CHICAGO, Ill. (June 22, 2010) — Aisling Daly, the best female mixed martial artist in Ireland and the world’s No. 3-ranked 125 lbs. female fighter, is the latest addition to Bellator Fighting Championships’ Season 3 Women’s Tournament.

The 22-year-old Daly (whose first name is pronounced “ASH-ling”) brings a pristine 9-0 record to the tournament, which will mark her MMA debut in the U.S. Her most recent win came against the previously undefeated Finnish knockout artist Maiju Kujala this past March.

Daly is the seventh announced participant in the tournament, each of whom is ranked among the world’s 10 best in their respective weight classes. The others are Japanese MMA sensation Megumi Fujii – widely regarded as the No. 1 pound-for-pound female fighter in the world – 11-1 British tae-kwon-do black belt Rosi Sexton, 12-5 Seattle submission artist Lisa Ward, 7-0 Southern California striker Jessica Pene, 8-4 New Mexico-based submission specialist Angela Magana and 5-1 Las Vegas-based powerhouse Lynn Alvarez.

The tournament begins on Aug. 12 and will once again be televised LIVE in primetime every Thursday night on FOX Sports Net and during special weekend highlight shows on NBC, Telemundo and the cable network mun2.

“Bellator is the No.1 organization in the world form women’s MMA right now so I jumped at the chance to sign,” Daly said Tuesday. “They have all of the best female fighters in the world signed and I firmly believe that whoever wins the tournament is the best pound-for-pound female fighter in the world. That’s my goal and that’s what I’m coming to the U.S. to do … nobody will remember who finishes second.”

Daly got her start in combat sports at the age of 10 when she began training in karate. As a teenager, she picked up Brazilian jiu-jitsu and, later, boxing and wrestling.

“When I put all of that together, I figured I’d give MMA a go,” she said.

As evidenced by her four career TKOs (three of them in the first round), Daly considers herself an aggressive fighter who looks to finish fights early.

“When I go in there, I’m lookin’ to make an impact. I’m lookin’ to steamroll the person I’m fighting,” she said.

Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney said that trait should serve her well no matter which of the other top-ranked opponents she draws once the tournament begins in August.

“Aisling’s as tough as they come and she has all the tools necessary to be dangerous against anyone in this stacked women’s tournament,” he said.

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator. Tickets are available at www.Ticketmaster.com.

CHICAGO, Ill. (June 15, 2010) — Ron “The Monster” Sparks, an undefeated heavyweight KO artist and Kentucky native has signed on to fight in the “Local Co-Main Event” during Bellator 23 at the Fourth Street Live entertainment district in downtown Louisville next Thursday.

Sparks, a longtime boxer and kickboxer who has also been training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu for the past four years, is a perfect 5-0 as a pro MMA fighter, including four first-round knockouts. Three of his fights lasted less than 40 seconds.

He was originally scheduled to face the undefeated Bobby Lashley at tomorrow night’s Strikeforce event in Los Angeles, but was freed up to sign with Bellator after Lashley withdrew from the fight late last month because of injury.

“We are happy to have an up-and-coming heavyweight like Ron taking part in the Local Co-Main Event of our Louisville show,” said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “Ron knocks people out and fans love to see that in the heavyweight division, so Ron should put on a great show for the fans in Louisville.”

Sparks, 36, was introduced to combat sports by his father, who studied martial arts during the Vietnam War. He began taking classes in kickboxing as a teenager and became a regular sparring partner for a variety of local boxers and kickboxers while also competing in a wide variety of kickboxing promotions himself, including K-1.

In 2006, he met Louisville-based MMA manager and trainer Jason Weihe, who convinced him to give the sport a try. In addition to his five wins, he’s also been booked as an opponent for a bevy of top heavyweights including Ray Mercer, Tim Sylvia and Bob Sapp, only to have those fights fall through because when those opponents backed out.

Sparks calls his new contract with Bellator “the next big step” in his career.

“Bellator’s a great organization and this is a great opportunity to fight in front of my hometown crowd,” Sparks said. “I love to keep the fight on my feet and I love going for the knockout. There ain’t nothin’ better in this world than knockin’ a guy out.”

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at Facebook.com/Bellator.

CHICAGO, Ill. (June 14, 2010) — Bellator Fighting Championships announced today that top-ten 115 pounder Angela Magana has been added to Bellator’s stellar list of top-competitors in the upcoming Bellator Season 3 Women’s Tournament. According to recently released rankings, the rising star is currently the #8 ranked female fighter in the world at 115 lbs. Magana, who holds a professional record of 9-4, faces the toughest test of her career in a stacked 115 lbs. tournament roster.

“We are very pleased to add Angela Magana to the compelling list of 115 pound women competing in our Season 3 tournament. There is not an easy fight anywhere in this tournament and Angela should present a very tough fight for everyone she faces in this tournament,” said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney.

Hailing from a rough beginning in Los Angeles, Magana eventually relocated to New Mexico where she found a healthy outlet for her aggression in high school wrestling. She excelled, making the varsity team and later going to the State finals. In addition, Magana also holds an impressive amateur boxing record compiled through junior high and high school.

However, it wasn’t until she first watched the 1988 Jean-Claude Van Damme film Bloodwork that she became interested in martial arts. “I watched it over and over again,” said Magana “It wasn’t exactly MMA, but it sparked my interest and really inspired me to start training.”

Magana found a gym and started to hone her jiu-jitsu skills by entering numerous grappling tournaments while still using her wrestling skills as a base. 13 MMA fights later, Magana stands ready to face the best-of-the-best in Bellator’s Season 3 Women’s Tournament. The New Mexico fighter says she hopes for a re-match with undefeated fellow tournament fighter Jessica Pene, whom she lost to last September. Although she makes no excuses for the loss, Magana said it was the toughest weight cut of her life.

Magana is one of five announced participants in Bellator’s forthcoming Season 3 Women’s Tournament along with Japanese MMA sensation Megumi Fujii, widely regarded as the No. 1 pound-for-pound female fighter in the world, 11-1 British tae-kwon-do black belt Rosi Sexton (the world’s No. 1-ranked 125 lbs. female fighter), 12-5 Seattle submission artist Lisa Ward and 7-0 Southern California striker Jessica Pene. The tournament kicks off in August.

Magana currently resides in Farmington, N.M with her 8 year old daughter, where she trains with Greg Jackson sister gym Team Four Corners.

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.

Pat Curran had never met his older cousin until he traveled from Florida to Chicago to attend his wedding at age 17.

At that point, though, many mixed-martial-arts fans knew Jeff Curran, who by his 2005 nuptials had already been a professional fighter for seven years.

Soon the fight veteran would put his cousin on a pro-MMA path that eventually led him to tonight's Bellator 21 main event and a lightweight-tournament finale with Toby Imada.

Updated to include ALL Videos

At the APF Nationals in Chicago this past weekend, Glenn Baggett (220) totaled 2,237. That will rank him 4th overall on the Powerlifting Watch multi ply Lifter Rankings.

At this past weekend's APF Senior Nationals in Chicago, best lifter honors went to Stephanie Vandeweghe (181), Michael Cartinian (181), Jose Garcia (275), and Jason Coker (198 and 220).

Press Release.

CHICAGO, Ill. (June 7, 2010) — Japanese MMA sensation Megumi Fujii, widely regarded as the No. 1 pound-for-pound female fighter in the world, will make her U.S. television debut on Thursday night on FOX Sports Net as part of the LIVE broadcast of Bellator 21 from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

The judo and jiu-jitsu black belt will take on 9-3 Kansas City product Sarah Schneider in the hopes of improving her unblemished pro MMA record to 20-0 and notching her 17th career submission win during what will be her first major-promotion fight on U.S. soil.

Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster.com and at the Hard Rock Live box office.

The 36-year-old Fujii is also one of four confirmed participants in Bellator’s forthcoming Season 3 Women’s Tournament along with 11-1 British tae-kwon-do black belt Rosi Sexton (the world’s No. 1-ranked 125 lbs. female fighter), 12-5 Seattle submission artist Lisa Ward and 7-0 Southern California striker Jessica Pene. The tournament kicks off in August.

“With our Season 3 Women’s Tournament now just three months away, this fight between Megumi Fujii and Sarah Schneider on Thursday gives U.S. MMA fans their first opportunity to see the woman many believe is the best female fighter in the world,” Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “This fight will be a tough test as she prepares for an extremely strong tournament field. As a fan, I can’t wait to watch on Thursday and in August.”

Fujii was trained in MMA by Shooto veteran Hiroyuki Abe and top heavyweight Josh Barnett and is known for her quick takedowns and skilled submissions. Remarkably, only three of her 19 victories have come by decision with the rest coming via a wide variety of submissions – most frequently the inazuma toe hold, which has been dubbed the “Megulock.”

Fuji said through her translator that she is ecstatic to be fighting under the Bellator banner.

“Bellator is a great organization and they have some excellent competition,” she said. “I’m looking to stick to my game plan, get submissions and win the tournament. That’s my only goal.”

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator. Tickets are available at www.Ticketmaster.com.

About Bellator Fighting Championships
Bellator Fighting Championships is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company with offices in Los Angeles and 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.

At the APF Senior Nationals in Chicago this past weekend, Debbie Damminga (148) posted a top 10 total by squatting 407, benching 225, and deadlifting 413 to total 1,045 pounds. That will place her 6th on the Powerlifting Watch multi ply Lifter Rankings. Here are videos of her day:

Sunday's (Day 2) winners at the APF Senior Nationals in Chicago are as follows:

You may not have recognized his name before last weekends UFC 114 event, or even recognize it now, but you won’t forget his stunning third round knockout of UFC heavyweight Todd Duffee.




Chicago police officer Mike Russow (13-1) learned a couple of things that night. The first, he can take a punch. And the second, adrenaline is powerful stuff even after you’ve broken your arm.


For the better part of two-and-a-half rounds, Duffee looked to be in complete control of their fight and was cruising to a unanimous decision win. Russow had always closed the distance with his opponents quickly and taken the fight to the ground, but against Duffee he was having troubles and taking some serious punches to the chin, something that had never happened before.


“For me, my game, every fight except this one, has been to get in there close and try to take him down, ground-and-pound and set up for a submission,” he said. “I was just shooting sloppy shots, and Todd Duffee is a big, strong guy. I don’t make excuses. I just couldn’t execute.”


“…Plus, I learned a lot about my chin. I’ve never really been punched before. I showed that I could take a hit, and it was exciting.”


Late in the first round Duffee threw a head kick which Russow blocked with his left arm hurting the Chicago PD officer. The bell rang to end the round a few seconds later and Russow went back to his corner in a lot of pain. He knew something was wrong but he carried on anyway.


“It was killing me,” he said. “With all of that adrenaline going, it was still hurting.”


Duffee’s kick was so hard that it broke Russow’s left arm, a clean break of the ulna, for which he’ll have to sit out six to eight weeks.


So for another round and a half, Russow toughed it out not knowing what was wrong but hoping for an opportunity to win the fight. Which at 2:35 of the third round he did by scoring one of the biggest upsets in the octagon to date by landing an overhand right to Duffee’s temple sending him crashing to the mat.


“It was a great win, and I think the way it happened, talking to my manager and coaches, with the arm, I really couldn’t grab anymore, so even if I did get him down, I don’t know how much I really would have been able to do.”


With the win and the “Knockout of the Night” award, Russow won’t rely on another knockout win in his next fight, he realizes there are some big holes in his standup game and has some areas to improve before that time.


HT: LasVegasSun.com for the Russow quotes and to Gordo1581 on the UG for the GIF.