By Steven Kelliher on September 2, 2010
At the highest levels of professional mixed martial arts competition, undefeated fighters are few and far between. Undefeated champions are ever rarer, which is why Bellator Featherweight Champion Joe Soto is taking his first official challenger very seriously. Tapology recently caught up with Soto on the eve of his first title defense to discuss his [...]
Posted in Exclusive Interviews | Tagged bellator, featherweights
By Steven Kelliher on September 1, 2010
While many fans and pundits disagree with Joe Warren when he proclaims himself “The Baddest Man on the Planet,” it is impossible to deny that the top Bellator featherweight contender sets his goals high. After sweeping the Season 2 Featherweight Tournament, Warren earned a shot at Bellator Featherweight Champion Joe Soto. Although Warren has only [...]
Posted in Exclusive Interviews | Tagged bellator, featherweights
By Steven Kelliher on August 18, 2010
For Dan Hornbuckle, a shot a Bellator Welterweight Champion Lyman Good was nearly within reach. All he had to do was get by Olympic wrestler Ben Askren in the Finals of the Season 2 Welterweight Tournament, and the title shot was his. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out as he had planned, and Askren now occupies [...]
Posted in Exclusive Interviews | Tagged bellator, welterweights
By Steven Kelliher on June 15, 2010
Two down, one to go. That is all welterweight stand-out Dan Hornbuckle is thinking heading into his battle with 2008 U.S. Olympian Ben Askren, whom he will face for the Season 2 Bellator Welterweight Tournament title and a shot at reigning champion Lyman Good this Thursday night from the Kansas City Power & Light District [...]
Posted in Exclusive Interviews | Tagged bellator, welterweights
By Steven Kelliher on June 8, 2010
When Pat Curran entered the Bellator Season 2 Lightweight Tournament, few seemed to recognize him as a legitimate threat to advance to the semifinals, never mind the finals on June 10. Two months later, Curran is in the midst of final preparations for a showdown with Season 1 veteran and come-from-behind submission specialist Toby Imada [...]
Posted in Exclusive Interviews | Tagged bellator, lightweights
By Steven Kelliher on May 19, 2010
After wracking up the two biggest wins of his young career with consecutive knockouts of Akihiro Gono and Nick Thompson under World Victory Road’s Sengoku banner, Dan Hornbuckle entered the Season 2 Bellator Welterweight Tournament under high scrutiny and even higher expectations. Fortunately for him, the Illinois native performs well under pressure, as he is [...]
Posted in Exclusive Interviews | Tagged bellator, welterweights
By Steven Kelliher on May 6, 2010
While Bellator Fighting Championships crowned four undisputed champions during its inaugural tournament season in 2009, the promotion’s lightweight king, Eddie Alvarez, has long been considered their crown jewel. Of course, headlines have begun to shift in recent months with the debut of the Season 2 tournaments and the signing of UFC veteran and fan favorite [...]
Posted in Exclusive Interviews | Tagged bellator, lightweights
By Gregory Saks on April 26, 2010
The UFC increased its already sizable advantage in fan interest over its competitors in March, grabbing just under 65% of all MMA buzz for the month, up a couple of percentage points from its standing in February. Strikeforce came in second, its regular position these days, with about a quarter of the total interest that [...]
Posted in Industry Analysis | Tagged bellator, dream, k1, strikeforce, ufc, wec
By Steven Kelliher on April 22, 2010
With 19 professional wins in 21 appearances since 2006, Dan Hornbuckle is not only one of the most active top-level welterweights in the world, but also one of the most consistent finishers, with only one of his career victories coming by way of decision. While he experienced a minor setback in a submission loss to [...]
Posted in Exclusive Interviews | Tagged bellator, welterweights
By Steven Kelliher on April 20, 2010
Shortly following today’s Bellator press conference at Boston’s Citi Performing Arts Center’s Wang Theatre, Tapology’s Steven Kelliher got a chance to speak with Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney about a variety of topics, including upcoming superfights involving the promotion’s reigning champions. While Rebney was realistic in his assessment of the risks involved in pitting his champions [...]
Posted in Exclusive Interviews | Tagged bellator
