Tag: Steve Mowry

Heavyweights Steve Mowry, Rakim Cleveland set for Bellator 271 showdown

Bellator’s return to Florida is shaping up.

A heavyweight fight is the latest addition to Bellator 271.

Rising big man [autotag]Steve Mowry[/autotag] is set to return against promotional newcomer [autotag]Rakim Cleveland[/autotag] on the main card of the Nov. 12 event in Hollywood, Fla., promotion officials recently informed MMA Junkie.

Mowry (9-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) has a 100 percent finishing rate through nine professional fights, including five submissions and four TKOs. Thus far in Bellator, the 6-foot-8 heavyweight has defeated Ben Moa, Darion Abbey, Gokhan Saricam, Shawn Teed and Shaun Asher.

Cleveland (22-13-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has signed a multifight deal with Bellator, according to promotion officials. The PFL alum is coming off three straight wins, including a viral head kick knockout (and celebratory dance) against Kelvin Fital in August.

With the addition, the Bellator 271 lineup includes:

  • Champion Cris Cyborg vs. Sinead Kavanagh – for women’s featherweight title
  • Justin Gonzales vs. Aaron Pico
  • Rakim Cleveland vs. Steve Mowry
  • Arlene Blencowe vs. Pam Sorenson

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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.

Top 10 Bellator dark horses to watch in 2021

MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom takes a look at his top 10 Bellator dark horses to watch in 2021.

Despite being held to just 18 events in 2020 due to the global pandemic, Bellator was able to keep the proverbial ball rolling in regards to fostering new names and cultivating homegrown talent.

Sure, it’s been easy to get excited about big-name signings like Yoel Romero or Anthony Johnson, but I think the promotion carries a quiet value with the offerings that are often found on their undercards. So, with that in mind, I decided to steer away from mainstream names or past grand prix competitors in order to focus on the dark horses whom I see either making their marks or (in some cases) taking a stab at a title in 2021.

Without further ado, here are the top 10 dark horses that I think you need to be familiar with this year.

Bellator inks CFFC heavyweight champ Shawn Teed, will face Steve Mowry at Bellator 249

Another major American regional promotion champion has signed with Bellator.

CFFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Shawn Teed[/autotag] is the latest American regional promotion champion headed to Bellator.

A former Dana White’s Contender Series competitor, Teed (6-2-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has signed a multi-fight deal with the promotion and is set to make his promotional debut Oct. 15 against [autotag]Steve Mowry[/autotag] on the Bellator 249 prelims, which take place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

Multiple sources with knowledge of the situation, including a promotion official, recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking.

Teed, 28, has gone 3-2-1 in his most recent five fights. At CFFC 79 in November 2019, Teed finished Bellator alumnus Ben Reiter by third-round TKO to win the vacant heavyweight title. All six of Teed’s professional victories have come inside the distance. His only two career losses have come against UFC alums Juan Adams and Azunna Anyanwu.

Mowry (7-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) has had his most recent two scheduled fights fall through. After pulling out of Bellator 239 in February due to “health concerns,” Mowry was removed from his Bellator 242 matchup in July due to a positive COVID-19 test. Like Teed, all of Mowry’s professional victories have come by finishes.

Bellator 249’s main card will air on CBS Sports Network after prelims on CBSsports.com.

With the addition, the Bellator 249 lineup includes:

  • Cris Cyborg vs. Arlene Blencowe – for Bellator women’s featherweight title
  • Patricky Freire vs. Jaleel Willis
  • Ricky Bandejas vs. Leandro Higo
  • Saad Awad vs. Mandel Nallo
  • Curtis Millender vs. Joe Schilling
  • Albert Gonzales vs. Kastriot Xhema
  • Christian Edwards vs. Hamza Salim
  • Kyle Crutchmer vs. Kemran Lachinov
  • Joseph Creer vs. Tony Johnson
  • Da’Mon Blackshear vs. Mike Kimbel
  • Steve Mowry vs. Shawn Teed

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Steve Mowry off Bellator 242 after positive COVID-19 test

Steve Mowry won’t be fighting at Bellator 242.

[autotag]Steve Mowry[/autotag] won’t be fighting at Bellator 242.

Mowry (7-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) has been removed from Friday’s event at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn., after a positive COVID-19 test conducted Monday, he announced on social media (via Instagram):

“So, uhhhh, long story short I’m not fighting because of a positive COVID-19 test

2020, am I right?”

Mowry was scheduled to fight Rudy Schaffroth on the event’s preliminary card. It is unknown at this time whether or not Schaffroth (6-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) will remain on the card.

A member of Sanford MMA, Mowry trains with the likes Gilbert Burns and Aung La N Sang – two fighters who have tested positive for the virus in recent weeks.

With the removal, the current Bellator 242 lineup includes:

  • Ricky Bandejas vs. Sergio Pettis
  • Jason Jackson vs. Jordan Mein
  • Tywan Claxton vs. Jay Jay Wilson
  • Solo Hatley Jr. vs. Aaron Pico
  • Mark Lemminger vs. Jake Smith
  • Cass Bell vs. Raufeon Stots
  • Rudy Schaffroth vs. TBA

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6-foot-8 heavyweight Steve Mowry withdraws from Bellator 239 due to ‘a health concern’

Undefeated heavyweight prospect Steve Mowry will have to wait a little longer for his next fight.

Undefeated heavyweight prospect [autotag]Steve Mowry[/autotag] will have to wait a little longer for his next fight.

Just five days prior to when he was supposed to compete at Bellator 239, Mowry (7-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) has pulled out of his scheduled bout with Rudy Schaffroth (6-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA).

MMA Junkie confirmed the news with a Bellator official on Monday, though additional details were not revealed. According to Mowry, though, it’s because of a medical issue (via Instagram):

Hey guys. Due to a health concern I won’t be fighting this weekend. I’m hoping the issue will resolve soon and i’ll be rescheduled in a few weeks.

Mowry, 27, most recently competed at Bellator 231 in October when he earned a second-round submission of Gokhan Saricam. He’s finished all seven of his career opponents.

With Mowry unable to compete, MMA Junkie confirmed Schaffroth will not receive a replacement opponent and is off the Bellator 239 card, as well.

Bellator 239 adds Steve Mowry vs. Rudy Schaffroth

Bellator’s return to Thackerville, Okla. just got a little bit bigger.

Bellator’s return to Thackerville, Okla. just got a little bit bigger.

Heavyweights [autotag]Steve Mowry[/autotag] and [autotag]Rudy Schafforth[/autotag] will square off Feb. 21 on Bellator 239’s preliminary card. MMA Junkie confirmed the booking with a promotion official following an initial report from MMA Fighting.

Mowry (7-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) is coming off a Bellator 231 second-round submission victory over Gokhan Saricam in October. The Florida-based fighter has finished all seven of his professional fights inside the distance – five by submission.

Meanwhile, Schaffroth (6-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) suffered his first pro loss when he was brutalized and submitted by Tyrell Fortune at Bellator 225 in August.

The event takes place Feb. 21 at WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Okla. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

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With the additions, the Bellator 239 lineup includes:

  • Yaroslav Amosov vs. Ed Ruth
  • Brandon Girtz vs. Myles Jury
  • Tyrell Fortune vs. Timothy Johnson
  • Cris Lencioni vs. Salim Mukhidinov
  • Denise Kielholtz vs. Kristina Williams
  • Javy Ayala vs. Valentin Moldavsky
  • Lucas Brennan vs. Jamese Taylor
  • Adil Benjilany vs. Kevin Croom
  • Chris Gonzalez vs. Aaron McKenzie
  • Christian Edwards vs. Marco Hutch
  • Carlo Pedersoli Jr. vs. Mark Lemminger
  • Teejay Britton vs. Gabriel Varga
  • Grant Neal vs. Claude Wilcox
  • Davion Franklin vs. J.W. Kiser
  • Steve Mowry vs. Rudy Schaffroth

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