Bellator Live on MTV2 Returns to Cocopah Casino in Yuma, Arizona October 22 for Bellator 55
Oct 10, 2011 Comments
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Bellator Fighting Championships announced today
the promotion will return to Cocopah Resort and Casino in Yuma,
Arizona for Bellator 55 on Saturday, October 22 LIVE on MTV2 and in
commercial-free HD on EPIX starting at 9 p.m. ET. The night’s
preliminary fights will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world
on Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET.
The night will feature the semifinals of Bellator’s stacked Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament. The eight-man bracket was cut in half earlier in the season when Alexis Vila, Ed West, Eduardo Dantas and Marcos Galvao all punched their tickets to the semifinals with impressive victories. Plus, Bellator Light Heavyweight champion Christian “Tonton” M’Pumbu chases his fourth consecutive TKO victory when he faces UFC and Pride veteran Travis Wiuff.
Bantamweight semifinalist Alexis Vila scored knockout of the night
when he delivered a first-round KO to the self-proclaimed “Baddest
Man on the Planet” Joe Warren in stunning fashion at Bellator 51.
The former Cuban Olympian will take on Team Nova Uniao product
Marcos Galvao, who secured his spot in the semifinals with a
dominating performance over former WEC Champion Chase Beebe.
In the other highly-anticipated semifinal matchup, long time Bellator veteran Ed West takes on Brazilian phenom Eduardo “Dudu” Dantas. While West secured his win with an impressive decision victory, Dantas delivered an explosive flying knee to Wilson Reis that propelled the rising star to the semifinals at Bellator 55. You can watch Dantas’ victory shot here: http://bit.ly/qnC2Oo.
After capturing the Bellator Light Heavyweight title at Bellator 45, Christian “Tonton” M’Pumbu is back and will take on fellow light heavyweight Travis Wiuff in a non-title affair. M’Pumbu marched through the Season 4 Tournament field on his way to capturing the title, and will look to keep his keep the momentum going at Bellator 55. Wiuff, looks for win No. 65 of his impressive career when he takes on Bellator’s best 205-pounder.
Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament Finalist Richard Hale will be back in action looking to secure his spot in a future tournament with a victory over Bellator veteran Carlos Flores. Hale made headlines at Bellator 38 with one of the greatest submissions in mixed martial arts history, an inverted triangle against Nik Fekete (Watch Here: http://bit.ly/dGZg89).
The night will also feature Brazilian lightweight prospect Ricardo Tirloni, who will make his promotional debut after compiling an impressive 13-1 record to begin his MMA career. Tirloni meets California native and submission specialist Steve Gable.
“We’re thrilled to be returning to Cocopah Resort and Casino for our only Season 5 outdoor event,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “And the Bantamweight Tournament in Season 5 is stacked from top to bottom, so Arizona MMA fans will able to see a truly spectacular show. This gives our audience an unbelievable viewing experience.”
The night will also host a number of local feature fights that will include premier talent from across the Southwest and be streamed LIVE on Spike.com.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator
About Bellator Fighting Championships
Bellator Fighting Championships is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company headquartered in Chicago. Bellator’s founder/CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment professional with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator Fighting Championships’ executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in the areas of live event production, television production, fighter relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.
About MTV2
MTV2 is a man's best friend, available in nearly 80 million homes and with the highest concentration of males 12-24 and 12-34 on TV today. A vibrant mix of music, lifestyle and action sports programming, MTV2 has reflected the habits and behavior of young people since its launch in 1996. MTV2 is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom, one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.
About EPIX
EPIX, a joint venture between Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), is a next-generation premium entertainment channel, video-on-demand and online service launched on October 30, 2009. With access to more than 15,000 motion pictures spanning the vast libraries of its partners and other studios, EPIX provides a powerful entertainment experience with more feature films on demand and online and more HD movies than any other service. It is the only premium service providing its entire monthly line-up of new Hollywood titles, classic feature films, original series, music and comedy specials through the linear channel, video-on-demand and online at EpixHD.com, the leading online destination for movies.
EPIX has made the commitment to deliver the industry's most expansive online collection of movies, making more than 3,000 titles available on EpixHD.com. The service is available to over 30 million homes nationwide through distribution partners including Charter Communications, Cox Communications, DISH Network, Mediacom Communications, NCTC, Suddenlink Communications and Verizon FiOS.
The night will feature the semifinals of Bellator’s stacked Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament. The eight-man bracket was cut in half earlier in the season when Alexis Vila, Ed West, Eduardo Dantas and Marcos Galvao all punched their tickets to the semifinals with impressive victories. Plus, Bellator Light Heavyweight champion Christian “Tonton” M’Pumbu chases his fourth consecutive TKO victory when he faces UFC and Pride veteran Travis Wiuff.
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In the other highly-anticipated semifinal matchup, long time Bellator veteran Ed West takes on Brazilian phenom Eduardo “Dudu” Dantas. While West secured his win with an impressive decision victory, Dantas delivered an explosive flying knee to Wilson Reis that propelled the rising star to the semifinals at Bellator 55. You can watch Dantas’ victory shot here: http://bit.ly/qnC2Oo.
In addition to a night filled with great tournament bouts, Arizona
fighter Edgar Garcia makes his Bellator debut in front of a home
crowd. A 2002 high school state wrestling champion, Garcia is a
seasoned veteran with UFC experience. The 27-year-old Yuma fighter
looks to ignite the Arizona crowd and earn his first Bellator
win.
After capturing the Bellator Light Heavyweight title at Bellator 45, Christian “Tonton” M’Pumbu is back and will take on fellow light heavyweight Travis Wiuff in a non-title affair. M’Pumbu marched through the Season 4 Tournament field on his way to capturing the title, and will look to keep his keep the momentum going at Bellator 55. Wiuff, looks for win No. 65 of his impressive career when he takes on Bellator’s best 205-pounder.
Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament Finalist Richard Hale will be back in action looking to secure his spot in a future tournament with a victory over Bellator veteran Carlos Flores. Hale made headlines at Bellator 38 with one of the greatest submissions in mixed martial arts history, an inverted triangle against Nik Fekete (Watch Here: http://bit.ly/dGZg89).
The night will also feature Brazilian lightweight prospect Ricardo Tirloni, who will make his promotional debut after compiling an impressive 13-1 record to begin his MMA career. Tirloni meets California native and submission specialist Steve Gable.
“We’re thrilled to be returning to Cocopah Resort and Casino for our only Season 5 outdoor event,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “And the Bantamweight Tournament in Season 5 is stacked from top to bottom, so Arizona MMA fans will able to see a truly spectacular show. This gives our audience an unbelievable viewing experience.”
The night will also host a number of local feature fights that will include premier talent from across the Southwest and be streamed LIVE on Spike.com.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator
About Bellator Fighting Championships
Bellator Fighting Championships is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company headquartered in Chicago. Bellator’s founder/CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment professional with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator Fighting Championships’ executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in the areas of live event production, television production, fighter relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.
About MTV2
MTV2 is a man's best friend, available in nearly 80 million homes and with the highest concentration of males 12-24 and 12-34 on TV today. A vibrant mix of music, lifestyle and action sports programming, MTV2 has reflected the habits and behavior of young people since its launch in 1996. MTV2 is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom, one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.
About EPIX
EPIX, a joint venture between Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), is a next-generation premium entertainment channel, video-on-demand and online service launched on October 30, 2009. With access to more than 15,000 motion pictures spanning the vast libraries of its partners and other studios, EPIX provides a powerful entertainment experience with more feature films on demand and online and more HD movies than any other service. It is the only premium service providing its entire monthly line-up of new Hollywood titles, classic feature films, original series, music and comedy specials through the linear channel, video-on-demand and online at EpixHD.com, the leading online destination for movies.
EPIX has made the commitment to deliver the industry's most expansive online collection of movies, making more than 3,000 titles available on EpixHD.com. The service is available to over 30 million homes nationwide through distribution partners including Charter Communications, Cox Communications, DISH Network, Mediacom Communications, NCTC, Suddenlink Communications and Verizon FiOS.
