Amanda and Nina Nunes — Aladdin

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtSG_7PfNs/

The champ-champ and wife Nina Nunes, along with their daughter Raegan Ann, get high marks for an Aladdin, Jasmine, and Abu (we had to look up the monkey’s name) group costume.

Yaba-Daba-Doo!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtaIchvwHb

Barney, Betty and Bam-Bam!

Bunny or Hard Time?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtLa6pPg80/

Kay Hansen couldn’t pick just one costume.

Sexy Serial Killer Nurse

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtIbnqPejG/

If that nurse isn’t a serial killer, then she just lost a patient. Yikes!

RIP Prince

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVrPJZQFFFP/

Sergio Pettis calls back to that time Dave Chappelle spoofed Prince.

No Halloween Parties for Belbita

#halloween2021
Everyone is out partying and I'm over here like.. pic.twitter.com/PIsjhzMumg

— Diana Belbiță (@DianaBelbita) October 31, 2021

There’s something to be said for a quiet night in.

More bloody than her last fight

https://twitter.com/AngelaMagana1/status/1454931711083511809

Former UFC fighter Angela Magana looked like she just beheaded some zombies.

Vampire Champ

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVsv9i1PglN/

We’re pretty sure biting is still banned under the Unified Rules of MMA, but Sinead Kavanagh might want to watch out anyway, based on Cris Cyborg’s Halloween outfit.

Dirty

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVs5CVDvU5r/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=328b7a66-554f-4c79-bc86-c6bdc00ecd52

Clay Guida giving Joe Dirt a little love. He actually might be pulling it off better than David Spade himself.

Can’t pick just one

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVsgOUbrbl7/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtXM5kpQk_/

Gillian Robertson rocked both a Harley Quinn and Child’s Play outfit this year.

No family should be this cool

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVs92S2vMpL/

We don’t deserve Max Holloway

Ummm…

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVrDC06v3ks/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=dc7f8068-4a20-450e-ad6a-4d58e1d13571

Not sure what Carla Esparza is going for here, other than dominatrix. She is known for punishing opponents mind you.

Hocus Pocus

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVrT6lzjo2g/

Megan Anderson showing how group theme costumes are done.

Book of St-Pierre

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtdNBPPEVI/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=cd5adaad-6189-4604-8919-7b598f656dd3

He’s already done the MCU — maybe GSP is hinting at something here.

Mortal Kombat

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVrR-ysjr0q/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=7a3c1d73-921a-4df1-b450-f225c6905af3

This franchise will never not be linked to MMA.

DC Universe

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVsy4zVJyNU/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=d8258748-21f8-407b-ab5a-7652fbb96fb7

Bane.

Ocho

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVs9_Plp-O6/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=8fe66afb-2791-4dd0-88ac-816f0e76ef75

I mean, it’s October 31st already…

Evil Eye

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtOqSAPn2N/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=ffdbb1e6-3e43-43ac-a931-835a35d253d3

Eye has it.

Happiest man in MMA?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtX_9BlaI4/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=ac60a856-c9af-4f6e-a4d0-7c4803a47445

Cigano with the Monster’s Inc. family outfit.

Peak Mike Perry

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtmM-rL16L/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=9196977b-2565-4af8-94b8-f1c2b108e0f2

Soon to be punishing opponents in BKFC!

Rey getting some love

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVZjgLQr4wm/

Rachel Ostovich sporting a Star Wars inspired costume, and it’s not the original series for once.

D’oh!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtexHjPaze/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=e9500983-7d3b-490e-b88b-2414c4a39cef

Marlon Vera and fam. need a donut delivery stat!

Where’s Carnage?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtdP9vgqQM/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=6541ca0f-7ed1-43d9-840f-2e0391e2b817

Just in time for No Way Home.

Be Yourself

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtphUOrwaC/

Blonde Brunson!

If Pokemon had spinning sh*t and head kicks

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtpqZ2rzpZ

Edson Barboza with another family theme.

Horsewomen

Blast from Halloween past. @HeymanHustle & @BrockLesnar as played by me and @jessamynduke pic.twitter.com/XzAS3MDp7i

— Shayna Baszler (@QoSBaszler) October 31, 2021

A couple of former UFC fighters go to Suplex City.

Terrible decade. Great costume.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVpQvyJlqgy/

ONE champ Angela Lee turns back time.

The post Halloween in MMA: The Best Costumes of 2021 appeared first on Cageside Press.

Nothing was set in stone. But Jury, ranked fourth, was the only fighter coming off a win in the top five outside of Peter Queally, ranked just behind him in the number five spot. A Jury win, in fact, would give the former UFC star three straight — but with Patricio Pitbull still tied up in the featherweight grand prix, when the title might be defended, and against who, was anyone’s guess.

If the storyline called for an exciting Jury win on Friday, however, no one gave Sidney Outlaw the memo. When the fight went to the ground — relatively early, with the lightweight duo relatively dry — Outlaw was on the back. For a good long while. With both hooks in, Outlaw managed to control Jury while working on submissions. Doing just enough, at times, to stop the fight from being stood up. Once the body triangle was locked in near the end of the round, the question of a potential 10-8 arose.

Jury, meanwhile, looked exhausted. So it was no surprise to see Outlaw go back to the well in the opening minute of round two. Jury managed to fend off the takedown, up to a point. But again, Outlaw got him down, dragging him right down on top, with Outlaw in back control. Hooks were in instantly, and it was deja vu all over again for Myles Jury.

It was rinse and repeat again in round three for Jury, who had no answer to the ground game of Outlaw. Unable to scramble out, unable to turn and get on top, Jury spent the fight wearing Outlaw like a seat belt. Jury’s biggest moment, staggering to his feet and running into a slam, didn’t even knock Outlaw out, let alone off. A second attempt fared no better. And with time winding down, Outlaw managed to sink in a rear-naked choke, earning the finish with just over ten seconds remaining.

The win by Outlaw further muddies the waters at lightweight. In terms of the title picture, Outlaw and Peter Queally are now the highest ranked fighters at 155lbs coming off wins. Outlaw sits at sixth, but come next week, may find himself bumped up a spot or two.

Official Result: Sidney Outlaw def. Myles Jury by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 3, 4:44

The post Bellator 261: Myles Jury Has No Answer for Sidney Outlaw’s Ground Game appeared first on Cageside Press.

“That’s a trip, even when people still say that. Yeah man, Myles Jury Day September 30th, how cool is that?” exclaimed Jury during this week’s Bellator 261 virtual media day. “I think I’ll be back in town, and looking forward to it.”

First, of course, there’s a fight ahead. This Friday night, Jury will look to make it three wins in a row, against his latest opponent, the well-travelled Sidney Outlaw.

Earlier this week, Outlaw told Cageside Press that he felt the fight with Jury could be a main event itself.

“It’s definitely a perspective to look at it. You can definitely make a case that this could be a main event,” said Jury, in agreement with the notion. “Both guys, what we bring to the table. My credibility alone, I feel like when you match up resumes, who people fought, names, all across the board, in Bellator, definitely I have a bigger name than a lot of these guys.”

A win for Jury at Bellator 261 puts him in an interesting spot. Currently ranked fourth at lightweight, Jury sits behind Goiti Yamauchi, Benson Henderson, and Patricky Pitbull. Patricky’s not about to fight his own brother, and Henderson has dropped two straight. Yamauchi had a three-fight win streak snapped in April, leaving Jury as a front-runner in the title race.

Only one problem: Patricio Pitbull remains tied up in the featherweight grand prix.

“I try and focus on stuff I can control in this game, and believe it or not, there’s just a small portion that I can control,” replied Jury when asked if there was any frustration on his part due to the murky title picture. “I don’t know what Scott [Coker] wants to do, what Bellator wants to do, Pitbull, all these other guys. So I’m just focused on what’s in front of me. I feel like I want to go out there and have a good performance, I’m coming in prepared to do that. If all the stars align after this fight and I can get a title shot, that would be a beautiful thing.”

Myles Jury fights Sidney Outlaw this Friday at Bellator 261. The event airs live on Showtime in the U.S., following prelims right here on Cageside Press.

The post Bellator 261: Myles Jury Focused on What He Can Control, Not Title Shot appeared first on Cageside Press.

Outlaw (15-4) only fought once last year in 2020, marking his least active year since he was an amateur back in 2011. While he did give his body a rest last year, he said that he needed to change his body.

“I can’t even necessarily say I fully rested last year during the craziness because I literally had to change my body. I had a lot of health problems, and on top of that, I was getting into, like, cutting weight the right way. So, I wanted to change my body the right way, and it was a lot of experimenting, you know,” Outlaw said in an exclusive interview with Cageside Press. “But I definitely wanted to be active, you know, I fight. It is what I do.

When asked what injuries he had to deal with, he said they weren’t the normal injuries that you go to the doctor for.

“Yeah, so, the injures weren’t specific or anything like that. Like I didn’t break my leg or something like that. I was finding out more things about my body that I probably should have been doing for a while. Back in the day, when I was training and fighting, you know, I didn’t really have health insurance,” Outlaw said. “I was like, the best of the best for a long, long time, and I was fighting all of the best-ranked guys for a long time. So when Bellator finally put me on, I was finally able to get my body looked at, and I was like, ‘Oh snap!’ So I figured to take this time, to have my body looked at, get some rehab in. I might as well, you know, get my blood all good.”

“I was destroying people when I was 70%. Oh my goodness, 70%. I was going at 70% for a long time, now I’m feeling really good, and people are going to see.”

Outlaw faces No. 4 ranked Myles Jury on Friday. He liked the matchup when it came across the table, but he wishes it was the main event because, with their last names, you should really market it.

“Myles is a good name, and he is ranked above me; that’s all that I could ask for. Well, actually, I wish it could have been the main event. I could see it now- Outlaw & Jury. Someone told me it was ironic because of Jury and Outlaw, but I thought it was cool. Just a missed opportunity on their part, you know,” Outlaw said.

As for the fight itself, Outlaw says that this was one of the best camps of his life, and Jury better be careful. Of Outlaw’s 15 wins, he has eight stoppages.

“Oh man, with how this camp went, I’m going to go out there and act like an outlaw. You know, outlaws take anything. I will take anything that’s given to me, or you know, I will take it by force, so don’t put it there. Don’t show me. Don’t tell me you have anything because I will take it from you,” Outlaw said. “I mean, I was fighting at 70% my whole career; I bumped that up. I want to properly reintroduce myself to the Bellator and the fanbase. Like, this is my debut all over again.”

With a win over Jury this Friday, Outlaw has a chance to bump up to spots and grab his No. 4 ranking. However, he won’t believe it until he sees it because he says the rankings can ruin his day if he focuses on it too much.

“Who knows, I might drop to No. 8 for all know. I don’t know; I just feel it-win or lose. I was ranked No. 5, but now I’m No. 6. He was No. 6; how is he No. 4? It makes no sense to me, and I have to pay no attention to the rankings because it will make me have a bad day. I don’t even know who does it. Journalists? If it makes sense, then it makes sense, but to me, it doesn’t. But it is what is. I have to focus on myself,” Outlaw said.

Outlaw also had a message for Instagram. He said that he has been fighting for over 10 years but can’t get verified. Because of this, he goes by Sidney ‘Unloved’ Outlaw on his Instagram profile.

“I’m one of the best fighters on the planet and can’t even get verified. It is like pulling teeth, apparently. I’m not getting that love or respect that I think I deserve; you know what I’m saying?  Bellator treats me right, so screw it. I’ll just go by Unloved on Instagram because obviously, that’s what’s going on,” Outlaw said.

Sidney Outlaw fights Myles Jury this Friday at Bellator 261. The event airs live on Showtime in the U.S., following prelims right here on Cageside Press.

For more from Sidney Outlaw, here’s his Bellator 261 virtual media day scrum:

The post Bellator 261: Sidney Outlaw Says He Will Reintroduce Himself At Bellator 261 appeared first on Cageside Press.

“I felt great tonight. I felt like I beat him three rounds,” the lightweight stated following the bout, speaking to media outlets including Cageside Press. Jury took home a unanimous decision against the always gritty Georgi Karakhanyan. “Being in Bellator, I fought the number one contender, Benson [Henderson], close fight, could have gone my way. I beat a top ten guy in Brandon Girtz my next fight. Now I beat someone tough, top ten, top fifteen, too in here [tonight, against Georgi Karakhanyan].”

Jury now hopes to stick around the promotion’s 155lb weight class. And stick around in the promotion period. “I have one more fight left in Bellator on my contract, so hopefully Bellator and my manager can work something out, because I feel like I fit perfecting in the 155lb division.”

When it comes to who is next, Jury would love a shot at gold, having put together two straight wins now. “My ideal opponent? Would be Pitbull. He’s the champ. Who else is left in the division? You have [Michael] Chandler and Benson tonight,” he pointed out. “We’ll see if Chandler stays, I hear he’s a free agent after this. Maybe a number one contender’s fight? Then again, I beat a top ten guy, beat a veteran of a sport, I’ve already fought the number one contender [Henderson] in a very close fight with him. What more does Bellator want?”

When it came time for the scores to be read, Jury admitted that he was “praying to God.”

“I know I worked hard for it, I know won every second of the victory. You don’t even know with the judges, man,” he observed. Because, when it comes down to it, in this sport, “they don’t even have any qualifications, man. They don’t even have ex-MMA fighters, judges [don’t] need to have courses on jiu-jitsu, wrestling, cage work. It’s just some dude who knows the athletic commission and judged boxing fights.”

Watch the full Bellator 243 post-fight press conference with Myles Jury above.

The post Bellator 243: Myles Jury Open to Number One Contender’s Bout, Criticizes MMA Judges’ Lack of Qualifications appeared first on Cageside Press.

In recent years, however, the former WSOF featherweight champ had struggled with the weight cut, and after winning a bout against Paul Redmond in February, it appeared like lightweight was the future for “Insane.”

Jury was concerned about his own future at Bellator 243. “Fury” opened on the outside against Karakhanyan, who took a big overhand swing between leg kicks in the early going. Jury fired back, and mixed in some kicks as well. Karakhanyan caught a kick and countered, continuing to threaten with his right and work his jab. Fairly evenly matched early, Karakhanyan fell back on his strength, pressuring Jury into the fence while working on a takedown. Jury employed a whizzer to keep upright, and while he’d escape, Karakhanyan went right back to the same approach. Jury would drop a few elbows in response. Karakhanyan would end up cut open by the end of the round, however. Jury would land a knee in the clinch in the last twenty seconds.

Jury opened the second round with a couple of kicks, to the body, outside of the leg, mixing them up in general. Karakhanyan’s overhand right would flash, but he continued to eat leg kicks, even an oblique kick or two. The teep kick was there for Jury, and a knee in the clinch. Jury appeared to be in his comfort zone, pulling ahead in terms of volume; Karakhanyan seemed content to load up on his right hand, looking for the KO. He’d land that right with about two minutes remaining, but it wasn’t flush, and Jury stayed standing, back to the fence. Well, until Karakhanyan took him down anyway. He could not keep Jury down, however, with “Fury” popping right back up. As the second round finished, Karakhanyan was again looking for a takedown.

Jury would land a standing elbow early in round three. As the round progressed Karakhanyan went back to hunting the takedown. But Jury would pull free, and Karakhanyan seemed to be waning. Karakhanyan, however, would jump into a guillotine attempt, which looked tight. Jury was too slick though; a maneuver that might have worked in the opening minutes didn’t late in the third. Jury pulled free, and worked on taking the back. Karakhanyan’s ground game was skilled enough to prevent that, but Jury would end up in guard on top to finish the round, and the fight.

A close one, and a second straight win for Jury, who is making the best of things in his new home.

Official Result: Myles Jury def. Georgi Karakhanyan by split decision (27-30, 30-27, 29-28)

The post Bellator 243 Results: Myles Jury Gets Past Georgi Karakhanyan for Second Bellator Win appeared first on Cageside Press.

Set to battle with Georgi Karakhanyan on Friday night, Myles Jury doesn’t care who is across the cage from him. Jury feels as though he could face anyone and record a win on his resume.

“I feel confident,” Jury told Cageside Press. “I have no control over what my opponents do, what he’s saying, whatever. All I can do is concentrate on myself, and do my best on Friday night.”

Jury is confident in his skillset, and is super excited to be returning to the cage after the whole pandemic aspect of things.

“I [was] already in shape, just fought, I had a little bit of time before the fight, when it was initially [given] to me. I thought, great, it’s awesome, let’s go,” said Jury.

Jury admits some parts of training camp were different, but for the most part it was more of the same. The approach may have changed but the goals never did.

“I had to stay away from people during camp. Stay with just certain training partners, certain coaches. Limit myself from going out and doing things. But the main meat and potatoes is the same,” said Jury. “Sprints need to be done, the heavy pad work, the sparring needs to be put in, the grappling. Nothing there changed.”

If anything, the main difference was the number of breaks in his training camp, as the bout was pushed back several times.

As for where this win puts Jury in the stacked lightweight division? He believes anyone in the top of the weight class is due to see him in the cage.

“A win puts me right up in the top” Jury told Cageside Press. “I feel like this division’s wide open. I feel like I’m a guy that Bellator needs. And I’m looking forward to stepping into that role and being that guy.”

One name in particular, of course, interests him: the champ. “Maybe [Patricio] Pitbull. I would like that match-up down the road.”

Bellator 243 takes place this Friday, August 7 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. The main card airs live on Paramount Network and DAZN.

The post Bellator 243’s Myles Jury: “I feel like I’m a guy that Bellator needs” appeared first on Cageside Press.

Tim Johnson vs. Matt Mitrione, and a handful of other fights, have also made their way onto the card. Now, two more solid match-ups have been added: Adam Borics is set to face Derek Campos, while Myles Jury will take on Georgi Karakhanyan.

Combate was first to report the Borics vs. Campos bout, while Jury vs. Karakhanyan was revealed by MMA Junkie.

Borics (14-1) and Campos (20-1) both took part in Bellator’s featherweight grand prix. However, with both men eliminated from that tournament, they’ll face off in a 150lb catchweight bout.

Jury (18-5) made his debut in Bellator MMA against Benson Henderson, a fight that saw the former UFC fighter known as “Fury” come up short. But he bounced back in his second outing for the promotion, defeating Brandon Girtz at Bellator 239. Karakhanyan (29–10–1, 1NC) will try his hand at lightweight after defeating Paul Redmond at Bellator 240 earlier this year.

Also on tap for Bellator 243 is Christian Edwards (3-0), a training partner of Jon Jones at Jackson-Wink MMA. He’s expected to face Ahmed Samir (1-1). Nainoa Dung (3-1) vs. Charlie Campbell (1-1), Dalton Rosta (2-0) vs. Mark Gardner (1-1), and Grant Neal (3-0 MMA) vs. Hamza Salim (5-2) have also been added to the event.

The post Bellator 243 Fills Out with Borics vs. Campos, Jury vs. Karakhanyan, More Bouts appeared first on Cageside Press.

None more so than Fortune, the previously undefeated heavyweight who is a big part of the division’s future. Fortunes went south for the wrestler early, as opponent Tim Johnson pressed the attack and connected with a knockout right hook in the first round. It will likely be a few fights for Fortune to work his way back to getting that next step up, while Johnson, a UFC veteran, finally gets his first win in the Bellator cage.

That knockout was unquestionably the star of the show on Friday. The main event, meanwhile, was a much closer affair. The undefeated Yaroslav Amosov improved to 23-0 in the end, with a unanimous decision win over Ed Ruth. Yet overall, it was a close, measured affair, one that shouldn’t set Ruth too far back in the welterweight division.

For Amosov, the win likely won’t be enough for a title shot — especially given champ Douglas Lima will be moving up to vie for the vacant middleweight title against Gegard Mousasi.

Full results from the event, and photo highlights, can be found below!

Bellator 239: Ruth vs. Amosov Results:

Main Card

Yaroslav Amosov def. Ed Ruth by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Myles Jury def. Brandon Girtz by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Tim Johnson def. Tyrell Fortune by KO (punches), Round 1, 2:35
Valentin Moldavsky def. Javy Ayala by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-24, 30-24)

Preliminary Card

Davion Franklin def. J.W. Kiser by TKO (punches), Round 1, 1:30
Chris Gonzalez def. Aaron McKenzie by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
Kevin Croom def. Adil Benjilany by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Cris Lencioni def. Salim Mukhidinov by split decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
Kyle Crutchmer def. Scott Futrell by submission (anaconda choke), Round 1, 2:58
Grant Neal def. Claude Wilcox by TKO (punches), Round 3, 3:37
Josh Hill def. Vinicius Zani by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Solo Hatley Jr. def. Gaston Bolanos by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Denise Kielholtz def. Kristina Williams by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 2:15
TeeJay Britton def. Gabriel Varga by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Keith Lee def. Shawn Bunch by unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 29-27)
Christian Edwards def. Marco Hutch by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-25)

The post Bellator 239: Ruth vs. Amosov Photo Highlights appeared first on Cageside Press.

Lightweight action at Bellator 239 had longtime promotional standout Brandon Girtz taking on former UFC athlete Myles Jury in the evening’s co-main event. Girtz entered the night off a win over Saad Awad, while Jury was seeking his first promotional victory, having dropped his debut against ex-UFC champ Benson Henderson.

Girtz was on the attack early, looking to land a right hand. He’d continue to push the action, forcing Jury to counter. Girtz continued to lead the dance, while Jury went to the body with a kick. The right hand was a constant threat from Brandon Girtz; Jury, meanwhile, got his jab going, and mixed in a knee. Girtz soon hand him backpedaling off a pair of right uppercuts, however. They’re continue to trade throughout the opening round, Jury going back to the well with his knee, Girtz throwing heavy leather every time out.

The second round had Girtz immediately on the attack, firing some heavy hooks, backing Myles Jury up to the fence. Girtz then dropped, looking for a takedown, which he’d land soon enough. Girtz would go to work inside Jury’s guard, and spend a considerable amount of time there. He couldn’t make much happen, however, and with a minute and forty seconds remaining in the frame, the ref stood the pair up. Almost immediately, Jury landed an eye poke that brought about an extended pause to the action. When they did get back underway, Jury would drop for a takedown attempt, which Girtz would impressively fight off. He did, however, risk giving up the back, with Jury literally climbing up him and getting hooks in. They’d head to the final frame however.

Round three again saw Jury’s knees come into play, as he caught Girtz coming in with one at least once. Girtz was finding himself backing up a fair bit. His power was still there, but less effective than earlier on. Jury, meanwhile, went looking for a late takedown. Once again, he mounted the back late in the round, and pulled Girtz down just before the final bell.

“I want a title shot, I want a new contract, and I want a little gig at the side of the booth,” Jury told ‘Big’ John McCarthy following the fight. He will need a few more wins, but Friday was a step in the right direction.

Official Result: Myles Jury def. Brandon Girtz by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

The post Bellator 239 Results: Myles Jury Snaps Losing Skid with Decision Over Brandon Girtz appeared first on Cageside Press.