On Thursday, Bellator officials announced via press release the addition of fights in the bantamweight, women’s flyweight, and other divisions for the August card. Among the bouts announced, Leandro Higo (21-6), ranked #7 in the 135lb weight class, will face Nikita Mikhailov (10-2), a member of Fedor Team who has picked up wins in three of his four Bellator MMA fights to date.

Higo had a three-fight win streak snapped when he ran into Danny Sabatello in the Bellator bantamweight grand prix last year. Prior to that, the Brazilian had earned wins against ex-champ Darrion Caldwell, Ricky Bandejas, and Shawn Bunch.

Mikhailov, who previously fought for Fight Nights Global, is coming off his own win over Caldwell.

Also on the Bellator 298 card, Mikhailov’s countrywoman Diana Avsaragova (6-0) returns, putting her undefeated record on the line against UFC veteran Justine Kish (8-6). Kish is 1-4 in her last five fights dating back to her UFC run, with the lone win against former women’s flyweight champ Ilima-Lei Macfarlane sandwiched between losses to DeAnna Bennett.

Max Rohskopf (7-2) will face Brazil’s Jairo Pacheco (7-1) in a lightweight match-up, while Ukraine’s Katerina Shakalova (7-1) debuts in a women’s featherweight fight against #7-ranked Dayana Silva (10-8). Finally, ex-LFA bantamweight champ Jerrell Hodge (10-3) makes his own debut against Marcirley Alves da Silva (11-3).

Bellator 298 is set to be headlined by a welterweight showdown between Logan Storley and Brennan Ward at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on August 11, 2023. The following match-ups have been reported/announced for the event:

• Logan Storley vs. Brennan Ward
• Valentin Moldavsky vs. Steve Mowry
• Dalton Rosta vs. Aaron Jeffery
• Sidney Outlaw vs. Islam Mamedov
• James Gallagher vs. TBD
• Lucas Brennan vs. Weber Almeida
• Michael Blockhus vs. Eli Mefford
• Alfie Davis vs. Aalon Cruz
• Leandro Higo vs. Nikita Mikhailov
• Diana Avsaragova vs. Justine Kish
• Max Rohskopf vs. Jairo Pacheco
• Katerina Shakalova vs. Dayana Silva
• Jerrell Hodge vs. Marcirley Alves da Silva

The post Leandro Higo vs. Nikita Mikhailov, Diana Avsaragova vs. Justine Kish Among Fights Added to Bellator 298 appeared first on Cageside Press.

In part one we are handing out awards to the best representative of each division this year. For each division we’ll highlight one prospect that we felt has had the best year inside of the cage.

Heavyweight prospect of the year: Slim Trabelsi (5-0)

Heavyweight didn’t have a strong year. Most of the fighters that stood out were signed up by a major promotion. Heavyweight is like that, so as soon as there is someone that starts to stand outz, they immediately get snatched up. That includes Slim Trabelsi. Trabelsi was reported to sign with the UFC and was set to make his debut on October 22 on UFC 280. Unfortunately, Trabelsi was still under contract with Ares FC and after the promotion balked on letting him out of the contract, the UFC debut couldn’t happen. This year he went 3-0 beating John Winter who was 4-0, former UFC veteran Luis Henrique, and then Azamat Nuftillaev who was 12-0. In that Nuftillaev fight, Trabelsi won the Ares FC title.

Light Heavyweight prospect of the year: Bruno Lopes (11-0)

Light heavyweight had a better year than heavyweight, but Bruno Lopes was the clear winner among them all. This year he went 3-0 and made his debut for LFA going 2-0. Lopes is coming off the biggest win in his career after winning the vacant LFA 205-pound title in September. Lopes was away from the sport for six years until he made his comeback last year, and has gone on a tear since. Years ago, Lopes fought at welterweight and was the Jungle Fight champion. Now, he’s at light heavyweight where he’s right at home. Lopes already might be signed to a major promotion but we don’t know it yet.

The post Yearly MMA Prospect Awards: 2022 in Review, Part 1 appeared first on Cageside Press.

On Tuesday, promotion officials announced the signing of UFC and Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus Aalon Cruz, and Ukrainian women’s featherweight talent Kateryna Shakalova.

Both fighters enter the promotion on impressive win streaks.

Cruz (10-4), competing as a lightweight, has notched back-to-back wins since parting ways with the UFC in in 2021. Defeating Steve Nguyen on the Contender Series in 2019 to win his way into the promotion, Cruz already had a win over current UFC talent Steve Garcia from earlier in his career. But he ran into Spike Carlyle and Uros Medic inside the octagon, losing to both before being cut.

Now back to his winning ways, Cruz has earned stoppages in each of his last two fights, and has six finishes among his ten wins overall.

Shakalova (7-1), from Ukraine, has been competing at bantamweight, a division Bellator MMA does not currently offer (though if it’s left up to Liz Carmouche, that could soon change). She’s won six straight fights, picking up rear-naked choke submissions in her last two.

The Ukrainian picked up a win over UFC alum Izabela Badurek last year. She’s expected to compete at featherweight, alongside the likes of Leah McCourt, Cat Zingano, and current champion Cris Cyborg.

Both fighters are expected to make their promotional debuts sometime in the first half of 2023.

The post Bellator MMA Signs UFC, DWCS Vet Aalon Cruz, Ukraine’s Kateryna Shakalova appeared first on Cageside Press.

Who will they take in 2022?

Here’s a look at last year’s list, with Erin Blanchfield, Joselyne Edwards, Karine Silva, Lupita Godinez, Pierangela Rodriguez, and Tabatha Ricci signing with the UFC in 2021:

Alesha Zappitella
Erin Blanchfield
Jamey-Lyn Horth Wessels
Joselyne Edwards
Julia Polastri
Karine Silva
Lisa Verzosa
Lucrezia Ria
Lupita Godinez
Melissa Martinez
Pierangela Rodriguez
Stephanie Geltmacher
Svetlana Gotsyk
Tabatha Ricci
Valesca Machado

Before we move on, check out the rest of the series:

10 Heavyweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2022
10 Light Heavyweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2022
10 Middleweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2022
10 Welterweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2022
10 Lightweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2022
10 Featherweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2022
10 Bantamweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2022
10 Flyweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2022

The post 15 Female Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2022 appeared first on Cageside Press.

FEN 32 | Poland | Friday

Bantamweight, Jonas Magard (12-4)

Magard isn’t entirely comfortable on the feet, though he still does hold some power and has good movement — it’s just not where it needs to be at a high level. Magard though is a grappling ace with five submission wins and five via a rare Japanese Necktie. His wrestling has gotten much better over time. His single leg is what’s highlighted in his wrestling. As shown in his last fight he can wrestle heavy for five rounds. Magard fights Frans Mlambo (9-5).

Bantamweight, Ekaterina Shakalova (5-1)

Ukraine’s Shakalova has already made quite the impact this year. With a win over a good prospect in Róża Gumienna and recently beating former UFC fighter Izabela Badurek, things are looking up. Those two wins have skyrocketed her to one of the top bantamweight prospects. Shakalova is a three-time grappling world champion and a four-time European grappling champion. Her wrestling to showcase that grappling is outstanding. Shakalova has classic wrestling skills and likes to use a lot of arm drags which is something you don’t see much in MMA. She also changes levels for well-executed double legs and is known for some high amplitude takedown in her repertoire. Shakalova is very good at moving into side control and letting off some relentless ground and pound. Her striking needs work but her wrestling and grappling is top-notch. She fights Jamila Sandora (5-0).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1GsbAbp9iM&t=1521s

ACA 123 | Russia | Friday

Flyweight, Aren Akopyan (11-2-1)

From Russia, Akopyan is quietly one of the best prospects out of the country. On the feet, he’s a quick guy with a lot of bounce and movement. He does a good job throwing out feints and freezing guys while being able to let his hands go. He’s an even better wrestler and his ground game is very dangerous. He fights Charles Henrique (13-2).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cnuwQRAXoo

XFC 44 | US | Friday

Lightweight, Tom O’Connor (9-1)

O’Connor is an endurance athlete who wins on pressure, pace, and cardio. The Canadian fighter has solid wrestling. His level changes are so low on the legs it’s tough to fend him off. His positional grappling is on point as he’s able to control guys while just bullying them around. The footage does lack so right now it hard to tell how good he is. O’Connor fights Damonte Robinson (6-1-1).

MMA-Series 33 | Russia | Friday

Heavyweight, Oleg Popov (10-1)

Popov is a wrestler who has some decent power in his hands. He’s an aggressive guy constantly shooting and what he lacks in size he makes up for with his strength. Not entirely someone who will blow you away on the mat but he has some heavy top control. Popov is getting better and better with each fight. He fights Marcos Brigagão (13-2).

Superior Challenge 22 | Sweeden | Saturday

Light heavyweight, Karl Albrektsson (11-3)

Albrektsson has only three losses in his career, all three to stellar fighters in Valentin Moldavsky, Phil Davis, and Jiri Prochazka. He has also beaten good competition such as former UFC fighter Josh Stansbury and Bellator light heavyweight champ Vadim Nemkov. “King” has a background in BJJ and in Sanshou, in which he was the 2014 European champion. His weak point would be on the feet, as he’s often seen fighting too stiff. He excels on the mat though, looking better in each fight. Just last month, he beat Nemkov’s brother, Viktor, so he’s staying active. He fights Rab Truesdale (10-6-1).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIkjRjnY3-U

The post Weekly MMA Prospect Report: A Handful of Standouts in a Slow Week appeared first on Cageside Press.