Tag: Sullivan Cauley

Bellator 268 salaries: Vadim Nemkov, Corey Anderson among five six-figure paydays

Five fighters pocketed more than $100,000 at Bellator 268 in Phoenix, according to documents obtained by MMA Junkie.

Bellator 268 featured two light heavyweight grand prix matchups, and the fighters involved were four of the five highest-paid athletes on the card.

Light heavyweight champion [autotag]Vadim Nemkov[/autotag] and fellow grand prix finalist [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] led all paydays, as they pocketed six figures as a result of their wins Oct. 16 at Footprint Center in Phoenix.

Grand prix participants [autotag]Julius Anglickas[/autotag] and [autotag]Ryan Bader[/autotag], who lost in the semfinals, and former UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Benson Henderson[/autotag], also took home six figures.

On Monday, MMA Junkie acquired a full list of Bellator 268 salaries from the Arizona Department of Gaming, which oversaw the event.

Check out a full list below.

Debut finish at Bellator 253 was ‘a dream come true’ for Ryan Bader protege Sullivan Cauley

Sullivan Cauley recaps his memorable debut at Bellator 253 and reveals the influence of heavyweight champion Ryan Bader on his career.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Sullivan Cauley[/autotag] got his professional career off to a winning start when he kicked off the fight card at Bellator 253 with a first-round finish.

Cauley (1-0 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) defeated Jason Markland (0-2 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) by TKO when he dropped him with a big right hand, then followed up with some heavy-duty ground and pound to secure the win in just 28 seconds at Mohegan Sun Arena.

After the fight, Cauley chatted with reporters, including MMA Junkie, backstage as he recapped his victorious debut under the bright lights of Bellator’s “Fightsphere,” and revealed the influence of Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader on his early MMA career.

Check out the full post-fight interview in the video above.

Bellator 253 took place Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card aired on CBS Sports Network/DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

[vertical-gallery id=568102]

Bellator 253 lineup encounters three changes, including two cancellations due to commission issues

Five fighters scheduled for Bellator 253 won’t be competing Thursday after all.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Five fighters scheduled for Bellator 253 won’t be competing Thursday after all.

On Monday, a promotion official informed MMA Junkie of three changes to the lineup. Two fights, [autotag]Lance Gibson Jr.[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Shane Kruchten[/autotag] and [autotag]Ricardo Seixas[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Marcus Surin[/autotag] were canceled. Additionally, [autotag]Mark Glover[/autotag] has been replaced by [autotag]Jason Markland[/autotag], who will fight [autotag]Sullivan Cauley[/autotag].

The two cancellations come after Kruchten (12-5 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) and Surin (6-2 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) did not receive clearance to compete from the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation. The change was first reported by MyMMANews.

Bellator 253 marks the second card Gibson Jr. (3-0 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) vs. Kruchten was scheduled to take place but was canceled. The two fighters were supposed to fight at Bellator 244 but Kruchten tested positive for COVID-19.

Glover (0-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) was not removed by the commission, but it is unclear why Sullivan (0-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) will now be facing Markland (0-1 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) instead.

[lawrence-related id=565938,565776,565933]

Bellator 253 takes place Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network after prelims on MMA Junkie.

With the changes, the Bellator 253 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (CBS Sports Network/DAZN, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Darrion Caldwell vs. A.J. McKee – featherweight tournament semifinal (five rounds)
  • Benson Henderson vs. Jason Jackson
  • Joey Davis vs. Bobby Lee

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie)

  • Keith Lee vs. Raufeon Stots
  • Matt Bessette vs. Jeremy Kennedy
  • Mark Lemminger vs. Jaleel Willis
  • Sergio DeBari vs. Jay Jay Wilson
  • Kevin Ferguson Jr. vs. Kaheem Murray
  • Sullivan Cauley vs. Jason Markland

[vertical-gallery id=391998]