News

ViacomCBS-owned fight circuit Bellator Mma will have its matches air on corporate cousin Showtime as the premium network continues to ramp up its investment in ring sports.

On three straight Fridays in April, primetime Bellator matches originating from Mohegan Sun Arena in southeastern Connecticut will inaugurate the relationship. The arena is part of a casino complex that has gradually reopened parts of its footprint with safety restrictions. It recently staged “bubble”-style NCAA college basketball games, a concept considered by many sports stakeholders during the coronavirus pandemic. Together, Bellator Mma and Showtime have held more than 20 live events at Mohegan Sun since July 2020.

Viacom, which merged with CBS in December 2019, originally bought a majority stake in Bellator in 2011 after years of licensing rights to air its matches. In recent years, Bellator aired on various cable networks, including Spike (which then rebranded as the Paramount Network) and CBS Sports Network.

There are more changes afoot at ViacomCBS as oversight of cable channel Pop TV will shift from the Showtime group to the Entertainment & Youth group of channels headed by Chris McCarthy.

At the same time, Bellator Mma, the ViacomCBS-owned company that produces Mma events and manages a roster of fighters, will be now report into Showtime Sports president Stephen Espinoza.

The moves come as ViacomCBS continues to fine-tune the management and operational structure of the newly enlarged company following the merger of Viacom and CBS Corp. that was completed on Dec. 4. Last month, oversight of Bet Networks was given to David Nevins, CBS’ chief creative officer and chairman-ceo of Showtime Networks, while McCarthy’s Entertainment & Youth wing took over Smithsonian Channel, which had been under Showtime.

Brad Schwartz will continue as president of Pop TV. The move comes at a heady time for Pop as the cabler is preparing for...

Tito Ortiz says he's In for a rematch with Chael Sonnen -- telling TMZ Sports, "I'm gonna pummel him for 3 rounds." The two have been going back and forth on social media -- but Tuesday night in L.A., 43-year-old Ortiz told us the fight is definitely gonna happen ... "most likely with Bellator, Scott Coker will make the deal." It's interesting considering Tito just fought Chuck Liddell under the Golden Boy Mma banner -- and...

As part of the latest round of restructuring and consolidation in the Viacom cable group announced late last month, 25-year company veteran Kevin Kay was to step down as President, Paramount Network, TV Land and Cmt after a transition period. That transition period is over, and Kay yesterday sent a farewell email to his colleagues as he is wrapping his tenure today.

In the note, Kay reflects on the rapid changes in the cable business “in unprecedented ways over the past several years.” He also shared some “parting words of wisdom.”

“Bet on the talent and be fearless in backing those with the highest standards, that give you the hardest time, that push back, that won’t let you compromise their vision,” Kay wrote.

He gave several examples of unconventional pitches from unheralded writers and producers he and his team took a chance on that resulted in big hits. To...

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has joined forces with global combat sports leader Bellator Mma! The award-winning rapper turned entrepreneur and the Viacom-owned company have formed a comprehensive partnership that will include both a new apparel line and the integration of Jackson’s elite champagne brand, Le Chemin du Roi, in future Bellator events — from in-arena signage to mat placemats and more. The global apparel line will be “fashionable and edgy, with distinctive attitude.” “We are thrilled to partner with such a legendary icon who has been a friend to the Bellator family for quite some time,” Scott Coker, President of Bellator Mma, told Ok! exclusively. “The ‘Get the Strap’ apparel line is just the beginning of many joint ventures we will explore together.” Added Jackson, “I am excited to partner with the Bellator Viacom franchise. Mixed martial arts yields some of the most action-packed events in the world. I’m...

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has joined forces with global combat sports leader Bellator Mma! The award-winning rapper turned entrepreneur and the Viacom-owned company have formed a comprehensive partnership that will include both a new apparel line and the integration of Jackson’s elite champagne brand, Le Chemin du Roi, in future Bellator events — from in-arena signage to mat placemats and more. The global apparel line will be “fashionable and edgy, with distinctive attitude.” “We are thrilled to partner with such a legendary icon who has been a friend to the Bellator family for quite some time,” Scott Coker, President of Bellator Mma, told Ok! exclusively. “The ‘Get the Strap’ apparel line is just the beginning of many joint ventures we will explore together.” Added Jackson, “I am excited to partner with the Bellator Viacom franchise. Mixed martial arts yields some of the most action-packed events in the world. I’m...

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has joined forces with global combat sports leader Bellator Mma! The award-winning rapper turned entrepreneur and the Viacom-owned company have formed a comprehensive partnership that will include both a new apparel line and the integration of Jackson’s elite champagne brand, Le Chemin du Roi, in future Bellator events — from in-arena signage to mat placemats and more. The global apparel line will be “fashionable and edgy, with distinctive attitude.” “We are thrilled to partner with such a legendary icon who has been a friend to the Bellator family for quite some time,” Scott Coker, President of Bellator Mma, told Ok! exclusively. “The ‘Get the Strap’ apparel line is just the beginning of many joint ventures we will explore together.” Added Jackson, “I am excited to partner with the Bellator Viacom franchise. Mixed martial arts yields some of the most action-packed events in the world. I’m...

The following is an open letter to the WWE and it’s owner, Vince McMahon:

Dear Vince McMahon,

A thought occurred to me while reading some-thing Eric Bischoff said about the brand split. In the wake of the Fox/WWE deal, which sees Smackdown coming to the Fox Network, Bischoff claimed that there might be a feud that could brew between NBC and Fox, especially if the Disney/Fox deal were to happen. Eric’s thought was that Fox might not allow the WWE to share or move Smackdown stars to Raw, with the concern on Murdoch’s part being that “his” wrestlers should not appear on a rival network. Eric makes a good point and it’s one you should heed.

I get why you did the second brand split, as Bonnie Hammer and every-one at the USA Network wanted to give both of its wrestling shows some-thing special,...

Viacom has promoted David Schwarz to the newly-created position of senior vice president of marketing and communications for its sports franchise, Bellator.

Schwarz, who is a 19-year veteran of Viacom, will oversee consumer marketing, communications, social media, ticket sales, and digital for Bellator’s development. He most recently served as senior vice president of communications for Paramount Network and played an integral role in the launch of Spike in 2003 and its rebranding into Paramount Network earlier this year.

“David has a wealth of experience as a brand builder and will play a vital role in Bellator’s continued upward trajectory as a thriving global franchise,” said Scott Coker, Bellator CEO and president.

Schwarz’s past responsibilities at Viacom have included overseeing the network’s communications’ efforts for the network’s sports and sports entertainment properties including Bellator, “The Ultimate Fighting Championship,” “Premier Boxing Champions,” the WWE and Tna Wrestling. He...

David Schwarz has been promoted to the newly created position of Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications for Viacom’s fast-rising sports franchise, Bellator. Schwarz will oversee five critical areas of Bellator’s development including consumer marketing, communications, social media, ticket sales, and digital.

A 19-year veteran of Viacom, Schwarz most recently served as Senior Vice President, Communications Paramount Network, a position he held since 2011. Schwarz played an integral role in the launch of Spike, “The First Network For Men” in 2003 and the rebrand into Paramount Network earlier this year.

“David has a wealth of experience as a brand builder and will play a vital role in Bellator’s continued upward trajectory as a thriving global franchise,” said Scott Coker, Bellator CEO and President, to whom Schwarz will report.

During his tenure at Viacom, Schwarz has overseen the network’s communications’ efforts for the network’s sports and sports entertainment properties including Bellator,...

Viacom’s Bellator Mma organization has signed a multi-year deal with Dazn, the Perform Group-owned live sports streaming service. Under the agreement, Dazn will be the exclusive home to seven fight cards per year, as well as an additional 15 cards that are simulcast across Paramount Network and Dazn.

All fights will stream in countries where Dazn is available, including Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Japan. Dazn plans to launch in the U.S. and Italy in 2018.

“The exciting new partnership with Dazn is a game-changer for Bellator,” said Bellator president Scott Coker. “The investment will enable us to continue expanding our roster with free agents that make sense, so we can put on PPV-worthy fight cards that fans want to see. Plus, on Dazn’s worldwide platform, our fights will be seen live for the first time to new audiences around the globe.”

“It’s simple; fans want to see...

Robert De Niro is the latest celebrity to voice his support for Meryl Streep following her anti-Donald Trump acceptance speech she gave at the 2017 Golden Globes on Sunday.

In a letter, obtained by People, written by De Niro to his longtime friend, the actor writes that “what she said was great” and “needed to be said.”

“I have so much respect for you that you did it while the world was celebrating your achievements,” De Niro wrote, adding that he feels the same way about punks and bullies. “It is so important that we All speak up.”

The two actors previously worked together on the 1974 film “The Deer Hunter,” “Falling in Love” (1984) and “Marvin’s Room” (1996). They were last seen together at President Obama’s farewell party last Friday.

Read More: Golden Globes: Meryl Streep Calls Out Donald Trump in Cecile B. DeMille Award Acceptance Speech

Upon receiving the Cecile B.

Just as Obama’s election did not create a post-racial America, neither can Golden Globes for “Moonlight” and “Atlanta” create a post-racial Hollywood.

The dearth of Latino nominees at the Golden Globes proves opportunities for Latinos in Hollywood are far too limited, according to a statement made by Alex Nogales, the president and CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition, a media advocacy and civil rights organization for the advancement of Latinos.

Read More: Golden Globes 2017: The Best Moments From Backstage, As Snapshots

In a succinct and nuanced statement, Nogales acknowledged the major wins for actors and filmmakers of color while emphasizing the continued importance of working to create inclusive projects — both in front of and behind the camera.

The statement reads:

“We congratulate the creatives of color who were nominated and who won Golden Globes last night–they have broken barriers in an industry that has been slow to change.

This past Sunday, actress Meryl Streep accepted the honorary Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 74th annual Golden Globe Awards. During her acceptance speech, she strongly criticized Donald Trump’s rhetoric on the campaign trail, including his mockery of disabled New York Times reporter Serge Kovaleski. Yesterday morning, President-Elect Donald Trump tweeted out a response, denying that he ever mocked Kovaleski and calling the three-time Oscar winning actress “one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood” and a “Hillary flunky who lost big.” Read his Twitter posts below.

Read More: Golden Globes: Meryl Streep Calls Out Donald Trump in Cecile B. DeMille Award Acceptance Speech

Meryl Streep, one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood, doesn’t know me but attacked last night at the Golden Globes. She is a…..

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2017

Hillary flunky who lost big. For the 100th time, I never “mocked” a disabled reporter...

Last night at the Golden Globes, actress Meryl Streep accepted the honorary Cecil B. Demille Award for “outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.” Streep took the opportunity to make a speech that called out President-Elect Donald Trump’s rhetoric on the campaign trail, his mockery of a disabled reporter as well as a defense of the free press.

Read More: Golden Globes: Meryl Streep Calls Out Donald Trump in Cecile B. DeMille Award Acceptance Speech

In the speech, she describes Hollywood as one of the “most vilified segments in American society right now,” but said it’s really made up of a “bunch of people from other places.” After describing a few examples, she said that “Hollywood is crawling with outsiders and foreigners. And if we kick them all out you’ll have nothing to watch but football and mixed martial arts, which are not the arts.”

Naturally, her comments have rankled conservative critics,...

Bellator Mma President Scott Coker has something to say about Meryl Streep’s much talked-about speech while accepting the Cecil B. DeMille award at the Golden Globes on Sunday. Streep, 67, riled up both Mma and NFL fans — as well as President-elect Donald Trump himself — with a pointed dig during her speech that had celebs in the audience […]...

Bellator Mma President Scott Coker has something to say about Meryl Streep's much talked-about speech while accepting the Cecil B. DeMille award at the Golden Globes on Sunday.

Streep, 67, riled up both Mma and NFL fans -- as well as President-elect Donald Trump himself -- with a pointed dig during her speech that had celebs in the audience clapping. "So, Hollywood is crawling with outsiders and foreigners," Streep said, criticizing Trump. "And if we kick them all out, you'll have nothing to watch but football and mixed martial arts, which are not the arts."

On Sunday night, Coker tweeted an open letter to Streep, and insisted that mixed martial arts is indeed an art. Coker also praised Streep as "very talented," and said he was a "lifelong fan" of her work.

Watch: Meryl Streep Slams Trump, Pays Tribute to Carrie Fisher Upon Accepting Cecil B. DeMille Award at Golden Globes

"The global sport of mixed martial...

Hollywood celebrities took to Twitter Sunday night to voice their support for Meryl Streep’s critical speech about Donald Trump after receiving the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement at the Golden Globes.

Read More: Golden Globes 2017: ‘Moonlight’ Wins Best Drama

After noting that many of Hollywood’s most acclaimed actors were born in other countries and that she was wowed by several film performances this year, Streep turned the rest of her speech to the topic of Trump.

“There was one performance this year that stunned me. It sank its hooks in my heart. Not because it was good…It was that moment when the person asking to sit in the most respected seat in our country imitated a disabled reporter. Someone he outranked in privilege, power and the capacity to fight back. It kind of broke my heart when I saw it, and I still can...

This article originally appeared on EW.com.

Meryl Streep delivered one of the highlights from Sunday’s 74th Golden Globe Awards with an impassioned acceptance speech for the Cecil B. Demille Award, but there was a minor dig in it that earned the actress an invite to the octagon.

In her stirring speech, Streep criticized President-elect Donald Trump’s bullying rhetoric and advocated for diversity, especially of non-American actors. “Hollywood is a bunch of people from other places,” she said, “crawling with outsiders and foreigners, so if you kick them all out, you’ll have nothing to watch but football and mixed martial arts,...

[[tmz:video id="0_fypkjz85"]] Shawne Merriman could be the the next NFL star to get in the cage -- telling TMZ Sports he's actually had talks with Bellator about a real Mma fight ... and he's dead serious. The former NFL star has been training with Mma fighters for almost a decade -- and says he'd be down to do it, if the conditions were right. In fact, Shawne says he's jokingly talked to Bellator president Scott Coker about it -- but says,...

[[tmz:video id="0_3543ard2"]] 54-year-old Herschel Walker says he wants to get back in the cage and for an Mma bout This Year -- and tells TMZ Sports he's absolutely down to fight Rampage Jackson.  Walker appeared on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs Friday night on FS1) -- and told the guys he still has the fire and ability to compete in a real deal Mma fight.  In fact, Walker says he's already had conversations with Bellator CEO...

The world has sadly lost yet another athlete.  Just days after the death of boxer Muhammad Ali, undefeated boxer and mixed martial artist Kimbo Slice passed away at 42 years old on Monday, the Ufc and Bellator Mma announced in statements. No cause of death has been revealed as of yet, though Slice was reportedly hospitalized in Florida on Monday. "We are all shocked and saddened by the devastating and untimely loss of Kimbo Slice, a beloved member of the Bellator family," Scott Coker, president of Bellator Mma said in a statement. Slice had been under contract with the company from January 2015 up until his untimely death. "One of the most popular Mma fighters ever,...

From the time he was a young boy growing up in North Dakota, Jordan Parsons had one dream: to become a successful mixed martial arts fighter. He seemed to be well on his way. He had signed with the production company Bellator and had amassed a professional record of 11-2. He even had a marketable nickname: "Pretty Boy." He had a televised fight scheduled for later this month. But his promising career came to an end on Sunday. While walking home from the gym, he was struck by a silver Range Rover at a Delray Beach intersection. Although police are...

From the time he was a young boy growing up in North Dakota, Jordan Parsons had one dream: to become a successful mixed martial arts fighter. He seemed to be well on his way. He had signed with the production company Bellator and had amassed a professional record of 11-2. He even had a marketable nickname: "Pretty Boy." He had a televised fight scheduled for later this month. But his promising career came to an end on Sunday. While walking home from the gym, he was struck by a silver Range Rover at a Delray Beach intersection. Although police are...

Mma fighter Jordan Parsons has died ... days after he was struck by a Range Rover in a hit and run incident in Florida. He was 25.  "It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of a dear member of the Bellator family, Jordan Parsons," Bellator Mma President Scott Coker said in a statement. Parsons was 11-2 as an Mma fighter -- and was a part of the famed Blackzilians training group with stars like...

WWE.com

Alberto Del Rio spoke to Wrestling Inc this week in the build up to his debut for Hispanic Mma promotion Combate Americas, and was asked if he would consider fighting Cm Punk in the former WWE champion’s Ufc debut. While an ex-wwe champ vs. ex-wwe champ superfight is unlikely – it would interest wrestling fans, but likely alienate a large chunk of the Mma fanbase, and murky the waters for the Ufc in regards to legitimacy.

Del Rio had some interesting things to say about it;

I’ll do it, but they [Ufc] need to offer the right money. The offers I received from all of the organizations are so ridiculous that I didn’t even think about it. It’s really good money for the fighters, because I know what fighters do every time they fight, but I do so well in pro wrestling, why would I do...

YouTube

For months, there has been talk about Alberto del Rio, the former WWE champion, currently wrestling under the name Alberto El Patron, returning to the world of Mma, where he competed for years under the name Dos Caras Jr. For Del Rio/Patron/Dos Caras, it would be a homecoming of sorts: he was actually quite successful fighting for real in Japan and elsewhere, running up a 9-5 record, which included a six fight win streak from 2007 to 2010.

Del Rio himself has been very quiet on the subject, but Bellator Mma head honcho Scott Coker did confirm talks with the pro wrestler’s camp, and just a few weeks ago, Bill Goldberg let it slip that he had been offered a kickboxing match against none other than the biggest latino superstar in pro wrestling at the moment.

Although he has been working recently with Aaa, Roh and Lucha Underground,...

Bellator Mma

Forget about any jump to the Ufc for Bobby Lashley. Bellator Mma has announced that it has signed the two-time Tna Champion to a “long term” contract extension that, at age thirty-eight, will no doubt take the fighter to the end of his career.

Lashley, the only pro wrestler to simultaneously pursue a mixed martial arts career with a high level of success, was most recently linked to a fight with James Thompson, but was forced to withdraw from the February bout due to injury. He could now be ready to fight as soon as April.

One of the biggest names on the horizon for Lashley would be former Ufc contender and current Bellator heavyweight Cheick Kongo. Shortly after news of the Lashley extension, Kongo retweeted a pair of articles about a potential match-up between the two that had been rumoured to take place next year. Could that...

WWE.com

He’s pushing fifty, flopped in his WWE run, but he’s still a huge name in the wrestling world, and now he’s training with “King” Mo Lawal at American Top Team: Could Bill Goldberg, at age 48, have an Mma fight in his future?

Before you completely dismiss the idea, consider that at the same age, Herschel Walker, NFL legend, fought in Strikeforce, then the second largest Mma promotion in the world, and run by one Scott Coker. The same Scott Coker who now runs Bellator Mma, owned by Viacom. The same promotion where King Mo remains a key star, with an upcoming fight against Cheick Kongo.

And Mo thinks Bellator needs to reach out to Goldberg.

Speaking to Submission Radio, Mo had the following to say about his current training partner:

Well first of all man, he’s a fast learner. He has some crazy power,...

Jae C. Hong/AP

The Ufc is now being aired on The Fight Network, and as part of the build-up to Ufc 183: Silva vs. Diaz, Ufc president Dana White appeared on the channel, where he answered a key question about the future of Brock Lesnar: what was the status of the former heavyweight champion with the company, as far as any existing contract is concerned?

The answer was good news for Bellator. Dana White stated that Lesnar had completed his original Ufc contract, and did not owe the promotion any fights. Which means that, should he return to fighting, he’s free to sign with any promotion, not just the Ufc.

There had been some question about the legality of rumoured talks between Lesnar and Bellator Mma, but this statement puts those questions to rest. Bellator CEO Scott Coker had previously confirmed that the promotion had reached out...

Bellator

Bellator Mma returns after a busy off-season that saw them sign a top prospect but lose an established star (Rampage Jackson) back to the Ufc. They’re fully under the control of Scott Coker now, and it’s under his watch that they will either sink or swim.

Leading the charge in their first event in 2015 is a featherweight title bout between new champion Patricio Freire and former champ Daniel Straus. Straus was one and done as a champ, winning the belt from Pat Curran then losing it right back to him. Freire went on to defeat Curran, and now Straus has another shot. It’s a three horse race that has taken up much of the past two years in Bellator’s featherweight division, and the outcome of this match will likely do little to change that short of the emergence of a new contender.

Bubba Jenkins gets the co-main event slot,...

Jae C. Hong/AP

The Brock Lesnar lottery talk continues to swirl as we approach 2015, and now Scott Coker has confirmed that Bellator Mma have reached out to the WWE champion, who remains under contract with the pro wrestling giant until after Wrestlemania 31. According to Coker, who spoke to Mma Fighting about pursuing Lesnar, there have been no serious talks, but Bellator have gone about “saying hello” to the former Ufc heavyweight champion. As a result;

There hasn’t been any serious dialogue, but when the time comes to have serious dialogue, we’ll be right there.

He went on to add that;

I think that he’s a big needle mover. There have been several years that have passed and I think that he still has the WWE limelight.

More interestingly, Coker had the following to say about signing Lesnar and other high-profile free agents;

There’s not going...

WWE.com

After reports surfaced earlier this month about Bellator Mma being interested in signing a few more professional wrestlers to their roster (they already have former Tna Champion, and former WWE superstar Bobby Lashley), one of the most prominent names to come up was that of Alberto Del Rio, the former WWE champion who was released earlier this year for unprofessional conduct.

Del Rio, it should be noted, has a legit Mma background, having fought up until 2010 in Japan’s Pride and Deep organizations, among others, under the name Dos Caras Jr. Using a wrestling base, and fighting in a luchador style mask, Dos Caras/Del Rio compiled a 9-5 Mma record, losing to heavyweight legend Cro Cop, but breaking Kengo Watanabe’s arm in his debut while executing a suplex (yes those sometimes do happen in Mma, though not the way you think of them in pro wrestling...

The big news coming out of Ufc Fight Night 58, aside from Lyoto Machida’s devastating Tko of Cb Dollaway, was the re-signing by the Ufc of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, a move that surprised many in the Mma world mainly because Rampage was believed to be under contract with Bellator Mma. Now, it’s no secret that Jackson has not been happy with Bellator since Bjorn Rebney, the promotion’s founder, was fired this past summer, and there was talk that perhaps this situation was similar to the one with Eddie Alvarez, where Bellator opted to let the fighter go after years of drama between him and the promotion, including a lot of legal wrangling.

It seems, however, that such is not the case here, and there may in fact be more legal wrangling to come. According to a post by Scott Coker on his twitter and retweeted by Bellator Mma’s official account,...

Eric Jamison/AP/Press Association Images

The Ufc seems to have taken a page out of Bellator Mma’s playbook with these “big announcements” during live events. They did it with Cm Punk, and now, the big news of Ufc Fight Night 58 is the return of Mma superstar and former Pride and Ufc champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.

Jackson was a Pride legend who won Ufc gold and unified the Ufc and Pride belts when he beat Dan Henderson (who held Pride gold) back in 2007. However, he lost his belt to Forrest Griffin, and though he would work his way back to a title shot against Jon Jones in 2011, like so many others he would lose, triggering a three fight losing streak, the worst stretch of his career.

Upset with the Ufc’s treatment of him and his pay, and unhappy with facing wrestlers unwilling to exchange with him on the feet,...

Jack Dempsey/AP

When Quinton “Rampage” Jackson signed with Bellator in 2013, it was huge news. Sure, Rampage was on an 0-3 skid in the Ufc and looked like he had lost his will to fight, coming in overweight and laying a goose egg in his beloved second home of Japan, and complaining about everything from money to having to face wrestlers who wouldn’t stand and trade punches with him (this from a guy who relied on solid wrestling early in his career), but he was still a big name that drew eyeballs. A guy who could headline fight cards.

So his defection to Bellator was huge, and huge for Bellator Mma. It also gave his career in the cage a boost: upon joining Bellator, Jackson quickly piled up three wins, knocking out Joey Beltran and former Bellator light heavyweight champion Christian M’Pumbu before winning a close decision over...

WWE

The Cm Punk show has, at least temporarily, taken the spotlight off of another pro wrestling superstar who could possibly make his way (back) to the world of Mma in 2015. Yes, we’re talking about Brock Lesnar, and if we’re being completely honest, no one outside his closest associates really knows which way he’s leaning.

That said, he has a hell of a lot of leverage at this point. As Good Ol’ J.R. suggested, with the signing of Cm Punk by the Ufc, that’s one less star for the WWE (if there was ever a hope he would go back, it’s gone now), more press for the Ufc, and more money – for Punk, the Ufc, and possibly Lesnar.

Lesnar’s part-time schedule in the WWE, where he is currently champion, is a sticking point for fans, a thorn in the side for the company,...

WWE.com

A report on Pw Insider has thrown another wrinkle into the story of the sporting world’s reignited fascination with pro wrestlers crossing over to the Mma realm. According to the report, which quotes sources within Spike TV close to Bellator, the promotion is looking at signing professional wrestlers past and present to shore up their talent roster.

The hope is, apparently, that the mic abilities of pro wrestlers will allow them to sell themselves to the fan base, and also create the opportunity for the promotion to create “storylines” going into fights.

Before you roll your eyes over the “storylines” bit, this has been done before. Chael Sonnen was essentially playing a character when he called out other fighters, and got himself into all sorts of “storylines.” Fighters have staged feuds for the sake of ratings, and looking at Bellator in particular, they’ve gone so far...

wiki

Kickboxer, the 1989 movie that helped launch the career of action star Jean-Claude Van Damme, has been slated to be remade for a while now. Featuring former Ufc star Georges St. Pierre, who recently appeared as Bartroc the Leaper in Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and WWE star Bautista, coming off a much-talked about turn as Drax the Destroyer in Guardians of the Galaxy (and having just been announced as part of the new Bond movie), the flick already had some serious heavyweights from the fighting world.

Well, add one more – the former face of women’s Mma Gina Carano. Carano, per The Hollywood reporter, is playing a fight promoter in the film that follows a kickboxer heading to Thailand to avenge his brother’s death. Bautsita plays the antagonist of the piece; Jean-Claude Van Damme also returns. Alain Moussi, a stunt performer turned actor who worked on X-Men: Days of Future Past,...

wwe.com

Former Ufc and Bellator fighter Phil Baroni has challenged former WWE star Cm Punk to a Mma match. The 38 year old called Punk out on social media, with the idea of the fight taking place in Bellator.

“I’ll bust you up. Call Coker , move da f****** needle. Wa Wa 3H was mean to me. Vince owes me. Wa Wa. . Your gona love Mma and @Danawhite it’s so fair ova here. Ryback hurt you? I’ll break your f****** Neck #whineybitch” Baroni wrote on Instagram.

He later added, “I’ll Smash his whiny bitch ass… @cmpunk WWE is so mean 2 me.”

Baroni was smart here. He’s a washed up fighter who last fought for Bellator in July 2014. He’s lost his last three Mma fights and should really be retired.

However, by lashing out at Cm Punk, Baroni has created some relevancy for himself. If the...

wwe.com / wikipedia

Bellator Mma President Scott Coker has hyped up the prospect of signing Brock Lesnar.

“We’ve had a conversation internally and it’s worth a conversation, but that’s something we’ll pursue maybe later into January,” Coker told Ariel Helwani on the Mma Hour.

It is thought that Ufc President Dana White is lining up a Mma return for Lesnar, whose WWE contract expires in April 2015. The Ufc are in need of major headliners, following a dismal year at the PPV box office in 2014. WWE meanwhile appear unlikely to renew Lesnar’s expensive deal, amid cost cutting measures related to the WWE Network.

Bellator would be an interesting option for Brock. The group rely mainly on former Mma stars, whereas the Ufc is all about the top fighters of the moment. As such, Bellator could be a more natural fit for The Beast.

The question is,...

Wikimedia

Bellator 131 took place Saturday night in California, and while the action was going down, Bellator CEO Scott Coker made a huge announcement: 2015 will see an event the company is calling the “British Invasion” which will include the return to the Bellator cage of pro wrestling standout and former WWE star Bobby Lashley.

Lashley has gone 2-0 since arriving in Bellator, and title fight talk has come hot and heavy as a result. Cheick Kongo was rumored as a potential opponent, and Lashley reacted favorably to the fight, but Bellator match-makers have gone another direction, and lined up Lashley for the first rematch of his career, against England’s James Thompson.

If there has been a knock on Lashley, who started late in the Mma game, it has been his level of competition: each time he has tried to make a step up, he has been knocked back. He met Thompson.

Bellator is ripping a page right from the Vince McMahon playbook ... using giant screens, loud music and cool graphics to make the walk-to-the-ring at their Mma event feel just like WWE. TMZ Sports has footage of the new stage in action -- which is set to debut at Bellator 131 on Saturday -- and it's awesome. It's clear the Mma company is using pro-wrestling style entertainment to change it's image under the helm of new CEO...

Bellator.com

While not as stacked as the season opener last week, Bellator Mma still had a solid card to offer fight fans Friday night with Bellator 124. Featuring a headlining bout of light heavyweight champion Emanuel Newton taking on the Mexicutioner Joey Beltran, the promotion’s 124 event was a bit of a patchwork affair. The title shot for Beltran felt like the influence of Scott Coker at work: put in a guy with a name, even if he hasn’t won a lot lately. In fact, it was extremely reminiscent of Keith Jardine’s middleweight title shot in Strikeforce: The Dean of Mean hadn’t won a single fight for the promotion (his first appearance was a draw), yet his drop to middleweight earned him an instant title shot against then-champion Luke Rockhold.

Emanuel Newton vs. Beltran felt a lot like that: Bellator under Coker wanted a known name for Newton,...

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The American Pyscho is out of retirement – and in Bellator Mma.

That’s right – the most outlandish Mma rumour of the month has panned out, as Ufc Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar has signed with Bellator Mma, according to a press release posted to their official website. As per the release, “I want everyone to know I’m coming out of retirement because it’s time to free the Mma world of the virus that’s known as Tito Ortiz,” Bonnar said. “We’ve been suffering through his boring fights for too many years, and it’s about time that someone beats it out of him once and for all.”

Wow. It appears the move has the blessing of Dana White, and was in the works since at least earlier this month, as the rumour slipped out about a week ago thanks to Twitter...

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The trials and tribulations of Eddie Alvarez during his last few years in Bellator have been well documented. A consensus top ten lightweight during that time, he was made a star in Bellator Mma under the Bjorn Rebney regime, where he would become, then lose, the Bellator lightweight championship in the world’s number two Mma promotion. After losing the belt to another homegrown Bellator star, Michael Chandler, in a fight of the year candidate, Alvarez gained a couple of wins in non-title matches, then went to explore the free agent market.

Dana White, seemingly a fan of what Alvarez brought to the table, offered the fighter a fantastic contract that included six figures, Pay-per-View points, and an immediate title shot, and it appeared as if Alvarez was Ufc bound – until Bellator opted to exercise its matching rights. Matching rights allow an organization to match the offer of any...

6:15 Pm Pt -- War Machine just got canned. Bellator President Scott Coker tells TMZ Sports ... "We have a zero tolerance policy here at Bellator when it relates to any form of domestic violence, and after learning of this latest incident involving (Jon Koppenhaver) War Machine, Bellator is releasing him from his promotional contract with the organization."War Machine is wanted by Las Vegas police in a severe beating that may have landed his porn star girlfriend in the hospital.

Lost in the all the excitement over last week’s Ufc Fight Night: McGregor vs. Brandao and this coming Saturday’s Ufc on Fox 12: Lawler vs. Brown is the fact that Bellator returns to the air for their only live event until September. Airing as always on Spike TV in North America, Bellator 122 looks like an underwhelming card on paper, lacking a single title fight, and with tournament finals of questionable value now that Bellator appears to be moving away from its tournament system.

However, there are still reasons to tune in to the event, especially if you’re a hardcore Mma fan. Bellator Mma, if nothing else, is known for having at least one or two fights per show where guys will do the old “stand and bang” routine, and generally speaking their finish rate is pretty high. There’s a reason they’re the number two Mma promotion around,...

A bit of breaking news late this afternoon in the Mma world: England’s Paul Daley is returning to Bellator!

As announced during an appearance on the Mma Hours with Ariel Helwani, English fighter and former Ufc combatant Paul Daley is returning to a major North American promotion – only it’s not the Ufc. Instead, “Semtex” has re-signed with Bellator, the number two Mma promotion in the USA. This comes hot on the heels of an (apparently failed) campaign to return to the Ufc after his prior release for sucker-punching Josh Koscheck after the end of their three round bout at Ufc 113.

This also follows Daley’s release from his previous Bellator run, which had come due to ongoing legal troubles with the fighter involving charges stemming from a bar fight.

It seems that those charges have been cleared up, and all is forgiven. Daley acknowledged the issues in the interview,...

WWE.com

Current Tna World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Lashley is returning to the cage!

Bobby Lashley, one-time WWE superstar and current Tna World Heavyweight Champion (where he wrestles under just his last name, Lashley), has signed on with Bellator Mma, now headed by Lashley’s old Strikeforce boss Scott Coker, and will make his promotional debut this September 5th Connecticut.

Once linked to the Wsof, Lashley never appeared for that organization, and fought most recently in independent promotions Xfn (winning their heavyweight title) and Gwc. Lashley is also a Shark Fights champion. Since joining Tna Wrestling on Spike, speculation has been rampant that Lashley would also join Bellator and work under both promotions, just as fellow fighters King Mo and Rampage Jackson have done (though neither have been used much at all by Tna).

Though his career in Mma has failed to reach the level of success that Brock Lesnar...