Bellator MMA Is Back!

Top contenders Ricky Bandejas and Sergio Pettis collide in 135-pound main event title eliminator. Bellator 242 airs live Friday, July 24th on Paramount Network at 10:00pm EST from Mohegan Sun Arena. Also, card set to feature Aaron Pico, Jason Jackson, Tywan Claxton and the debut of Jordan Mein

UNCASVILLE, CT (July 15, 2020) – Bellator MMA returns to action for the first time since the global coronavirus pandemic began earlier this year, bringing the sports world to a standstill. Next Friday, July 24th at Mohegan Sun Arena, Bellator will deliver an exciting card headlined by two of the bantamweight division’s top contenders, as Ricky Bandejas (13-3) faces Sergio Pettis (19-5) in a three-round clash on Paramount Network at 10:00pm.

On March 13th, Bellator made the decision to postpone that evening’s event at Mohegan Sun Arena for the health and safety of the athletes, staff and everyone involved. Keeping the health and safety of all involved as the top priority, the event on July 24th will be held without fans in attendance.

Bellator 242: Bandejas vs. Pettis airs live on Paramount Network on Friday, July 24th at 10:00pm EST. Preliminary action will stream on Bellator MMA’s YouTube channel at 8:45pm EST.

“On July 24th, Bellator is back,” said Bellator MMA President Scott Coker. “I am thrilled to announce our return event this month at Mohegan Sun, which has always been an incredible venue partner for us. The team has worked tirelessly to make this show happen and I know the fighters are ready to compete. We put together an exciting card with great matchups, featuring some of our best rising prospects. We look forward to our fans joining us on Paramount Network for what will surely be a memorable night of action inside the Bellator cage.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome back major sports with Bellator MMA for what will be an amazing fight event airing on Paramount Network,” said Tom Cantone, President of Sports & Entertainment at Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE). “Mohegan Sun has done an incredible job with a comprehensive and extensive safety plan for all guests, team members and partners, and we know our friends at Bellator will really enjoy their stay and have another great experience at our world class arena.”

Hailing from Brick, NJ, Ricky Bandejas will return to the cage for the second time in 2020 and sixth overall since signing with Bellator MMA in 2018. Coming off an impressive KO victory over Frans Mlambo at Bellator 240, Bandejas is looking to extend his current winning streak to three and is no stranger to fighting elite competition. With nine of his 13 career wins coming by way of knockout or submission, including four in the first round of action, the heavy-handed 28-year-old will be looking to notch another highlight reel finish on July 24th and earn his shot at the 135-pound world title.

A longtime UFC-veteran, Sergio Pettis made his Bellator debut in January when he submitted Alfred Khashakyan via guillotine a mere three minutes into their bantamweight matchup at The Forum in Los Angeles. Training out of the famed Roufusport gym in Milwaukee alongside his brother, Anthony, and fellow Bellator athlete Emmanuel Sanchez, Pettis won nine of his 14 UFC appearances with victories over Joseph Benavidez, Brandon Moreno and John Moraga. Now, Pettis has his sights set on a world title fight, which is all but guaranteed with a win at Bellator 242.

The main card on Paramount Network also sees a co-main event pitting Jason Jackson (11-4) against Jordan Mein (31-12), who will be making his Bellator debut in a welterweight contest, a 145-pound bout between the always-exciting Tywan Claxton (6-1) and undefeated Jay Jay Wilson (5-0) of New Zealand, while Aaron Pico (5-3) returns to featherweight against Chris Hatley, Jr. (8-2), who upset Bellator mainstay Gaston Bolanos earlier this year.

The preliminary portion of Bellator 242 includes a bantamweight affair featuring Roufusport’s Raufeon Stots (13-1) taking on Cass Bell (5-0) of Humboldt County, CA, a heavyweight slugfest between Steve Mowry (7-0) and Rudy Schaffroth (6-1, 1 NC) and Logan Storley (11-0) putting his unblemished record on the line against Mark Lemminger (10-1) in a 170-pound matchup.

Bellator 242: Bandejas vs. Pettis Main Card:
Paramount Network
10:00pm EST/9:00pm CST

Bantamweight Main Event: Ricky Bandejas (13-3) vs. Sergio Pettis (19-5)

Welterweight Co-Main Event: Jason Jackson (11-4) vs. Jordan Mein (31-12)

Featherweight Feature Bout: Tywan Claxton (6-1) vs. Jay Jay Wilson (5-0)

Featherweight Feature Bout: Aaron Pico (5-3) vs. Chris Hatley, Jr. (8-2)

Completed Preliminary Card:
Bellator MMA’s YouTube Channel
8:45pm EST/5:45pm PST

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Logan Storley (11-0) vs. Mark Lemminger (10-1)

Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Raufeon Stots (13-1) vs. Cass Bell (5-0)

Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Steve Mowry (7-0) vs. Rudy Schaffroth (6-1, 1 NC)

*Card subject to change.

Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.

ABOUT BELLATOR:
Bellator is a leading global MMA and kickboxing promotion featuring many of the best athletes in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator events take place in major cities around the world and can be seen on television in over 160 countries to an available audience of over one billion people. In the United States, Bellator events can be seen on both Paramount Network and DAZN, the world’s first truly dedicated LIVE sports streaming service, while Bellator MMA Recharged airs on the CBS Sports Network. Bellator is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live events, fighter development and relations, sponsorship, international licensing, marketing, advertising and public relations. Bellator is based in Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant ViacomCBS, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN ARENA:
Mohegan Sun Arena is now ranked consistently among the top venues in the world according to Billboard Magazine, Pollstar and Venues Now. Mohegan Sun Arena is consistently ranked among the top three “Arenas in the World for its Size” and top 15 in the “World for All Size Venues.” The award–winning venue is the “#1 Casino Venue in the World,” “#1 Social Media Venue in the World” and a seven–time national award–winner for “Arena of the Year.”  For more information on concerts and other great events, visit Mohegan Sun. Mohegan Sun also has a full safety plan PDF available at mohegansun.com/updates. For information on Mohegan Sun’s entertainment, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711.

BELLATOR CONTACTS:

Ryan Grab – (706) 540-3425 – [email protected]

Danny Brener – (818) 577-8215 – [email protected]

C.J. Tuttle – (310) 496-9110 – [email protected]

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WWE Monday Night RAW Returns To Mohegan Sun Arena For The First Time In Over 10 Years!

***Due to the global health crisis, the WWE Monday Night Raw event has been cancelled. Refunds are available at point of purchase.

UNCASVILLE, CT (March 6, 2020) – Get ready for a night of non-stop action when WWE Monday Night RAW heads to Mohegan Sun Arena on Monday, April 27th at 7:30pm.

Tickets are $130.00, $100.00, $85.00, $65.00, $50.00, $40.00 and $25.00 and will be available Friday, March 13th at 10:00am through Ticketmaster.  Ticketmaster customers may log on to ticketmaster.com. Tickets will also be available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office beginning Saturday, March 14th at 10:00am, subject to availability.

See all of your favorite WWE RAW Superstars including: Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Kevin Owens, Drew McIntyre, Samoa Joe, Randy Orton, Asuka, Bobby Lashley, AOP, Aleister Black, Ricochet and many more!  Card is subject to change.

Mohegan Sun Arena is now ranked consistently among the top venues in the world according to Billboard Magazine, Pollstar and VenuesNow.  Mohegan Sun Arena is consistently ranked among the top three “Arenas in the World for its Size” and top 15 in the “World for All Size Venues.” The award – winning venue is the “#1 Casino Venue in the World,” “#1 Social Media Venue in the World” and an eight – time national award – winner for “Arena of the Year.”  For more information on concerts and other great events, visit Mohegan Sun. For information on this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711.

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ESPN’S ‘The Michael Kay Show’ Returns to Mohegan Sun for a Live Broadcast as part of the 33rd Annual CT Cancer Foundation Celebrity Dinner & Auction

Special on-air guests to include MLB pitchers Adam Ottavino & Nathan Eovaldi as well as Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment Regional President, Ray Pineault

WHAT: Join us at Mohegan Sun on Friday, February 7th when New York City’s #1 radio show, The Michael Kay Show (98.7 ESPN NY & airs on the YES network) will be broadcasting live from the Wolf Den in Casino of the Earth.

WHEN/WHERE: Friday, February 7th, 3:00pm to 6:30pm in the Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun.

IN DETAIL: Get the scoop on the latest New York sports headlines and more when 98.7 ESPN New York’s The Michael Kay Show with Michael Kay, Don La Greca and Peter Rosenberg broadcasts live from the Wolf Den! Catch up on all the latest sports talk on Friday, February 7th beginning at 3:00pm. This special radio broadcast at Mohegan Sun is in support of and occurs just before the 33rd Annual Connecticut Cancer Foundation Celebrity Dinner and Memorabilia Auction, taking place in the Uncas Ballroom. For more info on registration and how to contribute, visit: ctcancerfoundation.org

Currently, special on-air interview guests for The Michel Kay Show broadcast will include Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE) Regional President, Ray Pineault at 3:10pm, New York Yankees relief pitcher, Adam Ottavino at 4:00pm and Boston Red Sox pitcher,  Nathan Eovaldi, who was tremendous in the 2018 post-season, at 4:30pm.

ABOUT THE CONNECTICUT CANCER FOUNDATION

Connecticut Cancer Foundation (CCF) was founded in 1987 by John Ellis, former catcher for the NY Yankees and cancer survivor, to financially assist CT cancer patients and their families and fund cancer research.  For the past 33 years, CCF has granted more than $6.1 million to over 7000 CT cancer patients for critical everyday living expenses and $2.2 million to cancer research.   CCF is a 501(c)(3) organization.

ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN

Owned by Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment, Mohegan Sun is one of the largest, most spectacular entertainment, gaming, dining and shopping destinations in the United States.  Situated on 185 acres along the Thames River in scenic southeastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is home to two unique casinos, 1,600 deluxe hotel rooms, two world-class spas, a golf course, over 80 shops, restaurants and bars as well as three award-winning entertainment venues including a 10,000-seat Arena. Mohegan Sun is within easy access of New York, Boston, Hartford and Providence and located 15 minutes from the museums, antique shops and waterfront of Mystic Country. More information is available by calling 1.888.226.7711 or visiting mohegansun.com. Connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @mohegansun, view us on YouTube and find us on Snapchat at username MoheganSun.

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Bellator Brings Featherweight World Grand Prix To Mohegan Sun Arena On March 13th

When Patricio ‘Pitbull’ defends his title against Pedro Carvalho

UNCASVILLE, CT (January 9, 2020) – On Friday, March 13th, Mohegan Sun Arena will host Bellator 241, an event featuring two quarterfinal matchups of the Featherweight World Grand Prix. In the main event, fans will see a featherweight world title bout with two-division Bellator champion Patricio “Pitbull” (30-4) defending his 145-pound crown against SBG Ireland-product Pedro Carvalho
(11-3).

In addition to the five-round championship main event, a second Bellator Featherweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal will also take place, as two former title challengers, Daniel Weichel (40-11) and Emmanuel Sanchez (19-4), meet for the first time since their 2016 razor-thin split decision.

Tickets are $195.00, $100.00, $75.00 and $50.00 and go on sale Friday, January 17th at 10:00am through Ticketmaster. Ticketmaster customers may log on to ticketmaster.com. Tickets will also be available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office beginning Saturday, January 18th at 10:00am, subject to availability.

Bellator 241: Pitbull vs. Carvalho will stream exclusively on DAZN on Friday, March 13th at 10:00pm ET/7:00pm PT. Preliminary action will stream on DAZN, Bellator.com and globally on the Bellator Mobile App. Additional bouts will be announced in coming weeks.

Hailing from Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, two-time featherweight champ Patricio “Pitbull” will enter the Bellator cage for a promotional record 23rd time on March 13th. With impressive wins to his name over Daniel Straus (x3), Daniel Weichel (x2) and Pat Curran, the 32-year old continues in the Featherweight World Grand Prix not far removed from his lightweight championship win over Michael Chandler in May of last year. Having earned a finish in 21 of his 30 wins as a professional, the simultaneous two-division champion most recently bested Juan Archuleta on the scorecards in an exciting opening round grand prix matchup and fans can certainly expect more fireworks when he meets Carvalho on March 13th.

Portuguese submission specialist Pedro Carvalho will be entering the Bellator cage for just the fifth time in his eight-year professional career, looking for his seventh consecutive victory and his first world title victory. With victories in nine of his last 11 contests, including against Derek Campos, Daniel Crawford and a face crank submission over Sam Sicilia in the opening round, the 23-year old SBG Ireland-product is on the cusp of becoming an elite force in the 145-pound division – winning the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix would be the perfect way to solidify it.

With over 50 professional fights to his name, Germany’s Daniel Weichel is ready to make his 2020 debut in a highly anticipated grand prix quarterfinal bout with Sanchez, a fighter Weichel got the better of nearly four years ago at Bellator 159. Following his Bellator debut in 2014, “Drake” has enjoyed an impressive promotional mark of 9-3, including pivotal victories over Sanchez, Pat Curran, Georgi Karakhanyan and Saul Rogers.

On the heels of yet another masterful performance that ended in a submission victory over Tywan Claxton in the opening round of the grand prix, “El Matador” is ready for another title run as he prepares for the undefeated 50-fight veteran and the man who beat him once before, Daniel Weichel. Since joining forces with Bellator in 2014, the Milwaukee, WI resident has collected 11 victories over a 14-fight stint, including key wins over the likes of Claxton, Daniel Straus, Marcos Galvao and Georgi Karakhanyan (2x).

Bellator 241: Pitbull vs. Carvalho Main Card:

DAZN

10:00pm ET/7:00pm PT

Featherweight World Title Bout/FWGP Quarterfinal: Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (30-4) vs. Pedro Carvalho (11-3)

Featherweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal: Daniel Weichel (40-11) vs. Emmanuel Sanchez (19-4)

*Card subject to change

Please visit Bellator.com for more information.

ABOUT BELLATOR

Bellator is a leading global mixed martial arts and kickboxing promotion featuring many of the best athletes in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator events take place in major cities worldwide and can be seen on television in over 160 countries to an available audience of over one billion people. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on both Paramount Network and DAZN, the world’s first truly dedicated LIVE sports streaming service. Bellator is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant ViacomCBS, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

ABOUT PARAMOUNT NETWORK

Paramount Network is a premium entertainment destination that pushes the limits of story-telling with bold original scripted and non-scripted series. Inspired by over a century of cinema, Paramount Network is where today’s brightest stars bring the experience of the big screen to every screen with stories that are immersive, inclusive, and deeply personal. A subsidiary of ViacomCBS, Paramount Network has a global reach of 234 million households across 117 countries. For up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs visit Paramount Network’s press site at paramountnetwork.com/press and follow us on Twitter at @ParamountNetPR for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

ABOUT DAZN

DAZN is the largest global sports streaming service. Since launching in 2016, DAZN has expanded to nine countries across four continents with its app available for download in the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Japan and Brazil. In the U.S., DAZN has made its mark as an attractive alternative to pay-per-view within the combat sports industry. The service features big fights from Matchroom Boxing, Golden Boy Promotions, GGG Promotions, Bellator MMA, and the World Boxing Super Series, all for one affordable price, on any device – including smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, games consoles and PCs. DAZN also features The Pat McAfee Show, live MLB action each day of the season with its daily show ChangeUp and a growing number of projects from DAZN Originals.

Mohegan Sun Arena is now ranked consistently among the top venues in the world according to Billboard Magazine, Pollstar and VenuesNow.  Mohegan Sun Arena is consistently ranked among the top three “Arenas in the World for its Size” and top 15 in the “World for All Size Venues.” The award – winning venue is the “#1 Casino Venue in the World,” “#1 Social Media Venue in the World” and a seven – time national award – winner for “Arena of the Year.”  For more information on concerts and other great events, visit Mohegan Sun. For information on this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711.

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Bellator MMA Joins Mohegan Sun Arena’s Walk of Fame

UNCASVILLE, CT (October 25, 2019) — Earlier today, Mohegan Sun honored Bellator MMA with their very own Walk of Fame star outside of the Mohegan Sun Box Office.  The event took place prior to the start of Bellator 231 (Mir vs. Nelson), as Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment’s Sr. VP of Sports & Entertainment, Tom Cantone, presented Bellator President, Scott Coker, with the honor. In accepting the recognition on behalf of Bellator MMA, Coker said, “This is quite an achievement, it’s a milestone for the company, and it all started with Bellator 2 here at Mohegan Sun, and now we’re at Bellator 231& 232. I’ve seen a lot of great fights here and I’m looking forward so many more.”

In introducing Coker, who was joined by MMA legends Royce Gracie & Chael Sonnen, as well as Bellator MMA broadcasters and well-known personalities, Jay Glazer & “Big” John McCarthy, Cantone touched on the impactful 10 year relationship with Bellator in mentioning, “110,000 people later, 20 events later, 500 fights later, we’re here to induct [Bellator MMA]… and It’s the first time that Mohegan Sun has inducted a sports organization, so Bellator has the bragging rights as our first ever sports related Walk of Fame induction!”

Bellator MMA becomes the 34th inductee into the Walk of Fame, where names like Bon Jovi, Kevin Hart, KISS, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban and so many more long-time sell-out acts are enshrined outside of the Mohegan Sun Box Office forecourt. Owned by media and entertainment giant Viacom, Bellator MMA has hosted over 20 events at Mohegan Sun Arena since their first show on April 10, 2009 at Bellator 2. In that span, there have been incredible moments along the way, including major title-fights, season premieres and highly anticipated matchups in both the heavyweight and welterweight World Grand Prix tournaments.  MMA stars that have fought at Mohegan Sun Arena and for thousands of fans over the years include Michael “Venom” Page, Matt Mitrione, Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, Alexander  Shlemenko, “Pitbull” Freirree, Brett Cooper, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and many more.

Bellator MMA is back in Mohegan Sun Arena tomorrow (Saturday, October 26th) with the Welterweight World Title (Bellator 232) between Rory McDonald and Douglas Lima.

Mohegan Sun’s Walk of Fame awards seek to recognize individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the success of Mohegan Sun as the Northeast’s premier entertainment destination. All of the inductees into the Mohegan Sun Walk of Fame will have their name engraved on a plaque that will be permanently placed at the entrance to Mohegan Sun Arena.

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Mohegan Sun Arena To Honor Bellator MMA’s Scott Coker With Walk Of Fame Honor On Friday, October 25th

WHAT: Mohegan Sun is proud to announce the newest Arena Walk of Fame inductee, mixed martial arts organization, Bellator MMA. Owned by media and entertainment giant Viacom, Bellator MMA has hosted over 20 events at Mohegan Sun Arena since their first show on April 10, 2009 at Bellator 2. In that span, there have been incredible moments along the way, including monumental title fights, season premieres and highly anticpated matchups in both the heavyweight and welterweight World Grand Prix tournaments.  Bellator MMA’s President, Scott Coker, will be presented with the Walk of Fame star outside Mohegan Sun’s Box Office prior to Bellator 231 on the evening of October 25th.  Special appearances at this public event will be made by MMA legends Royce Gracie and Chael Sonnen, as well as on-air personalities “Big” John McCarthy and Jay Glazer.

WHEN/ WHERE: Friday, October 25th at 4:00pm; Mohegan Sun Arena Box Office Forecourt

WHO: Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment’s Senior Vice President of Entertainment: Tom Cantone; Bellator MMA President: Scott Coker

IN DETAIL: Mohegan Sun Arena’s most memorable performers including Bon Jovi, KISS, Rod Stewart, Taylor Swift, Mötley Crüe, Keith Urban and so many more have been honored as Walk of Famers and have stars lining the floor by Mohegan Sun’s Box Office. Bellator MMA returns to Mohegan Sun Arena for massive doubleheader on October 25th & 26th.

Friday: Bellator 231 headlined by Frank Mir and Roy Nelson in an explosive heavyweight rematch; Saturday: Rory Macdonald meets Douglas Lima in the Welterweight World Grand Prix Finals for the world title and one million dollars.  This sets the perfect timing to recognize the Bellator MMA organization as the 34th inductee into the Walk of Fame.

The Walk of Fame award recognizes those individuals who have made significant contributions to the success of Mohegan Sun as the Northeast’s premier entertainment destination. All of the individuals inducted into the Mohegan Sun Walk of Fame will have their name engraved on a plaque that will be permanently located at the entrance to Mohegan Sun Arena.

For more information, visit mohegansun.com/entertainment.

*Media and public are invited to attend the induction ceremony.           

Mohegan Sun Arena is now ranked consistently among the top venues in the world according to Billboard Magazine, Pollstar and VenuesNow.  Mohegan Sun Arena is consistently ranked among the top three “Arenas in the World for its Size” and top 15 in the “World for All Size Venues.” The award – winning venue is the “#1 Casino Venue in the World,” “#1 Social Media Venue in the World” and a seven – time national award – winner for “Arena of the Year.”

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