Tag: Norbert Novenyi Jr.

Norbert Novenyi Jr.: 46-second knockout at Bellator 297 ‘definitely opened some eyes’

Norbert Novenyi Jr. sees his quick knockout at Bellator 297 as a turning point in his career.

LONDON – [autotag]Norbert Novenyi Jr.[/autotag] sees his quick knockout at Bellator 297 as a turning point in his career.

The undefeated London Shootfighters prospect needed just 46 seconds to stop Kamil Oniszczuk in June – his sixth finish in seven professional wins.

“Some of the comments and tweets I read after the fight, I feel like now people are understanding the kind of level I’m on and a lot of people are taking me seriously,” Novenyi told MMA Junkie. “I feel like it definitely opened some eyes.”

Novenyi (7-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) started to get notoriety after he beat SBG Ireland staple Will Fleury in 2019. But after he took out Oniszczuk in less than a minute, Novenyi feels like he sent the middleweight division a message.

“I feel like the Will Fleury fight was a big fight, as well, because it went to a decision,” Novenyi said. “Even though it was a very fun fight, a lot of people didn’t pay as much attention to it, whereas this fight, he was very legit, and I managed to finish it so quick in such good fashion,” Novenyi said. “I think that’s why everyone understood what I’m about.”

Novenyi called out Charlie Ward (10-6 MMA, 7-3 BMMA) after his win, but Ward was booked shortly after against Gregory Babene (22-11 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) for Sept. 23 at Bellator 299 in Dublin.

Novenyi, who’s targeting a return at the end of the year, still hopes he can face Ward next. But with little time left in the year after Ward fights, the 23-year-old knows it may not be a possibility.

“The reason why (I want) Charlie Ward is because I was supposed to fight him before, and I think that’s like a little bit of an unfinished business in my life,” Novenyi said. “It’s nothing to do with him. I’ve got a lot of respect for him. He’s a nice guy, and he used to actually train at London Shootfighters. But I just feel like that fight has to happen for my sake.

“To be fair, I like both of those guys. Both of those guys are veterans and had a lot of fights and are very good, so I’d love to fight both of those. I want to get a fight in before the end of the year, so I’m not sure if it’s going to be one of them. I’d definitely want to fight any of them, but mainly Charlie Ward. I think that fight has to happen because that’s when I tore my ACL.”

Prior to his fight with Oniszczuk, MMA Junkie released a mini-documentary on Novenyi, “On his way to greatness’: Norbert the Shootfighter,” which can be viewed below.

 

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Photos: Norbert Novenyi Jr. through the years

Check out these photos of Bellator’s Norbert Novenyi Jr.

Check out these photos of Bellator’s [autotag]Norbert Novenyi Jr.[/autotag]

Norbert Novenyi Jr. embraces ‘biggest prospect’ tag, angles for Charlie Ward fight after Bellator 297 win

Born with a famous last name, Norbert Novenyi Jr. has figured out how to use pressure as fuel.

CHICAGO – [autotag]Norbert Novenyi Jr.[/autotag] sees the glowing tweets and stories, and hears the podcasts and opinions.

Being deemed the “biggest prospect” in MMA is high praise. Despite the heightened expectations that comes with such pedestal-putting tags, Novenyi (7-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) typically embraces it all – as he did Friday with a scintillating knockout of Kamil Oniszczuk (9-3 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) at Bellator 297.

“Like they say, pressure makes diamonds,” Novenyi told MMA Junkie and others at a pre-fight news conference. “I thrive under pressure. That’s what I like to do. I like the lights. I like everything. I feel like now people are understanding the level I’m on. It’s crazy to think. Someone said that I’m the best hidden secret talent in MMA. Another guy said I’m the biggest prospect in MMA. I feel like now people are seeing that.

“It took me a lot of work. I’ve been fighting since I was a year-and-a-half. I started karate and I’ve been fighting since I was a kid. Now, it’s kind of paying off. I had two-and-a-half-years of injuries and now I’m here and performing and proving these people right who supported me. It’s an absolute pressure.

The performance was exciting and flash for as long as it lasted Friday. Novenyi came out in a typical karate stance. His hands were down by his sides. After many cuts in and out, Novenyi found his target with a brutal punch and finished the fight 46 seconds after it began.

The highlight went semi-viral and Novenyi likely registered on some radars he hadn’t previously. Novenyi thinks the win could finally elevate him into a matchup against a big name.

“I had to miss out on that Charlie Ward fight (in November 2021) and that’s really annoying,” Novenyi said. “I feel like that’s a fight that I kind of need to have. It would put me on that level of competition, as well, for the title. Maybe Dublin. If not Dublin, a fight after. I want to fight at the end of the year. I want to get three fights out this year, make some money, knock some people out. Happy days. What a comeback, huh?”

Novenyi, 23, is the son of the famous Hungarian Olympic wrestling gold medalist and kickboxing champion who bears the same name. With Friday’s win, Novenyi has six finishes in seven professional outings.

Prior to the fight, MMA Junkie released a mini-documentary on Novenyi, “‘On his way to greatness’: Norbert the Shootfighter,” which can be viewed below.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.

Bellator 297 post-event facts: Vadim Nemkov achieves rare feat in dominant title defense

Check out all the facts from Bellator 297, where Vadim Nemkov took another step toward arguably the greatest resume in Bellator history.

Bellator’s lone event of the month went down Friday with Bellator 297 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, and it was arguably the promotion’s biggest show of the year thus far.

Two championship bouts topped the card, and both men who entered the cage with belts, lefts with them, too. [autotag]Vadim Nemkov[/autotag] (16-2 MMA, 9-0 BMMA) handily defeated [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) by unanimous decision in the headliner to retain the light heavyweight strap, while [autotag]Sergio Pettis[/autotag] (23-5 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) kept hold of bantamweight gold with a unanimous decision over [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (35-6 MMA, 22-6 BMMA).

For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from Bellator 297.

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‘On his way to greatness’: Norbert the Shootfighter | Video

Undefeated Bellator prospect Norbert Novenyi Jr. is in the beginning stages of what he hopes will be a prominent and prosperous MMA career.

LONDON – Rising prospect [autotag]Norbert Novenyi Jr.[/autotag] looks to remain undefeated Friday at Bellator 297 in Chicago, where he meets Kamil Oniszczuk in a lightweight bout.

At 23, Novenyi (6-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) is one of Bellator’s most promising young talents. Ahead of Bellator 297, MMA Junkie spent time in his training camp at London Shootfighters as he spoke about coming to the U.K. from Budapest, Hungary at 14 and getting started in the gym, the influence of his Olympic champion father, turning professional at 18, his Bellator career to this point, and more.

You can watch the full feature in the video above.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.

Bellator 297 pre-event facts: Patricio ‘Pitbull’ can be first to achieve triple champ status

Check out all the facts and figures about Bellator 297, where Patricio Freire is on the cusp of an unprecedented MMA accomplishment.

The biggest Bellator event of the year so far goes down Friday with Bellator 297, which takes place at Wintrust Arena in Chicago with a main card that airs on Showtime following prelims streamed on MMA Junkie.

A championship doubleheader is featured on the top of a loaded card. In the main card, [autotag]Vadim Nemkov[/autotag] (15-2 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) will attempt to make his third light heavyweight title defense when he takes on [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 2-1 BMMA). The co-headliner, meanwhile, sees the return of bantamweight titleholder [autotag]Sergio Pettis[/autotag] (22-5 MMA, 4-0 BMMA), who attempts to defend against current featherweight and former lightweight champ [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (35-5 MMA, 22-5 BMMA) in a potentially historic affair.

For more on the numbers behind the two title fights, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about Bellator 297.

Bellator 291 winner Norbert Novenyi Jr. impressed with champ Johnny Eblen, ‘but I’m coming’

Watch out, Johnny Eblen, because 23-year-old Norbert Novenyi Jr. says he’s on his way for the Bellator middleweight title.

DUBLIN – [autotag]Norbert Novenyi Jr.[/autotag] knows he still has work to do but warns Johnny Eblen that he’s coming for him.

Novenyi (6-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) made quick work of Andy Manzolo this past Saturday at Bellator 291 in Dublin by knocking him out in the first round. Despite still being young in his career, the 23-year-old unbeaten prospect is confident that he’ll rise to the challenge of someday competing against Eblen (13-0 MMA, 9-0 BMMA).

“I can’t rush it. I know I’ve got so much to work on, and the division is full of killers,” Novenyi told MMA Junkie and other reporters following Bellator 291. “I mean, what Johnny Eblen did last fight was amazing. … I still feel like I have to get a couple of fights out of the way. I’m still 6-0 now, I’m still 23. I had a long time out. I want to get a couple of fights in, but I’m coming. I want all these middleweights to know while they’re doing their weights and pad sessions, I’m putting in work.”

He continued, “For me to outwork these guys, it’s easy. But my skills have to be better, my experience inside the cage has to be more, and I know that. I’m still young. I need to get stronger, blah, blah, blah. But I’m coming, and I want all these guys to know – and Johnny Eblen was here tonight. Hopefully he liked my performance. Again, he’s a couple of fights ahead of me still, but I’m coming.”

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Eblen’s decorated wrestling background has given all his opposition problems, including his most recent title defense against Anatoly Tokov at Bellator 290. But Novenyi Jr. vows that his wrestling game is ever improving, and being the son of an Olympic gold medalist wrestler, he has the guidance to back it up too.

“I’ve been wrestling since I was 3, t-and-a-half,” Novenyi Jr. said. “I’ve got videos of me as a kid wrestling. I can wrestle. Since I was 14 I haven’t been wrestling as much, so maybe on that level, Johnny Eblen’s got that little ahead of me, but I know I can keep up with these wrestlers. I really rate him. He’s good everywhere, but the best skill he’s got is his work ethic and his cardio.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 291.

Bellator 291 pre-event facts: Yaroslav Amosov’s streak best among major MMA champions

Check out all the facts and figures about Bellator 291, where champ Yaroslav Amosov returns to put his 26-fight winning streak in the line.

The second Bellator offering of the year lands on Saturday with Bellator 291, which takes place at 3Arena in Dublin, with a main card set to air on Showtime following prelims streamed on MMA Junkie.

The promotion’s undisputed welterweight champion will be decided in the main event. Current titleholder [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] (26-0 MMA, 7-0 BMMA) will return from a layoff that included fighting in the war for his native Ukraine to take on interim champ [autotag]Logan Storley[/autotag] (14-1 MMA, 9-1 BMMA). The pair fought once before as contenders, with Amosov taking a split decision at Bellator 252 in November 2020.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about Bellator 291.

With Norbert Novenyi Jr. out, Fabian Edwards steps in to face Charlie Ward at Bellator 270

Charlie Ward will get an opportunity to move up the rankings when he faces short-notice replacement Fabian Edwards.

[autotag]Charlie Ward[/autotag] will get an opportunity to move up the rankings when he faces short-notice replacement [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag].

[autotag]Norbert Novenyi Jr.[/autotag] has been forced out of Bellator 270, and Ward (9-4 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) now takes on Edwards (9-0 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) on Nov. 5 at Dublin’s 3Arena, promotion officials announced Tuesday.

Novenyi took to Instagram to share that a torn ACL has forced him out of the bout.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CUsf5R4K8QX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

“Probably not the most ideal birthday post but unfortunately I will have to pull out from my fight against charlie ward as I have torn my ACL during a wrestling exchange. I tried to carry on and push through it however it hasn’t gotten better. It’s heartbreaking as I have not had a fight in over a year now and I really felt like I was in the best shape I have ever been in. This means that I might be out for up to 9-12 months before I can get back to training properly. Fighting is my job, my passion and all I have. Haven’t seen my dad and that side of the family in almost over 2 years now, and probably see my family in England once every 2 months. I spend every single day at the gym working my butt off and not being able to do what I love is very upsetting. Regardless, I’ll get through this and will be back on my way to becoming a champion.
Ya boy,
Norbs.”

Since joining the Bellator roster in 2017, SBG Ireland’s Ward has won six of his past seven, with five of those wins coming by finish. He was last seen in action in October 2020 when he picked up a unanimous decision over Andy Manzolo at Bellator Europe 9.

Meanwhile, Edwards will look to snap his first-career losing skid. After kicking off his professional MMA career at 9-0, Edwards has dropped back-to-back bouts to Costello van Steenis and most recently Austin Vanderford at Bellator 259 in May.

The Bellator 270 lineup currently includes:

MAIN CARD (Showtime, 5 p.m. ET)

  • James Gallagher vs. Patchy Mix
  • Patricky Freire vs. Peter Queally
  • Fabian Edwards vs. Charlie Ward
  • Daniel Wiechel vs. Pedro Carvalho

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 1:30 p.m. ET)

  • Jordan Barton vs. Ciaran Clarke
  • Ilias Bulaid vs. Georges Sasu
  • Ashley Reece vs. Luca Poclit
  • Brian Hooi vs. Daniele Scatizzi
  • Lee Chadwick vs. Arunas Andriuskevicus
  • Gokhan Saricam vs. Rob Beech
  • Nicolo Solli vs. Bobby Pallett
  • Audrey Kerouche vs. Danni Neilan
  • Darragh Kelly vs. Junior Morgan
  • Stephen Costello vs. Yusuf Nazokatov
  • Constantin Blanita vs. Scott Pedersen

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