OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS & PHOTOS FOR BELLATOR MMA 299: EBLEN VS. EDWARDS
LIVE IN THE U.S. TOMORROW, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 ON SHOWTIME AT 4 P.M. ET / 1 P.M. PT
COMPLETE WEIGH-IN PHOTOS HERE – Please Credit: Lucas Noonan/BELLATOR MMA
DUBLIN, IRELAND – The main card of BELLATOR MMA 299: Eblen vs. Edwards will air live in the U.S. on SHOWTIME beginning at 4 p.m. EST / 1 p.m. PST and in the UK on BBC iPlayer and in Ireland on Virgin Media Two and Virgin Media Sport at 9 p.m. IST/BST. The preliminary card will stream live in the U.S. beginning at 11 a.m. EST / 8 a.m. PST and in the UK on the BBC iPlayer and in Ireland on Virgin Media from 4:00 p.m. IST/BST.
The promotions return to the Irish capital is headlined by a Middleweight Title tilt between the undefeated champion Johnny Eblen and Fabian Edwards, as the two meet after a tense build up between the two fighters. The main card is stacked with the very best Irish and European champions including the likes of Pedro Carvalho, Sinead Kavanagh and Mads Burnell. With a bumper card stacked with homecrowd favourites, the Irish faithful are set to raise the roof at the 3Arena once more.
WATCH OFFICIAL INTERVIEW VIDEOS HERE
DUBLIN, IRELAND – As anticipation rises for another showstopping night in Dublin, Ireland, fighters from BELLATOR MMA 299: Eblen vs Edwards spoke to media today ahead of their respective fights on Saturday, September 23 at the 3Arena.
A stacked night of action in the ‘Emerald Isle’ will be headlined by a Middleweight Title Weight clash that is guaranteed to produce fireworks as champion Johnny Eblen takes on #1 challenger Fabian Edwards. With no love lost between the pair and Edwards looking to make UK MMA history, this is a match up not to be missed when the two meet in the BELLATOR cage this weekend.
The main card is stacked with enthralling encounters, with Irish crowd favorites Sinead Kavanagh and Pedro Carvalho set to have the Irish faithful off their seats for their respective slated fights. Carvalho will be looking to move himself back into title contention as he takes on Aaron Pico in what is set to be a closely fought clash. Meanwhile Kavanagh will be looking to continue her winning form since returning from injury as she faces Sara Collins, the Dubliner will be hoping a victory will take her closer to a long-awaited rematch with current champion Cris Cyborg.
Elsewhere a card stacked with Irish talent across the main card and prelims is set to create an electric atmosphere in the Irish capital.
The main card will air live in the US on SHOWTIME, in the UK on BBC iPlayer, and in Ireland on Virgin Media Two and Virgin Media Sport from 9 p.m. GMT. The preliminary card will stream live in the UK on the BBC iPlayer and in Ireland on Virgin Media from 4 p.m. GMT.
Limited tickets for BELLATOR 299 remain on sale and can be purchased through Bellator.com.
Here’s what the BELLATOR 299 fighters had to say:
JOHNNY EBLEN – BELLATOR MIDDLWEIGHT CHAMPION – VIDEO
On being to Dublin before “Dublin is a great city, and it was great to be here to see Amosov defend his title. I loved the crowd and the energy in the 3Arena, it’s an honor to fight in the arena and in front of the Irish crowd.
On if he’s the best Middleweight in MMA: “I believe I am one of the best if not the best Middleweight in the world. I can’t take anything away from Sean Strickland, he’s a great fighter and I have nothing but respect for him. I’m most the consistent champion for now, I just recently got the belt, let’s let history play out and see what happens.
On Leon influence on Fabian: “His brother is a great fighter, he’s a great fighter but I think I am better. He has a few tricks and tries to set yourself up for stuff, but I’m too slick and I’m going to break his face on Saturday night. I’m not worried if it’s a standup match up, I stood up with Sean Strickland and he’s one of the best in the world, it does not worry me if it’s a standup match-up.”
On fighting away: “It’s not what I’m used too but I like to put myself in different situations, it’s a different challenge but I’m ready to take head on. I’ve got lots I want to accomplish, and this fight is another step in the right direction. There’s still a lot of competition I want to beat, so I am far from over. You have to push through the first day and adapt from there, I’m on the time schedule out here now and I feel good.
On American Top Team: “ATT is a mecca, the mat space, the cages, the striking area, Dan Lenna and we are consistent, we have consistent fighters and coaches. A lot of other gyms don’t have the Mecca ATT does, not to take anything away from them but I think ATT is the best in the world right now. We’re here on a business trip and we’re enjoying every moment.
On Fabian animosity following their face off in Paris: “I don’t like his face, there’s something about and I want to rearrange it, he’s got a weird energy and I can’t wait to beat it out of him.
On his journey: “I’ve had to work hard for things I deserve and I’m going to continue to work hard, I’m still taking flight and I will continue to rise.”
FABIAN EDWARDS – NO. 1 RANKED BELLATOR MIDDLWEIGHT – VIDEO
On how he’s feeling: “I’m calm, I feel really calm, I’ve been working a long time for this moment, so it’s good to be here now I’m only a couple of days from achieving that goal. Since I’ve started it’s been your brother has started ‘lets see if he’s any good’. I’ve never doubted myself and that’s the reason I’m in the situation I’m in now. This has been years and years of hard work that have led to this moment [him and Leon being at the top of the sport] me and my brother are perfectionists and over the years we’ve bolstered our skill set and this is our time.
On what it would mean to win: “It’s going to be crazy, that’s what we envisioned, when I signed for BELLATOR I said I’m here to win a belt and that’s what I am going to do.
On defeats and bouncing back: “When you’re undefeated for so many years you think you’re never going to lose, then you suffer losses and it’s part of the sport, if you hold onto them, it does more damage than good, I’ve always maintained the same positive mindset. “I look back at the Vanderford fight, I never had the right quality and if I did, I would’ve beaten him that night, my skillset is more mature now and I’m ready.”
On Eblen and being an underdog: “When you’ve never lost before you think you never will and that’ll be his downfall, when I go in there and the shots are flying at him, he’s going to realise. I KO people, Johnny doesn’t curly toe people like I do, he likes to box and hang off people, I don’t do that.
On Beating Gegard Mousasi: “It’s done a lot for me, I’m happier that I beat him over five rounds, it showed my skillset and it’s perfect for this fight, as I’ve experienced a five rounder and that’s the experience that you need for title fights.
On Team Renegade and being a role model to the community: “When you come back from the area, you want to give back to the community and the kids, as well as your family. I’m happy to be in a position to give back and when I go out there and win Saturday, I hope it will inspire more people. Coming from Jamaica where the house is smaller than this room and coming to England with my dad passing and the struggles we have but it’s built us into the men we are today.
On enjoying fight week and the Irish crowd: “I have always enjoyed it, I’m calm and relaxed, we’re making sure that we’re enjoying the ride, it’s a short career so I’m here to enjoy it. It feels good to fight in front of the Irish crowd, I’ve fought here twice and got two stoppages, I truly believe on Saturday it will be another beautiful victory.”
AARON PICO – NO. 3 RANKED BELLATOR FEATHERWEIGHT – VIDEO
“It’s been good, everyone has been nice to me. Sleeping, training and getting the weight down. It’s been a good week so far.”
On Pedro Carvalho: “It’s good for my development (fighting in Ireland) and for sure in the future and they always say the that Irish fans are the best fans in the world. I want to put on a show for them. I have wrestled all over the world. The fans can’t fight for him. It’s just him and I in there… there’s no secret, I will come forward and look to break him. My wrestling and striking will be too much for him.
“My advice is to develop and there is no rush. Everyone looks at Jon Jones. That’s an exception. That’s one guy. Your journey is different. I made that mistake; this game is evolving so much. You will be champion when it’s the right time for you. Take your time. It’s a pain in the ass to get your confidence back. Where I am is perfect. My confidence was shot for a long time but its back. I’m where I’m supposed to be. I don’t want to talk about injuries, my shoulder is strong. If I have that in my mind, my shoulder is strong.
“I’m one fight away from fighting for the title. I have to get through Pedro first. The task at hand is Pedro and I have to go and put on a dominant performance. I want to get the victory and see my son and see him when I’m home. It’s nice when you come home with a win. Saturday night is my birthday. It will be a great birthday for me.”
PEDRO CARVALHO – NO. 5 RANKED BELLATOR FEATHERWEIGHT – VIDEO
On how he is feeling: “It feels good. It feels right. Being in a fight where I’m going to have a fight. I’m excited. I’m buzzing for this one. A fight I’ve wanted for some time. I always want to fight top guys. This fight is perfect for me and go out there as a title contention.”
On fighting Patricio Pitbull in the future: “For sure, the next thing is the interim belt. He will be out until summer next year. It’s an obvious thing to fight for the interim belt.”
On fighting Pico: “He is a different fighter. If you look at his early fights before losses, he is a different fighter. He is way better fighter after the losses. I call him a fighter’s fighter. He goes in there to win and to fight. He’s not there to hold or wait for the time to pass, he is there to hurt you and finish you. We never know what’s going to happen in a fight. We can imagine it in a million ways, and it happens in one way we don’t picture it. He fights in a very aggressive way. For sure I’m going to have to handle his shots. I prefer to have him throwing at me and to hurt me. Fighting Pico, I must be aware of his explosiveness. His danger makes me alert.”
On the loss to Jermey Kennedy: “I’m not worried. Both of them (Pico and Kenndy) are different fighters. Physically and stylistically, they are not the same. Each fighter is a fight, and each fighter is a person. My approach was wrong going into that fight.”
On being the Co-Main event: “Gratefully it’s the second co main event in a row. This time I will get my hand raised. Everything is going to be just right. It’s great but I think its details. A fight is a fight. I’m hungry. I had a taste of fighting for the title. Day in, day out I see that belt around my waist. The path is clear, but I have to beat Pico and that’s what I focus on. The winner of this fight, it will be the only obvious thing to do is fight for the Interim belt.”
SINEAD KAVANAGH – NO. 4 X RANKED BELLATOR WOMEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT – VIDEO
SARA COLLINS – NO. 6 RANKED BELLATOR WOMEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT – VIDEO
MADS BURNELL – NO. 4 RANKED BELLATOR FEATHERWEIGHT – VIDEO
DARRAGH KELLY – BELLATOR FEATHERWEIGHT – VIDEO
CIARAN CLARKE – BELLATOR BANTAMWEIGHT – VIDEO
BRIAN MOORE – BELLATOR FEATHERWEIGHT – VIDEO
KENNY MOKHONOANA – BELLATOR FEATHERWEIGHT – VIDEO
PETER QUEALLY – BELLATOR LIGHTWEIGHT – VIDEO
BELLATOR 299: EBLEN VS. EDWARDS MAIN CARD
SHOWTIME
September 23 — 4 p.m. EST / 1 p.m. PST
Middleweight World Championship: C-Johnny Eblen (184.6) vs. #1-Fabian Edwards (185.0)
Featherweight Bout: #3-Aaron Pico (145.2) vs. #5-Pedro Carvalho (145.6)
Featherweight Bout: #4-Sinead Kavanagh (145.8) vs. #6-Sara Collins (145.3)
Featherweight Bout: #4-Mads Burnell (144.4) vs. #9-Daniel Weichel (145.6)
Welterweight Bout: #10-Sabah Homasi (170.2) vs. Levan Chokheli (169.9)
PRELIMINARY CARD
BELLATOR MMA YOUTUBE CHANNEL
11 a.m. EST / 8 a.m. PST
Lightweight Bout: Peter Queally (170.2) vs. Daniele Miceli (170.2)
Lightweight Bout: #9-Mansour Barnaoui (155.2) vs. Jay-Jay Wilson (156.0)
Middleweight Bout: Gregory Babene (185.2) vs. Charlie Ward (185.8)
140-Pound Contract Weight Bout:: Ciaran Clarke (139.6) vs. Przemysław Górny (139.2)
Welterweight Bout: Luca Poclit (169.8) vs. Roman Faraldo (170.8)
Featherweight Bout: Khasan Magomedsharipov (145.6) vs. Piotr Niedzielksi (147.8)*
Featherweight Bout: Darragh Kelly (145.2) vs. Jelle Zeegers (145.4)
Featherweight Bout: Brian Moore (145.4) vs. Otto Rodrigues (145.0)
Lightweight Bout: Davy Gallon (155.2) vs. Attila Korkmaz (155.0)
Featherweight Bout: Asael Adjoudj (145.6) vs. Ibrahim Al-Faqih Hassan (146.0)
Featherweight Bout: Kenny Mokhonoana (145.5) vs. Josh O’Connor (145.8)
Welterweight Bout: Nicolo Solli (170.6) vs. Romain Debienne (171.0)
Heavyweight Bout: Sergei Bilostennyi (246.2) vs. Kasim Aras (253.6)
Lightweight Bout: Mark Ewen (155.0) vs. Noah Gugnon (155.6)
Strawweight Bout: Chiara Penco (115.2) vs. Mackenzie Stiller (115.8)
* Denotes fighter missed weight