Jan 23, 2015 | Entertainment, General News, Special Events, Sports
“King Mo” Lawal vs. Cheick Kongo replaces Bobby Lashley vs. James Thompson and Andre Santos steps in for Douglas Lima to battle Paul Daley at “Bellator: The British Invasion”
UNCASVILLE, CT (January 23, 2015) — Injury has forced the delay of a heavily anticipated matchup between Bobby Lashley (12-2) and James Thompson (20-14) but Bellator MMA officials have announced a blockbuster fight to replace it in Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (14-4) vs. Cheick Kongo (22-9-2). Also Andre Santos (37-9) has stepped in for the injured welterweight champion Douglas Lima (26-5), and will now face the always-dangerous Paul Daley (35-13).
The new contest is scheduled for the televised portion of “Bellator: British Invasion,” which takes place on Friday, February 27th, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. The night’s main card airs live on Spike TV, while preliminary bouts stream on Spike.com.
Tickets for “Bellator: British Invasion,” which start at just $25.00, are already on sale at Ticketmaster.com and Bellator.com. Additional bouts are expected to be announced shortly.
“We’re disappointed we had to delay these fights between Bobby Lashley and James Thompson, and Douglas Lima and Paul Daley, but I have no doubt that these matchups will be fantastic once they eventually come to fruition,” Bellator MMA CEO Scott Coker said. “Fortunately, we’re able to replace the bouts with equally entertaining contests for our fans.”
“King Mo” Lawal fights for the 10th time for Bellator MMA and has established himself as one of the most recognizable superstars in the sport. A standout wrestler who normally competes at light heavyweight, the former NCAA Division I All-American and Pan American gold medallist has earned 11 of his 14 career MMA wins by knockout, including recent striking stoppages of Joe Vedepo and Dustin Jacoby. The former Bellator MMA tournament winner and Strikeforce light heavyweight world champion now moves up to heavyweight for the first time since 2009 to challenge himself against Kongo.
Kongo, a 6-foot-4 Frenchman, is a former professional kickboxer who boasts black belts in both Karate and Kendo. A multiple-time world champion in kickboxing, Kongo now focuses solely on MMA and has built a 4-1 record under the Bellator MMA banner. Training at Wolfslair MMA Academy in London, Kongo most recently flashed his well-rounded game by scoring a first-round submission over fellow striker Lavar Johnson in a September matchup. Kongo’s lone Bellator loss came in a five-round contest for the Bellator MMA Heavyweight World Championship, in which he went five full rounds with Vitaly Minakov but came up short in a decision result.
Paul Daley is a highly feared and respected veteran with dynamite in both fists, which earned him the nickname “Semtex.” The 31-year-old from Nottingham, England has won an impressive 74% of his 35 victories by way of knockout. Having fought for Scott Coker under the Strikeforce banner, rejoining him at Bellator was a no brainer. Daley took to the Internet to share his feelings on the injury to Lima, stating: “Nervous, Scared??…..I understand, preparing to fight me…. I would be. It’s ok…. guess you get to have a few more photo shoots with the belt…. My focus has shifted, same date, new opponent…. British Invasion at Bellator 134.”
The new opponent his focus has shifted to is Andre “Chatuba” Santos. A veteran of the sport in his own right, the Rio De Janeiro fighter has two more wins than Daley in four less fights. Santos defeated James Terry at Bellator 129, in what was his first fight on American soil. He now has his sights set on Daley, with hopes to win his seventh straight fight.
About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA 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 Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.
More information on media credential requests are located here: http://credentials.bzapr.com/credentials/MVS/
Mohegan Sun Arena is ranked 3rd in the U.S. and 5th in the world by Billboard Magazine and was the 2008 and 2010 recipient of a Country Music Award for “Casino of The Year.” Venues Today also ranked Mohegan Sun Arena #3 in the Nation and #3 in the World for top stops in 2013 and also ranked the Arena in the top six of “Top Stops of The Decade” in 2012. For more information on concerts and other great events at Mohegan Sun, visit mohegansun.com. For information on this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711, ext. 27163.
Jul 22, 2014 | Entertainment, General News, Sports
Kongo Back In Action, King Mo Returns & Lashley Debuts
Bellator delivers a night of must-see fights for MMA fans featuring some of the most exciting fighters in the sport as Pat Curran, Patricio Pitbull, King Mo, Cheick Kongo & Bobby Lashley return to action on Friday, September 5th from Mohegan Sun Arena live on Spike TV.
Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased on Ticketmaster.com, Bellator.com or by visiting the Mohegan Sun Box Office.
The night will be headlined by a Featherweight Title fight between two of the very best in the sport as reigning Bellator Champion Pat Curran defends his belt against Brazilian striker Patricio Pitbull. The fight has been nearly two years in the making after Curran successfully defeated Pitbull in 2013 with a narrow split decision victory. After Pitbull stormed through the Season 9 Featherweight Tournament, both Pitbull and Curran have engaged in verbal sparring matches via social media that has resulted in one of the most anticipated fights of 2014.
“I’ve been wanting this rematch with Curran for a long time, and it’s finally here,” Pitbull said. “I won that first fight, and I should be Bellator Featherweight Champion right now. This time, I’m not going to let it go to the judges. Curran has started to get cocky and he’s disrespecting me. He has no idea what I’ve been through to get to the title.”
“Pitbull has been running his mouth a lot lately and everyone is sick of hearing it,” Curran said. “I’m ready to shut him up for good. I’m an even better fighter now than I was the first time we fought and I’ll show you him how a true champion fights on September 5th.”
King Mo returns to the cage after his controversial loss to Rampage Jackson at Bellator 120, as the American Top Team product will square off against New Jersey native Tom DeBlass. DeBlass enters the fight 2-0 in Bellator and is looking for the biggest win of his career against King Mo on September 5th.
“Listen, I respect Mo and I think he’s a world class athlete,” DeBlass said. “That being said, I know what I’m capable of, and I not only believe that I will win the fight, but I’m going to finish him. Bellator has treated me incredible, and I’ve been asking for big fights. Mo is the next step to get to my ultimate goal, and I’m not taking it lightly. I’m fighting in a huge fight back on the East Coast for a promotion I love. It doesn’t get much better than this.”
The main card will be rounded out by the Bellator debut of fan favorite Bobby Lashley, who brings a 10-2 record into the cage while also currently holding the TNA Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship. Lashley will square off against Bellator veteran Josh Burns in a heavyweight clash to open the September 5th show live on Spike TV.
The night will also feature a clash of heavyweights as Cheick Kongo returns to the Bellator cage to face the heavy handed Lavar Johnson. Both veterans of the sport, the two giants will engage in a slugfest that should produce fireworks live on Spike TV.
More announcements on the September 5th fight card from Mohegan Sun Arena will be made in the coming weeks which include Connecticut’s own, Brennan “The Irish Bad Boy” Ward.
Mohegan Sun Arena is now ranked consistently among the top venues in the world according to Billboard Magazine, Pollstar and Venues Today. It has won “Casino of The Year” at the Country Music Awards in 2008 & 2010 and in 2013, was voted “Arena Of The Year” at the G2E Global Gaming Conference in Las Vegas. Also in 2013, Mohegan Sun won “Casino of The Year” in 2 categories at the Academy of Country Music Awards. For more information on concerts and other great events at Mohegan Sun, visit mohegansun.com. For information on this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711, ext. 27163.
Jun 18, 2014 | Entertainment, General News, Hot Summer Fun, Sports
Mohegan Sun is set to play host to Katy Perry, Justin Timberlake, Michael Bublé and countless more for this summer; 183 shows & events in 123 days!
There is no other place in the region to catch the amount and variety of entertainment that Mohegan Sun is geared up to bring this summer. Beginning with the recent sold-out Bruce Springsteen shows in late May, through August 31st, Hot Summer Fun at Mohegan Sun will host well over 100 shows. Fans of comedy, the Connecticut Sun, MMA, boxing and of course – live music, are in for one of the best summer lineups ever at Mohegan Sun.
This summer, Mohegan Sun Arena is set to host the likes of Katy Perry, Michael Bublé, Justin Timberlake, John Mellencamp, Queen + Adam Lambert, Lionel Richie with CeeLo Green, Kevin James, Jake Owen, Alan Jackson and The Moody Blues! And the ever-popular Wolf Den will bring in Ambrosia with John Ford Coley, Austin Webb, Hoobastank, Warrant, Dustin Lynch, The Bacon Brothers and Grand Funk Railroad this summer, among many more performers. Treehouse Comedy brings some of the funniest touring stand-up out there to The Cabaret Theatre every Saturday evening and don’t miss the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun with multiple home games inside Mohegan Sun Arena throughout June, July and August!
View the full summer schedule for Mohegan Sun Arena, The Wolf Den, The Cabaret Theatre and Connecticut Sun here: Mohegan Sun Summer Entertainment!
Jun 2, 2014 | General News, Special Events, Sports
Connecticut’s Brennan Ward Battles Bellator Newcomer James Irvin; Main Event To Be Announced In Coming Weeks 
Bellator will kick off its highly anticipated Season 11 on Friday, September 5th as the promotion returns to Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun Arena to host Bellator 123 live on Spike TV. The night will feature the return of “The Irish Bad Boy” Brennan Ward as he battles James Irvin in a middleweight feature fight. The night will also feature the start of the Bellator Season 11 Middleweight Tournament. Participants for the eight man field as well as the main event of the evening will be announced in the coming weeks.
Tickets for Bellator 123 go on sale on Friday June 6th at 10:00am EST and can be purchased on Ticketmaster.com, Bellator.com or by visiting the Mohegan Sun Box Office. Bellator 123 will broadcast live at 9:00pm EST/ 8:00pm CST on Spike TV. The preliminary card will be streamed live and free on Spike.com beginning at 7:00pm EST/ 6:00pm CST.
Ward returns to the Bellator cage after suffering defeat at the hands of reigning Bellator Middleweight Champion Alexander Shlemenko in March of 2014. After storming through the Season 9 Middleweight Tournament with three straight finishes, Ward is looking to get back to his winning ways against Irvin on September 5th.
“It’s my time and he had his,” Ward proclaimed. “I’ve been putting in the work and this guy is just in my way to getting back to where I need to be. The Sandman is going to get planked in the fourth minute of the first round, I’m already calling my shot!”
“The Sandman is back,” Irvin said. “This is where the road turns for me. I’m back, and fighting under the bright lights again for a huge promotion like Bellator, and have a tough test ahead of me in a guy like Brennan Ward. I know he likes to run his mouth and he’s a young guy, but I’m knocking this kid out on my way back to the top.”
“It’s going to be another incredible night at Mohegan Sun on September 5th,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “Mohegan Sun has hosted some of the most memorable moments in Bellator history and I couldn’t think of a better venue to kick off what will be a huge Season 11 for Bellator. I can’t wait to get Brennan back in the cage, our Middleweight Tournament will be stacked, and we are going to open our Season 11 in a huge way on Friday, September 5th.”
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BellatorMMA
About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is the world’s largest tournament based Mixed Martial Arts organization. Televised to nearly 500 Million homes worldwide in over 140 countries, Bellator’s majority owner is entertainment giant Viacom. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, the MMA television leader. With over 180 world-class athletes under contract, Bellator is home to many of the sport’s top mixed martial artists. Bellator’s founder & CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment executive with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator’s core philosophy is that title shots should be earned, not given. This belief gave rise to Bellator’s real sport, tournament-based format, which gives Bellator’s tournaments a true playoff feel that keeps the sport true and distances itself from the subjective side of fighting sports found in organizations that utilize a matchmaking/casting formula. Bellator MMA 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 Newport Beach, California.
About Spike TV:
Spike TV is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.
Mohegan Sun Arena is now ranked consistently among the top venues in the world according to Billboard Magazine, Pollstar and Venues Today. It has won “Casino of The Year” at the Country Music Awards in 2008 & 2010 and in 2013, was voted “Arena Of The Year” at the G2E Global Gaming Conference in Las Vegas. Also in 2013, Mohegan Sun won “Casino of The Year” in 2 categories at the Academy of Country Music Awards. For more information on concerts and other great events at Mohegan Sun, visit mohegansun.com. For information on this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711, ext. 27163.
Feb 26, 2014 | Entertainment, Sports
The weigh-in and pre-fight press conference for Bellator MMA will take place Thursday at 5:00pm EST in front of the box office at Mohegan Sun Arena. Bellator MMA will take place at Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday, February 28th with the first fight taking place at 6:30pm and streaming LIVE on Spike.com. The televised portion of the night will begin at 9:00pm and will air LIVE on Spike TV.
All participants from Friday night’s event will be on hand, as well as Bellator CEO & Chairman Bjorn Rebney.
The event will be emceed by Bellator cage announcer Michael C. Williams and Bellator color commentator Jimmy Smith.
As always the weigh-in is open to both the public and media.
MAIN CARD:
Bellator Light Heavyweight Semifinal: Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (33-11) vs. Christian M’Pumbu (18-5)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Semifinal: King Mo Lawal (11-3) vs. Mikhail Zayats (22-7)
Bellator Featherweight Opening Round: Diego Nunes (18-5) vs. Matt Bessette (12-4)
Bellator Featherweight Opening Round: Goiti Yamauchi (16-1) vs. Will Martinez (8-2)
Bellator Featherweight Opening Round: Mike Richman (16-3) vs. Desmond Green (9-2)
PRELIMINARY CARD:
Bellator Featherweight Opening Round: Daniel Weichel (31-8) vs. Scott Cleve (14-3)
Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Egidijus Valavicius (25-10) vs. Atanas Djambazov (18-3)
Featherweight Feature Fight: Andrew Fisher (12-5-1) vs. Saul Almeida (13-5)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Ryan Quinn (8-4-1) vs. Andrew Calandrelli (6-3)
Heavyweight Feature Fight: Josh Diekman (14-5) vs. Manny Lara (4-4)
Bantamweight Feature Fight: Marvin Maldonado (1-1) vs. Rico DiSciullo (1-0)
Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Pat Schultz (8-2-1) vs. Dave Roberts (5-8)
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BellatorMMA
About Bellator MMA:
Bellator MMA is the world’s largest tournament based Mixed Martial Arts organization. Televised to nearly 500 Million homes worldwide in over 140 countries, Bellator’s majority owner is entertainment giant Viacom. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, the MMA television leader. With over 175 world-class athletes under contract, Bellator is home to many of the sport’s top mixed martial artists. Bellator’s founder & CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment executive with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator’s core philosophy is that title shots should be earned, not given. This belief gave rise to Bellator’s real sport, tournament-based format, which gives Bellator’s tournaments a true playoff feel that keeps the sport true and distances itself from the subjective side of fighting sports found in organizations that utilize a matchmaking/casting formula. Bellator MMA 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 Newport Beach, California.
About Spike TV:
Spike TV is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.
Mohegan Sun Arena is ranked 3rd in the U.S. and 5th in the world by Billboard Magazine and was the 2008 and 2010 recipient of a Country Music Award for “Casino of The Year.” Venues Today also ranked Mohegan Sun Arena #3 in the Nation and #3 in the World for top stops in 2013 and also ranked the Arena in the top six of “Top Stops of The Decade” in 2012. For more information on concerts and other great events at Mohegan Sun, visit mohegansun.com. For information on this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711, ext. 27163.
