Rafael Silva Out; Eduardo Dantas vs Anthony Leone for Bantamweight Title Headlines Bellator 111

Eduardo Dantas

• 15-3 MMA / 5-0 Bellator Record
• Won 8 of Last 9 Fights
• Notable Wins: Wilson Reis, Marcos Galvao, Zach Makovsky

Anthony Leone

• 13-6 MMA / 3-3 Bellator Record
• Won 4 of Last 5 Fights
• Notable Wins: Claudio Ledesma, Zack Makovsky, Frank Baca

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Bellator 111

March 7th, 2014

Thackerville, Oklahoma

Winstar World Casino

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Bantamweight champion, Eduardo Dantas defended his title for the first time at Bellator 89, knocking out friend and Nova Uniao teammate, Marcos Galvao in the second round. He’s now 5-0 under the Bellator banner, but suffered a upset knockout loss to Tyson Nam at a Shooto: Brazil event in August of 2012.

With an injury to Rafael Silva, Anthony Leone gets the opportunity of a lifetime, a shot at a Bellator world title. He made the finals of last year’s summer series with a third round submission of former KOTC champion, Frank Baca at Bellator 97. Leone met Silva in the final, but lost a unanimous decision.

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Goiti Yamauchi vs Will Martinez, Daniel Weichel vs Scott Cleve Named Other 145-Pound Tourney Quarterfinal Match-Ups

Goiti Yamauchi

• 16-1 MMA / 2-0 Bellator Record
• 11 Fight Win Streak
• Notable Wins: Diego Marlon, Saul Almeida

Will Martinez

• 8-2-1 MMA / 4-0 Bellator Record
• 7 Fight Win Streak
• Notable Wins: Kevin Roddy

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Daniel Weichel

• 31-8 MMA / Bellator Debut
• 3 Fight Win Streak
• Notable Wins: Dennis Siver, Magomed Khasbulaev, Beau Baker

Scott Cleve

• 14-3 MMA / 1-0 Bellator Record
• 6 Fight Win Streak
• Notable Wins: Abel Trujillo, Derek Campos, Isaac DeJesus

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Bellator 110

February 28th, 2014

Uncasville, Connecticut

Mohegan Sun Arena

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Blue chip Brazilian prospect, Goiti Yamauchi makes his first appearance in a Bellator tournament on the strength of an eleven-fight win streak, including two victories with Bellator. Last time out, Yamauchi knocked out Saul Almeida in the first round at Bellator 109.

Will Martinez, earned a spot in this season’s featherweight tournament with a first round submission victory over Kevin Roddy last November. He’s a perfect 4-0 with Bellator, with all four fights won by stoppages (1 KO/TKO, 3 Submissions).

Twelve-year mixed martial arts veteran, Daniel Weichel will make his Bellator debut in the quarterfinals of season nine’s tourney, riding a current three-fight win streak. He’s won seven of his last eight fights, dating back to August of 2010, including wins over Bellator veterans Beau Baker and Magomedrasul Khasbulaev.

Scott Cleve impressed Bellator higher-ups enough with a second round TKO victory over Isaac DeJesus to earn the final spot in this year’s 145-pound tournament. He’s currently on a five-fight win streak, including key wins over Chris Manuel and Ryan Schultz.

Diego Nunes vs Matt Bessette, Mike Richman vs Desmond Green Featherweight Tourney Fights Added to Bellator 110

Diego Nunes

• 18-5 MMA / 0-1 Bellator Record
• 2 Fight Losing Streak
• Notable Wins: Mike Brown, Bart Palaszewski, Manny Gamburyan

Matt Bessette

• 12-4 MMA / 3-0 Bellator Record
• 4 Fight Win Streak
• Notable Wins: John Benoit, Saul Almeida, Nick Peidmont

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Mike Richman

• 16-3 MMA / 5-2 Bellator Record
• Won 3 of Last 4 Fights
• Notable Wins: Chris Horodecki. Akop Stepanyan, Alexandre Bezerra

Desmond Green

• 9-2 MMA / 1-1 Bellator Record
• Won 3 of Last 4 Fights
• Notable Wins: Rob Font, Henry Martinez

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Bellator 110

February 28th, 2014

Uncasville, Connecticut

Mohegan Sun Arena

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UFC veteran, Diego Nunes makes his second appearance in a Bellator tournament, following a quarterfinal exit in season nine after a first round knockout loss to eventual tourney winner, Patricio Freire. He’s lost three out his last four fights, including a unanimous decision loss to Nik Lentz in January of last year to prompt his release from the UFC.

Matt Bessette enters his first tournament on the heels of a current four-fight win streak, including two victories under the Bellator banner. Most recently, he defeated Nick Piedmont via first round knockout at Bellator 98.

Mike Richman fell just short on a bid for a world title, falling to Magomedrasul Khasbulaev by unanimous decision in season eight’s featherweight tournament final last April. He returned to the win column in November with a first round TKO victory over Akop Stepanyan at Bellator 106.

Desmond Green earned his first victory in Bellator last October, stopping Angelo Sanchez in the second round via TKO.He made his debut in season nine’s 145-pound tournament, but was eliminated in the quarterfinal by Fabricio Guerreiro.

Douglas Lima vs Rick Hawn Meet for Vacant Welterweight Title at Bellator 117

Douglas Lima

• 25-5 MMA / 7-1 Bellator Record
• 4 Fight Win Streak
• Notable Wins: Michail Tsarev, Bryan Baker, Ben Saunders (x2)

Rick Hawn

• 18-2 MMA / 10-2 Bellator Record
• 4 Fight Win Streak
• Notable Wins: Ron Keslar, Lyman Good, Brent Weedman (x2)

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Bellator 117

April 18, 2014

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Mid-America Center

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Douglas Lima improved his Bellator tournament record to 6-0, after stopping Ben Saunders with a head kick knockout last September for his second tournament win. He rolled through the season eight tourney with three straight knockout wins over Michail Tsarev, Brian Baker, and Saunders. Lima’s only loss since June of 2009, was a hard fought decision defeat to then-champ, Ben Askren at Bellator 64.

Rick Hawn was crowned the season nine welterweight tournament winner at Bellator 109, with third round knockout victory over Ron Keslar. It was his fourth-straight win since falling short on his bid to win the lightweight title against Michael Chandler last January, including tournament wins over Herman Terrado and Brent Weedman.

Andrey Koreshkov vs Jesse Juarez, Mark Scanlon vs Adam McDonough Welterweight Tourney Fights Set for Bellator 116

Andrey Koreshkov

• 13-1 MMA / 5-1 Bellator Record
• Won 13 0f Last 14 Fights
• Notable Wins: Marius Zaromskis, Jordan Smith, Lyman Good

Jesse Juarez

• 21-8 MMA / 5-0 Bellator Record
• 4 Fight Win Streak
• Notable Wins: Manuel Rodriguez, Robert Whittaker, Joe Williams

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Mark Scanlon

• 9-2 MMA / Bellator Debut
• Won 2 of Last 3 Fights
• Notable Wins:

Adam McDonough

• 9-0 MMA / 1-0 Bellator Record
• 9 Fight Win Streak
• Notable Wins:

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Bellator 116

April 11th, 2014

Temecula, California

Pechanga Resort & Casino

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Andrey Koreshkov suffered his first professional loss at Bellator 97, suffering a one-sided decision loss to Ben Askren in his attempt to claim the welterweight world title. He was previously undefeated at 13-0, including his season seven tournament run, defeating Jordan Smith, Mariusz Zaromskis, and Lyman Good.

Jesse Juarez makes his first appearance in a Bellator tournament on the heels of a current four-fight win streak, including a 57-second submission victory over Joe Williams in his last appearance at Bellator 106. Juarez is undefeated under the Bellator banner, going a perfect 5-0 with the promotion.

UK lightweight, Mark Scanlon will move up a weight class for a chance at a world title in Bellator’s season ten tournament. Scanlon made one appearance in the UFC, dropping a unanimous decision to Pascal Krauss in November of 2010. Since his release, he’s gone 2-1, most recently defeating Alex Junius by first round submission at a PEC event in Brazil.

Adam McDonough made his Bellator debut after a two-year layoff from the sport, defeating Johnny Buck by first round knockout. The win moved his record to a perfect 9-0 record, including eight victories by stoppages (5 KO/TKO, 3 submissions).

Quinton Jackson vs Christian M’Pumbu, Muhammed Lawal vs Mikhail Zayats 205-Pound Tournament Booked for Bellator 110

Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson

• 33-11 MMA / 1-0 Bellator Record
• Lost 3 of Last 4 Fights
• Notable Wins: Chuck Liddell (x2), Dan Henderson, Wanderlei Silva

Christian M’Pumbu

• 18-5-1 MMA / 3-2 Bellator Record
• 2 Fight Losing Streak
• Notable Wins: Marcus Vanttinen, Tim Carpenter, Richard Hale

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Muhammed ‘King Mo’ Lawal

 

• 11-3 MMA / 3-2 Bellator Record
• Won 2 of Last 3 Fights
• Notable Wins: Jacob Noe, Gegard Mousasi, Roger Gracie

Mikhail Zayats

• 21-7-0 MMA / 2-1 Bellator Record
• Won 7 of Last 8 Fights
• Notable Wins: Lucio Linhares, Renato ‘Babalu’ Sobral, Jacob Noe

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Bellator 110

February 28th, 2014

Uncasville, Connecticut

Mohegan Sun Arena

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Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson returned to the win column for the first time since May of 2011 at Bellator 108, stopping fellow UFC veteran, Joey Beltran in the first round by knockout. The win snapped a three-fight losing streak, which helped the decision for the UFC and Jackson to part ways.

Former Bellator light heavyweight title holder, Christian M’Pumbu returns to action for the first time since losing his belt to Attila Vegh at Bellator 91. He previously lost a non-title affair to Travis Wiuff, getting dominated in the wrestling department en route to a unanimous decision loss.

Muhammed ‘King Mo’ Lawal fell short on his bid to become Bellator’s interim light heavyweight champion, following a unanimous decision loss to Emanuel Newton in November of last year. It was the second time in 2013, that Lawal lost to Newton, also losing via first round knockout in the semifinals of the season eight tournament.

Mikhail Zayats was eliminated in season eight’s 205-pound tournament finale after ending up on the losing side of a unanimous decision to Emanuel Newton at Bellator 94. He returned to action last October, defeating UFC-veteran Aaron Rosa in just 47-seconds by submission.

 

 

Vitaly Minakov vs Cheick Kongo for Heavyweight Title Headlines Bellator 115

Vitaly Minakov

• 13-0 MMA / 4-0 Bellator Record
• 13 Fight Win Streak
• Notable Wins: Eddie Sanchez, Alexander Volkov, Ryan Martinez

Cheick Kongo

• 20-8-2 MMA / 2-0 Bellator Record
• 2 Fight Win Streak
• Notable Wins: Mirko Filipovic, Matt Mitrione, Pat Barry

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Bellator 115

April 4th, 2014

Reno, Nevada

Reno Event Center

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Vitaly Minakov became Bellator’s third heavyweight champion in promotional history, knocking out Alexander Volkov in the first round at Bellator 108. He’s a perfect 14-0 in his career, including his 2013 Summer Series tournament run with wins over Ron Sparks and Ryan Martinez. 

Former UFC heavyweight, Cheick Kongo earned a shot at a Bellator world title after winning season nine’s four-man tournament, with victories over Mark Godbeer and Peter Graham. The UFC and Cheick Kongo parted ways in April of last year despite Kongo’s respectable record of 11-5-1 within the promotion.