Zach Zane – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Nick Newell booked for Bellator 241 fight vs. DWCS alum Zach Zane

After an upset loss in late 2019, Nick Newell will look to bounce back at Bellator 241.

[autotag]Nick Newell[/autotag] is back.

Born and raised in Connecticut, Newell (16-3 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) will get another home matchup when he takes on [autotag]Zach Zane[/autotag] at Bellator 241. The promotion announced the booking in a tweet Thursday.

Bellator 241 will take place March 13 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card is expected to stream on DAZN after prelims on MMA Junkie.

Newell, 33, is coming off a loss in October 2019 when he was upset by Manny Muro. The bout was the first Bellator main-card appearance for Newell and his first fight on his recently signed multi-fight deal.

After he failed to punch his ticket to the UFC on “Dana White’s Contender Series,” the former WSOF title challenger Newell had an unofficial “tryout” fight for Bellator in August 2019. He defeated Corey Browning via submission.

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As for Zane (14-9 MMA, 1-0 BMMA), the Hawaiian fighter made his Bellator debut in December. The 30-year-old lightweight upset rising prospect Nainoa Dung by unanimous decision at Bellator 236. Other notable fights include a 2019 outing on “Dana White’s Contender Series,” as well as bouts under the Brave CF and FFC banners.

With the addition, the Bellator 241 lineup includes:

Champ Patricio Freire vs. Pedro Carvalho – Bellator grand prix quarterfinal bout for featherweight title
Emmanuel Sanchez vs. Daniel Weichel – Bellator grand prix quarterfinal bout
Paul Daley vs. Sabah Homasi
Josh Barnett vs. Ronny Markes
Nick Newell vs. Zach Zane

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Bellator 236 winner Zach Zane says he will take on anyone – except another Hawaiian

Hawaii’s Zach Zane talks to MMA Junkie backstage after his unanimous decision victory over Nainoa Dung at Bellator 236 in Honolulu.

HONOLULU – [autotag]Zach Zane[/autotag] claimed a unanimous decision in his all-Hawaii battle at Bellator 236, then said he never wants to face a fellow islander again.

“Man, that was a lot of fun,” he told MMA Junkie backstage after his victory over fellow Hawaiian Nainoa Dung on Saturday night. “Nothing but gratuity in my heart. Just kinda in shock and lost for words. I’m such a grateful guy.”

Zane (14-9, 1-0 BMMA) went into his battle with Dung (3-1, 2-1 BMMA) with a significant experience advantage, but it seemed pre-fight that it was his opponent who received the greater promotional push. While that situation may have irked some fighters, Zane said he appreciated why that was the case.

“I totally understand that,” he admitted. “Look at the kid, he’s 21 years old, kind of a phenom, he has a big following. I wish nothing but the best for him and his future. He’s 21 years old, but I need a future too. I want an opportunity and the blessing to show my heart to the world.”

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Usually, fighters have a clear idea of where they want to take their career next, whether it’s a particular fight card they want to feature on, or a specific opponent they’d like to face next. But Zane isn’t your regular MMA fighter. Rather than saying who he does want to fight, he told reporters who he didn’t want to share the cage with.

“I don’t want to fight another Hawaii guy,” he explained. “I want to represent Hawaii. I want to go all around the world, fighting in Bellator, fight anybody around the world. I humbly would fight anyone. I have no fear in my heart, I love this, I’m a martial artist and I’m a warrior. The sky’s the limit for me.”

And if that globetrotting quest means he has to run the gauntlet and face a local favorite in their own backyard, he’s cool with that, too.

“I fought in Brave. I was a 16/1 underdog, the number-one underdog on the card in Ireland,” he said. “I know that feeling of pressure and people doubting you. I overcome adversity outside the cage, and I truly believe that if you can do that outside the cage, you can do anything in the cage. I’ve been in dark places, and the light right here, that’s where it’s at. That’s where I want to be, that that’s where I’m gonna stay.”

And for the 30-year-old, he is just happy to follow his dream and pursue his goals in the only true vocation he has found in life.

“This is all I know,” he admitted. “All I know is fighting. People go to school, people become police (officers), people become whatever they become. I became a martial artist, and here I am.”

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Bellator 236 video highlights

Check out highlights from the main card of Bellator 236 in Honolulu.

The second half of Bellator’s Hawaii doubleheader took place Saturday with Bellator 236, which went down at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, with a main card that streamed on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Hometown hero and women’s flyweight champion [autotag]Ilima-Lei Macfarlane[/autotag] had another magical moment in her career when, for the second consecutive year, she defended her title on her own soil with a unanimous decision win over [autotag]Kate Jackson[/autotag], who became the first in six fights to push “The Ilimanator” to the scorecards.

Also victorious on the main card were A.J. McKee, who advanced to the Bellator featherweight grand prix semifinals, [autotag]Jason Jackson[/autotag], [autotag]Juliana Velasquez[/autotag], [autotag]Raufeon Stots[/autotag], and [autotag]Zach Zane[/autotag].

You can watch highlights of the six bouts in the video above.

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Complete Bellator 236 results include:

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane def. Kate Jackson via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-44, 50-44)
A.J. McKee def. Derek Campos via submission (armbar) – Round 3, 1:08
Jason Jackson def. Kiichi Kunimoto via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Juliana Velasquez def. Bruna Ellen via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 20-26)
Raufeon Stots def. Cheyden Leiloha via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Zach Zane def. Nainoa Dung via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Swayne Lunasco def. Kaylan Gorospe via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 3:29
Ben Wilhelm def. Kealii Kanekoa via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:24
Dustin Barca def. Brandon Pieper via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 0:58
Kai Kamaka III def. Spencer Higa via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Keoni Diggs def. Scotty Hao via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:23

Bellator 236 post-event facts: A.J. McKee’s record-book takeover nearly complete

Check out all the facts and figures from Bellator 236, which took place Saturday in Honolulu.

Hometown hero and women’s flyweight champion [autotag]Ilima-Lei Macfarlane[/autotag] (11-0 MMA, 10-0 BMMA) had another magical moment in her career when, for the second consecutive year, she defended her title on her own soil with a unanimous decision win over [autotag]Kate Jackson[/autotag] (11-4-1 MMA, 3-2 BMMA), who became the first in six fights to push “The Ilimanator” to the scorecards.

For more on numbers to come out of main event, as well as the rest of the main card, check below for 30 post-event facts from Bellator 236.

* * * *

General

Betting favorites went 5-0 on the main card. One fight did not have odds available.

Betting favorites improved to 13-8 (with two no contests and one draw) in Bellator main events this year.

Total fight time for the six-bout main card was 1:36:08.

Main card

Macfarlane’s four consecutive Bellator title defenses are tied for most among current champions.

Macfarlane’s five victories in Bellator title fights are tied for third most in company history behind Patricio Freire (eight) and Michael Chandler (six).

Macfarlane’s 10-fight Bellator winning streak is the second longest active streak in the company behind A.J. McKee (16).

Macfarlane’s 10-fight Bellator winning streak is tied with Michael Page for the second longest streak in company history behind McKee (16).

Macfarlane’s 10-fight Bellator winning streak in flyweight competition is the longest active streak in the division.

Macfarlane’s 10-fight Bellator winning streak in the longest among female fighters in the organization.

Macfarlane’s 10 Bellator victories are most among female fighters in the organization.

Macfarlane’s 10 victories in Bellator flyweight competition are most in divisional history.

Jackson has suffered both of her Bellator losses by decision.

[autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag]’s (16-0 MMA, 16-0 BMMA) 16-fight Bellator winning streak is the longest active streak in the company.

McKee’s 16-fight Bellator winning streak is the longest streak in company history.

McKee’s 16-fight Bellator winning streak in featherweight competition is the longest active streak in the division.

McKee’s 16 victories in Bellator competition are tied with Chandler for second most in company history behind Freire (18).

McKee’s 16 victories in Bellator featherweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Freire (17).

McKee’s 11 stoppage victories in Bellator competition are tied with Freire and Chandler for most in company history.

McKee’s 11 stoppage victories in Bellator featherweight competition are most in divisional history.

McKee’s five submission victories in Bellator featherweight competition are most in divisional history.

[autotag]Derek Campos[/autotag] (20-10 MMA, 9-8 BMMA) fell to 1-4 in his past five fights dating back to February 2018.

Campos fell to 1-2 since he dropped to the featherweight division in December 2018.

Campos has suffered seven of his eight Bellator losses by stoppage.

[autotag]Kiichi Kunimoto[/autotag] (20-9-2 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) fell to 2-2 since his final UFC appearance in June 2017.

[autotag]Juliana Velasquez[/autotag]’s five-fight Bellator winning streak in flyweight competition is the second longest active streak in the division behind Macfarlane (10).

Velasquez’s five victories in Bellator flyweight competition are second most in divisor history behind Macfarlane (10).

[autotag]Bruna Ellen[/autotag] (5-3 MMA, 3-3 BMMA) has suffered all three of her career losses by decision.

[autotag]Cheyden Leialoha[/autotag] (7-2 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) has suffered both of his career losses by decision.

[autotag]Zach Zane[/autotag] (14-9 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) earned the first decision victory of his career.

[autotag]Nainoa Dung[/autotag] (3-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) has suffered consecutive losses after starting his career 3-0.

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Bellator 236: Zach Zane full post-fight interview

Bellator 236 results: Zach Zane survives late rally from Nainoa Dung, takes decision

Zach Zane’s grappling advantage and MMA experience was more than Nainoa Dung was prepared for at Bellator 236.

HONOLULU – [autotag]Zach Zane[/autotag]’s grappling advantage and MMA experience was more than [autotag]Nainoa Dung[/autotag] was prepared for on Saturday at Bellator 236, and it showed in the result.

Although Dung (3-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) nearly staged a final-round comeback, Zane’s (14-9 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) overwhelming success with takedowns in the first two rounds put him ahead on the scorecards for the unanimous decision win. The judges’ scores were 29-28 across the board.

The lightweight bout opened up the Bellator 236 main card at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu. The main card streamed on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

The difference in grappling ability was evident in the first round. Zane shot in for an early takedown and planted Dung on the mat for a long period. Dung managed to get up once, but was put on the mat, controlled and peppered with shots once again for the remainder of the round.

It was more of the same in Round 2. Zane needed less than a minute to find an opening for his first takedown, easily putting Dung on his back. Dung had no answers from bottom position, and Zane was able to posture up, land punches and advance position and out-scramble Dung on his get-up attempts. All he couldn’t do is finish the fight.

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With the fight clearly going against him, Dung came out desperate in Round 3, and it nearly got him the win. He stung Zane with some heavy body kicks and went all-in on a pair of guillotine choke attempts. Zane survived, though, and while he lost the round, his work in the first two rounds spelled the difference.

Up-to-the-minute Bellator 236 results include:

Zach Zane def. Nainoa Dung via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Swayne Lunasco def. Kaylan Gorospe via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 3:29
Ben Wilhelm def. Kealii Kanekoa via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:24
Dustin Barca def. Brandon Pieper via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 0:58
Kai Kamaka III def. Spencer Higa via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Keoni Diggs def. Scotty Hao via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:23

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Nainoa Dung proud to represent Hawaii on home soil at Bellator 236: ‘This is my life’

Nainoa Dung tells MMA Junkie he wants to prove he’s the best 155-pounder from Hawaii at Bellator 236.

HONOLULU – [autotag]Nainoa Dung[/autotag] says he is ready to topple Hawaii’s No. 1 lightweight and take the mantle as his own as he looks to kick off his Bellator career with a significant scalp in his promotional debut.

Dung (3-0, 0-0 BMMA) takes on fellow debutant – and fellow Hawaiian – [autotag]Zach Zane[/autotag] (13-9, 0-0 BMMA) at Bellator 236 in a bout that should determine the unofficial No. 1 155 pounder in Hawaii, and although he may be conceding an experience advantage to his opponent, Dung says his skillset, and his training at Hard Knocks 365, will stand him in good stead for the biggest fight of his career.

Dung is unbeaten, with two of his three fights producing finishes while Zane, who will be competing in his sixth fight in 2019, has swapped wins and losses through his last four outings, including a decision defeat on Dana White’s Contender Series back in June.

Check out the full media day interview with Dung in the video above.

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Bellator 236 predictions: Will anyone pick against Ilima-Lei Macfarlane in Hawaii?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the Bellator 236 main card in Honolulu.

	Macfarlane vs. Jackson	Campos vs. McKee	Jackson vs. Kunimoto	Ellen vs. Velasquez	Leailoha vs. Stots	Dung vs. Zane
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2019: 210-125 (63%)	Macfarlane (xx%)	McKee (xx%)	Kunimoto (xx%)	Velasquez (xx%)	Stots (xx%)	Dung (xx%)
Simon Head @simonhead 2019: 127-66 (66%)	Macfarlane	McKee	Jackson	Velasquez	Stots	Dung
Nolan King @mma_kings 2019: 121-67 (64%)	Macfarlane	McKee	Jackson	Velasquez	Stots	Dung
Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2019: 215-120 (64%)	Macfarlane	McKee	Jackson	Velasquez	Stots	Dung
Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2019: 214-121 (64%)	Macfarlane	McKee	Jackson	Velasquez	Stots	Dung
Brian Garcia @thegoze 2019: 214-121 (64%) 2017 Champion	Macfarlane	McKee	Jackson	Velasquez	Stots	Dung
John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2019: 212-123 (63%)	Macfarlane	McKee	Jackson	Velasquez	Stots	Dung
Simon Samano @SJSamano 2019: 210-125 (63%)	Macfarlane	McKee	Kunimoto	Velasquez	Stots	Dung
Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2019: 207-128 (62%) 2014 Champion	Macfarlane	McKee	Jackson	Velasquez	Stots	Dung
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2019: 206-129 (61%)	Macfarlane	McKee	Jackson	Velasquez	Stots	Dung
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2019: 110-72 (60%)	Macfarlane	McKee	Jackson	Velasquez	Stots	Dung
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2019: 201-134 (60%)	Macfarlane	McKee	Kunimoto	Velasquez	Stots	Dung
Dave Doyle @davedoylemma 2019: 137-106 (56%)	Macfarlane	McKee	Kunimoto	Velasquez	Stots	Dung
Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2019: 175-160 (52%)	Macfarlane	McKee	Jackson	Velasquez	Stots	Dung

Bellator is back in Hawaii for a doubleheader weekend for the second straight December.

Bellator 236 takes place Saturday at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu. The main card streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie. Friday, the same venue hosts Bellator 235 (“Bellator and USO Present: Salute the Troops 2019”), an event exclusively for military members stationed in Honolulu.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

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In the main event, women’s flyweight champion [autotag]Ilima-Lei Macfarlane[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 9-0 BMMA), a native of Hawaii who grew up in Honolulu, puts her title on the line against British challenger [autotag]Kate Jackson[/autotag] (11-3-1 MMA, 3-1 BMMA). Macfarlane is a heavy favorite at the sports books with odds for her as high as 7-1. Not surprisingly, our 13 MMA Junkie editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers are taking the champ unanimously.

The co-main event is another unanimous pick from our staff members – one of five 13-0 blowouts on the main card. [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] (15-0 MMA, 15-0 BMMA) is as much as an 8-1 favorite in his fight against [autotag]Derek Campos[/autotag] (20-9 MMA, 9-7 BMMA), which is a quarterfinal matchup in Bellator’s ongoing featherweight tournament.

[autotag]Juliana Velasquez[/autotag] (9-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) will try to stay unbeaten when she takes on [autotag]Bruna Ellen[/autotag] (5-2 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) in a women’s flyweight bout. Velasquez is more than a 4-1 favorite and one of our five unanimous picks.

[autotag]Raufeon Stots[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) recently got a long-awaited call from a big-time promotion when Bellator brought him on board. Stots, who trains at Roufusport in Milwaukee, is a 7-1 favorite against local fighter [autotag]Cheyden Leialoha[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), and he’s a 13-0 pick from our staff members.

The other unanimous pick goes to [autotag]Nainoa Dung[/autotag] (3-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA), who opens the main card against [autotag]Zach Zane[/autotag] (13-9 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) in a lightweight fight. Dung, from Hawaii, made his Bellator debut a year ago in Honolulu and will try to repeat his success Saturday.

Our only contentious fight on the main card is between [autotag]Jason Jackson[/autotag] (10-4 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Kiichi Kunimoto[/autotag] (20-8-2 MMA, 0-1 BMMA). Jackson stepped up on short notice when Neiman Gracie fell off the card earlier this week with an injury. He’s more than a 2-1 favorite, and even though it’s not unanimous, Jackson still has a massive 11-2 lead in the picks.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Macfarlane (95%), McKee (88 percent), Jackson (60 percent), Velasquez (81 percent), Stots (70 percent) and Dung (57 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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Bellator 236: Make your predictions for Ilima-Lei Macfarlane vs. Kate Jackson

We want your predictions for Bellator 236 in Hawaii.

We want your predictions for this week’s Bellator 236 “Salute the Troops 2019” event in Hawaii.

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 Wednesday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the Bellator 236 event staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. Bellator 236 takes place Saturday at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu. The main card streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Make your picks for all six main card fights inside.

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