Tag: Sabah Homasi

Sabah Homasi expects exciting fight against Andrey Koreshkov: ‘I get paid per fight, not per round’

Bellator 264’s Sabah Homasi expects another exciting fight in the co-main event against former champ Andrey Koreshkov.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Sabah Homasi[/autotag] is looking to rebound from a loss to Paul Daley by facing former champ Andrey Koreshkov in the co-main event of Bellator 264 – and he expects it to be another exciting fight.

“That’s just my fighting style,” Homasi told MMA Junkie. “I go out there to finish fights. I always say I get paid per fight, not per round, so the faster I can get in there and get the job done, the better it is for me.”

Bellator 264 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

Check out the full interview with Homasi in the video above.

[listicle id=665173]

[vertical-gallery id=562622]

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (July 19-25)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were broken 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 July 19-25:

Former champ Andrey Koreshkov targeted to return vs. Sabah Homasi at Bellator 264

At Bellator 264, former welterweight champion Andrey Koreshkov is expected to return against ex-UFC fighter Sabah Homasi.

Former Bellator welterweight champion [autotag]Andrey Koreshkov[/autotag] is nearing his first fight under the promotion’s banner since October 2019.

The promotion is putting the finishing touches on Koreshkov’s next fight, expected to take place at Bellator 264 vs. [autotag]Sabah Homasi[/autotag]. The event takes place Friday, Aug. 13 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

Two people with knowledge of the targeted booking recently informed MMA Junkie of the matchup but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Koreshkov (23-4 MMA, 13-4 BMMA) was allowed a one-off outside the promotion due to travel restrictions induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bout took place for AMC Fight Nights in Russia. Against Adriano Rodrigues, Koreshkov won by first-round armbar. The victory returned him to the win column after a split decision loss to Lorenz Larkin.

Homasi (15-9 MMA, 4-3 BMMA) has fought three times in Koreshkov’s promotional absence. After consecutive wins over Curtis Millender and Bobby Voelker, Homasi was finished with punches in a “Fight of the Year” candidate against Paul Daley.

With the addition, the Bellator 264 lineup includes:

  • Champion Gegard Mousasi vs. John Salter – for middleweight title
  • Everett Cummings vs. Davion Franklin
  • Sabah Homasi vs. Andrey Koreshkov

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqvpne7c1q486dvv player_id=01eqvpqbw4ymnv0rjh image=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Bellator 257 results: Paul Daley comes back for wild TKO win over Sabah Homasi

Paul Daley and Sabah Homasi had bad blood heading into Bellator 257, and their fight delivered fireworks as promised. 

[autotag]Paul Daley[/autotag] and [autotag]Sabah Homasi[/autotag] had bad blood heading into Bellator 257, and their fight delivered fireworks as promised.

Homasi got off to a fiery start, but it was Daley getting the finish as he rallied to TKO Homasi in the second-round of their 175-pound catchweight bout Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

The bout was a barnburner from start to finish, with wild swings in momentum. Homasi (15-9 MMA, 4-3 BMMA) came out in Round 1 throwing high kicks and leg kicks before he rushed in with a right hand that clipped Daley’s ear and stunned him. Homasi swarmed in for the finish, but with Daley (43-17-2 MMA, 8-4 BMMA) stumbling back to his feet and backpedaling, Homasi feel to the mat on a head kick attempt. That allowed a brief reset before Homasi landed a flying knee and dropped Daley with a follow-up punch on his landing. Homasi fell into Daley’s guard and employed ground-and-pound, but Daley managed to work his way back to his feet and ended the round strong. While in the clinch, Daley landed three knees to the face and dropped Homasi to the mat. The round ended with Daley in top position.

Given the frenetic pace of the first, Round 2 figured to be a case of who wants it more, and Daley seemed to flip a switch.

Daley dropped Homasi with a straight right hand just as he caught a body kick. Daley swarmed with hammerfists for the finish but couldn’t seal the deal. After Homasi got back to his feet, they settled in the pocket before Daley dropped Homasi a second time with a hard left hoook. Daley again pounced for the finish, and this time all Homasi could do was turtle up, forcing the referee to step in at the 1:44 mark.

The finish was Daley’s third consecutive win and second at 175 pounds, as prior to Bellator 257 he made it clear that he has no desire to continue fighting at welterweight. Daley, who hadn’t competed since October 2019, talked about potentially retiring in the lead-up to Bellator 257, but after his victory, he challenged anyone who wishes to meet him at 175, calling himself the “champion” of the “division.”

Homasi had a four-fight winning streak snapped.

Up-to-the-minute Bellator 257 results include:

  • Paul Daley def. Sabah Homasi via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:44
  • Julia Budd def. Dayana Silva via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Julius Anglickas def. Gregory Milliard via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Steve Mowry def. Shaun Asher via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 0:55
  • Grachik Bozinyan def. Demarques Jackson via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Raymond Daniels def. Peter Stanonik via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
  • Lance Gibson Jr. def. Marcus Surin via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Karl Albrektsson def. Viktor Nemkov via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Mads Burnell def. Saul Rogers via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:08
  • Pedro Carvalho vs. Jay Jay Wilson def. Pedro Carvalho via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 0:53

[vertical-gallery id=603494]

Bellator 257 faceoff video highlights: Paul Daley and Sabah Homasi aren’t friends

Check out the Bellator 257 competitors’ ceremonial faceoffs.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Bellator makes its return Friday as does the promotion’s light heavyweight grand prix.

In the main event, the 205-pound title will be on the line when [autotag]Vadim Nemkov[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Phil Davis[/autotag] (22-5 MMA, 9-2 BMMA) in a rematch of their three-round fight in November 2018. The fight doubles as a grand prix quarterfinal, which is one of two tournament bouts atop the card.

In the co-main event, former UFC contender [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] (14-5 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) battles promotional newcomer [autotag]Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov[/autotag] (18-5-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA).

The most heated faceoff occurred, however, between [autotag]Paul Daley[/autotag] (42-17-2 MMA, 8-4 BMMA) and [autotag]Sabah Homasi[/autotag] (15-8 MMA, 4-2 BMMA), who have engaged in a feud that dates back over a year. Though they’ve been booked multiple times against one another, the fight has never come to fruition. The rivalry stems from a past altercation in a hotel lobby that involved Homasi’s teammate Dustin Poirier.

Bellator 257 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 257 weigh-ins, the athletes came face to face for some traditional pre-fight staredowns.

Check out the faceoffs below, including Nemkov vs. Davis 2, Anderson vs. Yagshimuradov, Daley vs. Homasi, Julia Budd vs. Dayana Silva, Raymond Daniels vs. Peter Stanonik 2, and more.

Paul Daley, Sabah Homasi detail past altercation involving Dustin Poirier that sparked feud

Ahead of Bellator 257, Paul Daley and Sabah Homasi reveal a hotel confrontation involving Dustin Poirier that sparked their ongoing feud.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – When [autotag]Paul Daley[/autotag] and [autotag]Sabah Homasi[/autotag] step on the scale Friday for the Bellator 257 ceremonial weigh-ins at Mohegan Sun Arena, jawing, expletives, and finger-pointing will likely ensue.

Where did the rivalry begin? Homasi (15-8 MMA, 4-2 BMMA), who called for the Daley (42-17-2 MMA, 8-4 BMMA) rebooking for well over a year, attributes his disdain to an altercation that took place in a hotel lobby involving his teammate and close friend [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag].

“I know how (Daley) is as a person,” Homasi told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “He likes to talk sh*t and all this stuff. He just ran up on me and my team in the lobby and started talking sh*t. (He) almost tried starting a fight with us in the lobby the first time we were scheduled to fight. He said disrespectful things to my coach, to Dustin (Poirier). That’s uncalled for, man. We’re going to go in there, and we’re going to fight.”

Homasi and Poirier have long been close confidants of one another. Despite his fame skyrocketing, Poirier always makes the treks to Homasi’s fights to serve as a corner and support. Homasi said he values everything Poirier does for him.

“(Poirier) is the man,” Homasi said. “He’s a good friend of mine. He helps me out in training. We train together all the time. He flies in to help me out. He comes with me to all my fights. I really appreciate him, especially with him being busy with all the sh*t that’s going on.”

[lawrence-related id=603121,603122]

Though Homasi saw Daley as the aggressor in the situation, “Semtex” paints a different picture – one that extends even further back, prior to the hotel confrontation. Daley claimed at weigh-ins for that same event, Poirier initiated the trash talk in what was an otherwise cordial fight week.

“I thought, ‘He’s a cool guy,’ even though he was cornering the guy I’m fighting,” Daley told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “Then, I hear on the video he was shouting some sh*t off-stage. I thought, ‘Oh, that’s a bit of a snake. So I’ll have to ask him why he’s doing that.'”

That’s exactly what Daley said he did. The next opportunity that arose, which happened to be in the hotel lobby, Daley confronted Poirier and Homasi’s coaches. Daley said Poirier was taken aback by his approach and that’s when things escalated.

“He was on the defensive,” Daley said of Poirier. “Then, his corner were talking up, and I put them in their place and said, ‘Look, I (am) here on my own. There are four of you guys. If you want it, you can get it. That’s the type of guy I am. I’ll f*ck all of you up right now outside of the cage. That’s what it was.”

Neither fighter particularly likes the other, but neither views their Bellator 257 matchup as one that will get them overly emotional when they get inside the cage Friday. It’s all just part of the fight game and they’re both well-versed in “bad blood” matchups.

“I have to fight this guy,” Daley said, as he brushed off calling the fight a rvivalry. “I have to fight him on Friday, and I’m going to beat him up. That’s it.”

Homasi voiced a similarly unbothered sentiment, “I know his tactic and his tactic isn’t going to work against me. It’s OK. I know. I’m expecting it tomorrow at weigh-ins when we face off. I’m expecting him to run his mouth and whatnot. Whatever. Let him do what he’s got to do.”

The Bellator 257 main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MlIC9y_7Yc

Bellator 257: Make your predictions for Vadim Nemkov vs. Phil Davis

We want your predictions for Bellator 257, featuring champ Vadim Nemkov vs. Phil Davis in a title fight and light heavyweight tourney bout.

We want your predictions for Friday’s Bellator 257 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 Wednesdday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the Bellator 257 main card staff predictions we release Thursday ahead of the event. Bellator 257 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.

Paul Daley vs. Sabah Homasi matched up again, added to Bellator 257

Bellator is trying the Paul Daley vs. Sabah Homasi grudge match once again.

Bellator is trying [autotag]Paul Daley[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Sabah Homasi[/autotag] once again.

The welterweight knockout artists, who have been scheduled to fight on multiple occasions, will (barring any unforeseen circumstances) finally square off April 16 at Bellator 257. The event takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena and airs on Showtime.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup informed MMA Junkie of the booking Tuesday but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Daley (42-17-2 MMA, 8-4 BMMA) and Homasi (15-8 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) were originally booked for Bellator 232 in October 2019. However, Homasi was injured and the fight was canceled.

Things got heated between Daley and Homasi at the weigh-ins for their first rebooking at Bellator 241 in March 2020. Less than 24 hours later, the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, so the matchup was once again scrapped.

[lawrence-related id=592242,592074]

According to a person with knowledge of the booking, Daley and Homasi were scheduled to be the main event of Bellator 247 in October. However, the bout fell through before the promotion made an official announcement and Homasi was replaced by Anderson. After Daley suffered an illness due to the weight cut, the fight was scrapped.

Both Daley and Homasi are coming off consecutive victories. Daley has won back-to-back fights against Erick Silva and Saad Awad. Homasi is riding a four-fight winning streak into the grudge match.

With the addition, the Bellator 257 lineup includes:

  • Champion Vadim Nemkov vs. Phil Davis – for Bellator light heavyweight title, grand prix quarterfinal
  • Anthony Johnson vs. Yoel Romero – grand prix quarterfinal
  • Aiden Lee vs. Aaron Pico
  • Paul Daley vs. Sabah Homasi

[vertical-gallery id=499356]

Bellator 250 winner Sabah Homasi rants on ‘fluke’ COVID-19 pandemic that ‘doesn’t make any sense’

After one of the night’s most impressive finishes, Sabah Homasi told reporters he’s not buying into the COVID-19 global pandemic.

[autotag]Sabah Homasi[/autotag] picked up one of the night’s most impressive finishes with a flying knee knockout of Bobby Voelker at Bellator 250.

Following his win, Homasi (15-8 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) spoke to reporters about the finish, his admiration for Donald Trump, his opinion that the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic is being overblown, and much more.

“(Expletive) this COVID (expletive), first of all, this bull(expletive)-ass virus,” Homasi said. “You’ve got places closing down … people wearing masks, people freaking out. … This is a very contagious virus, right? We’ve got to be (expletive) scared of this (expletive)? If (Nick Newell) had it – which, I think it’s a false positive – if he had it, so many other people would have had it. He’s literally grappling right next to me with his buddy, training and whatnot, and then he tests positive, but his buddy doesn’t? It doesn’t make any sense, man.

“I just think this whole (expletive) is a fluke. You’ve got 99.7 (percent) survival rate on it. I mean, there’s more deadlier things out here than the coronavirus or the (expletive) COVID-19 or whatever. So don’t even ask me stupid-ass questions about COVID. (Expletive) that (expletive).”

You can watch the full interview in the video above.

Bellator 250 took place Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card aired on CBS Sports Network following prelims on MMA Junkie.

(Editor’s note: In the video above, Homasi says COVID-19 has a “99.7 (percent) survival rate on it.” The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists more than 8.9 million cases of COVID-19 in the United States with more than 228,000 deaths. Both numbers continue to rise. The number of deaths from the known cases puts the mortality rate at 2.56 percent of cases in the U.S., or 8.5 times the amount of deaths Homasi claims in the video.)

[vertical-gallery id=562622]

[vertical-gallery id=562601]