos was forced to withdraw due to a positive COVID-19 test.

“Unfortunately Matteus Mattos has contracted covid-19 as is unable to fight.

But @bellatormma have worked hard to find me a replacement. Now I will be fighting Former Titan FC World Champion Danny Sabatello. It’s a very tough fight. But I’m ready to go.

Respect to Danny for stepping up!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CO2VaxBNu4j/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

After testing free agency, Johns opted to sign with Bellator in October. The 29-year-old Welshman departed the UFC having won two straight over Tony Gravely and Montel Jackson. His only two octagon losses have come to top contender Pedro Munhoz and current UFC bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling.

Sabatello, who failed to secure a UFC contract after beating Taylor Moore on Dana White’s Contender Series 35 this past November, notched his first title defense when he scored a lopsided decision over Da’Mon Blackshear at Titan FC 67 in February. The American Top Team fighter will get another shot at the big leagues when he makes his Bellator debut on just a week’s notice against Johns.

With the change, the Bellator 259 lineup now includes:

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

  • Champ Cris Cyborg vs. Leslie Smith – for women’s featherweight title
  • Darrion Caldwell vs. Leandro Higo
  • Fabian Edwards vs. Austin Vanderford
  • Maycon Mendonca vs. Jaleel Willis
  • Christian Edwards vs. Ben Parrish

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 5:30 p.m. ET)

  • Nate Andrews vs. Saad Awad
  • Tyree Fortune vs. Grant Neal
  • Sumiko Inaba vs. Kristina Katsikis
  • Sean Felton vs. Aviv Gozali
  • Hannah Guy vs. Valerie Loureda
  • Davion Franklin vs. Tyler King
  • Janay Harding vs. Leah McCourt
  • Alfie Davis vs. Alexander Shabliy
  • Brett Johns vs. Danny Sabatello

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Brett Johns set for Bellator debut, faces Matheus Mattos on May 21

“The Pikey” went 5-2 in the UFC with losses coming against Aljamain Sterling and Pedro Munoz.

[autotag]Brett Johns[/autotag] has his first Bellator assignment.

At Bellator 259 on May 21, Johns (17-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) will make his promotional debut against former Absolute Championship Berkut standout [autotag]Matheus Mattos[/autotag] (12-2-1 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) in a bantamweight bout.

A person with knowledge of the matchup informed MMA Junkie of the booking Wednesday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. MMA DNA was the first to report the news.

Bellator 259 takes place Friday, May 21 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

Johns, 29, signed with Bellator in October. The Welsh bantamweight fighter had tested free agency following the expiration of his UFC deal in July. Johns exited the UFC riding back-to-back wins over Tony Gravely and Montel Jackson. His only UFC losses in seven appearances came against Aljamain Sterling and Pedro Munhoz.

As for Mattos, the Team Pitbull standout made his Bellator debut in December. He lost a unanimous decision to Magomed Magomedov, which was only his second career defeat. The other career loss came to former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan in 2017.

The Johns vs. Mattos matchup is the first reported contest for Bellator 259.

Bellator 254 results: Magomed Magomedov outwrestles Matheus Mattos in dominant debut

Magomed Magomedov made an impressive Bellator debut on Thursday night.

The former ACB bantamweight champion outpointed [autotag]Matheus Mattos[/autotag] in a unanimous decision in the co-main event of Bellator 254 on Thursday night to win his first fight with his new organization. Magomedov (16-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) won 30–26, 30–27, 30–27 on the judges’ scorecards.

Throughout all three rounds, Magomedov’s wrestling and control was in full display.

In the first round, the Russian fighter wasn’t able to cause damage on Mattos (12-1-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) or get a dominant position, but he was able press Mattos against the cage, push the action, having Mattos constantly defending and avoiding getting put in a bad position.

In the second and third, the momentum shifted more to Magomedov’s side.

The 28-year-old was able to score takedowns, get the back of Mattos, and threaten with submissions. The Brazilian did a good job at defending, but it was clear he was on survival mode in the last 10 minutes of the fight. Magomedov’s pressure and wrestling proved too much for Mattos.

[lawrence-related id=572831,573091]

“There is a new king in the Bellator jungle,” Magomedov said during his in-cage interview.

Magomedov is currently on a four-fight wining streak, bouncing back strong from his only professional defeat to current UFC champion Petr Yan in 2017. The two bantamweights are 1-1 against one another, as Magomedov outpointed Yan in 2016.

The bantamweight bout was the co-feature of Bellator 254, which was held at Mohegan Sun Arena and aired on CBS Sports Network.

Up-to-the-minute Bellator 254 results:

  • Magomed Magomedov def. Matheus Mattos via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Linton Vassell def. Ronny Markes via TKO (punches) — Round 2, 3:37
  • Romero Cotton def. Justin Sumter via submission (rear-naked choke) — Round 1, 3:36
  • Shamil Nikaev def. Kemran Lachinov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Grant Neal def. Maurice Jackson via submission (rear-naked choke) — Round 2, 3:59
  • Cody Law def. Kenny Champion via TKO (punches and elbows) — Round 3, 4:44
  • Billy Goff def. Robson Gracie Jr. via TKO (punches and elbows) — Round 2, 1:46

 

Bellator 254 faceoff video highlights: High intensity in the co-main event

Check out the Bellator 254 main card competitor’s ceremonial faceoffs.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Bellator returns this week with a women’s flyweight title fight.

Bellator 254 takes place Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network/DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Following Wednesday’s official Bellator 254 weigh-ins, the athletes came face to face for some traditional pre-fight faceoffs.

Check out the faceoffs below, including Bellator women’s flyweight champion [autotag]Ilima-Lei Macfarlane[/autotag] and challenger [autotag]Juliana Velasquez[/autotag], as well as co-headlining bantamweights [autotag]Magomed Magomedov[/autotag] and [autotag]Matheus Mattos[/autotag].

Bellator 254 predictions: Anyone picking against champ – and underdog – Ilima-Lei Macfarlane?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the Bellator 254 main card, featuring champ Ilima-Lei Macfarlane vs. Juliana Velasquez.

Macfarlane
vs.
Velasquez		 Magomedov
vs.
Mattos		 Markes
vs.
Vassell
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2020: 150-93		 macfarlane2020
Macfarlane
(70%)		 magomedov2020
Magomedov
(85%)		 vassell2020
Vassell
(75%)
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2020: 166-77		 macfarlane2020
Macfarlane		 magomedov2020
Magomedov		 vassell2020
Vassell
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2020: 162-81		 macfarlane2020
Macfarlane		 magomedov2020
Magomedov		 vassell2020
Vassell
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2020: 160-83		 macfarlane2020
Macfarlane		 magomedov2020
Magomedov		 vassell2020
Vassell
Simon Head
@simonhead
2020: 158-85
trophy copy 2019 Champion*		 macfarlane2020
Macfarlane		 magomedov2020
Magomedov		 vassell2020
Vassell
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2020: 158-85		 macfarlane2020
Macfarlane		 magomedov2020
Magomedov		 vassell2020
Vassell
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2020: 157-86
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 macfarlane2020
Macfarlane		 magomedov2020
Magomedov		 vassell2020
Vassell
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2020: 155-88
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 macfarlane2020
Macfarlane		 magomedov2020
Magomedov		 markes2020
Markes
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2020: 153-90		 velasquez2020
Velasquez		 magomedov2020
Magomedov		 vassell2020
Vassell
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2020: 152-91		 macfarlane2020
Macfarlane		 magomedov2020
Magomedov		 vassell2020
Vassell
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2020: 152-91
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 velasquez2020
Velasquez		 magomedov2020
Magomedov		 markes2020
Markes
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2020: 152-91		 macfarlane2020
Macfarlane		 magomedov2020
Magomedov		 markes2020
Markes
Dave Doyle
@davedoylemma
2020: 152-91		 macfarlane2020
Macfarlane		 magomedov2020
Magomedov		 markes2020
Markes
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2020: 148-95		 macfarlane2020
Macfarlane		 magomedov2020
Magomedov		 vassell2020
Vassell
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2020: 90-153		 velasquez2020
Velasquez		 mattos2020
Mattos		 markes2020
Markes

Bellator returns this week with its unbeaten women’s flyweight champion atop the bill.

Bellator 254 takes place Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network following prelims on MMA Junkie.

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

In the main event, women’s flyweight champion [autotag]Ilima-Lei Macfarlane[/autotag] (11-0 MMA, 10-0 BMMA) puts her title and unbeaten record on the line against fellow undefeated challenger [autotag]Juliana Velasquez[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA). Velasquez actually is a slight favorite at BetMGM at -145, but it’s Macfarlane with a big 11-3 picks lead from our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Magomed Magomedov[/autotag] (16-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) makes his promotional debut at bantamweight against [autotag]Matheus Mattos[/autotag] (12-1-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA). Magomedov is a -350 favorite and has a near-unanimous lead in the picks at 13-1.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Ronny Markes[/autotag] (19-7 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) makes his long-awaited Bellator debut against [autotag]Linton Vassell[/autotag] (20-8 MMA, 8-5 BMMA) at heavyweight. Vassell is a 3-1 favorite, but he has just a slight lead in the picks at 8-6.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Macfarlane (70 percent), Magomedov (85 percent) and Vassell (75 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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Matheus Mattos details Henry Cejudo influence, history with Magomed Magomedov | Bellator 254 pre-fig

Matheus Mattos speaks with MMA Junkie’s Nolan King about his upcoming fight against Magomed Magomedov at Bellator 254 in Uncasville, Conn.

Matheus Mattos speaks with MMA Junkie’s Nolan King about his upcoming fight against Magomed Magomedov at Bellator 254 in Uncasville, Conn.