Tag: Neiman Gracie

Bellator 255 faceoff video highlights: Heavyweights get heated; Colombian butterfly appears

Check out the Bellator 255 main card competitors’ ceremonial faceoffs.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Bellator makes its Showtime debut Friday headlined by a fight that doubles as a featherweight title bout and a grand prix semifinal.

Bellator 255 takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The entire card will be live and free on MMA Junkie.

Following Thursday’s official Bellator 255 weigh-ins, the athletes came face to face for some traditional pre-fight staredowns.

Check out the faceoffs below, including Bellator featherweight and lightweight champion [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] and challenger [autotag]Emmanuel Sanchez[/autotag], as well as co-headlining welterweights [autotag]Neiman Gracie[/autotag] and [autotag]Jason Jackson[/autotag].

Bellator 255 lineup finalized; Patricio Freire vs. Emmanuel Sanchez tops 13-fight card

On Friday, Bellator returns with it’s first event of 2021 – and its Showtime debut.

Barring any unforeseen fight week cancellations, the Bellator 255 lineup is set.

Tuesday, promotion officials announced the finalized 13-fight card and bout order, which includes a five-fight main card and eight prelims. Bellator 255 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

The event is headlined by Bellator featherweight champion [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (31-4 MMA, 19-4 BMMA) and challenger [autotag]Emmanuel Sanchez[/autotag] (20-4 MMA, 12-3 BMMA) who will face off in a grand prix semifinal fight.

In the co-main event, welterweight contenders [autotag]Neiman Gracie[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Jason Jackson[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) will face off in a fight that could have potential title shot implications for the winner.

Rounding out the main card is a heavyweight rematch between [autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 9-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Jack May[/autotag] (11-7 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), the promotional debut of [autotag]Usman Nurmagomedov[/autotag] (11-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) as he takes on [autotag]Mike Hamel[/autotag] (7-4 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) at lightweight, and a women’s flyweight fight between [autotag]Alejandra Lara[/autotag] (9-3 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) and [autotag]Kana Watanabe[/autotag] (9-0-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA).

The finalized Bellator 255 lineup includes:

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

  • Champion Patricio Freire vs. Emmanuel Sanchez – for Bellator featherweight title, grand prix semifinal
  • Neiman Gracie vs. Jason Jackson
  • Tyrell Fortune vs. Jack May
  • Mike Hamel vs. Usman Nurmagomedov
  • Alejandra Lara vs. Kana Watanabe

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 6 p.m. ET)

  • [autotag]Cee Jay Hamilton[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Magomed Magomedov[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Mukhamad Berkhamov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Herman Terrado[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Mandel Nallo[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ricardo Seixas[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Fabio Aguiar[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Khalid Murtazaliev[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Chris Gonzalez[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Roger Huerta[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Jose Augusto[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jonathan Wilson[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Roman Faraldo[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Trevor Gudde[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Branko Busick[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jordan Newman[/autotag]

Bellator 255: Make your predictions for Patricio Freire vs. Emmanuel Sanchez 2

We want your predictions for Friday’s Bellator 255 event in Connecticut.

We want your predictions for Fridady’s Bellator 255 event in Connecticut.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Wednesday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the Bellator 255 main card staff predictions we release Thursday ahead of the event. Bellator 255 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Make your picks for the fights below.

Neiman Gracie faces ‘The Ass-Kicking Machine’ on April 2 at Bellator 255

A pair of welterweights coming off wins over MMA notables will clash at Bellator 255.

A pair of welterweights coming off wins over MMA notables will clash, with [autotag]Neiman Gracie[/autotag] facing [autotag]Jason Jackson[/autotag] at Bellator 255.

Two people with knowledge of the booking informed MMA Junkie on Thursday but asked to remain anonymous because Bellator has yet to officially announce the bout.

Featuring a featherweight title fight with reigning two-division champion Patricio Freire and Emmanuel Sanchez that also serves as a featherweight grand prix semifinal, Bellator 255 takes place April 2 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The card airs on Showtime.

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A member of MMA’s legendary “First Family,” Gracie (10-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) opened his career with nine straight victories, including eight by submission. In 2019, Gracie suffered the first loss of his career, coming up short against then-champ Rory MacDonald in the semifinals of the welterweight grand prix. However, Gracie has since bounced back with a submission win over longtime veteran and former UFC title challenger and PFL champion Jon Fitch.

Meanwhile, Jackson (13-4 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) currently boasts three straight Bellator wins over UFC veterans, including former lightweight champ Benson Henderson, as well as Canada’s Jordan Mein and Japan’s Kiichi Kunimoto. A former cast member of “The Ultimate Fighter” and a veteran of Dana White’s Contender Series, “The Ass-Kicking Machine” is 6-1 in his past seven contests.

With the addition to the lineup, Bellator 255 now includes:

  • Champ Patricio Freire vs. Emmanuel Sanchez – featherweight grand prix semifinal; for featherweight title
  • Neiman Gracie vs. Jason Jackson

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Bellator in 2020: A robust look at the stats, streaks, skids, and records

A full recap of Bellator’s most significant footnotes and milestones from the events, fights and individual performances of 2020.

Bellator was poised to have its biggest and best year to date in 2020, but like most businesses this year, it was hindered by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Still, though, the promotion hosted 18 fight cards between its numbered and European series events that solidified its status among the top dogs in the MMA space. During that time, many records were set, and a host of historic moments were produced.

Now that the year has come to a close, here are some of 2020’s most significant fights and individual performances.

Scott Coker eyeing No. 1 contender fight between Michael Page and Neiman Gracie

Bellator president Scott Coker says he’s considering the possibility of matching Michael Page and Neiman Gracie in a title eliminator bout.

Bellator president Scott Coker says [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] is potentially one fight away from a title shot.

Coker is open to the idea of Page (18-1 MMA, 14-1 BMMA) facing [autotag]Neiman Gracie[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) in a title eliminator bout in the first quarter of 2021, where the winner gets a crack at Bellator welterweight champion Douglas Lima.

“When I think about ‘MVP,’ you’re talking about one of the most talented fighters that I’ve ever seen,” Coker told MMA Junkie. “He’s so fast, so explosive, and when I think about him honestly, I think about him and maybe Neiman Gracie fighting each other at some point and then maybe the winner can fight Douglas Lima. That’s, kind of in my mind, what I’m thinking.”

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Page’s lone loss in his career came to Lima in the Bellator welterweight grand prix in May 2019. He has since won four straight fights, with three coming by way of knockout.

He most recently went the distance with former Cage Warriors welterweight champ Ross Houston at Bellator 248, which wasn’t Page’s finest showing. “MVP” complained of the slippery canvas at the Accor Arena in Paris, France and Coker agreed that it likely affected his performance.

“I’m sure ‘MVP’ had a lot of stuff in his arsenal that he wanted to do that he couldn’t do because of the canvas,” Coker said. “Originally, I thought it might be ring rust, but I don’t think so after talking to all the fighters that fought that night.”

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Scott Coker likes Michael Page, Neiman Gracie as potential next opponents for Douglas Lima

Scott Coker doesn’t see Douglas Lima’s loss to Gegard Mousasi as too big of a setback.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Scott Coker doesn’t see [autotag]Douglas Lima[/autotag]’s loss to Gegard Mousasi as too big of a setback.

Bellator welterweight champion Lima (32-8 MMA, 14-4 BMMA) fell short in his pursuit to capture the vacant middleweight title when he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Mousasi in Thursday’s Bellator 250 main event.

Speaking to reporters, including MMA Junkie, post-fight, Coker discussed what could be next for Lima and when he expects to see him back. He mentioned the likes of [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag], who’s been chomping at the bit to run things back with Lima, as well as prospect and submission ace [autotag]Neiman Gracie[/autotag].

Lima bounced Page out of the ranks of the unbeaten in the Bellator welterweight grand prix semifinals in May 2019. Since then, Page has won four in a row, including three by knockout.

“He’s still our 170-pound champ, and we’re going to have some good fights for him, as well,” Coker said. “I know that ‘MVP’ wants to fight him again. I think Neiman Gracie (would be a good fight), right at the top of my head. So we’re going to put him in some good fights and we’re going to let him heal up, rest up, and sometime next year, we’ll put him back in the cage.”

Coker was impressed with Lima’s showing and thinks he put on a much better effort than Rory MacDonald did when he was stopped by Mousasi at Bellator 206 in his attempt to claim the middleweight title.

“I actually thought he handled the weight well, and Gegard vs. Rory was a much different fight, as you saw,” Coker said. “(Mousasi) just destroyed Rory. Gegard vs. Lima was a tactical war. Lima was looking for that big counter punch, in my opinion – that’s how he had the fight going, trying to get that left hook in there, and it was just Gegard’s night. But I’m sure both of them aren’t going to be in good spirits tonight and dealing with a lot of pain, and to me it was a great main event.”

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Bellator 246 results: Neiman Gracie submits Jon Fitch, who retires after loss

Jon Fitch called it a career on Saturday night after his submission loss to Neiman Gracie.

[autotag]Jon Fitch [/autotag] is one of the finest minds at adapting wrestling for MMA usage the sport has ever produced. But even the knowledge gained by a long career’s worth of experience could only fend off a submission artist like [autotag]Neiman Gracie[/autotag] for so long.

Gracie (10-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) basically spent the entirety of their Bellator 246 co-main event welterweight fight hunting for a submission, and he finally got the nod at the 4:47 mark of the second round.

After the fight, Fitch (32-8-2 MMA, 1-1-1 BMMA) put his gloves down to symbolize his retirement.

“It’s been a long journey, my body’s been through a lot I have a lot of things I’m looking forward to in the future outside the cage, so it’s time to go,” Fitch said.

Gracie put on a grappling clinic in the opening round, as he attempted nearly a half-dozen submission attempts, from rear-naked chokes to heel hooks and everything in between. It was to Fitch’s credit that he managed to finagle his way out of several hairy situations.

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Fitch was doing a better job neutralizing Gracie in the second round for the majority of the stanza. But Gracie none the less found himself in a position he wanted on the mat with Fitch in the final minute, and he sunk the knee bar in tight, giving Fitch no choice but to submit.

Gracie shook off his first career loss, to then-welterweight champion Rory MacDonald, in earning his ninth career submission out of 10 victories. Fitch, in his final fight, had a six fight unbeaten streak (5-0-1) snapped.

The welterweight fight was the co-feature bout of Bellator 246, which tool place Saturday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card aired on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Up-to-the-minute Bellator 246 results:

  • Neiman Gracie def. Jon Fitch via submission (heel hook) — Round 2, 4:47
  • Liz Carmouche def. DeAnna Bennett via submission (rear-naked choke) — Round 3, 3:17
  • Keoni Diggs def. Derek Campos via technical submission (rear-naked choke) — Round 3, 4:59
  • Daniel Madrid def. Pat Casey via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)
  • Ty Gwerder def. George Tokkos via TKO (strikes) — Round 3, 1:05
  • Davion Franklin def. Ras Hylton via unanimous technical decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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Bellator 246 predictions: Juan Archuleta or Patchy Mix – who’s the next 135 champ?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the Bellator 246 main card, featuring Juan Archuleta vs. Patchy Mix for the bantamweight title.

Archuleta
vs.
Mix		 Fitch
vs.
Gracie		 Bennett
vs.
Carmouche		 Campos
vs.
Diggs
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2020: 91-58		 archuleta2020
Archuleta
(57%)		 gracie2020
Gracie
(59%)		 carmouche2020
Carmouche
(86%)		 diggs2020
Diggs
(51%)
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2020: 103-46		 mix2020
Mix		 gracie2020
Gracie		 carmouche2020
Carmouche		 campos2020
Campos
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2020: 102-47		 mix2020
Mix		 gracie2020
Gracie		 carmouche2020
Carmouche		 campos2020
Campos
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2020: 101-48		 mix2020
Mix		 gracie2020
Gracie		 carmouche2020
Carmouche		 campos2020
Campos
Simon Head
@simonhead
2020: 99-50
trophy copy 2019 Champion*		 mix2020
Mix		 gracie2020
Gracie		 carmouche2020
Carmouche		 campos2020
Campos
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2020: 98-51		 archuleta2020
Archuleta		 gracie2020
Gracie		 carmouche2020
Carmouche		 campos2020
Campos
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2020: 97-52
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 archuleta2020
Archuleta		 gracie2020
Gracie		 carmouche2020
Carmouche		 campos2020
Campos
Dave Doyle
@davedoylemma
2020: 96-53		 archuleta2020
Archuleta		 gracie2020
Gracie		 carmouche2020
Carmouche		 campos2020
Campos
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2020: 96-53		 mix2020
Mix		 gracie2020
Gracie		 carmouche2020
Carmouche		 diggs2020
Diggs
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2020: 96-53
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 mix2020
Mix		 gracie2020
Gracie		 carmouche2020
Carmouche		 campos2020
Campos
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2020: 93-56
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 mix2020
Mix		 gracie2020
Gracie		 carmouche2020
Carmouche		 campos2020
Campos
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2020: 92-57		 mix2020
Mix		 gracie2020
Gracie		 bennett2020
Bennett		 diggs2020
Diggs
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2020: 91-58		 mix2020
Mix		 gracie2020
Gracie		 carmouche2020
Carmouche		 campos2020
Campos
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2020: 89-60		 mix2020
Mix		 gracie2020
Gracie		 carmouche2020
Carmouche		 campos2020
Campos
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2020: 62-87		 archuleta2020
Archuleta		 fitch2020
Fitch		 bennett2020
Bennett		 campos2020
Campos

Bellator has back-to-back events in Connecticut this week, and the second half will give out the vacant bantamweight title.

Bellator 246 takes place Saturday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

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

In the main event, [autotag]Juan Archuleta[/autotag] (24-2 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Patchy Mix[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) for the vacant 135-pound title. Mix is a -175 favorite, and our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts have him with a big lead at 10-4.

In the co-main event, former WSOF welterweight champion [autotag]Jon Fitch[/autotag] (32-7-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) meets [autotag]Neiman Gracie[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA). Gracie is just a slight favorite at -125, but he’s a near-unanimous pick among our staff members with just one person picking Fitch.

Also on the main card, former UFC title challenger [autotag]Liz Carmouche[/autotag] (13-7 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) meets [autotag]DeAnna Bennett[/autotag] (10-6-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) in a women’s flyweight bout. Both women are making their promotional debuts. Carmouche is the biggest favorite on the card at -550, and she’s got a 12-2 lead in the picks.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Derek Campos[/autotag] (20-10 MMA, 9-8 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Keoni Diggs[/autotag] (8-0 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) at lightweight. And though Diggs is favored in the fight, Campos has a 12-2 picks lead.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Archuleta (57 percent), Gracie (59 percent), Carmouche (86 percent) and Diggs (51 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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