Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported 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 or officially announced by the promotions from Sept. 11-17.
“I want to just keep moving up the rankings and taking on tougher opponents and proving myself as a martial artist,” Sumiko Inaba said.
HONOLULU – [autotag]Sumiko Inaba[/autotag] is happy to eventually climb her way to a title shot after Bellator 295.
The undefeated Hawaii native picked up arguably her biggest win yet when she defeated Veta Arteaga by unanimous decision at Saturday’s Bellator 295 event at Neal S. Blaisdell Arena.
As she climbs up the flyweight ranks, Inaba (6-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) was happy to prove she belongs with a win over top-10 Arteaga.
“That was huge to get over that,” Inaba told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “Especially here in Hawaii, you know. I feel the energy of my crowd, and I’m excited. I’m excited for what’s to come. I want to just keep moving up the rankings and taking on tougher opponents and proving myself as a martial artist.”
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With lima-Lei Macfarlane defeating Kana Watanabe, Bellator president Scott Coker wants to see her next in line for champion Liz Carmouche. As for Inaba, she’s not worried about the pecking order.
“I love the pace that I’m going at,” Inaba said. “Whatever Bellator has for me. They’ve only ever been amazing to me and all the opportunities that I get. I got to fight twice in my home. I can’t be more than grateful for that.
“I know they have a great plan set out for me, and I just take it one fight at a time. Just make my way up that ladder, and one day I’ll fight for that title definitely.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 295.
Patchy Mix is firmly in the Bellator record books after a perfect knee made him $1 million richer at Bellator 295.
Bellator 295 took place Saturday at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu and marked the second night of the promotion’s weekend doubleheader in Hawaii.
The final fight of a loaded week proved to be the most memorable, because [autotag]Patchy Mix[/autotag] (18-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) scored one of the greatest knockout highlights in company history when he flattened [autotag]Raufeon Stots[/autotag] (19-2 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) with a picture-perfect knee to the jaw knockout just 80 seconds into their main event. The nasty finish not only won him the interim bantamweight title, but he is the last man standing in the bantamweight grand prix, winning $1 million after completing the eight-man field.
For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from Bellator 295.
Check out the numbers behind Bellator 295, where Hawaii’s own Ilima-Lei Macfarlane adds to her historic resume in Honolulu.
Bellator returns to Hawaii this weekend with two events in two nights, the second of which goes down Saturday at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu and airs on Showtime following prelims streaming on MMA Junkie.
Bellator 295 marks the second half of the doubleheader, and the event is headlined by the conclusion of the promotion’s bantamweight grand prix. Reigning interim titleholder [autotag]Raufeon Stots[/autotag] (19-1 MMA, 7-0 BMMA) is set to take on [autotag]Patchy Mix[/autotag] (17-1 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) in the finals of the eight-man tournament, with the winner getting a $1 million prize.
For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about Bellator 295.
It’s a big fight week for Bellator’s women’s flyweight division, and Sumiko Inaba is going to be paying plenty of attention.
HONOLULU – It’s a big fight week for Bellator’s women’s flyweight division, and [autotag]Sumiko Inaba[/autotag] is going to be paying plenty of attention.
Inaba (5-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) has a big fight on her hands against Veta Arteaga (7-4 MMA, 6-4 BMMA) on Saturday’s preliminary card at Bellator 295, which takes place Saturday at Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.
If Inaba, a 2-1 favorite at the betting window, gets past Arteaga, it will put her at 6-0. And while a title shot just six fights into her pro career might seem crazy, it should be noted former and inaugural women’s flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane was 6-0 when she got her title shot and beat Emily Ducote to win Bellator’s inaugural 125-pound women’s title.
Coincidentally, Macfarlane fights Saturday, as well, in front of her home fans on Oahu. Inaba lives on Maui. By the time Bellator 295 rolls around Saturday, the results from Bellator 294 will be known – including women’s flyweight champion Liz Carmouche against Deanna Bennett the night before at Bellator 294.
“I’m ready,” Inaba said Tuesday at an open workout session for fans and the media at Royal Hawaiian Center in Honolulu. “I knew what I had in front of me. This is just in the right direction for what I want. I didn’t take this lightly. She’s already fought for the belt. I know she has that experience, and I have to take that into consideration. But I’m prepared. I’m coming on Saturday.
“This is my home. I’m comfortable here. I need to take that as positive energy. Take all the, all the manna that I get from my crowd and and just use it in the ring. I take it all as positive confidence.”
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Macfarlane said Tuesday she is planning to call for a title shot if she wins Saturday. And if champ Carmouche wins Friday, Macfarlane will be calling for a fight against her – which would mean a teammate-vs.-teammate bout.
But Inaba can see a path to the title that basically becomes an Hawaii vs. Hawaii fight between her and Macfarlane – and one that almost certainly would take place back in Honolulu.
“That would be amazing,” Inaba told MMA Junkie. “I don’t ever look past what I have in front of me always. But that’s my goal. That’s my dream. And I work hard every day to make that happen. I’m hoping that I get three fights this year. That’s what I want. Manifest that.
“I train every day for the champ. That’s what I do. And I take her as hard of a fight as it is for the champ. I have to get past her first to make my way up there. So I train every day as if that’s what I want to be is to one day be the champ.”
That means Inaba will have her eye on Bellator 295 and beyond …
“I’m excited. I’m glad there’s a lot of other flyweight fights. It’s fun to see that – see what I’m up against and how they perform in front of my home crowd, as well. My eyes are wide open. I’m taking everything in all those fights and it’s just more motivation for me watching those.”
Check out Inaba’s full open workout video in the video above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 295.
Sumiko Inaba moved to 5-0 as a professional with Bellator this past Saturday.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – [autotag]Sumiko Inaba[/autotag] is looking to compete with the upper echelon of the division after Bellator 286.
Inaba (5-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) remained unbeaten when she grinded out a unanimous decision against Nadine Mandiau on Saturday at Long Beach Arena. It took Inaba only 65 seconds to beat Mandiau (2-6 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) by TKO when they were amateurs back in October 2018, but this time Mandiau gave her a tough outing.
“I knew she was going to come with the fight,” Inaba told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “I don’t complain – more experience in the ring, just getting me more comfortable for higher-ranked opponents, and it was great. …
“Completely new, different ring, bigger crowd, more to the fight week and all the emotions that come with it. So, I took it as a completely new fight. She was a great new opponent, as well. She came with a lot more skill and a lot more fight, and she gave it to me.”
Despite moving to 5-0 as a professional, Inaba finds herself even more motivated, and her next goal is to land a spot in the Bellator women’s flyweight rankings.
“This camp just put a fire underneath my butt to train harder,” Inaba said. “Hopefully get into the rankings and work my way up.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 286.
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Patricio Freire added to his records for most wins and title-fight victories in Bellator history with a dominant defense at Bellator 286.
The final stretch of Bellator’s 2022 schedule kicked off Saturday with Bellator 286, which took place at Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, Calif., and featured a 13-fight lineup.
The main event saw the most decorated fighter in company history further enhance his legacy when [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (34-5 MMA, 22-5 BMMA) cruised to a lopsided unanimous decision over [autotag]Adam Borics[/autotag] (18-2 MMA, 9-2 BMMA) to defend his featherweight title for the first time in what’s his third title reign in the division.
For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from Bellator 286.
At Bellator 286, Sumiko Inaba was tested by an opponent she’d previously finished but ultimately got the win.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – It might not have been the performance [autotag]Sumiko Inaba[/autotag] was hoping for, but perhaps it was one she needed.
Facing [autotag]Nadine Mandiau[/autotag] for a second time, Inaba was pushed – and almost finished – but ultimately grinded out a unanimous decision win Saturday night at Bellator 286 from Long Beach Arena. After 15 minutes, the judges scored the fight 29-28 and 30-27 twice for Inaba, but those scores were deceiving given how close the fight truly was.
And that might’ve come as a surprise since Inaba (5-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) needed just 65 seconds to beat Mandiau (2-6 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) by TKO as amateurs back in October 2018.
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It was clear early in the first round that the rematch could play out differently as both women found success landing combinations in the early going. It wasn’t until a hard right hand by Sumiko allowed her to take the fight to the mat without about 2 minutes left. Inaba tried for a finish, but Mandiau found her way back to the feet. Still, Inaba landed a front kick that knocked Mandiau back to the mat, but she defended with an armbar attempt to close out the round.
Round 2 is when Inaba was caught in the most trouble. After dominating most of the frame, she spent the final minute fending off a deep triangle choke attempt. Mandiau also had control of one wrist and delivered elbows. At one point, the referee appeared ready to step in but didn’t. Ultimately, Inaba found a way to squeeze her head out and escape just before the bell rang.
By the third round, Inaba had greater success landing combinations to start. Mandiau tried for a takedown that Inaba ultimately fought off and ended up taking her back. Inaba couldn’t capitalize completely on the position, but when they stood back up she kept finding success with her punches.
The victory marked the first decision of Inaba’s five-fight professional career. She’d won her previous four Bellator matchups with three knockouts and one submission.
Up-to-date Bellator 286 results include:
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 286.
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Ahead of her return at Bellator 286, Sumiko Inaba reacts to her pairing against Nadine Mandiau, a fighter she’s already beaten once.
LOS ANGELES – [autotag]Sumiko Inaba[/autotag] doesn’t pick her fights. She simply fights in them.
At Bellator 286, that’ll be no different when Inaba (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) steps into the cage against Nadine Mandiau (2-5 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), a fighter she’s already faced and defeated once before.
“They gave me an opponent change,” Inaba told MMA Junkie on Thursday. “I think the original opponent they gave me had some issues getting here, so they gave me her and I took it. I wanted to fight on this card and I want to stay active.”
Inaba, 31, has been with Bellator since her pro debut, which followed a lopsidedly successful 6-1 amateur career. In her four pro appearances to date, Inaba racked up three TKO wins and one submission victory. She’s passed every test with flying colors and attributes that to Bellator’s prospect-build matchmaking.
“Bellator, they’re amazing,” Inaba said. “Everything so far, they take care of their fighters. I think that they have my best interest in mind. It’s showing. I can just keep winning and getting more fights and try to stay as active as I can. Hopefully, I can end up in the rankings.
“As I keep getting my wins, I think Bellator has me on the right track to get me to that point. … (I) trust the process, 100 percent. They are taking great care of me so far and I can only but put on great performances for them.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 286.
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Sumiko Inaba is establishing herself as one to watch. At Bellator 286, she takes on Nadine Mandiau as she looks to remain unbeaten.
One of the top flyweight prospects in Bellator has her next fight.
On the heels of a brutal knockout victory in her home state of Hawaii in April, [autotag]Sumiko Inaba[/autotag] (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) will battle [autotag]Nadine Mandiau[/autotag] (2-5 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) at Bellator 286. The event takes place Oct. 1 at Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center in Long Beach, Calif. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.
Inaba, 31, turned professional in 2020 and has since gone 4-0 with four finishes (three TKOs/knockouts and one submission). In her most recent fight, Inaba annihilated Whittany Pyles with a violent left hook in 88 seconds.
Mandiau, 30, snapped a four-fight losing skid Aug. 13 for Peak Fighting when she won a unanimous decision over Katty Strite.
With the addition, the Bellator 286 lineup includes:
MAIN CARD
PRELIMINARY CARD
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