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Bellator 219 pre-event facts: David Rickels adds to record for most fights

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The seventh Bellator event of the year takes place Friday with Bellator 219 at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Two veterans of the organization’s lightweight division headline the card. Saad Awad (23-10 MMA, 11-7 BMMA) and Brandon Girtz (15-8 MMA, 7-6 BMMA) will face off as they look to rebound from losses in their previous outings and get back into the 155-pound title picture.

For more on the numbers behind the card, check below for 25 pre-event facts about Bellator 219.

* * * *

Main event

Awad, 35, is the oldest of the eight scheduled main card fighters.

Awad competes in his 16th Bellator lightweight bout, the third most appearances in divisional history behind Patricky Freire (21) and Michael Chandler (18).

Awad is 4-5 in his past nine Bellator appearances dating back to August 2015.

Awad’s eight victories in Bellator lightweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Patricky Freire (14) and Chandler (14).

Awad has earned 18 of his 23 career victories by stoppage.

Girtz competes in his fourth Bellator headliner. He’s 1-2 in previous main events.

Girtz is 1-4 in his past five Bellator appearances dating back to November 2016.

Girtz’s five stoppage victories in Bellator lightweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Patricky Freire (nine) and Chandler (nine).

Co-main event

Daniel Straus

Daniel Straus (24-8 MMA, 11-5 BMMA) returns to competition for the first time since Oct. 6, 2017. The 539-day layoff is the longest of his more than 10-year career.

Straus competes in his 16th Bellator featherweight bout, the second most appearances in divisional history behind Patricio Freire (19).

Straus’ two-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since November 2015.

Straus’ 10 victories in Bellator featherweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Patricio Freire (16) and A.J. McKee (13).

Straus is one of six fighters in Bellator history to become a two time champion in a single weight class.

Shane Kruchten (12-4 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) has alternated win and losses over his past four fights. He lost his most recent bout at Bellator 192 in January 2018.

Remaining main card

Andrey Koreshkov (21-3 MMA, 12-3 BMMA), 28, is the youngest of the eight scheduled main card fighters.

Koreshkov competes in his 16th Bellator welterweight bout, the most appearances in divisional history.

Koreshkov’s 12 victories in Bellator welterweight competition are most in divisional history.

Koreshkov’s seven stoppage victories in Bellator welterweight competition are tied with Michael Page for second most in divisional history behind Douglas Lima (eight).

Koreshkov’s seven knockout victories in Bellator welterweight competition are tied with Lima for most in divisional history.

Joe Schilling (3-5 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) was successful in his return to MMA competition after more than three years at Bellator 210 in November.

Keith Berry (15-14-1 MMA, 2-3-1 BMMA) enters the event on a six-fight winless skid. He hasn’t earned a victory since June 2013.

Preliminary card

David Rickels (20-5 MMA, 14-5 BMMA) competes in his 22nd Bellator bout, the most appearances in company history (two appearances have resulted in no-contests).

Rickels’ 14 victories in Bellator competition are third most in company history behind Patricio Freire (16) and Chandler (16).

Rickels is 4-1 in Bellator welterweight competition. He’s 2-1 since he returned to the weight class in January 2017.

A.J. Matthews (9-8 MMA, 5-6 BMMA) is 1-5 in his past six fights. He has just one victory since August 2015.

Matthews is 5-5 in his career when fighting at welterweight.

For more on Bellator 219, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.


Bellator 219 results: Brandon Girtz slugs way past gutsy Saad Awad in wild clash

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Fighting for the first time in 11 months, Brandon Girtz (16-8 MMA, 8-6 BMMA) picked up a thrilling decision win over a durable Saad Awad (23-11 MMA, 11-8 BMMA).

The contest served as the main event of Friday’s Bellator 219, which took place at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. The main card aired on Paramount and streamed on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

The fight was wild from the start, with Girtz coming out at full speed and dropping Awad in the opening seconds with a huge right hand that saw his legs fold as he fell. But Awad wasn’t willing to go away that easy, crawling back to his feet and looking to brawl. The action was hectic to open, the pair eventually settled into a more manageable rhythm. Once at a reasonable pace, a patient Awad started finding success of his own, though Girtz was always looking to answer with a homerun shot of his own.

Awad took the center to open the second and tried to strike from range. Girstz landed a big left hand that sent Awad briefly to the floor, but he popped immediately back to his feet and resumed his disciplined attack. Girtz continued to have success in spots, with his power evident with every blow. However, Awad responded with combinations, shrugging off the big shots and returning fire at every turn.

Girtz looked for a takedown early in the third, but Awad pushed it aside with relative ease. Awad remained the busier fighter in terms of movement, but it was clear the torrid pace was beginning to wear on both men. Awad pressed forward, presumably for a takedown, but he was clipped by a big right hand as he changed levels. Stunned, Awad tried to grab the leg and cover, while Girtz fired away with strikes. With referee Jason Herzog watching closely, Awad was able to duck and turn and escape to his feet, though he was clearly shaky. Still, both men continued their brawl.

Awad took a deep breath with a little less than a minute, and the two just teed off until the final bell, bringing an end to an action-packed affair. With judges tasked to pick a winner, they leaned toward Girtz, 29-28, 30-27 and 29-28.

Next page: Shane Kruchten vs. Daniel Straus

Bellator 219 post-event facts: David Rickels first non-champ to hit 15 Bellator wins

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The latest Bellator event took place on Friday with Bellator 219, which went down at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. The event aired on Paramount and streamed on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

In the main event, Brandon Girtz (16-8 MMA, 8-6 BMMA) beat Saad Awad (23-11 MMA, 11-8 BMMA) by unanimous decision in a “Fight of the Month” contender which featured plenty of brawling, back-and-forth action.

The card also featured a number of other notable winners, and for more on the numbers, check below for 20 post-event facts from Bellator 219.

* * * *

General

Betting favorites went 3-1 on the main card.

Betting favorites fell to 4-1 (with one no-contest) in Bellator main events this year.

Total fight time for the four-bout main card was 48:53.

Main card

Girtz improved to 2-2 in Bellator main events.

Awad fell to 4-6 in his past 10 Bellator appearances dating back to August 2015.

Daniel Straus (25-8 MMA, 12-5 BMMA) successfully returned to competition from a 15-month layoff and earned his first victory since November 2015.

Straus was successful in his Bellator lightweight debut.

Shane Kruchten (12-5 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) has suffered all five of his career losses by stoppage.

Andrey Koreshkov’s (22-3 MMA, 13-3 BMMA) 13 victories in Bellator welterweight competition are most in divisional history.

Mike Jasper (13-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) has suffered four of his five career losses by decision.

Joe Schilling (4-5 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) earned consecutive victories for the first time in his MMA career.

Schilling earned the first decision victory of his career.

Keith Berry (15-15-1 MMA, 2-4-1 BMMA) extended his winless skid to seven fights. He hasn’t earned a victory since June 2013.

Preliminary card

David Rickels (21-5 MMA, 15-5 BMMA) improved to 5-1 in Bellator welterweight competition. He’s 3-1 since he returned to the weight class in January 2017.

Rickels’ 15 victories in Bellator competition are third most in company history behind Patricio Freire (16) and Michael Chandler (16).

Rickels has earned nine of his 15 Bellator victories by stoppage.

A.J. Matthews (9-9 MMA, 5-7 BMMA) fell to 1-6 in his past seven fights. He has just one victory since August 2015.

Matthews fell to 5-6 in his career when fighting at welterweight.

Matthews has suffered all of his career stoppage losses by knockout

Shawn Bunch (9-3 MMA, 6-2 BMMA) improved to 2-0 since he returned to Bellator for a second stint in November.

Bunch has earned six of his nine career victories by decision.

Dominic Mazzotta (14-3 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) suffered the first decision loss of his career.

For complete coverage of Bellator 219, check out the MMA Events section of the site.

Bellator 219 winner David Rickels explains issues with 'damn $10 mouthpiece' he got at Walmart

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TEMECULA, Calif. – Bellator 219’s TKO over A.J. Matthews on Friday wasn’t David Rickels’ first win since what he called an “embarrassing” loss to Michael Page last May.

It was, however, just the type of win that he needed.

“(The Page fight) was a moment, where my heart was tested in the cage,” Rickels told reporters, including MMA Junkie. “And, when you have a moment like that, you want to have a comeback from that, you know what I mean? Like, I’ve still got this (expletive) heart. I’m still competitive in this game.”

Rickels showed that by being hurt early, recovering, listening to his coaches and managing to score a win of his own after a punch rendered A.J. Matthews unable to continue. It wasn’t the exact ending that Rickels wanted, as it took a doctor’s call to end it, but it was still a finish  – Rickels’ first one in more than two years.

Rickels (21-5 MMA, 15-5 BMMA) and Matthews (9-9 MMA, 5-7 BMMA)  met in the preliminary card of Friday’s Bellator 219. The welterweight bout streamed live on MMA Junkie from Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif.

It was a win that also came with some extra flair, too. Known for his inventive walk-outs, Rickels channeled “Stone Cold” Steve Austin this time, complete with a “Stone Cold Stunner” at the end. The routine, Rickels said, was for his kids, who were watching at home.

An overall shining night, however, did have its less positive moments.

Throughout the initial minutes of the welterweight fight, Rickels kept losing his mouthpiece and the ref kept halting the action for him to put it back in. At one point, the ref even let the action continue for a bit before letting Rickels put it back in and issuing him a warning.

Backstage, Rickels explained why he was having issued with this particular  piece of equipment.

“I was straight-up embarrassed by it, because I had to go to (expletive) Walmart last minute and buy a new mouthpiece,” Rickels said. “I bought some damn $10 mouthpiece at Walmart, so if there’s a mouthpiece sponsor out there, send me a goddamn mouthpiece that says ‘Caveman’ on it. Long story (short), my car got broken into and they stole my caveman mouthpiece.”

Considering Rickels pulled a comeback as these repeated mouthguard incidents were happening, it’s expected that some would question whether Rickels did it on purpose. But “The Caveman” believes that, if anyone was helped by the situation, it wasn’t him.

“(Expletive), I don’t know, man,” Rickels said. “If anything, it was helping him toward the end, because I had him hurt pretty bad. And then that (expletive) just kept jumping out, you know what I mean? I had him hurt and then I was trying to finish and it was jumping out.

“Thankfully the ref was allowing me to still fight with the mouthpiece out, because I did have him hurt. It was a really weird situation, but got the finish regardless. I was really wanting to (expletive) go toe-to-toe toward the end, but his (expletive) is pretty swollen, so.”

Even the finish had to come with a little bit of, let’s say, added emotion. After a succession of punches, Matthews got a time out for what he claimed had been an eye poke and, though replays would eventually show it was actually a punch that rendered him unable to continue, Rickels was worried about it for a few seconds.

“I was worried that he was going to get like an eye poke win, you know what I mean?” Rickels said. “I was like, ‘(expletive) punched that mother(expletive). I was hoping that they’d check out the replay and they’d clear me. Obviously, everything played out the way it should have.”

Hurdles aside, it was ultimately a good night for Rickels. And he got to share it with some pretty special people.

“I used to never let my kids watch my fights and I’m like, ‘Man, (expletive) that, they need to see what heart looks like,’” Rickels said. “And, hey, I got to show them today.”

To hear from Rickels, check out the video above.

And for complete coverage of Bellator 219, check out the MMA Events section of the site.

David Rickels returns against Yaroslav Amosov at Bellator 225

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A 170-pound matchup has been added to an already deep Bellator 225 card.

Longtime Bellator staple David Rickels (21-5 MMA, 15-5 BMMA) will return to action to take on surging Ukrainian welterweight Yaroslav Amosov (21-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) on the evening’s main card, MMA Junkie has learned.

Bellator 225 will take place Aug. 24 at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. The main card will air on Paramount Network after prelims stream live on MMA Junkie.

Earlier this year, Rickels picked up his 15th career Bellator victory. In doing so, “The Caveman” became the first non-champion to hit that milestone. The 30-year-old welterweight has competed for the promotion since April 2011.

Over the span of the past nine years, Rickels has faced some of Bellator’s finest. In his last six outings, Rickels has gone 5-1, one of his best streaks since he joined the promotion.

In his most recent bout at Bellator 219, Rickels defeated A.J. Matthews via TKO due to an eye injury.

Like Rickels, Amosov has won back-to-back outings in Bellator. The undefeated 25-year-old fighter debuted at Bellator 202 when he defeated UFC veteran Gerald Harris via three-round unanimous decision.

In his last outing at Bellator 217, Amosov defeated another UFC veteran, Erick Silva.

The current Bellator 225 includes:

  • Matt Mitrione vs. Sergei Kharitonov
  • Vitaly Minakov vs. Javy Ayala
  • Timothy Johnson vs. Valentin Moldavsky
  • David Rickels vs. Yaroslav Amosov
  • Tyrell Fortune vs. Rudy Schaffroth
  • Kastriot Xhema vs. Rodolfo Rocha
  • Alejandra Lara vs. Taylor Turner
  • Austin Vanderford vs. Douglas Usher
  • Sabah Homasi vs. Micah Terrill

Bellator 225: Make your predictions for Matt Mitrione vs. Sergei Kharitonov

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We want your predictions for Saturday’s Bellator 225 event in Bridgeport, Conn.

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

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the Bellator 225 event staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. Bellator 225 takes place Saturday at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Make your picks for all five main-card fights inside:

Twenty-one fights into Bellator tenure, David Rickels is still learning

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Twenty-one fights into his Bellator tenure, David Rickels is still learning.

Even though the welterweight holds the record for most bouts in Bellator history, he feels wiser after every fight. His debut in the promotion was all the way back in Oct. 2011. Multiple title fights, numerous finish victories, and a handful of tough losses later, “The Caveman” is still here.

On Aug. 24 at Bellator 225, Rickels (21-5 MMA, 15-5 BMMA) will extend his record when he takes on Yaroslav Amosov.

Riding a two-fight win streak and four of his last five, Rickels is looking to continue his success. The secret to picking up victories after all this time? Over the years, he’s learned to listen to his body.

“I’ve definitely had times in my career where I think, ‘I should take more time off.’ But (expletive), that itch will sometimes mislead you a little bit as well,” Rickels told MMA Junkie. “It’s just listening to your body. Knowing the best time (to return). I’m healthy right now. I feel really good. I’m motivated and yeah, the itch is there.”

Even for a seasoned veteran like Rickels, it’s unusual for a fighter to face an opponent with more than 20 victories and no losses. Since Amosov’s Bellator debut against Gerald Harris in July 2018, Rickels has had his eyes on the Ukranian. That Amosov (21-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) still has a goose-egg in the loss column, delights Rickels.

“I watched him fight Gerald Harris and I didn’t know who he was,” Rickels said. “I had never really heard of him. So, I was like, ‘Damn, that kid is pretty good. What weight class is he in?’

“… I just remember watching him and thinking, ‘I’m going to fight this kid.’ I’m really excited he still hasn’t been defeated yet. I’d really like to be that first person to knock him off the list.”

Even though Rickels has fought a who’s who of the Bellator roster, there are still prospective fights which interested him. While he wants to face Neiman Gracie and Benson Henderson before all is said and done, one Brazilian striker interests him in particular.

“I think Erick Silva is one of them,” Rickels said, of his dream fight. “I’ve wanted to fight Benson Henderson for a really long time. Of course, we’d have to agree on a weight. He’s kind of come back between 155 and 170. Neiman Gracie. There’s a lot of fights I’d like. But I think Erick Silva and I matchup really well for a banger.”

When he analyzes Amasov’s game from a stylistic standpoint, Rickels believes the matchup is favorable. Historically speaking, Rickels said he’s always succeeded when facing fighters who want to drag him to the ground and hold him there.

“I feel like I pair up really well with grinders and grapplers,” Rickels said. “I know he’s got decent striking, but also I feel like I’m favorable in the striking. He’s favorable in the grappling. We’re both going to push for those areas and I think this will be exciting.”

The card takes place at the Webster Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. and airs on Paramount Network. The prelims will stream on MMA Junkie.

Bellator 225 video: David Rickels media day interview

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STAMFORD, Conn. — Few fighters in any company are as entertaining as David Rickels. And few people have been around Bellator longer, and thus the “Caveman” has tales to tell.

Rickels returns to action on the main card of Bellator 225, where he has quite a challenge in front of him. Rickels (21-5 MMA, 15-5 BMMA) takes on undefeated Yaroslav Amosovin a welterweight matchup.

Bellator 225 takes place Saturday at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Check out what Rickels had to say about Amosov (21-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) and more in the video above.


Bellator 225 predictions: Is anyone picking Sergei Kharitonov over Matt Mitrione in rematch?

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Mitrione
vs.
Kharitonov
Ayala
vs.
Minakov
Fortune
vs.
Schaffroth
Amosov
vs.
Rickels
Lara
vs.
Turner
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2019: 141-72 (66%)
mitrione2019
Mitrione
(51%)
minakov2019
Minakov
(89%)
fortune2019
Fortune
(83%)
amosov2019
Amosov
(65%)
lara2019
Lara
(79%)
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2019: 50-16 (76%)
mitrione2019
Mitrione
minakov2019
Minakov
fortune2019
Fortune
amosov2019
Amosov
lara2019
Lara
Simon Head
@simonhead
2019: 52-19 (73%)
mitrione2019
Mitrione
minakov2019
Minakov
fortune2019
Fortune
amosov2019
Amosov
lara2019
Lara
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2019: 146-67 (69%)
kharitonov2019
Kharitonov
minakov2019
Minakov
fortune2019
Fortune
amosov2019
Amosov
lara2019
Lara
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2019: 144-69 (68%)
kharitonov2019
Kharitonov
minakov2019
Minakov
fortune2019
Fortune
amosov2019
Amosov
lara2019
Lara
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2019: 40-20 (67%)
mitrione2019
Mitrione
minakov2019
Minakov
fortune2019
Fortune
amosov2019
Amosov
lara2019
Lara
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2019: 141-72 (66%)
mitrione2019
Mitrione
minakov2019
Minakov
fortune2019
Fortune
amosov2019
Amosov
lara2019
Lara
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2019: 138-76 (65%)
trophy copy 2018 Champion
mitrione2019
Mitrione
minakov2019
Minakov
fortune2019
Fortune
amosov2019
Amosov
lara2019
Lara
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2019: 138-75 (65%)
trophy copy 2014 Champion
mitrione2019
Mitrione
minakov2019
Minakov
fortune2019
Fortune
amosov2019
Amosov
lara2019
Lara
Steven Marrocco
@MMAjunkieSteven
2019: 137-76 (64%)
kharitonov2019
Kharitonov
minakov2019
Minakov
schaffroth2019
Schaffroth
amosov2019
Amosov
lara2019
Lara
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2019: 137-76 (64%)
trophy copy 2017 Champion
mitrione2019
Mitrione
minakov2019
Minakov
fortune2019
Fortune
amosov2019
Amosov
lara2019
Lara
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2019: 130-83 (61%)
mitrione2019
Mitrione
minakov2019
Minakov
fortune2019
Fortune
amosov2019
Amosov
lara2019
Lara
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2019: 128-85 (60%)
mitrione2019
Mitrione
minakov2019
Minakov
fortune2019
Fortune
amosov2019
Amosov
lara2019
Lara
Dave Doyle
@davedoylemma
2019: 69-52 (57%)
kharitonov2019
Kharitonov
minakov2019
Minakov
fortune2019
Fortune
amosov2019
Amosov
lara2019
Lara
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2019: 120-93 (56%)
mitrione2019
Mitrione
ayala2019
Ayala
fortune2019
Fortune
rickels2019
Rickels
turner2019
Turner

Bellator returns to Connecticut this week, but instead of its usual Mohegan Sun Arena venue, the promotion is touching down in a new city.

Bellator 225 takes place Saturday at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

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

In the main event, heavyweight Matt Mitrione (13-6 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) takes on Sergei Kharitonov (29-7 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) in a rematch from earlier this year. Their first fight ended in a quick no contest when Kharitonov couldn’t continue after an accidental kick to the groin. Mitrione is a slight favorite in the fight, but he has a heavy advantage in the picks from our 14 MMA Junkie editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, who are picking him at a 10-4 clip.

In the heavyweight co-feature, Javy Ayala (11-7 MMA, 6-4 BMMA) takes on former Bellator heavyweight champion Vitaly Minakov (21-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA). Minakov is a massive favorite from our staff members. Only one picker is taking Ayala to upset the ex-champ.

That 13-1 rate carries over to the rest of the main card. Former women’s flyweight title challenger Alejandra Lara (7-3 MMA, 1-2 BMMA) has a 13-1 blowout lead in the picks against Taylor Turner (4-5 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) in their fight at bantamweight.

Only one picker is going against Tyrell Fortune (6-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) in his heavyweight fight against fellow unbeaten Rudy Schaffroth (6-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA).

And to open the main card, the unbeaten Yaroslav Amosov (21-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) has a huge 13-1 edge in his 175-pound catchweight bout against longtime Bellator fighter David Rickels (21-5 MMA, 15-5 BMMA).

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Mitrione (51%), Minakov (89 percent), Fortune (83 percent), Amosov (65 percent) and Lara (79 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

Bellator 225 pre-event facts: David Rickels first to 23 Bellator bouts

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(Editor’s note: This story originally published on Aug. 21.)

Bellator returns from a more than month-long hiatus on Saturday with Bellator 225, which takes place at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn., with a main card that airs on Paramount following prelims on MMA Junkie.

A heavyweight rematch is featured in the main event. After their February fight ended in a no-contest due to an accidental low blow, Matt Mitrione (13-6 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) and Sergei Kharitonov (28-6 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) will run it back in attempt to clarify who is the better man inside the cage.

For more on the numbers behind the event, check below for 25 pre-event facts about Bellator 225.

* * * *

Main event

Mitrione vs. Kharitonov marked the third shortest no-contest in Bellator/UFC/WEC/Strikeforce/PRIDE combined history at just 15 seconds. Only Marius Zaromskis vs. Waachim Spiritwolf (six seconds) at Strikeforce Challengers 12 and Kevin Casey vs. Antonio Carlos Junior (11 seconds) at UFC Fight Night 80 were faster.

All of Mitrione’s career bouts have taken place under the Bellator or UFC banners.

Mitrione has earned 11 of his 13 career victories by stoppage. That includes three of his four Bellator wins.

Kharitonov is 10-1 (with two no-contests) in his past 13 fights dating back to September 2011.

Kharitonov has earned 26 of his 28 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished 23 of those wins in Round 1.

Kharitonov has earned both of his Bellator victories by knockout.

Co-main event

Vitaly Minakov (21-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) enters the event following the first defeat of his career.

Minakov’s four stoppage victories in Bellator heavyweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Ayala (six) and Kongo (five).

Minakov’s four knockout victories in Bellator heavyweight competition are tied for most in divisional history.

Javy Ayala (11-7 MMA, 6-4 BMMA) competes in his 11th Bellator heavyweight bout, the second-most appearances in divisional history behind Cheick Kongo (14).

Ayala’s six victories in Bellator heavyweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Kongo (12).

Ayala has earned 10 of his 11 career victories by stoppage. That includes all six of his Bellator wins.

Ayala’s six stoppage victories in Bellator heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.

Ayala’s four knockout victories in Bellator heavyweight competition are tied for most in divisional history.

Ayala’s 15-second knockout of Kharitonov at Bellator 163 is the second fastest stoppage in Bellator heavyweight history. Only Eddie Sanchez’s 10-second finish at Bellator 7 was faster.

Remaining main card

Alejandra Lara (7-3 MMA, 1-2 BMMA) enters the event on the first two-fight losing skid of her career. She hasn’t earned a victory since December 2017.

Taylor Turner (4-5 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has earned three consecutive wins after a five-fight losing skid.

David Rickels (21-5 MMA, 15-5 BMMA) competes in his 23rd Bellator bout, the most appearances in company history (two appearances have resulted in no-contests).

Rickels is 5-1 in Bellator welterweight competition. He’s 3-1 since he returned to the weight class in January 2017.

Rickels’ 15 victories in Bellator competition are third-most in company history behind Patricio Freire (17) and Michael Chandler (16).

Rickels’ nine stoppage victories in Bellator competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Freire (11) and Chandler (11).

Yaroslav Amosov’s (21-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) 21-fight MMA winning streak is longest among active Bellator fighters.

Amosov has earned both of his Bellator victories by decision.

Rudy Schaffroth (6-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) returns to competition for the first time since Nov. 30, 2018. Th 268-day layoff is the longest of his nearly three-year career.

Bellator 225 results: Yaroslav Amosov first to submit David Rickels, improves to 22-0

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BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Yaroslav Amosov’s 22nd consecutive victory came with a nice milestone attached.

Amosov (22-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) became the first to submit David Rickels (21-6 MMA, 15-6 BMMA) in MMA competition when he locked up a second-round choke in the 175-pound catchweight fight, which took place at Webster Bank Arena.

“It was not my first and not my last submission,” Amosov said after the fight. “Thank you to my coaches and my sparring partners for preparing me for that.

“I’m looking forward to fighting the winner (of Rory MacDonald vs. Douglas Lima at Bellator 232). That is my goal.”

Amosov tried to take any semblance of momentum out of Rickels from the opening seconds of the fight. He wasted little time shooting in for a takedown that grounded his opponent on the mat, and it took a while for Rickels to get up. Amosov kept position, but did little in the way of damage. Rickels managed to stand back up in the closes stages of the round, but couldn’t accomplish anything meaningful.

The gameplan of Amosov did not change going into the second. He threw a few strikes in Rickels’ direction, but within 30 seconds clinched up and maneuvered into a single-leg takedown. Amosov was able to impose himself from thereon out. He kept inside of Rickels guard and worked ground-and-pound, and Rickels seemed content to throw short punches and elbows from bottom instead of scrambling to his feet.

Amosov would eventually pass Rickels’ guard and methodically work his way into a tight D’Arce choke. It looked at first as though Rickels could get through it, but Amosov’s squeeze was too tight and he got “The Caveman” to give in to a submission for the first time in his career.

Complete Bellator 225 results include:

  • Yaroslav Amosov def. David Rickels via submission (D’Arce choke) – Round 2, 4:05
  • Tyrell Fortune def. Rudy Schaffroth via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:08
  • Nick Newell def. Corey Browning via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 1, 3:15
  • Connor Dixon def. Kastriot Xhema via submission (armbar) – Round 3, 2:08
  • Jon Manley def. Thiago Rela via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 4:47
  • Chris Disonell def. Mike Kimbel via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:54
  • Ricky Bandejas def. Ahmet Kayretli via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:21
  • Austin Vanderford def. Joseph Creer via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) – Round 2, 5:00
  • Sabah Homasi def. Micah Terrill via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:17
  • Aviv Gozali def. Eduard Muravitskiy via submission (heel hook) – Round 1, 0:11
  • Khonry Gracie def. Oscar Vera via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 2:50

Yaroslav Amosov def. David Rickels at Bellator 225: Best photos

Fight Tracks: The walkout songs of Bellator 225

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While it takes intense training, world-class skills and maybe even a bit of luck to register a Bellator win, picking the right song to accompany you to the cage is a key talent, as well.

Inside, se what the fighters from Bellator 225 went with as their backing tracks in Bridgeport, Conn.

Bellator 225 post-event facts: History made with 14 fights and 14 finishes

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Bellator 225 took place Saturday at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn., with a main card that aired on Paramount following prelims on MMA Junkie.

In the main event, Sergei Kharitonov (29-6 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) emerged victorious in his rematch with Matt Mitrione (13-7 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) in the form of a second-round TKO.

The headline concluded a 14-fight card where every bout ended in a stoppage. For more on the numbers, check below for 25 post-event facts to come out of Bellator 225.

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General

Bellator 225 was the first event in company history to have every fight end in a stoppage.

Betting favorites went 5-0 on the main card.

Betting favorites improved to 6-4 (with one no-contest and one draw) in Bellator main events this year.

Total fight time for the five-bout main card was 28:06.

Main card

Kharitonov improved to 11-1 (with two no-contests) in his past 14 fights dating back to September 2011.

Kharitonov has earned 27 of his 29 career victories by stoppage. That includes all three of his Bellator wins.

Mitrione’s three-fight winless skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since February 2018.

Mitrione has suffered five of his seven career losses by stoppage.

Vitaly Minakov (22-1 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) earned his first Bellator victory since April 2014.

Minakov has earned 20 of his 22 career victories by stoppage. That includes five of his six Bellator wins.

Minakov’s five stoppage victories in Bellator heavyweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Javy Ayala (six).

Minakov’s five knockout victories in Bellator heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.

Tim Johnson (12-6 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) has suffered both of his Bellator losses by knockout.

Alejandra Lara (8-3 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) has earned seven of her eight career victories by stoppage.

Taylor Turner (4-6 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) has suffered all six of her career losses by stoppage.

Yaroslav Amosov’s (22-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) 22-fight winning streak in MMA competition is the longest among active Bellator fighters.

Amosov has earned 18 of his 22 career victories by stoppage.

David Rickels (22-6 MMA, 15-6 BMMA) has suffered five of his six career losses by stoppage.

Rickels suffered the first submission loss of his career.

Tyrell Fortune’s (7-0 MMA, 7-0 BMMA) seven-fight Bellator winning streak in heavyweight competition is the second longest active streak in the division behind Cheick Kongo (eight).

Fortune’s five stoppage victories in Bellator competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Ayala (six).

Fortune earned the first submission victory of his career.

Rudy Schaffroth (6-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) had his six-fight winning streak snapped for the first defeat of his career.

Preliminary card

Nick Newell (16-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) has earned 13 of his 16 career victories by stoppage. He’s won 13 of those fights in Round 1.

Mike Kimbel (3-2 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) has suffered both of his career losses by stoppage.

Ricky Bandejas (12-3 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) has earned both of his Bellator victories by first-round knockout.

Aviv Gozali (3-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA), 18, became the youngest fighter to earn a Bellator victory.

Gozali’s 11-second victory marked the fastest submission in Bellator history.

Bellator in 2019: A robust look at the stats, streaks, skids, and records

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Bellator had its biggest and busiest year to date in 2019, with 24 numbered events that helped raise the promotion’s profile to a true position of prominence in MMA. During that time, many records were set and a host of historic moments were produced.

Now that the year has come to a close, here are some of 2019’s most significant fights and individual performances.

* * * *

GENERAL

Bellator president Scott Coker

Bellator held 24 numbered events (not including full European series shows) in 14 different cities across six countries and three continents. The 24 events are the most for the organization in a calendar year.

Those events had 128 main card fights across 11 different weight classes (not including catchweight bouts).

Those 128 main card fights combined for a total cage time of 19:48:08.

The longest event of the year (main card fights only) was Bellator 223 (1:49:02).

The shortest event of the year (main card fights only) was Bellator 214 (20:07).

Eight fighters missed weight for main card bouts. Those fighters went 4-3, while one bout was canceled.

Seven main or co-main event bouts were canceled due to a variety of reasons.

Betting favorites went 82-26 during Bellator main card fights. 14 fights had no odds available while three fights had even odds, and three ended in a no contest.

Six cards saw all the betting favorites win.

No fight cards had more underdogs win than favorites.

Bellator 225 was the first event in company history to have every fight end in a stoppage.

CHAMPIONSHIP FEATS

Ryan Bader

Ryan Bader became the first simultaneous two-division champion in company history when he captured the heavyweight title at Bellator 214.

Bader joined Joe Warren as the second fighter in company history to win titles in two weight classes.

Rory MacDonald vs. Jon Fitch at Bellator 220 marked the first title fight in company history to end in a draw.

Patricio Freire became the second simultaneous two-division champion in company history when he captured the lightweight title at Bellator 221.

Freire became the third fighter in company history to win titles in two weight classes, joining Bader and Warren in that exclusive club.

Michael Chandler became the first in company history to suffer five losses in title fights when he was defeated at Bellator 221.

Kyoji Horiguchi

Kyoji Horiguchi became the first fighter in history to earn titles in Bellator and Rizin FF when he won the Bellator bantamweight title at Bellator 222.

Bader became the first champion in company history to register title defenses in two weight classes when he retained his heavyweight belt at Bellator 226.

Freire set a new mark for most championship-fight victories in company history with his eighth when he won at Bellator 228.

Douglas Lima became the second fighter in company history to have three title reigns in a single weight class when he reclaimed the welterweight belt at Bellator 232. Chandler also accomplished the feat.

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane became the second champion in company history to earn four consecutive title defenses when she won at Bellator 236. Ben Askren also accomplished the feat.

INDIVIDUAL FEATS

Matt Mitrione vs. Sergei Kharitonov at Bellator 215

Matt Mitrione vs. Sergei Kharitonov at Bellator 215 marked the third shortest no-contest in Bellator/UFC/WEC/Strikeforce/PRIDE combined history at just 15 seconds. Only Marius Zaromskis vs. Waachim Spiritwolf (six seconds) at Strikeforce Challengers 12 and Kevin Casey vs. Antonio Carlos Junior (11 seconds) at UFC Fight Night 80 were faster.

Michael Page became the second fighter in history to earn a 10-fight Bellator winning streak when he won at Bellator 216. A.J. McKee also accomplished the feat.

David Rickels became the third fighter in history to reach 15 Bellator victories when he won at Bellator 219. Patricio Freire and Chandler have also accomplished the feat.

Jordan Young became the first fighter in company history to earn five consecutive victories by submission when he won at Bellator 224.

Aviv Gozali, 18, became the youngest fighter to earn a Bellator victory when he won at Bellator 225.

Gozali’s 11-second victory at Bellator 225 marked the fastest submission in company history.

Patricio Freire

Freire set a new mark for most victories in company history with his 18th when he won at Bellator 228.

Haim Gozali, 46, became the oldest fighter in Bellator history to earn a submission victory when he won at Bellator 234.

Frank Mir earned his first non-UFC victory since August 2001 when he won at Bellator 231.

Lima became the first fighter in company history to claim three separate tournaments victories when he won the welterweight grand prix at Bellator 232.

Saad Awad became the first in history to suffer 10 Bellator defeats when he lost at Bellator 232.

Patrick Mix earned the first Suloev stretch submission finish in company history when he won at Bellator 232.

Muhammed Lawal retired from MMA competition following his loss at Bellator 233.

Macfarlane became the third fighter in history to earn a 10-fight Bellator winning streak when she won at Bellator 236. Page and McKee also accomplished the feat.

McKee extended his company record winning streak to 16 fights when he earned a victory at Bellator 236.

McKee set a new record for most stoppages in featherweight history with his 11th when he won at Bellator 236.

Chandler set a new record for most stoppages in company history with his 12th when he won at Bellator 237.


All-time Bellator fights leader David Rickels leaves to sign with BKFC

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After almost nine years with Bellator, David Rickels has a new home.

Bellator’s all-time leader in fights with 23, Rickels (21-6) recently became a free agent. After exploring the market, he has signed with BKFC according to an Instagram post from his management group, KO Reps, on Wednesday.

According to the post, Rickels will headline BKFC 11 on March 14 in his backyard of Wichita, Kan. No opponent as been named for Rickels yet.

In a statement to MMA Junkie, Rickels’ manager, Oren Hodak, confirmed the fighter’s departure from Bellator. Additionally, Hodak indicated Rickels’ MMA days are not over.

“Dave is excited to headline for BK on their debut in Wichita. It is an opportunity that we just could not pass up. MMA fights are still on the radar for ‘Caveman’ as we explore the world of free agency. When you have an athlete that is truly an entertainer inside and out of the cage, opportunities will always be there. We still have a great relationship with Bellator and will continue conversations with them as well. But for now his next epic walkout will be for BK.”

Rickels made his promotional debut at Bellator 40 in April 2011. He competed against a who’s-who of lightweights and welterweights. At Bellator 97 in July 2013, Rickels unsuccessfully contended for the Bellator lightweight title against Michael Chandler. Other opponents during his Bellator tenure included Patricky Freire, Michael Page and Melvin Guillard.

Nico Hernandez, an Olympic bronze medalist in boxing, also is expected to make his BKFC debut on the March 14 card.

BKFC 11 lineup announced; features Melvin Guillard, David Rickels, two other UFC veterans

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The BKFC 11 lineup is taking shape.

In a press release recently issued, the promotion announced a handful of matchups for the March 14 event. The lineup includes former Bellator title challenger David Rickels, former UFC standout Melvin Guillard, Olympian Nico Hernandez, and more.

In the main event Hernandez, a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist for the U.S., takes on Chauncey Wilson in a Wichita vs. Wichita matchup.

In the co-main event, Rickels will compete in his home state against an opponent to be named later. Rickels was the longest-tenured member of the Bellator roster prior to his departure in late January.

Guillard makes his return against Dakota Cochrane, and UFC alumnus Josh Neer makes his promotional debut against Ronnie Forney. BKFC heavyweight staple Sam Shewmaker makes his sixth promotional appearance against former Bellator heavyweight Josh Burns. Former UFC and Bellator fighter Jake Lindsey also gets a homecoming against Kenny Licea.

BKFC 11 takes place March 14 at InTrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas and streams on Fite TV.

The official, up-to-date BKFC 11 lineup includes:

The 10 winningest fighters in Bellator history

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With Bellator on hiatus during the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, MMA Junkie takes a look at the 10 winningest fighters in the history of the organization. Of note, all athletes included in this column fight at middleweight or below and have promotional debuts ranging from April 2010 to April 2015.

* * * *

10. Michael Page

Michael Page

Age: 32

Debut: Bellator 93 on March 21, 2013

Number of fights: 14

Number of wins: 13

Many won’t like the quality of competition that led to Page landing a spot on the list, but he’s here nonetheless. “MVP” has put together a spectacular highlight reel with Bellator courtesy of a unique and dynamic offensive arsenal.

Page has nothing scheduled as far as his next fight, but the fan desire is to see him face another top welterweight.

9. Pat Curran

Pat Curran

Age: 32

Debut: Bellator 14 on April 15, 2010

Number of fights: 18

Number of wins: 13

Despite having fought just three times in the past four years, former featherweight champion Curran finds himself in the thick of the pack among the biggest winners in Bellator history.

Curran was bounced from the ongoing featherweight grand prix in an opening-round bout against Adam Borics at Bellator 226 in September. He hasn’t not since addressed his future plans.

8. Joe Warren

Joe Warren

Age: 43

Debut: Bellator 13 on April 8, 2010

Number of fights: 20

Number of wins: 13

Not only was Warren the first in Bellator history to win titles in two separate weight classes, but he’s also the longest-tenured fighter in the history of the organization, going back nearly a decade.

Although “The Baddest Man on the Planet” hasn’t fought since November 2018, he insists he’s not yet retired and is biding his time for the right moment to get back in the cage.

The 10 fighters with the most stoppage wins in Bellator history

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With Bellator recently celebrating its 11-year anniversary, MMA Junkie takes a look at the 10 fighters with the most stoppage victories in the history of the organization.

Also see:

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10. Goiti Yamauchi

Age: 27

Debut: Bellator 99 on Sept. 13, 2013

Number of wins: 11

Number of stoppages: Nine

Yamauchi has flourished into a top Bellator fighter in recent years, thriving across two weight classes. Lightweight has been his home of late, though, and en route to landing a top 10 spot on the stoppage list, Yamauchi has the most submission wins (eight) in company history.

9. Brennan Ward

Brennan Ward at Bellator 140.

Age: 31

Debut: Bellator 81 on Nov. 16, 2012

Number of wins: Nine

Number of stoppages: Nine

If nothing else, Ward proved to be one of the most exciting fighters in Bellator history during his stay. Whether he gave it or took it, all 15 of Ward’s fights for the promotion ended inside the distance. He was on the winning end of nine of those fights.

Crushing beers at weigh-ins? David Rickels cosplay does it again – this time, Steve Austin style

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David Rickels has pulled off many a cosplay in his lengthy combat sports career, but perhaps none that can relate to the average MMA fan more than the one at Thursday’s BKFC 23 weigh-ins.

Dressed as WWE star “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Rickels went full “Texas Rattlesnake” with Coors Lights in hand. Shaved head, black vest, and all, Rickels flipped a beer to opponent and fellow Bellator alum Mike Richman – like he’s done it a million times before. That’s probably because he has done it a million times before. Rickels seems like the kind of guy who is well-versed in having a good cold one and a good conversation to go along with it.

Fighters always talk about the bond shared by fighting someone for three to five rounds of face-punching. That’s something I cannot say I’ve experienced. However, I do know the bond that comes from chugging beers with someone in front of a cheering audience – and that’s certainly special.

Conversely – as the two fighters chugged away, with Rickels finding the bottom of the can before Richman – you’ve got to wonder what kind of psychological effect that’ll have on Friday’s five-round main event. It’s safe to say both fighters are entering the bout with a mix of emotions – thanks to Coors Light.

BKFC 23 takes place Friday at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan. and streams on FITE.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.





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