BAD MMA - The origins of combat™ » Distinction

With final three females released, Bellator issues statement on women’s division

BAD MMA News — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 04:15:00 +0000

Bellator MMA hasn’t officially dissolved its women’s division. But with no women left on its roster, there may not be a home for those fighters in the promotion any time soon. Word got out on Tuesday that Jessica Eye (10-1) had been let go by Bellator, and Tuesday also saw an announcement from all-female promotion Invicta Fighting Championship that former Bellator fighter Felice Herrig (9-4) had signed. Jessica Aguilar (15-4) most recently fought for Bellator in March. Those three were the last remaining women on Bellator’s roster, and on Tuesday night promotion CEO Bjorn Rebney issued a statement on the state of the California-based company’s women’s division. “Jessica Eye, Jessica Aguilar and Felice represent all that is good in women’s MMA,” Rebney stated. ”Both Eye and Aguilar are ranked No. 1 in the world in their respective divisions and carry themselves with class and distinction elevating the women’s game. I’ve said many times that fighters need to fight and fight often. Given our current focus, we are not in position to provide these very deserving women regular and reoccurring fights on a large platform. And, I felt it was best to let them go and secure options that did. I genuinely wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors and will be rooting for each of them wherever they fight.” For Herrig, a strawweight, that opportunity will now come with Invicta. Aguilar, who went 5-1 as a strawweight for Bellator, and is on a six-fight win streak, may have to look Invicta’s direction, as well

See the original post:

With final three females released, Bellator issues statement on women’s division – MMA Junkie

Bellator Signs Lightweight Champ Michael Chandler to Eight-Fight Contract Extension

BAD MMA News — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 02:18:41 +0000

Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler is currently preparing to defend his belt at next week’s Bellator 97 in Albuquerque, but he didn’t have to wait until after the fight to get a new deal done with the promotion. Bellator MMA on Thursday revealed that it signed Chandler to an eight-fight extension to his current contract. “In all my years in combat sports, I’ve never seen the growth and development in a fighter like we’ve all witnessed with Michael Chandler,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “I believe Michael is the best lightweight in MMA . And, given that, I felt it was paramount to keep Michael at Bellator for the long term. Both inside and outside the cage, Michael is a tremendous representative for our Bellator. And, now as one of the highest paid lightweights in MMA, he’s without question earned that distinction.” Chandler (11-0) was a relative unknown until he upset then-champion Eddie Alvarez for the Bellator lightweight title late in 2011 in what many considered the Fight of the Year. He has since fought just twice. Chandler’s first bout after winning the belt was a non-title victory over Akihiro Gono in May 2012. He then made his first title defense with a second-round submission of Rick Hawn in January of this year.

Read the original here:

Bellator Signs Lightweight Champ Michael Chandler to Eight-Fight Contract Extension – MMA Weekly

USA TODAY: UFC 162′s Frankie Edgar: ‘I’m not one to feel sorry for myself’

BAD MMA News — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 16:00:00 +0000

(This story appears in today’s edition of USA TODAY .) Frankie Edgar is the UFC’s resident marathon man. Ask him to do a half-marathon, and he’ll probably give a “heh — sure, no problem” smirk. Edgar has been in seven consecutive five-round title fights. Six went all 25 minutes, and a seventh went deep into the fourth round. Edgar, though, isn’t alone with that type of long-distance distinction. Welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre is known for going five rounds, too, and has done so in seven of his last eight bouts. But there tends to be little doubt after St-Pierre’s fights as to whose hand will be raised.

More here:

USA TODAY: UFC 162′s Frankie Edgar: ‘I’m not one to feel sorry for myself’ – MMA Junkie