Promotion officials announced the news on Thursday, after the Adidas Arena noted that the show had been nixed.

A short press release confirming the news had the promotion providing a buy one, get one free ticket offer to fans who had purchased seats for the Paris show.

“Bellator Paris (Nov 16) has been postponed and fighters have been rescheduled for later dates,” the press release opened, before providing a link to the promotion’s event schedule. “All previously purchased tickets for Bellator Paris have been refunded. Purchasers will receive a buy one get one ticket purchase opportunity for PFL Europe Championship in Lyon, France on December 14.”

The cancellation of the Paris card is the second cancellation of a Bellator event, with their show in Chicago also postponed indefinitely. The company, now owned by the Professional Fighters League, had promised eight events in 2024. It has run five so far, most recently in London, England on September 14.

The London card lost its main event a short time out from the show, with Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards 2 shifted to the PFL Battle of the Giants card later this month. The Paris show had been expected to see Patchy Mix vs. Magomed Magomedov headlining.

The only event still on the schedule for Bellator in 2024 is a New Year’s Eve card. No official announcement regarding that show has been made.

The post November’s Bellator Paris Card Postponed, Fighters Booked for Later Dates appeared first on Cageside Press.

“The first round I just wrestled with him. I wanted to make him tired because he came out like kind of scrappy and it’s hard to time. Specially in the beginning of the fight,” Adjoudj told Cageside Press among other media at his post-fight scrum.

“So I just wrestled, made him tired. I’m striking since I’m a kid. Been fighting since I’m 7 or 8. I know that I have the skill to KO anyone in the cage.”

Adjoudj (8-1) extended his win streak to 7 when Fontes rushed in and got knocked out.

“I knew that when he was going to rush in he’s going to get cracked and that’s what happened. He rushed in and got knocked out,” he said.

“That was my plan, and I’m very happy about that.”

Still coming down from the adrenaline rush Adjoudj had not seen the replay of his KO finish. Cageside Press journalist Patrick McCorry handed him a phone with the replay queued up.

“I don’t even know if it was a right hand or a left hook. Ohhh yes. Ohhhh,” he said as he watched the replay.

“Yes! Big right hand! Shout out to Imad, he’s my boxing coach, we work on that a lot. That was nice right hand. Slept him, boom! Woo hoo!”

Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Asael Adjoudj above.

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“It was dope. It was cooler than had I just gone out there and they just cheered for him and did nothing for me,” Colgan told Cageside Press among other reporters at his post-fight scrum.

“When I walked out there and they said ‘Archie King Colgan’ I hit the stage and the whole arena booed…that sh*t felt so good.”

Colgan (10-0) dominated the fight against a very tough Gouti who missed weight the morning before. It did nothing but get Colgan some extra cash.

“I mean it gave me a couple thousand dollars, that was cool, and besides that…you can look at it as maybe he cut corners in camp or not. Or maybe he was trying to get himself a little bit of an edge by not cutting that little bit that everybody knows is the hardest,” he said.

“But to me when you spend your life dotting your I’s and crossing your T’s and living you life the right way two pounds isn’t going to be enough to beat me.”

Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Archie Colgan above.

The post Archie Colgan Loved The Boos, Walks Away With Extra Cash appeared first on Cageside Press.

Magomedov was having a lot of success early with his right hand. He caught Mix early, while Mix was trying to set up his weapons. Mix was making his reads but not throwing too much. The Dagestani fighter’s corner was ecstatic with how the first round went—slamming with excitement on the side of the Octagon.

Mix countered Magomedov’s early round 2 takedown attempt with a tight guillotine,  but Magomedov slid out before it got too tight. Mix maintained almost complete control of the center of the Octagon, making it difficult for Magomedov to implement his wrestling. A technical battle early.

Once again, Mix latched onto a Guillotine, similar to the first fight, but Magomedov slipped out again. Magomedov landed a thunderous shot that paused Mix, and began to tee off, but Mix was able to recover and get it into the clinch. Both fighters were having a lot of success, but Magomedov was finding an edge in the striking realm.

Again, both fighters were having success on the feet, and not so much in the 4th round. A tense and close affair, with not a huge amount to write about. Magomedov was landing his right hand consistently, while Mix was landing counter right hooks with ease.

Round 5, the potential tie breaker. Mix was doing very well on entering takedown attempts, but couldn’t finish them. However he was in control of all of the exchanges in the clinch. The two Bantamweights had a stellar performance; on the scorecards, it was close, with Mix taking a split decision.

Official result: Patchy Mix defeats Magomed Magomedov via Split decision (46-49, 48-47, 48-47) 

The post Patchy Mix Edges Past Magomedov at Bellator Paris In First Title Defense appeared first on Cageside Press.

Willis walked out to a sea of boos, while Doumbè walked out to a reception nothing short of incredible. Without wasting a second both fighters met in the middle. Doumbè defended Willis’s first attempt, rocked him, and then again on the second shot. Doumbè`s overhand was landing with conviction early in round one.

Willis then briefly dropped Doumbe, only to be caught by the Frenchman while charging in. Willis was landing, but Doumbè’s shots were much more powerful. Doumbè then floored Willis with a beautiful shot. After some ground and pound, Mike Beltran had seen enough and stopped the fight. The crowd went WILD. Doumbe passed the toughest test of his MMA career thus far.

Former UFC-Champion, Anthony Pettis entered the cage, and expressed interest in fighting Doumbè in Paris. Looks like Pettis and Doumbè will square off next, whether it is in Saudi Arabia or Paris.

Official Result: Cedric Doumbe def. Jaleel Willis via R1 TKO, 3:33

The post Cedric Doumbe Crumbles Jaleel Willis Inside One Round appeared first on Cageside Press.

“I think he’ll be surprised at all angles. I trained at home. Last time I prepared in the states this time I trained at home,” Magomedov told Cageside Press through a translator on Thursday.

“So I had a different preparation. I’ll be 100%. He’s going to see a completely different fighter.”

Magomedov (20-3) will face Mix for the first time since their fight at Bellator 289 in December 2022.

“Every fight is different. Every fight is a fight, but if I have a chance to avenge my loss and win a title that’s a double benefit. Double whammy,” he said.

Being on the big stage fighting for a title once again Magomedov understands just how important and big this fight is. Mix may in fact be the toughest and best bantamweight in the world and taking the title off him will be hard.

“This is definitely the most important fight, title fight, and I want to win the title. I fought a lot of tough guys and Patchy is definitely at the top. He’s a tough guy,” said Magomedov.

“Great fight.”

Watch the entire media scrum with Magomed Magomedov above.

The post Magomed Magomedov Trained At Home For Mix Rematch appeared first on Cageside Press.

“I feel the last couple fights, specially coming off that loss to (Juan) Archuleta, I feel kind of people were writing me off. They didn’t realize how good I really truly was. Kind of just from that performance,” Mix told Cageside Press during fighter scrums on Thursday.

“After that I started seeing, you know, I was always favorite in my fights. Then I started being the underdog.”

Mix (19-1) has been one of the best bantamweights in the world for a while. The question remains, how would he fare against a UFC champion such as Sean O’Malley who reigns at 135.

“I know how it would go. I’d finish him,” said Mix.

“But I don’t really think too much into it. I’m laser focused on Friday, and you know, I have a lot of mutual training partners with those guys that are ranked over there. I train a lot with the highest of the highest levels.”

Mix trains with plenty of UFC talent and left it to them to answer whether or not he could hang with the best in the UFC.

“Just look at the I train with and just go ask them. Ask them just how dangerous I am or ask them how I fare against any of those competition, you know,” he said.

“I do well.”

Watch the entire media scrum with Patchy Mix above.

The post Patchy Mix Says He Would Finish Sean O’Malley appeared first on Cageside Press.

“I never met Cedric on a personal level. So how is he going to behave? I’m not an interviewer. I don’t interview people so I was a little nervous,” Sonnen told Cageside Press following the Bellator Paris press conferene.

“He (Doumbe) might come after me. It’s his spotlight, but I got a reputation too. I don’t anybody left mad at him including Jaleel.”

Doumbe and Willis got heated at the press conference and at face-offs and the two got physical when Willis pushed Doumbe as he hit the scale at ceremonial weigh-ins.

“Cedric has a charm that he put on everybody. I got to say that about Jaleel too. Jaleel was very funny up there, Jaleel was a cool guy, he said the N word at one point. I think that he’d take that one back if he could, but in all fairness Jaleel Willis was a cool guy,” said Sonnen.

Sonnen spent his entire career putting pressure on opponents before, during and sometimes even after his fights, and he explained why that’s important.

“Can I tell you why pressure matters? They never go the extra step to tell the audience why that matters. It matters because it creates stress, and that stress is a chemical release through your body that will lock you up,” he said.

“In a game of cardio it will tire you out. So if you have that pressure that creates that stress and you get that chemical release you will tire out and fatigue before your opponent. That’s why it matters who’s feeling it.”

Watch the entire interview with Chael Sonnen above.

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Barnaoui (20-6) fights in Paris for the second time in 12 months and it’s a welcome feeling for the Paris resident.

“This time it’s for me. It’s a bigger one so I want to win and I will (do) everything (to) win,” Barnaoui told reporters including Cageside Press through a translator during a media call on Tuesday.

The French lightweight is on a two-fight losing streak coming into Bellator Paris. Not a stranger to losing streaks Barnaoui has shown the ability to come back even better after consecutive losses.

“I’m really here for the victory. I made a big training for that and I will win,” he said.

He takes on Yachi who comes over from Rizin FF and makes his Bellator debut in Paris. The ruleset being different than what is done in Bellator it may help Barnaoui in the bout.

“(My) opponent is a former champion from Rizin so he’s here for the victory,” he said.

Barnaoui ends up on the same card as French MMA star Cedric Doumbe who has said he’s the face of French MMA.

“(I) have no response for that,” he said.

“Don’t care.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Mansour Barnaoui above. He takes on Yusuke Yachi at Bellator Paris on Friday night.

The post Mansour Barnaoui Wants To Bounce Back From Losing Streak appeared first on Cageside Press.

“It’s an honor for (me) to have the opportunity (to) have this belt. (I) will (do) everything to have it,” Babene told reporters including Cageside Press through a translator during a media call on Tuesday.

Babene (23-11) will be fighting in his home base this weekend at Bellator Paris

“I feel great. I feel confident. I prepared this fight maybe three months ago. I’m ready for that and I’m really excited,” he said.

The Bellator middleweight is in a unique position being 40-years-old and having to take on younger opponents in a young man’s sport.

“For me edge is not important. I feel still young so I continue my road, and I’m happy to fight. I’m happy to be a fighter in Bellator and PFL. I’m just happy and just (continuing) my way,” said Babene.

Feeling young and being young are obviously two different things, but the Babene has changed his training as he’s gotten older.

“Maybe 20 years ago I expect to win with (much) power, strong attitude. Now I have more cerebral capacity,” he said.

“I’m a new fighter.”

Watch the entire media day with Gregory Babene above. He takes on Costello van Steenis at Bellator Paris on Friday night.

The post Gregory Babene Still Feels Young At 40-Years-Old appeared first on Cageside Press.