In a press release on Tuesday, promotion officials announced that eight fights had been announced for the Bellator 298 card in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on August 11, 2023. Among them were a previously reported match-up between Jaylon Bates and Enrique Barzola, and the addition of James Gonzalez stepping in against James Gallagher — but regardless, the extra six bookings beings the card to 19 announced fights in total.

Among the names newly added to Bellator 298, Sullivan Cauley (5-1) is set for a light heavyweight showdown against Cedric Savage (3-2), with Cauley bringing at 100% finish rate to the fight. Hawaiian Kai Kamaka (11-5-1), a UFC veteran, had been paired up with Russia’s Akhmed Magomedov (10-1).

Middleweights Khalid Murtazaliev (17-3) and Mike Shipman (15-4) also collide.

Rounding out the most recent additions, Bryce Meredith (4-0) faces Alberto Rodriguez (4-3) at bantamweight, Russian middleweight Imamshafi Aliev (9-0) goes up against Elevation Fight Team’s Anthony Adams (9-4), and Alfie Davis (15-4-1) faces UFC alum Aalon Cruz.

Bellator 298 takes place at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on August 11, 2023 with welterweights Logan Storley and Brennan Ward headlining. Fans might want to show up early to catch all the action in this one.

The Bellator 298 card currently features the following announced match-ups:

• Logan Storley vs. Brennan Ward
• Valentin Moldavsky vs. Steve Mowry
• Dalton Rosta vs. Aaron Jeffery
• Sidney Outlaw vs. Islam Mamedo
• Lucas Brennan vs. Weber Almeida
• Enrique Barzola vs. Jaylon Bates
• Kai Kamaka vs. Akhmed Magomedov
• Diana Avsaragova vs. Justine Kish
• James Gallagher vs. James Gonzalez
• Imamshafi Aliev vs. Anthony Adams
• Max Rohskopf vs. Jario Pacheco
• Dayana Silva vs. Katerina Shakalova
• Sullivan Cauley vs. Cedric Savage
• Bryce Meredith vs. Alberto Rodriguez
• Alfie Davis vs. Aalon Cruz
• Leandro Higo vs. Nikita Mikhailov
• Khalid Murtazaliev vs. Mike Shipman
• Marcirley Alves da Silva vs. Jerrell Hodge
• Michael Blockhus vs. Eli Mefford

The post Multiple Fights Added to Bellator 298, Which Stands at 19 Announced Bouts appeared first on Cageside Press.

Promotion officials released the final line-up for their 2022 closer on Monday, announcing that #5 ranked 185’er Dalton Rosta (7-0) will take on the #10 ranked Anthony Adams (9-2).

Rosta has been perfect thus far in his pro career, and trains alongside the division’s champ, Johnny Eblen, at American Top Team in Florida. Last time out, “Hercules” put away rival Romero Cotton with a left hook, ending his night in the third round.

The 27-year old Rosta has spent his enter pro career with Bellator MMA, debuting with the promotion in 2019. He holds a win over current UFC athlete Cody Brundage from the pair’s amateur days.

Adams, who twice appeared on Dana White’s Contender Series only to fall short on both occasions, made his promotional debut last time out at Bellator 266, defeating the highly-touted Khalid Murtazaliev via a unanimous decision.

Bellator 289 will feature the semifinal round of the promotion’s Bantamweight Grand Prix, including an interim bantamweight title fight between Raufeon Stots and Danny Sabatello in the main event. In the evening’s co-feature, flyweight champ Liz Carmouche will run it back with Juliana Velasquez, after the pair’s first fight ended in controversy.

Set to unfold at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT on December 9, 2022 and airing live on Showtime in the U.S., Bellator 289 currently features the following match-ups:

• Raufeon Stots (ic) vs. Danny Sabatello – for the Bellator MMA interim bantamweight championship / bantamweight grand prix semifinal
• Liz Carmouche vs. Juliana Velasquez – for the Bellator MMA women’s flyweight championship
• Patchy Mix vs. Magomed Magomedov – bantamweight grand prix semifinal
• Dalton Rosta vs. Anthony Adams
• Denise Kielholtz Ilara Joanne
• Cody Law vs. Cris Lencioni
• Kyle Crutchmer vs. Jaleel Willis
• Kai Kamaka vs. Kevin Boehm
• Mark Lemminger vs. Michael Lombardo
• Pat Downey vs. Christian Echols
• Cass Bell vs. Jared Scoggins
• Randi Field vs. Kristina Katsikis
• Theo Haig vs. Kareem Kline

The post Bellator 289 Adds Rosta vs. Adams, Card Finalized appeared first on Cageside Press.

During a press conference in Paris promoting the event on May 6, 2022, promotion officials announced that Lorenz Larkin vs. Anthony Adams had been added to the Bellator 280 line-up. Additionally, two more fights were revealed: Youcef Ouabbas vs. Mathieu Ducios, and Victor Verchere vs. Bourama Camara, both of which are expected to appear on the event’s preliminary card.

Larkin (23-7, 1NC) was a key free agent signing for the promotion in 2017, as he’d left the UFC off a pair of wins against top welterweight stars Neil Magny and Jorge Masvidal. However, he stumbled out of the gate, losing back-to-back fights against Douglas Lima (for the Bellator MMA welterweight title) and Paul Daley.

Since then, however, Larkin has compiled a five-fight win streak, most recently competing at middleweight and picking up a win over ex-champ Rafael Carvalho. The fight against Adams will once again come at middleweight.

Larkin was initially scheduled to face Khalid Murtazaliev on the card, however the Russian fighter has pulled out of the event for undisclosed reasons.

Adams (9-2) will enter the fight off a win over Murtazaliev last September. Prior to that, he had appeared twice on Dana White’s Contender Series, losing to both Chibwikem Onyenegecha and Impa Kasanganay.

Bellator 280 takes place at AccorHotels Arena in Paris, France on May 6, 2022, and is topped by a heavyweight title fight. That bout sees champ Ryan Bader run it back with French veteran Cheick Kongo.

The following match-ups have been reported for the card to date:

• Ryan Bader vs. Cheick Kongo – for the Bellator MMA heavyweight championship
• Melvin Manhoef vs. Yoel Romero
• Lorenz Larkin vs. Anthony Adams
• Soren Bak vs. Saul Rogers
• Gavin Hughes vs. Yves Landu
• Piotr Niedzielski vs. Pedro Carvalho
• Gregory Babene vs. Mike Shipman
• Thibault Gouti vs. Lewis Long
• Fabacary Diatta def. Jordan Barton
• Nicolo Solli vs. Joel Kouadja
• Lucie Bertaud vs. Katarzyna Sadura
• Davion Franklin vs. Daniel James
• Davy Gallon vs. Benjamin Brander
• Bourama Camara vs. Victor Verchere
• Mathieu Letho Duclos vs. Youcef Ouabbas

The post Lorenz Larkin vs. Anthony Adams Announced for Bellator 280 in Paris appeared first on Cageside Press.

A Contender Series fight is one that has stakes like none other, where fighters must showcase their skills to impress the UFC president enough for a contract with the promotional giant.  Holding the Contender Series with a smaller cage inside the UFC Apex venue makes for a tense atmosphere, and with only close friends and family of the competing fighters in attendance as spectators. Emotions always run high, as a limited amount of contracts can be given out on any given night, and many fighters can potentially have their dreams snubbed out solely because of bad luck.

In rare cases, however, a fighter gets a second look. This series will examine those.

Anthony “SugaFoot” Adams (8-1 MMA)

Age: 32 years old

Height: 6’1″

Weight Class: Middleweight (185lbs)

First DW’s Contender Series Fight: July 17th, 2018 (Week 5)

Old DW’s Contender Series Opponent: Chibwikem Onyenegecha (7-0 MMA)

Second DW’s Contender Series Fight:  August 11, 2020 (Week 2)

New DW’s Contender Series Opponent: Impa Kasanganay (6-0)

First DWCS Fight

Anthony Adams took his first contender series fight on just 5 days’ notice.  Adams had fought a little over two weeks prior, capturing the middleweight belt in the Sparta Combat League. Though it is worth noting that Adams has fought at 170lbs multiple times in his professional career. Anthony looked very competent on the feet especially against an opponent that was as aggressive as Chibwikem Onyenegecha. Adams overall fought a very patient fight where he looked calm and composed the entire time. Adams is an orthodox fighter and utilized his rear kick to the body of his opponent seamlessly. Adams didn’t seem to “open up” until very close to the end of each round. The lone two takedown attempts in the fight, by Adams, were thwarted. Adams was able to stay focused and use his footwork to create movement as well as to using fantastic head movement to remain out of range but dangerous for the duration of the fight. Adams correctly lost a split decision that night.

Contender Series Opponent

Anthony’s first Contender Series opponent was  Chibwikem Onyenegecha, who was, and still is, undefeated. Onyenaegecha wasn’t offered a contract by the UFC on the night he beat Adams. And the middleweight has not fought since that Contender Series fight back in 2018. The card that Onyenegecha and Adams fought on was the same card as Contender Series stars and eventual UFC standouts Maycee Barber and Edmen Shahbazyan.

The Road Back

Anthony Adams has had just one fight materialize since his last contender series fight two years ago. This was not from lack of trying though, as Adams has had bouts canceled with Adam Stroup, Jason Jackson, Kassius Kanye, and Gregory Rodrigues during this two-year time frame since his DWCS appearance. The one fight that did happen was with the LFA promotion against Josh Cavan. This fight was in January of 2019 a few months after the Contender Series fight. Adams was able to finish a 15-7 Cavan,  4:56 into the first round with punches.

Gameplan / New Opponent

Anthony’s opponent for his second chance on the Contender Series is Impa Kasanaganay. Impa is actually getting a second chance of his own as well.  In Kasanaganay’s last appearance he looked a little inexperienced, especially on the ground. It could potentially be something that Anthony could exploit, but there is no guarantee, as Impa hasn’t had a fight since his Contender Series bout. Though Anthony has yet to get a finish in his professional career, he will likely have to produce one on Tuesday. Adams will be able to use his footwork, striking and ground game to likely try and push the pace of the fight a little more to give himself a chance at the UFC contract at the end of the night.

The post Redemption: Second Chances on Dana White’s Contender Series — Anthony Adams and Impa Kasanganay appeared first on Cageside Press.

Let’s break it all down.

Middleweight: Joseph Pyfer vs. Dustin Stoltzfus

Tale of the Tape

Pros and Cons

Who has the advantage?

Striking: Even
Speed: Pyfer
Output/Volume: Stoltzfus
Knockout Power: Pyfer
Chin: Stoltzfus
Kickboxing: Stoltzfus
Footwork: Pyfer
Wrestling: Stoltzfus
Grappling: Stoltzfus
Submissions: Stoltzfus
Cardio: Stoltzfus

Prediction

Similar fighters who both have green but dangerous striking and both wanting to take the fight to the mat. Pyfer more wants to pound your face in while Stoltzfus is a proficient submission artist. Wrestling wise I’m much more impressed with Stoltzfus as Pyfer is all about just muscling guys to the mat. I’m siding with the jiu-jitsu of Stoltzfus over the strength of Pyfer. The only chance I see Pyfer winning is if he puts Stoltzfus out early but I think Stoltzfus no doubt is the better all-around fighter on the mat. The longer the fight goes I favor Stoltzfus.

The post DWCS 2020 Week 2 Breakdown and Predictions appeared first on Cageside Press.