Ex-Bellator Fighter Joe Schilling KO's Man in Bar Fight Video, Claims Self-Defense
Jun 28, 2021
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JULY 11: MMA Fighter Joe Schilling attends the annual NCLUSIVE kick off party at Le Jardin on July 11, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic)
Mixed martial artist Joe Schilling, who most recently competed in Bellator, said he was acting in self-defense in a video of him knocking out a man at a bar that went viral.
In the video posted on Twitter, Schilling appears to be trying to get around a man who is standing between a bar and a table, the man then seems to confront Schilling before the MMA fighter quickly punches the man twice in the face, sending him to the floor.
Schilling wrote on Instagram, "self defense is apparently not what this country is about anymore." He added that he's got footage of the incident and also used a hashtag "f--k racists."
The 37-year-old Schilling has competed in boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts over the course of his career. The Ohio native lost to Tony Johnson at Bellator 229 in his last fight with the promotion before being released in October.
Fedor Emelianenko to Fight on Bellator Card in Russia on Oct. 23; Opponent TBD
Jun 25, 2021
SAITAMA, JAPAN - DECEMBER 29: Fedor Emelianenko celebrates the victory during the Bellator Japan - Fedor v Rampage at Saitama Super Arena on December 29, 2019 in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images)
Fedor Emelianenko is bringing Bellator back to Russia.
The 44-year-old heavyweight has agreed to end his two-year hiatus from MMA on October 23 at VTB Arena in Moscow against a yet-to-be announced opponent, according to ESPN's Marc Raimondi.
It's Bellator's first-ever event in Russia and will mark Emelianenko's first bout in his home country since 2016.
The MMA legend began his career going 31-1-1, including a stretch of 28 consecutive bouts without a loss and victories over the likes of Mark Coleman, Mirko Cro Cop and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. While UFC was still gaining an international foothold in MMA, Fedor was building a legacy that would span multiple promoters over two decades.
Emelianenko (39-6-1, 15 KOs) defeated Fabio Maldonado via majority decision at June 2016's Fight Nights Global 50 in St. Petersburg, Russia, It was his seventh professional bout in Russia and helped extend a five-fight win streak after suffering three consecutive losses in Strikeforce competition.
Following a victory over Maldonado, Emelianenko joined Bellator, where he lost his 2017 debut to Matt Mitrione by first-round knockout. He'd go onto win his next two bouts before getting knocked out in the first round again by Ryan Bader in a battle for the vacant heavyweight title.
Emelianenko hasn't been back in the cage since he earned a first-round technical knockout of Quinton Jackson at Bellator 237 in December 2019.
It's unclear who Bellator may tap as Emelianenko's return opponent.
Cris Cyborg Knocks Out Leslie Smith, Retains Featherweight Title at Bellator 259
May 22, 2021
INGLEWOOD, CA - JANUARY 25: Cris Cyborg in the cage during her featherweight world title fight against Julia Budd at The Forum on January 25, 2020 in Inglewood, California. Cyborg won by TKO in the 4th round. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Cris Cyborg remained atop Bellator's women's featherweight division with a fifth-round TKO win over Leslie Smith in the main event of Bellator 259 from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
The finish came better late than never for the champion as she secured the TKO with just around 10 seconds left in the final round.
Smith only lasted one minute and 21 seconds in her first fight with Cyborg in 2016. She at least made it past that mark this time around as Cyborg took a patient approach, walking her opponent into the cage.
Smith was able to delay the inevitable onslaught for a few minutes with some defensive boxing. Once Cyborg decided to fire off some combinations, the results were predictable as she put her opponent on the mat.
Cyborg wasn't quite able to draw the finish in the first round, but she did add a highlight-reel suplex to her repertoire.
A counter right hand nearly put Smith down in the second round. The 38-year-old was able to stay upright and showed some strong boxing, but Cyborg's power was the difference.
Smith got credit for hanging with a tough opponent even if the fight never really felt like it could go her way:
Toughness alone isn't enough to beat someone of Cyborg's caliber. Smith found that out as she continued to take shots into the championship rounds.
Those fourth and fifth rounds turned out to simply be more of the same. Cyborg continued to exploit the skill gap between the two, and eventually, it became too much as she got the stoppage in the final moments of the fight.
It's Cyborg's third win since joining the company in 2020. As a champion in Bellator, UFC, Invicta and Strikeforce, no one has seen as much gold from different organizations than the Brazilian. If it weren't for a loss to Amanda Nunes, she would have the strongest argument as the greatest of all time.
Cyborg lost to the Lioness in the final fight on her UFC contract before signing with Bellator. Fighting for Scott Coker's promotion gave her the freedom to pursue boxing while maintaining her MMA career. Cyborg intended to make her boxing debut in 2020, but the pandemic threw a wrench in those plans.
While the fearsome striker still intends to do that, she's excited about the featherweight division in her current MMA home.
"This is the first thing I think about -- OK, I want to be in an organization that has my real division," Cyborg said, per Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com. "I cannot wait, fight one time a year, two times a year [and] fight against girls that are [coming up] from 135 [pounds]. This is nice. I'm very happy."
The UFC's women's featherweight division has struggled to really materialize. Nunes is the current champion and has split her time between defending both of her belts.
Bellator has some interesting options to oppose Cyborg should she want to continue to do so. Julia Budd was competitive in Cyborg's Bellator debut. Cat Zingano is a former UFC title challenger with a win over Nunes on her resume.
Either one would be a strong enough matchup to anchor another card for the promotion.
Cris Cyborg on Leslie Smith Fight: 'Gonna Be A Lot of Violence' at Bellator 259
May 20, 2021
CURITIBA, BRAZIL - MAY 14: Cris 'Cyborg' Justino of Brazil competes Leslie Smith of the United States in their catchweight bout during the UFC 198 at Arena da Baixada stadium on May 14, 2016 in Curitiba, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Cris Cyborg's rematch with Leslie Smith may not be for the faint of heart.
Speaking with MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, Cyborg said she feels like she's prepared to go the distance if necessary against Smith and that her opponent is equally equipped for a physical struggle.
"And Leslie Smith, she’s a very, very tough girl, and people who watch her know that," she said. "Everyone knows I have the heart of a warrior, too. So there’s gonna be a lot of violence, so you guys should get excited to watch this fight."
The two first crossed paths at UFC 198 in May 2016, which was Cyborg's debut for the promotion. She earned a TKO victory one minute and 21 seconds into the first round on home soil in Curitiba, Brazil.
Now, Smith has an opportunity for revenge Friday at Bellator 259, and Cyborg will be putting the women's featherweight title on the line in the main event.
Eighteen of Cyborg's 23 professional wins have come by way of knockout or TKO. It's doubtful this one goes the full five rounds, but the Brazilian's promise of "a lot of violence" will probably come to fruition.
Bellator MMA Fighter Anthony Johnson Arrested on Identity Theft Charge
May 11, 2021
Anthony Johnson sits on the mat after the second round in a light heavyweight title mixed martial arts bout against Daniel Cormier at UFC 187 on Saturday, May 23, 2015, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Bellator MMA fighter Anthony Johnson was arrested Friday in Connecticut and charged with identity theft related to an allegation he used another person's credit card without permission to book a plane ticket to Florida in November 2019.
Zak Failla of the Greenwich Daily Voice reported Tuesday that Johnson also faces charges of illegal use of a credit card and spending less than $500 on a revoked payment card. He was released from custody on $500 bond.
Johnson was arrested at the Mohegan Sun Casino, where earlier he defeated Jose Augusto in his first Bellator appearance after a four-year hiatus since his last fight in UFC.
The 37-year-old Georgia native, who currently lives in Florida, has a court date scheduled for June 8, perMMA Fighting. The identity theft charge carries a potential prison sentence of five years in prison, a $5,000 fine and probation. The New Canaan Police Department announced the details:
"The illegal use of the credit card was used to purchase a round-trip airline ticket from Ft. Lauderdale, FL (FLL) to Newark, NJ (EWR). The name of the passenger was Anthony Johnson. A subsequent Investigation determined Johnson used the illegally obtained credit card to purchase the airline ticket. An arrest warrant was obtained for Johnson for the above charges."
Johnson hasn't commented on the arrest. He wasactiveon social media as recently as Sunday, wishing his grandmother a Happy Mothers' Day.
Johnson has compiled a 23-6 record with 17 knockouts during a pro career that dates in 2006.
His career included two stints in the UFC, including two fights for the light heavyweight championship against Daniel Cormier in 2015 and 2017. He lost both title bouts.
He announced his retirement in April 2017 after the second loss to Cormier, but he opted to return and secured his release from his contract with UFC in December in order to sign with Bellator.
Johnson secured a second-round knockout of Augusto in his promotion debut Friday.
Anthony Johnson Beats Jose Augusto with Vicious Knockout at Bellator 258
May 8, 2021
Anthony Johnson celebrates after defeating Jimi Manuwa during their light heavyweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC 191 on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Anthony "Rumble" Johnson made a successful return to the cage with a second-round knockout win over Jose Augusto in the co-main event of Bellator 258.
Rumble reminded everyone what he's capable of in just one punch after a turbulent first round.
The opening frame was an up-and-down affair. Things looked good for Johnson early. He was the early aggressor and Augusto appeared to injure his hand on a punch that hit his opponent's head.
Jose Augusto obviously injured his right hand with a punch off the top of Rumble's skull. He was laboring but continued to throw it and hurt Johnson. Crazy opening round.
However, the Brazilian was willing to sit and the pocket and counter Johnson which paid off. Augusto cracked his opponent with a counter-right and nearly sunk in a submission in the aftermath.
How close was @joseaugustomma to shocking the world in Round 1? 😱
Johnson merely survived the rest of the round and given his past issues with cardio and is age, it was fair to wonder if he'd turn things around. Rumble answered those questions pretty quickly.
He reminded everyone very quickly how easy it is for him to change a fight instantly. He followed up a left hand with a massive right hand that put his opponent to sleep and sent him to the second round of the tournament.
UFC fighter Dan Ige gave Johnson props for the big win in his return:
My brother @Anthony_Rumble just dropped the BOMB!! Great job by the referee for letting that fight play out
The first round was an up-and-down affair. Things looked good for Johnson early. He was the early aggressor and Augusto appeared to injure his hand on a punch that hit his opponent's head.
However, the Brazilian was willing to sit and the pocket and counter Johnson which paid off. Augusto cracked his opponent with a counter-right and nearly sunk in a submission in the aftermath.
Johnson merely survived the rest of the round and given his past issues with cardio and is age, it was fair to wonder if he'd turn things around. Rumble answered those questions pretty quickly.
He reminded everyone very quickly how easy it is for him to change a fight instantly. He followed up a left hand with a massive right hand that put his opponent to sleep and sent him to the second round of the tournament.
UFC fighter Dan Ige gave Johnson props for the big win in his return:
Bellator president Scott Coker was appreciative of Augusto's effort on short notice.
The fight was Rumble's first since a loss to Daniel Cormier at UFC 210 in April 2017. After losing his shot at light heavyweight gold against DC, he decided to retire.
However, it was actually watching another Cormier fight that inspired him to get back in the cage. Johnson enjoyed his retirement (and the ability to relax his eating habits) but got the itch to fight once again.
"I had no desire to truly compete again, especially with how fat I was. But when I watched the (Stipe) Miocic and Cormier fight it lit a fire under my tail and made me want to compete again," he said per Paul Battison of BBC Sport.
Johnson admitted he got up to 280 pounds in his retirement, but after watching that fight, he got back in the gym and cut the necessary 75 pounds to once again fight at light heavyweight. Throughout Johnson's career, he is one of the few fighters who can say he fought at every weight from welterweight to heavyweight.
Johnson's best success has arguably been at light heavyweight. His only loss in the division came at the hands of Cormier twice.
That record is about to be put to the test, though. Johnson was spared fighting a fellow UFC talent in Yoel Romero. The Cuban was forced off the card after failing his pre-fight medical screening.
He'll now face current Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov. He'll bring an eight-fight win streak to the table that includes wins over Phil Davis (twice) and Ryan Bader. The winner will face whoever emerges from the semifinal between Bader and Corey Anderson.
Ryan Bader Defeats Lyoto Machida by Unanimous Decision at Bellator 256
Apr 10, 2021
Ryan Bader, right, hits Matt Mitrione during a heavyweight mixed martial arts bout at Bellator 207, in Uncasville, CT, on Friday, October 12, 2018. Bader won via unanimous decision. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Ryan Bader took his first step toward reclaiming the Bellator light heavyweight championship with a unanimous-decision win over Lyoto Machida in the main event of Bellator 256 from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
The first round was a throwback to prime Machida. The Dragon darted in and out of range and battered Bader's body and legs with kicks while frustrating the former Bellator champion any time he tried to close the distance.
A left head kick from Machida punctuated the action as the veteran took the first round.
Bader turned the fight around in the second round. After playing Machida's game in the first five minutes, he went to his wrestling, scoring a blast double that put his opponent on the defensive.
The wrestling turned out to be the recipe for Bader's success. In the third round, he repeated the early takedown and opened up even more with Machida on the ground. He bloodied his opponent and continued to build momentum toward a complete takeover of the fight.
💪 @RyanBader scoring yet another takedown, now in the third round.
By the fourth round, the fight devolved into a practice of mere survival for Machida. Bader spent the vast majority of the round in top positions adding additional damage with his ground-and-pound.
The only intriguing question remaining by the fifth round was whether Machida's corner should have allowed the one-sided action to continue.
Machida is down in 30 seconds. Just know that every piece of abuse he takes here is, at best, debatably necessary.
The bout serves as the opening quarterfinal of the promotion's 205-pound tournament to crown a champion. Bader—who still holds the organization's heavyweight crown—lost his light heavyweight belt to Vadim Nemkov in August 2020.
The win signifies the evolution of Bader from his early days in the UFC. Machida beat Bader in the UFC in 2012 by second-round knockout as the former Arizona State wrestler was in the midst of a 3-4 run.
Now, as a two-division champion, Bader could have been content to make heavyweight his full-time home, but the opportunity to compete in a tournament was too intriguing.
"For me to get my belt back and again be a two-division champ by getting past a stacked field like this would be sweet. Winning a second grand prix—it doesn't get much bigger than that," Bader told Jeff Wagenheim of ESPN.
Winning this grand prix could be more challenging than the heavyweight version he won in 2018. The light heavyweight field includes Anthony Johnson, Yoel Romero, Corey Anderson and the champion Nemkov.
Bader will know who his next opponent is next week. He will fight the winner of the second quarterfinal bout between former UFC contender Anderson and Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov.
Anderson won his Bellator debut against Melvin Manhoef in November. Yagshimuradov will be making his promotional debut but brings an eight-fight win streak on the Russian scene to the cage with him.
The winner will have a former champion awaiting them in the semifinal.
Cris Cyborg vs. Leslie Smith Bellator Title Rematch Set for May 21
Apr 3, 2021
FONTANA, CA - MARCH 01: Cris Cyborg former UFC unbeaten Featherweight World Champion at the NASCAR Cup Series - Auto Club 400 on March 1, 2020 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA. (Photo by Lyle Setter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Bellator featherweight champion Cris Cyborg will defend her title against Leslie Smith on May 21.
ESPN's Marc Raimondi relayed the news, which was announced on the Bellator 255 broadcast Friday.
Cyborg, who is 23-2 lifetime (2-0 Bellator) with one no-contest, will be making her second title defense. She defeated Julia Budd for the Bellator belt in January 2020 before defending it against Arlene Blencowe last October.
Cyborg has also won the featherweight belt for Strikeforce, Invicta FC and UFC. Her last loss came against Amanda Nunes, who took the UFC featherweight title from the Brazilian in Dec. 2018.
The champion's bout with Smith is a rematch. Cyborg beat her via first-round TKO in a catchweight fight (140 pounds) at UFC 198 in May 2016.
Smith is 12-8-1 lifetime and 2-1 in Bellator. Her last fight was a unanimous-decision victory over Amanda Bell last September.
Yoel Romero vs. Anthony Johnson Set for Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix
Feb 9, 2021
Robert Whittaker, right, and Yoel Romero fight during their middleweight Title bout at the UFC 225 Mixed Martial Arts event Sunday, June 10, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jim Young)
Bellator has announced it will hold an eight-man Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix, with a quarterfinal matchup between Yoel Romero and Anthony Johnson serving as the highlight (h/t Alexander K. Lee of MMA Fighting):
Romero, 43, is 13-5 as a professional mixed martial artist. He won 12 of his first 13 fights and earned a shot at the interim UFC Middleweight Championship but lost to Robert Whittaker.
Romero then won a matchup with Luke Rockhold for the interim middleweight title but was ineligible for the belt after missing weight. He then fought Whittaker again for the interim middleweight title and missed weight again, losing this time.
A pair of unanimous-decision defeats to Paulo Costa and middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, the latter of which was for the middleweight belt, capped his UFC career.
He went 33-11 during his freestyle wrestling career, winning gold at the 1999 World Championships and silver at the 2000 Summer Olympics, among other accolades.
Johnson has gone 22-6 during his MMA career, fighting for the UFC light heavyweight title twice against Daniel Cormier. He lost via rear-naked choke both times.
The 36-year-old, nicknamed "Rumble," enjoyed a successful stretch that included 12 wins in 13 fights over four-plus year stretch. He's won 16 of his 22 fights via knockout.
Showtime will be the home for the tournament, which will begin April 9. Ryan Bader vs. Lyoto Machida and Corey Anderson vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov will be the quarterfinal matchups taking place on that date. Romero vs. Johnson will occur on April 16 alongside current Bellator light heavyweight title holder Vadim Nemkov vs. Phil Davis.
The semifinals will occur in July, and the final is set for October.
The Legendary Patricio Pitbull and the Real Winners and Losers from Bellator 252
Nov 12, 2020
Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire speaks to the media at a news conference promoting the Bellator Spring & Summer fight cards on Monday, March 9, 2020, in New York City. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
It almost didn't look fair. With a six-inch height advantage, challenger Pedro Carvalho towered over Bellator double champion Patricio "Pitbull" Freire. He took the center of the cage with a confidence that seemingly couldn't be contained.
It looked like a big brother humoring a younger sibling—at least it did right up until Pitbull landed his first left hand. Carvalho's legs buckled immediately. The fight was over in that moment, though it took almost two minutes to work out the details with another left followed by a right straight down the middle.
Carvalho couldn't handle the power Pitbull packs in his hands at 145 pounds. Based on his 31-4 career record, almost no one in the world can. Pitbull isn't just the greatest fighter in the world outside the UFC—he might just be the best featherweight on the planet.
"He takes the center of the ring. He will dare you," Bellator analyst Chael Sonnen said after the fight. "He will go out there and dare you 'try to hit me. I am going to counter and I'm going to put you down.' I've never seen quite a confidence in a standup fighter before. I will compare all the greats to him...it's like an old West quick draw and he beats them every time."
The victory moves Pitbull into the semi-finals of a 16-man Featherweight Grand Prix tournament that will leave the winner with the title strap and a check for a million dollars. But the champ wasn't the only winner on the night. Not only did his next opponent advance in the tournament, several other fighters made a case for big-time fights in the days going forward.
Fighting is a weird sport, where wins and losses can matter less than the way you make your mark. What follows aren't just the victors on paper—these are the real winners and losers in the court of public opinion at Bellator 252.
Winner: Grappling
There's a misconception among many fans, especially newcomers to the sport, that fights become boring the second they hit the ground.
To be fair, that can certainly be true on occasion. There's not much worse than two fighters doing nothing more than buying time to breathe as they lay together on the mat.
When two fighters really get after it, however, grappling exchanges add a new element that can make a good fight feel special. There's something dynamic about the game of human chess that develops when two masters clash on the ground, a combination of the mental and physical that makes this sport unlike anything else in the world.
Logan Storley and Yaroslav Amosov gave us a taste of that for three whole rounds in a fight between two undefeated fighters that lived up to the hype. Amosov won a split decision—but this was a bout with no real loser. Both came out of the contest with a little more respect on their name and the appreciation of everyone watching on CBS Sports Network.
Some psychologists claim that the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. But that simple maxim isn't always true—especially in the fight game.
In 2016, Daniel Weichel squeaked out a decision against Emmanuel Sanchez. Four years later, however, it was a different story entirely.
Now a mature fighter in his prime, the 30-year-old Sanchez demolished his foe, overwhelming him with punch after punch in a 25-minute shellacking. It was all Weichel could do to survive—merely lasting to the final bell seemed like an accomplishment in its own right.
Sanchez will move on to the semi-finals of the featherweight tournament where he'll meet Pitbull in another rematch that promises to be a barnburner.
Winner: Jarring Transitions
CBS Sports Network went from a long-form interview with a ballerina Misty Copeland discussing the challenges African American dancers face in the world of dance directly into Bellator 252.
That might be the most interesting transition I've ever seen in my years covering this sport.
I'm not sure how much crossover there is between these two worlds, but I found the interview interesting. Hopefully, some ballet fanatics took the leap into the cage with the Network and found something they could enjoy too.
The verbal signal was meant for fighter John de Jesus, indicating he should thrown a jab and an uppercut. But it was his opponent, Aaron Pico who was waiting for it.
His striking coach, the great Brandon Gibson, had cued into the tendency. Pico, it turns out, was waiting for it, moving offline and throwing an enormous winging right hand to counter.
The punch landed cleanly—and when Pico lands clean, fights tend to end quickly.
Once the brightest young prospect in the sport, Pico has rebuilt his game at the legendary Jackson Winkeljohn gym and, once again, seems poised to make major moves in the sport.
Winner: Displays of Respect
For more than 10 years, Devin Powell devoted his life to the martial arts. You've probably never heard of him, one of the countless young men dreaming of glory and success in the world of combat sports.
Powell made it further than most—his journey took him all the way to the UFC's Octagon, where he lost three of four fights by decision before the machine spit him back out.
There is a path to redemption—but losing a one-sided fight on the Bellator prelims isn't a stop on it. When the final bell rang, Powell knew the fight wasn't going his way. He left his gloves in the center of the cage, apparently calling it a career.
It's what happened next that was remarkable. Powell dropped to his knees post-fight and his opponent, Manny Mura, knelt with him and led a short prayer. It was the ultimate sign of respect—and a beautiful way to end a career in a sport that is anything but pretty.
Winners: Fathers and Sons
Chris Brennan may not be a household name in mixed martial arts, but the veteran journeyman made the sport his livelihood for more than a decade. He fought in more than a dozen promotions and six countries, from SHOOTO to Pride, to the UFC and everywhere in between.
Brennan has years of institutional wisdom to pass on—and, in his 20-year-old son Lucas, a willing protege looking to soak in knowledge. If we're honest, Andrew Salas was outsized and overmatched in this undercard fight—but the younger Brennan was able to get his reps and spend 15 very valuable minutes facing live rounds in the cage.
That's a big deal and sure to pay plenty of dividends when he advances to more challenging competition.
Twenty-seven years to the day after his father Royce helped launch modern mixed martial arts at UFC 1, Khonry Gracie had a much less impressive performance to open the streaming prelims at Bellator 252.
The 23-year-old, third-generation fighter struggled in his bout with Trevor Gudde which was mostly notable for his truly impressive mohawk. Gudde, who was likely on his way to a decision victory after controlling the bout in the clinch in the first two rounds, finished the fight in the final stanza after catching Gracie with a light knee to the chin.
Now just 2-2 in his fight career, contested primarily at a very low level, it's clear at this point that Gracie will never be an elite mixed martial arts competitor.
