Mike Shipman – Syndication Server

PFL announces 2025 middleweight tournament field

The 2025 PFL middleweight tournament will include familiar names from PFL and Bellator contendership.

Eight fighters will compete in the 2025 PFL middleweight tournament.

On Tuesday, PFL announced the field of competitors, which includes former Bellator middleweight title challengers [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] (13-4) and [autotag]Aaron Jeffery[/autotag] (15-5), 2023 PFL light heavyweight champion [autotag]Impa Kasanganay[/autotag] (18-5), former Bellator middleweight contenders [autotag]Dalton Rosta[/autotag] (9-1) and [autotag]Mike Shipman[/autotag] (17-4), former ONE standout [autotag]Murad Ramazanov[/autotag] (12-2), 2023 PFL light heavyweight runner-up [autotag]Josh Silveira[/autotag] (13-4), and 2022 PFL welterweight champion Sadibou Sy (17-8-2).

[autotag]Jordan Newman[/autotag] (7-0) and [autotag]Khalid Murtazaliev[/autotag] (17-3) will serve as tournament alternates.

The 2025 middleweight tournament quarterfinals take place April 18 at 2025 PFL 3 from Universal Studios Florida in Orlando and stream on ESPN/ESPN+. No matchups have yet been revealed.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DGgIzWDxbm8/?img_index=1

The middleweight tournament marks the promotion’s return to promoting bracketed 185-pound fights. In its inaugural “season formatted” year in 2018, the promotion featured middleweights.

However, with the emergence of Kayla Harrison, the promotion replaced middleweight with women’s lightweight in 2019.

Bellator Championship Series: Paris event for Nov. 16 canceled

PFL announces the cancelation of the Bellator Championship Series: Paris event for Nov. 16. The bouts on the card will get rescheduled.

Bellator Championship Series: Paris will not be going down after all.

The Bellator card, which was scheduled to go down on Nov. 16 at ADIDAS Arena in Paris, has been canceled and the fighters who were competing on the event will be rescheduled for other cards. PFL, Bellator’s parent company, announced the news Thursday.

Bellator Championship Series: Paris was supposed to be headlined by a bantamweight title fight between [autotag]Patchy Mix[/autotag] and [autotag]Leandro Higo[/autotag]. No word yet on when and where that bout will now take place.

No specific reason for the cancelation was given, but PFL did clarify that previously purchased tickets have been refunded. Additionally, purchasers will receive a buy one, get one ticket purchase opportunity for PFL Europe Championship in Lyon, France on Dec. 14.

Outside of the championship, fight, two other bouts were previously reported for the card: [autotag]Baissangour Chamsoudinov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Oliver Enkamp[/autotag], and [autotag]Imamshafi Aliev[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Mike Shipman[/autotag]. No details on the new dates for those bouts.

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Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (June 26-July 2)

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 26-July 2.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Nov. 28-Dec. 4)

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 Nov. 28-Dec. 4.

Bellator Europe 8 results and live stream

Follow the action live as the Bellator cage returns to European soil for Bellator Europe 8 in Milan, Italy.

The Bellator cage returns to European soil as the Allianz Cloud in Milan, Italy plays host to Bellator Europe 8.

The main event features a battle of European middleweight contenders, as England’s [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] (9-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) takes on the Netherlands’ [autotag]Costello van Steenis[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 4-1 BMMA), while the co-main event showcases two more middleweights looking to deliver a statement performance, as Italy’s [autotag]Pietro Penini[/autotag] (9-1-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) faces off against England’s [autotag]Mike Shipman[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 4-2 BMMA).

The main card’s middleweight flavor continues with Ireland’s [autotag]Will Fleury[/autotag] (7-3 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) against England’s [autotag]Kent Kauppinen[/autotag] (12-5 MMA, 2-2 BMMA), while the preliminary card is packed with a host of European prospects, including a notable lightweight battle between fellow Brits [autotag]Alfie Davis[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) and [autotag]Akonne Wanliss[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA).

Follow the action via Bellator’s official live stream above, and stay up to date with the official results below.

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

Fabian Edwards vs. Costello van Steenis
Pietro Penini vs. Mike Shipman
Will Fleury vs. Kent Kauppinen

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 1:15 p.m. ET)

George Hardwick vs. Nicolo Solli
Ion Pascu vs. Stefano Paterno
Alfie Davis vs. Akonne Wanliss
Gavin Hughes vs. Daniele Scatizzi
Aidan Lee vs. Jeremy Petley
Frans Mlambo vs. Cory Tait
Alex O’Toole) vs. Luke Trainer
Harry Hardwick vs. Richie Smullen
Chiara Penco vs. Aleksandra Toncheva Plamenova
Claire Lopez vs. Danni Neilan

Bellator Europe 8 predictions: Is it Fabian Edwards or Costello van Steenis in Italy?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the Bellator Europe 8 main card in Milan, Italy.

	Edwards vs. Van Steenis	Fleury vs. Kauppinen	Penini vs. Shipman
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2020: 104-62	Edwards (57%)	Kauppinen (56%)	Shipman (77%)
Nolan King @mma_kings 2020: 113-53	Van Steenis	Fleury	Shipman
Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2020: 111-55	Van Steenis	Kauppinen	Shipman
Brian Garcia @thegoze 2020: 110-56 2017 Champion	Edwards	Fleury	Shipman
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2020: 110-56	Van Steenis	Fleury	Shipman
Dave Doyle @davedoylemma 2020: 109-57	Van Steenis	Fleury	Shipman
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 2020: 108-58	Edwards	Fleury	Shipman
Simon Head @simonhead 2020: 108-58 2019 Champion*	Edwards	Fleury	Shipman
Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2020: 106-60 2014 Champion	Edwards	Kauppinen	Shipman
Simon Samano @SJSamano 2020: 104-62	Edwards	Fleury	Shipman
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2020: 103-63	Edwards	Fleury	Penini
John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2020: 101-65	Van Steenis	Fleury	Shipman
Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2020: 101-65 2018 Champion	Edwards	Fleury	Shipman
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2020: 99-67	Edwards	Kauppinen	Shipman
Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2020: 69-97	Van Steenis	Kauppinen	Penini

Bellator is back this week with its first overseas event since the start of the pandemic.

Bellator Europe 8 takes place Saturday at Allianz Cloud in Milan, Italy. The card streams on MMA Junkie and Bellator’s YouTube page.

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

In the main event, [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] (9-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) tries to keep his unbeaten record intact when he takes on fellow middleweight [autotag]Costello van Steenis[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 4-1 BMMA). It’s a close matchup with our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts. Edwards has just a slim 8-6 lead in the picks.

In the co-main event, [autotag]Pietro Penini[/autotag] (9-1-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) meets [autotag]Mike Shipman[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) in a middleweight bout. Shipman has a big 12-2 picks lead.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Will Fleury[/autotag] (7-3 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Kent Kauppinen[/autotag] (12-5 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) in a third bout at 185 pounds. Fleury has a big 10-4 lead in the picks.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Edwards (57 percent), Shipman (77 percent) and Kauppinen (56 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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Full fight card announnced for Bellator Europe 8 in Milan

The full fight card for Bellator Europe 8, set for Milan, Italy on Sept. 24, has been confirmed.

The fight card for the first leg of Bellator’s Italian triple-header is now set.

Bellator Europe 8 takes place Sept. 26 at the Allianz Cloud in Milan, Italy, with a 10-fight preliminary card setting the stage ahead of a three-bout all-middleweight main card.

Headlining the event is a battle of European middleweight contenders as England’s [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] (9-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) takes on the Netherlands’ [autotag]Costello van Steenis[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 4-1 BMMA).

Co-main event support comes in the form of an Italy vs. England clash, as former Venator middleweight champion [autotag]Pietro Penini[/autotag] (9-1-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) faces off against former BAMMA 185-pound champ [autotag]Mike Shipman[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 4-2 BMMA). Kicking off the main card is a battle between hard-hitting 185-pounders as Ireland’s Will Fleury (7-3 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) takes on England’s Kent Kauppinen (12-5 MMA, 2-2 BMMA).

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The preliminary card features a battle between British lightweight prospects as [autotag]Alfie Davis[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Akonne Wanliss[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA), while former Cage Warriors featherweight tournament champion Aiden Lee (8-4 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) takes on seasoned Canadian veteran Jeremy Petley (13-8-1 MMA, 3-0 BMMA)

With the additions, the Bellator Europe 8 card now includes:

MAIN CARD

Fabian Edwards vs. Costello van Steenis
Pietro Penini vs. Mike Shipman
Will Fleury vs. Kent Kauppinen

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie)

[autotag]George Hardwick[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Nicolo Solli[/autotag]
[autotag]Ion Pascu[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Stefano Paterno[/autotag]
Alfie Davis vs. Akonne Wanliss
[autotag]Gavin Hughes[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Daniele Scatizzi[/autotag]
Aiden Lee vs. Jeremy Petley
[autotag]Frans Mlambo[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Cory Tait[/autotag]
[autotag]Alex O’Toole[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Luke Trainer[/autotag]
[autotag]Harry Hardwick[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Richie Smullen[/autotag]
[autotag]Chiara Penco[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Aleksandra Toncheva[/autotag]
[autotag]Claire Lopez[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Danni Neilan[/autotag]

Fabian Edwards relives heated battle with Mike Shipman at Bellator Europe 6

Bellator middleweight contender Fabian Edwards recaps his heated battle with Mike Shipman at Bellator Europe 6 in London.

[autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] has made no secret of his intention to go all the way to the top of the Bellator middleweight division, but he’s still relatively early in his career on the big stage.

“The Assassin” has fought four times under the Bellator banner to date, and in the latest edition of the promotion’s video series, “My Biggest Moment,” Edwards (9-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) looks back on his most recent outing, an ill-tempered clash with former BAMMA champion [autotag]Mike Shipman[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 4-2 BMMA).

The pair went head-to-head at Bellator Europe 6 in November 2019 in a matchup that pitted Edwards against the heavy-handed Londoner in a battle between two of the U.K.’s best 185-pounders at the SSE Arena, London.

The build-up to the fight was filled with trash talk and back-and-forth jibes between the pair, and tempers boiled over at the official weigh-ins as the two rivals very nearly came to blows during a heated faceoff.

When fight night arrived, Edwards edged a close, competitive battle via split decision, with scores of 28-29, 29-28 and 30-27 to extend his unbeaten run and nudge him closer to the division’s big names.

Check out Edwards’ recap of that fight in the latest episode of “My Biggest Moment” via the video above.

Fabian Edwards squashes talk of rematch with Mike Shipman, plots path toward title shot

Bellator middleweight contender Fabian Edwards says he’s only a couple of fights away from a potential title shot at 185 pounds.

[autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] has his sights set on the top names in Bellator’s middleweight division, but he admitted he considered putting his progress on hold to face his most recent adversary for a second time.

Edwards edged a split-decision verdict against fellow countryman [autotag]Mike Shipman[/autotag] at Bellator Europe 6 in November 2019 after an ill-tempered buildup saw the pair engage in an angry skirmish at the official weigh-ins ahead of their matchup.

After the fight, the beef between the pair seemed to have subsided but, speaking to MMA Junkie from Birmingham, England, Edwards admitted he still has little time for the Londoner known as “Seabass.”

“I still dislike the kid, I’m not even going to lie to you,” he laughed. “I still dislike him. He’s one of those people that I would never like. After the fight, we never really spoke to each other.”

The anticipation ahead of their first meeting, coupled with the split-decision verdict at its conclusion, led many to suggest that a rematch was in order. But while Edwards admitted he had contemplated the possibility, he has instead focused his attention on fighters ahead of him in the middleweight division, starting with Dutch contender Costello van Steenis, who he was scheduled to face in London on May 9 before the COVID-19 pandemic put Bellator’s fight schedule on hold.

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“(Shipman) made a few posts saying ‘rematch this’ and ‘rematch that,’ and I was considering it,” said Edwards. “But, to be honest, I’ve thought about it now. He needs to go on a two-fight win streak or three-fight win streak for me to bless him with that again. But I’m just focused on Costello van (expletive) right now.”

Like his brother, UFC welterweight contender Leon, Edwards is planning to pick up championship gold sooner rather than later and says he thinks victory over van Steenis could place him within touching distance of a title shot at 185 pounds.

“I reckon Costello, and then two more people (before a title shot),” he suggested. It could be either three people or two, depending on who I fight after Costello. If I fight a former champion, then I should be challenging for the world title after two fights. But if not, it’ll be three fights.”

To hear the full interview with Edwards, check out the video below.

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Bellator Europe 6 medical suspensions: Josie Blaber gets 180 days, others out indefinitely

Check out the full list of medical suspensions from Bellator Europe 6 in London.

Bellator finished closed out its 2019 European series schedule Saturday in London with Bellator Europe 6, which took place at The SSE Arena, Wembley.

In the main event, [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] ran through Italian newcomer [autotag]Giovanni Melilla[/autotag] by picking up another first-round knockout. The co-headliner saw [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] edge out a split decision win against [autotag]Mike Shipman[/autotag].

On Monday, MMA Junkie received medical suspensions from Mohegan Sun Tribe Department of Regulation president Mike Mazzulli, who oversaw regulation of the event. Among those facing lengthy suspensions is [autotag]Sam Sicilia[/autotag]. The Washington-based fighter was knocked out by fellow UFC veteran Robert Whiteford and will need neurological clearance to return. Whiteford was suspended indefinitely for a potential ankle/foot injury.

After his win over [autotag]Terry Brazier[/autotag], [autotag]Soren Bak[/autotag] was suspended indefinitely until his right knee is cleared by a physician.

Additionally, [autotag]Josie Blaber[/autotag] was suspended 180 days or until cleared by a doctor. Blaber was on the receiving end of brutal, dragged-out attack by [autotag]Charlotte McIntyre[/autotag] in the card’s curtain jerker.

Check out the full Bellator Europe 7 medical suspensions below:

Josie Blaber: Suspended 180 days on until X-ray of face is cleared by physician; also suspended 45 days
Charlotte McIntyre: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Raphael Uchegbu[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Shane Campbell[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Tim Barnett[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days for knock down
[autotag]Akonne Wanliss[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Harry Hardwick[/autotag]: Suspended 45 for deep laceration
[autotag]Nathan Rose[/autotag]: Suspended indefinitely until physician grants ortho clearance on right ankle injury; also suspended 30 days
[autotag]Tom Means[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days for laceration
[autotag]Jeremy Petley[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Auden Lee[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Damian Frankiewicz[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Kevin Fryer[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]George Tokkos[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Alessandro Botti[/autotag]:
[autotag]Alfie Davis[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Andy Manzolo[/autotag]: Suspended indefinitely until physician grants clearance on left leg X-ray; also suspended 30 days
[autotag]Kent Kauppinen[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Benjamin Brander[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Chris Bungard[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Lew Long[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Walter Gahadza[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
Sam Sicilia: Suspended 60 days for knockout, needs neurological clearance from physician
Robert Whiteford: Suspended indefinitely until physician grants ortho clearance on left ankle/foot; also suspended 30 days
[autotag]Pietro Penini[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Charlie Ward[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days for laceration
[autotag]Charley Leary[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days for laceration
[autotag]Tim Wilde[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days for laceration
[autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Sabine Sengal[/autotag]: Suspended 45 laceration
Terry Brazier: Suspended 45 laceration
Soren Bak: Suspended indefinitely until physician grants orthopedic clearance on right knee injury; also suspended 30 days
[autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Michael Shipman[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Michael Page[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
[autotag]Giovanni Melilla[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days

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