Tag: Spike Carlyle

Video: Champ Patricio Freire, Adam Borics get face to face ahead of Bellator 286

Check out the faceoff highlights from the Bellator 286 media day in Long Beach, Calif.

LOS ANGELES – Ahead of Saturday’s featherweight title fight, the champ and challenger got face to face Thursday.

Titleholder [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (33-5 MMA, 21-5 BMMA) squared off with challenger [autotag]Adam Borics[/autotag] (18-1 MMA, 9-1 BMMA) at a media day for Bellator 286, which takes place Saturday at Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, Calif. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Borics has won four straight fights, all by decision, including a March win in a title eliminator against Mads Burnell. “Pitbull” Freire will be putting his belt on the line for the first time since he won it back from [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] in April with a unanimous decision. McKee beat him in July 2021 with a first-round submission for the title.

In addition to Freire and Borics’ faceoff, you can check out the one between co-main event fighters [autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) and McKee (18-1 MMA, 18-1 BMMA), who is moving to lightweight for the first time, and featherweights [autotag]Jeremy Kennedy[/autotag] (17-3 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Aaron Pico[/autotag] (10-3 MMA, 10-3 BMMA) in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 286.

[listicle id=2584027]

[listicle id=2583981]

These 10 UFC veterans are in MMA and kickboxing action Sept. 28-Oct. 1

Check out which UFC veterans are competing in various promotions across the globe this week.

The UFC is back in action for another event at in Las Vegas for UFC Fight Night 211 featuring MacKenzie Dern vs. Yan Xiaonan.

Outside of Saturday’s event at the UFC Apex, there are a number of veterans of the promotion competing across the globe in MMA and kickboxing. Whether they are trying to fight their way back to the big stage of the world MMA leader or solidify themselves as a staple of their current promotions, these UFC veterans will be looking to get their hand raised this weekend.

Check out the names and details about their bouts below.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

Spike Carlyle ‘blessed with opportunity’ to face A.J. McKee: ‘I don’t think I was supposed to have this fight’

“It is unfortunate that he’s not having the trilogy bout with ‘Pitbull,’ but I got blessed with this opportunity.”

[autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag] knows he’s fortunate to be facing [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag].

In just his second Bellator fight, Carlyle (14-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) will welcome former featherweight champion McKee to the lightweight division at Bellator 286, which takes place Oct. 1 at Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, Calif.

McKee (18-1 MMA, 18-1 BMMA) lost his 145-pound title in a razor-close decision loss to rival Patricio Freire, and now their series is tied 1-1. McKee, who finished Freire in less than two minutes in their first fight, expected a rubber match next. But instead, Freire will defend his title against Adam Borics on the same night McKee faces Carlyle.

“I hope he’s thinking of other things,” Carlyle told MMA Junkie Radio. “I hope he doesn’t show up on fight night. I hope he’s confused. I hope everything that could go wrong goes wrong for him because I’m coming for that win, and I know I’m going to be fully prepared there. So, it is unfortunate that he’s not having the trilogy bout with ‘Pitbull,’ but I got blessed with this opportunity. I don’t think I was supposed to have this fight, but here we are – so let’s make it happen.

“I definitely think A.J. won the fourth and fifth rounds (against Freire), which is cool because I think for him that was his first time fighting in the championship rounds,” Carlyle said. “So kudos for him. I have to rewatch it, but it was a close fight, and who knows. You can’t trust the judging in MMA.”

Carlyle is someone who’s almost never had to rely on the judges. In 14 professional wins, Carlyle has only gone the distance once in 2019 and has finished his past five opponents.

“I’m blessed,” Carlyle said. “I have knockout ability in every limb in my body, I have a high-level submission game, and not to toot my own horn, but I’ll never quit. I have a heart of a champion tenfold, heart of a tiger 1,000-fold.”

[vertical-gallery id=495232]

MMA Junkie Radio #3285: Spike Carlyle joins the show, Uriah Hall retires, more

Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.


Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.

On Episode 3,285, the guys chat with [autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag] about his upcoming fight against [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag], discuss [autotag]Uriah Hall[/autotag] announcing his retirement, preview the upcoming UFC on ESPN 41 card, and much more. Tune in!

Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at OmnyStudio. You can also catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.

Bellator 286 in Long Beach set to feature Patricio Freire, A.J. McKee – but not against each other

Patricio Freire and A.J. McKee won’t complete their trilogy just yet.

[autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] and [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] won’t complete their trilogy just yet.

Instead, featherweight champion Freire will put his title on the line against [autotag]Adam Borics[/autotag] in the Bellator 286 main event Oct. 1 at Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, Calif. McKee also will compete on the card and make his lightweight debut against [autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag] in front of his home city fans.

A person with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie on Wednesday but asked to remain anonymous because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. The Long Beach Press-Telegram was first to report the news.

Freire (33-5 MMA, 21-5 BMMA), who lost his featherweight title to McKee at Bellator 263, reclaimed the belt when the pair rematched at Bellator 277 in April. Freire edged out McKee in a five-round battle and handed him the first loss of his career. He meets Borics (18-1 MMA, 9-1 BMMA), who’s currently riding a four-fight winning streak and coming off a unanimous decision win over Mads Burnell at Bellator 276.

McKee (18-1 MMA, 18-1 BMMA) has been teasing a move to lightweight for a while and now has committed. After he submitted Freire to win the Bellator featherweight grand prix and title, McKee dropped the rematch in a fight he thought he won. Carlyle (14-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) has won five straight since parting ways with the UFC in 2020.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 286.

[vertical-gallery id=2538432]

[vertical-gallery id=657233]

Rizin FF 35 video: Ex-UFC fighter Spike Carlyle chokes Koji Takeda unconscious in debut

Spike Carlyle’s dream of fighting in Japan came true, and he couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.

[autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag]’s dream of fighting in Japan came true, and he couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.

Carlyle, a former UFC and Bellator veteran, was victorious in his promotional debut at Rizin FF 35 after putting Koji Takeda to sleep with a guillotine choke Sunday at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza in Tokyo.

Carlyle’s move was slick and so tight as Takeda had no way to escape in the second round once the choke was locked in. Once the referee stopped the fight, “The Alpha Ginger” gave his opponent a kiss and rubbed his forehead as he broke the hold. He then appeared to pray as officials tended to Takeda.

You can watch he finishing sequence in the video below (via Twitter):

For Carlyle, 28, the submission marked his fifth consecutive win following a three-fight UFC stint that ended in November 2020 after back-to-back losses. Prior to Rizin FF 35, Carlyle competed for Bellator this past December, defeating Dan Moret with an improbable rear-naked choke at Bellator 272.

After that win, Carlyle (14-3) was open about his desire to fight in Japan but didn’t shut the door completely on Bellator.

“My heart has always been set for Japan, for Rizin,” Carlyle said. “It would be an amazing thing to win a belt in Japan and come over to Bellator and compete for the world title here, as well. …

“I’ll go wherever the good Lord takes me.”

Bellator signs Spike Carlyle to exclusive multifight deal

Remember “The Alpha Ginger”? Well, Spike Carlyle has a new promotional home for the long-term.

Former UFC fighter [autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag] can now call himself an official long-term member of the Bellator roster.

Months after an emphatic, come-from-behind submission win over Dan Moret at Bellator 272 in December, Carlyle (13-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) has inked an exclusive multifight deal with the promotion. A person with knowledge of the signing informed MMA Junkie of the signing Thursday, which was later confirmed to MMA Junkie by a promotion official.

Carlyle, 28, officially joins Bellator’s lightweight division on a four-fight winning streak with four finishes. A former UFC fighter, Carlyle was released from the promotion in 2021 following back-to-back losses to Billy Quarantillo and Bill Algeo. However, he quickly carved a space for himself on the Bellator roster with his dramatic and exciting fighting style over his four fights since his UFC departure.

Following his victory in December, Carlyle voiced eagerness to land a multifight deal with a major promotion – either Bellator or RIZIN.

“My heart has always been set for Japan, for Rizin,” Carlyle said in a post-fight news conference. “It would be an amazing thing to win a belt in Japan and come over to Bellator and compete for the world title here, as well. … I’ll go wherever the good Lord takes me.”

As of the time of publication, Carlyle does not have an opponent, date, or location lined up for his next fight.

Check out Carlyle’s ridiculous rally against Moret in the video below.

[vertical-gallery id=451521]

[vertical-gallery id=2527075]

12 former UFC fighters who could return to the promotion in 2022

It’s hard to make it to the UFC. It’s even more difficult to make it a second time.

It’s hard to make it to the UFC.

Thousands of professional fighters try every year – and most fail. For a small percentage, however, they sign their names on the dotted line to fight for the biggest MMA promotion in the world.

Sometimes the opportunity comes a bit too soon. Other times, they’re faced with difficult matchups that time proves were bigger challenges than originally anticipated.

When the pink slip comes and a fighter departs the promotion, there is often a phrase they hear on the way out: “Go get a few more wins, and the UFC will consider bringing you back.”

Easier said than done.

For the vast majority of those departing the UFC, they won’t be back. However, it’s not impossible. A number of fighters have done it over the years. Just look at UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno. He was released from the promotion, built his way back, became a contender, and then won a UFC title. Others like Brandon Davis, Jesse Ronson, Nicolas Dalby, Chase Sherman, Sean Soriano, and Dustin Jacoby have reinforced it being possible.

With the new year upon us, here are 12 former UFC fighters who could return to the promotion in 2022.

Note: Fighters considered for this list had to have competed in at least one UFC bout.

‘The Alpha Ginger’ Spike Carlyle pulls off improbable comeback at Bellator 272

“The Alpha Ginger” Spike Carlyle came back from the brink of defeat on multiple occasions to submit Dan Moret in Round 3.

[autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag] made quite the first impression in his Bellator debut Friday.

On the Bellator 272 prelims, Carlyle (13-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) took on fellow UFC alumnus [autotag]Dan Moret[/autotag] and pulled off an improbable comeback. Carlyle rallied from the brink of defeat on multiple occasions to technically submit Moret (15-7 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) with a rear-naked choke at 2:58 mark of Round 3 in a grueling battle.

Both fighters landed shot after shot through the first two rounds, but Carlyle absorbed the brunt of the damage. Entering Round 3, Carlyle was down 20-18 on all three judges’ scorecards.

However, he dug deep, reversed a late takedown from Moret, ended up on his opponent’s back, and put him to sleep with a rear-naked choke – much to the delight of the Mohegan Sun crowd.

“I feel like dog crap,” Carlyle said after the fight. “I don’t feel good at all right now, but I had to dig deep. This was not my power, that’s for sure. That was supernatural what just happened right there.”

“… I remember watching some of his interviews leading to the Goiti Yamauchi fight. He said he’s never tapped, he will never tap, and that’s true. That son of a b*tch didn’t tap.”

Check out the highlights below:

Bellator 272 took place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card aired on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Nov. 22-28)

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 Nov. 22-28.