Tag: Liverpool

IMMAF-WMMAA Unified World Championships DAY 3 RESULTS

Post author By f/s
Post date November 15, 2018

Results from Day 3 of the 2019 IMMAF-WMMAA Unified World Championships at the Khalifa Sports City Arena in Manama Bahrain.

Taking place as part of BRAVE International Combat Week, the 5-day, nation vs nation, amateur MMA tournament features 362 competitors from more than 50 nations across 16 weight divisions. The Junior tournament (for 18 to 20-year olds) is running concurrently with the Senior Championships (for 18s+) and both events take place under Unified Amateur MMA Rules.

Starting with four MMA rings for Days 1 to 3 (12 – 14 November), three rings will remain in action for Day 3 – Semi-Finals (15 November), while the Finals (17 November) of both tournaments will play out in one ring interspersed with Medals Ceremonies.

Two rings (and one for the Finals) will be streamed live each day at IMMAF.TV, while videos-on-demand for ALL matches will be uploaded to the platform during the week and the week after. Delay in upload of VODs has unfortunately been caused by internet issues due to rare storms and flooding in Manama earlier in the week, for which the IMMAF – WMMAA team apologises.

The Championships is hosted by the Bahrain MMA Federation and endorsed by the Bahrain Olympic Committee and H.H. Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad al Khalifa.

OFFICIAL RESULTS – DAY 3
14 November 2018

JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

CAGE 1

Bout 1: Jr Strawweight 52.2 kg (115 lbs) Ebrahim Darwish (Bahrain) d e f Radostin Angelov (Bulgaria) via Unanimous Decision Round 3 (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Bout 2: Jr Bantamweight 61.2 kg (135 lbs) Ismael Zamora (Mexico) d e f Jack Corr (Northern Ireland) via Submission (Triangle Choke) Round 1, 2:36

Bout 3: Jr Featherweight 65.8 kg (145 lbs) Balka Yury (Belarus) d e f Louis Lee Scott (United Kingdom) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) Round 1, 1:45

Bout 4: Jr Lightweight 70.3 kg (155 lbs) Peter Gabal (Czech Republic) d e f Jianabule Ahezhuole (China) via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Bout 5: Jr Welterweight 77.1 kg (170 lbs) Bozhidar Ivanov (Bulgaria) d e f Karel Ludvík (Czech Republic) via TKO Round 3, 0:22

Bout 6: Jr Light Heavyweight 93 kg (205 lbs) Lukáš Piffko (Czech Republic) d e f Elias Matar (Lebanon) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

CAGE 2

Bout 1: Jr Flyweight 56.7 kg (125 lbs) Fariz Abdalov (Kazakhstan) d e f Khayal Gahramanli (Azerbaijan) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Bout 2: Jr Bantamweight 61.2 kg (135 lbs) Muhammad Mokaev (United Kingdom) d e f Nurbolat Oteuov (Kazakhstan) via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Bout 3: Jr Featherweight 65.8 kg (145 lbs) Miras Kazhimuratov (Kazakhstan) d e f MAGOMED ALIBULATOV (Russia) due to Medical Examination Failed

Bout 4: Jr Lightweight 70.3 kg (155 lbs) DANIIAR KADYROV (Russia) d e f Zé Machado (Portugal) via Submission (Triangle Choke) Round 1, 1:55

Bout 5: Jr Welterweight 77.1 kg (170 lbs) Jett Grande (Canada) d e f Ákos Dénes (Hungary) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

CAGE 3

Bout 1: Jr Bantamweight 61.2 kg (135 lbs) Ali Yaqoob (Bahrain) d e f DIIAR SHULIANOV (Russia) via Unanimous Decision Round 3 (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Bout 2: Jr Featherweight 65.8 kg (145 lbs) Alexander OSullivan (Ireland) d e f Eryk Walecki (Poland) via Unanimous Decision Round 3 (29-28, 30-28, 29-28)

Bout 3: Jr Lightweight 70.3 kg (155 lbs) Patrick Lehane (Ireland) d e f Ermil Xhaferi (Albania) via TKO Round 2, 1:41 (10-9, 10-9, 10-9)

Bout 4: Jr Welterweight 77.1 kg (170 lbs) Paddy Wilkinson (Ireland) d e f Yousif Sayyar (Bahrain) via Unanimous Decision Round 3 (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Bout 5: Jr Middleweight 83.9 kg (185 lbs) George Saade (Lebanon) d e f Matěj Havran (Czech Republic) via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

CAGE 4

Bout 1: Jr Bantamweight 61.2 kg (135 lbs) Reo Yamaguchi (Japan) d e f Agustin Guzman (Mexico) via TKO Round 2, 2:00

Bout 2: Jr Featherweight 65.8 kg (145 lbs) Elbek Alyshov (Russia) d e f Mauricio Rios (Mexico) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) Round 1, 0:42

Bout 3: Jr Lightweight 70.3 kg (155 lbs) REZIUAN KHOTOV (Russia) d e f Jakub Tichota (Czech Republic) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-27, 29-27)

Bout 4: Jr Welterweight 77.1 kg (170 lbs) XXX TANGHESI (China) d e f Jan Fajk (Czech Republic) via Unanimous Decision Round 3 (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Bout 5: Jr Middleweight 83.9 kg (185 lbs) MAGOMEDKHABIB UMAROV (Russia) d e f Omran Chaaban (Finland) via TKO Round 1, 0:31

SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIPS

CAGE 1

Bout 1: Women’s Strawweight 52.2 kg (115 lbs) Nadia Vera (Mexico) d e f Hend Rezk (Bahrain) via Submission (Armbar) Round 1, 1:58 (10-9, 10-9, 10-9)

Bout 2: Women’s Atomweight 47.6 kg (105 lbs) Raluca Dinescu (Romania) d e f akshata subhash (India) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Bout 3: Women’s Flyweight 56.7 kg (125 lbs) Alexandra Kovacs (Hungary) d e f ABIDI MARIEM (Tunisia) via TKO Round 2, 2:10

Bout 4: Women’s Bantamweight 61.2 kg (135 lbs) Lucie Vacova (Czech Republic) d e f Frida Vastamäki (Sweden) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) Round 1, 2:37

Bout 5: Women’s Featherweight 65.8 kg (145 lbs) Meng Chen (China) d e f Aizhan Abdykadyr (Kazakhstan) via Split Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Bout 6: Strawweight 52.2 kg (115 lbs) Bagdat Zhubanysh (Kazakhstan) d e f Isa Aldoy (Bahrain) via Submission (Armbar) Round 1, 1:04

Bout 7: Flyweight 56.7 kg (125 lbs) Mohammed Almuamari (Bahrain) d e f XIAOYU ZHOU (China) via Unanimous Decision Round 3 (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Bout 8: Bantamweight 61.2 kg (135 lbs) Vladyslav Dubkov (Ukraine) d e f Denislav Hadzhiev (Bulgaria) via Submission (Armbar) Round 3, 1:29

Bout 9: Featherweight 65.8 kg (145 lbs) Delyan Georgiev (Bulgaria) d e f OMARASKHAB YUSUPOV (Russia) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Bout 10: Lightweight 70.3 kg (155 lbs) lee hammond (Ireland) d e f Pavel Senchenko (Ukraine) via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)

Bout 11: Welterweight 77.1 kg (170 lbs) Sola Axel (France) d e f Robin Roos (Sweden) via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)

Bout 12: Middleweight 83.9 kg (185 lbs) Joseph Luciano (Australia) d e f Angelo Rivera Jr. (United States) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Bout 13: Light Heavyweight 93 kg (205 lbs) MAGOMED SHAKHRUDINOV (Russia) d e f Heydar Heydarov (Azerbaijan) via Submission (Kimura) Round 1, 2:25

Bout 14: Heavyweight 120.2 kg (265 lbs) Bagrat Adamiya (Ukraine) d e f Brayan Aspegren (Finland) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) Round 2, 2:34

Bout 15: Super Heavyweight 120.2 kg (265 lbs) + GRIGORIY PONOMAREV (Russia) d e f Ruslan Moiseienko (Ukraine) via TKO Round 1, 1:37

CAGE 2

Bout 1: Women’s Strawweight 52.2 kg (115 lbs) Nina Back (Sweden) d e f Daniella Duque (Colombia) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) Round 1, 1:49

Bout 2: Women’s Atomweight 47.6 kg (105 lbs) Jenna Horto (Finland) d e f Elizabeth Avila (Mexico) via Split Decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)

Bout 3: Women’s Flyweight 56.7 kg (125 lbs) Ilaria Norcia (Italy) d e f Marie Spencer (United Kingdom) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Bout 4: Women’s Bantamweight 61.2 kg (135 lbs) Bulgaru Daniela Mihaela (Romania) d e f Charlotte Brown (United Kingdom) via TKO Round 2, 0:36 (10-9, 10-9, 10-9)

Bout 5: Women’s Featherweight 65.8 kg (145 lbs) Kateryna Dobroznai (Ukraine) d e f JIAYI BAI (China) via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Bout 6: Flyweight 56.7 kg (125 lbs) RUSLAN SATIEV (Russia) d e f Oktay Arif (Bulgaria) via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)

Bout 7: Bantamweight 61.2 kg (135 lbs) SHARAPUDIN MAGOMEDOV (Russia) d e f Hamza Zrira (Bahrain) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Bout 8: Featherweight 65.8 kg (145 lbs) Enrique Hecher Sosa (Spain) d e f Tim Ha (Czech Republic) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Bout 9: Lightweight 70.3 kg (155 lbs) Adilbek Kairgali (Kazakhstan) d e f Francois Meyer (South Africa) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Bout 10: Welterweight 77.1 kg (170 lbs) Murad Guseinov (Bahrain) d e f Dmitry Prachuk (Ukraine) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Bout 11: Middleweight 83.9 kg (185 lbs) Andreas Berg (Sweden) d e f Christian Leroy Duncan (United Kingdom) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-27, 29-28)

Bout 12: Light Heavyweight 93 kg (205 lbs) Mustafa Atrakchi (Sweden) d e f Dominic Wenzlaff (Germany) via Split Decision (30-26, 28-29, 29-27)

Bout 13: Heavyweight 120.2 kg (265 lbs) Ryan Spillane (Ireland) d e f DMYTRO SIEKIRA (Ukraine) via TKO Round 1, 0:21

Bout 14: Super Heavyweight 120.2 kg (265 lbs) + pasha kharkhachaev (Bahrain) d e f Damian Visenjak (Austria) via TKO Round 1, 0:47

CAGE 3

BBout 1: Strawweight 52.2 kg (115 lbs) Nurzhamal Sadykova (Kazakhstan) d e f Ingibjōrg Helga Arnþórsdóttir (Iceland) via Split Decision Round 3 (30-27, 27-30, 30-27)

Bout 2: Atomweight 47.6 kg (105 lbs) Oksana Pashkova (Ukraine) d e f Qiuying Liu (China) via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Bout 3: Flyweight 56.7 kg (125 lbs) Janika Antinmaa Antinmaa (Finland) d e f Alish Smith (Australia) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Bout 4: Bantamweight 61.2 kg (135 lbs) LaNeisha Vinson (United States) d e f Amber Thompson (Australia) via TKO Round 3, 0:25 (20-18, 18-20, 20-18)

Bout 5: Strawweight 52.2 kg (115 lbs) Roman Syrkin (Ukraine) d e f Charlie Falco (United Kingdom) via Submission (Armbar) Round 1, 0:58

Bout 6: Flyweight 56.7 kg (125 lbs) Alibi Temirtassov (Kazakhstan) d e f Sean Stebbins (United States) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) Round 1, 1:01

Bout 7: Bantamweight 61.2 kg (135 lbs) Carlos Veras (Brazil) d e f Zdravko Dimitrov (Bulgaria) via Unanimous Decision Round 3 (30-27, 30-26, 30-27)

Bout 8: Featherweight 65.8 kg (145 lbs) Abdulmanap Magomedov (Bahrain) d e f Daisuke Murayama (Japan) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Bout 9: Lightweight 70.3 kg (155 lbs) Shamil Gimbatov (Bahrain) d e f MAGOMED MAGOMEDOV (Russia) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Bout 10: Welterweight 77.1 kg (170 lbs) Rusi Minev (Bulgaria) d e f Abbas Khan (Bahrain) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Bout 11: Middleweight 83.9 kg (185 lbs) Dario Bellandi (Italy) d e f Bjorn Thorleifsson (Iceland) via Submission (Armbar) Round 1, 0:52

Bout 12: Light Heavyweight 93 kg (205 lbs) Olzhobai Kudaiberdi uulu (Kyrgyzstan) d e f Bachir Ricardo (Lebanon) via TKO Round 1, 2:03

Bout 13: Heavyweight 120.2 kg (265 lbs) Bartosz Zaczeniuk (Poland) d e f BAKHTIIAR NAVRUZOV (Kyrgyzstan) due to Medical Examination Failed

Bout 14: Super Heavyweight 120.2 kg (265 lbs) + Kaloyan Kolev (Bulgaria) d e f Skander Ben Ghali (Tunisia) via KO Round 1, 0:34

CAGE 4

Bout 1: Strawweight 52.2 kg (115 lbs) Daria Samchik (Ukraine) d e f Giulia De Dominicis (Italy) via TKO Round 1, 0:20

Bout 2: Atomweight 47.6 kg (105 lbs) Svetlana Kotova (Russia) d e f Aeilish O Hanlon (Ireland) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Bout 3: Flyweight 56.7 kg (125 lbs) Cassandra Le Roux (South Africa) d e f Levi Steedman (United Kingdom) via Split Decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29)

Bout 4: Bantamweight 61.2 kg (135 lbs) Dee Begley (Ireland) d e f Karolina Hulkko (Finland) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Bout 5: Strawweight 52.2 kg (115 lbs) Khaled Afara (Lebanon) d e f SHAMIL SHAKHMALIEV (Russia) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) Round 1, 2:53 (18-20, 18-20, 19-19)

Bout 6: Flyweight 56.7 kg (125 lbs) Julio Plaatjies (South Africa) d e f Ata Atdayev (Ukraine) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Bout 7: Bantamweight 61.2 kg (135 lbs) Magomed Idrisov (Bahrain) d e f Renato Vidovic (Sweden) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)

Bout 8: Featherweight 65.8 kg (145 lbs) Eduard Kexel (Germany) d e f Stefanos kyriakides (Cyprus) via TKO Round 1, 2:59

Bout 9: Lightweight 70.3 kg (155 lbs) Marko Sarasjärvi (Finland) d e f Kaupo Kokamägi (Estonia) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) Round 3, 1:26

Bout 10: Welterweight 77.1 kg (170 lbs) ISLAM BAGOMEDOV (Russia) d e f Isakov Isa (Belgium) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Bout 11: Middleweight 83.9 kg (185 lbs) DZHAMAL MEDZHIDOV (Russia) d e f Tommi Leinonen (Finland) via Unanimous Decision Round 3 (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Bout 12: Light Heavyweight 93 kg (205 lbs) Ruslan Shidakov (Russia) d e f Vlad Ilin (Ukraine) via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)

Bout 13: Heavyweight 120.2 kg (265 lbs) Chaddad Alexandre (Lebanon) d e f VICENTE GOMEZ (Mexico) via TKO Round 1, 0:40

Bout 14: Super Heavyweight 120.2 kg (265 lbs) + Delano Human (South Africa) d e f Tolga Polat (Turkey) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) Round 1, 1:34

Follow link for finalised lists competitors listed by a) nation b) weight division:
Seniors: https://www.immaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/senior-competitors-.pdf
Juniors: https://www.immaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/junior-competitors.pdf

Follow both tournaments live at mynextmatch.com

Senior Championships: https://www.mynextmatch.com/tournament/83/details
Junior Championships: https://www.mynextmatch.com/tournament/78/details

ANTHONY BELLEW CALLS TIME ON BOXING

Post author By f/s
Post date November 13, 2018

JOSHUA-POVETKIN PROMOTION WEMBLEY STADIUM WEMBLEY, MIDDX PIC: LAWRENCE LUSTIG IBF, WBA Super, WBO & IBO World Heavyweight Championship?ANTHONY JOSHUA VS ALEXANDER POVETKIN Tony Bellew head to head with Olsander Usik

Brave Bellew calls time on boxing

Tony Bellew bowed out of boxing at the weekend a loser in the ring but a winner in life.

Bellew was knocked out in eight rounds by Oleksandr Usyk in his bid to dethrone the undisputed undefeated cruiserweight king at the Manchester Arena on Saturday night.

The proud Liverpudlian reversed a decision to retire and took on Usyk after being called out by the Ukrainian following his historic win in the World Boxing Super Series final in Moscow in the summer.

“It’s definitely over now, you won’t see me in a boxing ring again,” said Bellew during an emotional press conference. “I just want a normal life, I don’t want this pressure.

“I only created the name Tony Bellew to make my dad proud. I’ve never been Tony Bellew, I’ve always been Anthony. Everyone who truly knows me calls me Anthony. Tony Bellew died on Saturday, Anthony Bellew comes back alive. I want reality back.

“I sit here as a loser but I have won in life. When I was expelled from school I had nothing and nowhere to go. Me and my three boys are multi-millionaires and I have earned every single penny by punching people in the face.”

Bellew, a former WBC cruiserweight champion, dropped back down to the 200lbs division to face the champion he had branded a “monster” in a final throw of the dice following thrilling back-to-back heavyweight wins over David Haye.

Underdog “Bomber” boxed well and was ahead on the scorecards of two out of three judges until a devastating left hook ended any hopes of becoming the first Briton to hold all four world titles in any division.

“I just tried to take that one final step and, you know what, I wasn’t good enough but I’ll be able to live with that forever,” insisted Bellew.

“If I wouldn’t have taken this fight, that would have killed me because I would have always been ‘was I good enough?’ The fact of the matter is I just wasn’t, he’s better than me.”

“If I’m being honest I got tired for the first time in my entire career. I don’t know why or how it happened but I just got tired. He’s brilliant, I have no bad words to say about Oleksandr, I only wish him well.

“I went out against the best cruiserweight and he can lay claim to being the greatest cruiserweight of all time.

“No excuses, I gave it everything I had, I couldn’t have prepared any better. My career is over. I’ve been doing this for 20 years.”

BBC RADIO 5 LIVE TO BROADCAST USYK VS BELLEW

Post author By f/s
Post date November 8, 2018

MATCHROOM BOXING PARTNER WITH THE BBC FOR EXCLUSIVE RADIO RIGHTS TO
HISTORIC USYK VS. BELLEW UNDISPUTED CRUISERWEIGHT CLASH

Matchroom Boxing are delighted to announce a deal with the BBC for exclusive radio rights to the highly-anticipated undisputed Cruiserweight World title showdown between Oleksandr Usyk and Tony Bellew at Manchester Arena this Saturday.

Award-winning boxing correspondent Mike Costello and his Radio 5 Live team will provide blow-by-blow commentary on an historic night in Manchester as pound-for-pound star Usyk puts his WBC, IBF, WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine belts on the line against Bellew.

Ukranian Cruiserweight king Usyk made history by outclassing Murat Gassiev to become the first Cruiserweight to hold all four recognised belts, following his sensational World Boxing Super Series win in July.

The 31-year-old won Olympic, World and European amateur golds before steamrolling his way to the top of the Cruiserweight division after only 15 fights, but former WBC World Champion Bellew believes he will become the first man to beat Usyk this Saturday.

A glittering career has seen Bellew win British, Commonwealth, European and World titles, and the Liverpudlian warrior is aiming for a fairytale ending in Manchester, hinting that this could be his final battle before he retires.

Matchroom Boxing Managing Director Eddie Hearn, said: “I’m delighted to team up with BBC Radio 5 Live for this mega fight on Saturday. This is the first ever four belt undisputed clash in British boxing history and I know the 5 Live team will bring you all the fight week build up in style along with a first-class delivery on the night encapsulating all of Saturday night’s drama.”

Ben Gallop, Head of BBC Radio Sport and Digital, said: “I’m delighted BBC Radio 5 Live will be broadcasting live radio commentary of Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tony Bellew on Saturday. We are committed to bringing our listeners the biggest fights and with exclusive coverage on BBC Radio 5 live and the BBC Sport website, boxing fans won’t miss a moment of the action.”

Read more on Matchroom Boxing Event HERE

Read more on Usyk vs Bellew HERE

Read more on Usyk vs Bellew Predictions HERE

Images by Matchroom Boxing

Tags bbc radio 5, bellew, boxer, boxing, eddie hearn, England, fightnight, Liverpool, London, Manchester, matchroom boxing, ukraine, usyk, Wales, william hill

Boxing News

Usyk vs Bellew predictions: No stopping durable Bomber

Post author By f/s
Post date October 24, 2018

Oleksandr Usyk and Tony Bellew head to head press conference to announce their fight for the WBC, IBF, WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Cruiserweight World Titles on 10th November 2018 at Manchester Arena 24th September 2018 Picture By Mark Robinson.

Oleksandr Usyk puts his collection of world cruiserweight titles on the line against Tony Bellew at the Manchester Arena on Saturday 10th November, with the fight shown live on Sky Box Office.

Usyk vs Bellew predictions: the headline cruiserweight odds

Unbeaten unified cruiserweight world champion and 2012 Olympic heavyweight kingpin Usyk is just 1/7 to extend his perfect record to 16 fights at the expense of two-time former titlist Bellew at the Manchester Arena.

Liverpool’s Bomber is the 9/2 underdog in William Hill’s cruiserweight betting odds to have his hand raised in victory for the 11th fight in succession, while odds on the draw are priced up as a 25/1.

Usyk by KO, TKO or DQ is the favourite in the method of victory betting at odds of 5/6, with a Bellew stoppage the pick in which the older fighter can win in the eyes of the traders at 11/2.

However, the bout is also just 6/4 in the ‘fight to go the distance’ market and our Usyk vs Bellew predictions rate this a serious possibility, alongside a stealthy admiration for The Cat by stoppage in the late knockings. Scroll down the ‘splantory spiel.

To check out all the latest Oleksandr Usyk vs Tony Bellew odds Click HERE

Usyk/Bellew betting tips: the case for predicting Usyk on points

For all the Ukrainian’s undeniable upside – an Olympic gold at heavy, a world strap at the 14st 4lb limit in just his 10th pro outing, the first unified cruiser boss of the four belt-era – the knockouts have run out since he began boxing in elite company.

Since Usyk out-pointed Krzysztof Glowacki in his first fight at world title level, he has stopped just two of his subsequent five foes, making it hard to see how the odds are quite so long on the judges being called in to supply a verdict once again.

The man they call The Cat is trading at odds of a generous 15/8, and is our pick to prevail on points in our Usyk vs Bellew predictions.

Bellew, as he has been only too happy to remind everyone in the build-up to this clash, has stopped more foes than his rival has fought and has been to places Usyk has never ventured in the paid ranks.

He’s also been stopped just once in a 33-bout career, which has seen him fight and win at heavyweight and recover from knockdowns to win Commonwealth and world title fights.

Against a skilled fighter who’s struggled to convert his superiority into stoppages of late, our Usyk vs Bellew predictions foresees Bomber leaving the ring with his head, if not his hand, held high after 12 rounds of cruiserweight pugilism.

Read the William Hill Betting Guide HERE

Usyk vs Bellew round betting odds: what chance stoppage predictions will be satisfied?

Despite his explosive nickname, Bellew has recorded a moderate 20 of his 30 wins inside the distance and, while the last two of those came against a once-excellent fighter in David Haye at heavyweight, the reasons to suspect he won’t stop the champ are two-fold.

Firstly, the Evertonian hasn’t fought at cruiser for two years, during which time his official activity shows two stoppage wins over a well-and-truly past it Hayemaker, with one of those requiring 11 rounds against a man seriously injured for the bones of five of them.

Secondly, Usyk has comprehensively outboxed all his opponents to date, so the possibility of him being caught by a fighter out of the loop at 200lbs since 2016 seems minute.

Can the younger fighter’s superior technique satisfy knockout predictions in his favour?

He stopped long-time cruiserweight world champ Marco Huck in 10 rounds last September, so it’s not impossible, but if it can happen it’ll likely be late on, with four of the last six stoppages of his rapid rise occurring in the eighth round or later.

The grouped round betting odds have Usyk at 11/2 to win by KO, TKO or DQ in rounds 10-12 against another veteran of the scene at this weight class in Manchester in our Usyk vs Bellew predictions.

Read more on Usyk vs Bellew clash HERE

Read more on Usyk vs Bellew conference quotes HERE

Read more on William Hill Boxing HERE

By Anis Bazza

Images by Matchroom Boxing and William Hill

Tags boxer, boxing, Cardiff, cruiserweight, Liverpool, London, Manchester, matchroom boxing

MMA & Other Fight Sports

RHYS MCKEE SIGNS CAGE WARRIORS EXCLUSIVE DEAL

Post author By f/s
Post date October 9, 2018

Image by James McCann Photography

Top Northern Irish prospect Rhys ‘Skeletor’ McKee is the latest addition to Cage Warriors growing list of 50+ signings this year, confirming a multi-fight deal with Europe’s leading MMA promotion.

With a 100% finish rate across all of his 9 professional fights, Rhys McKee has established himself as a formidable force on the European lightweight scene and has now joined the list of elite talent on the Cage Warriors roster.

The stacked Cage Warriors lightweight division is currently home to reigning champion Søren Bak, Liverpool star Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett and surging prospects Jack Grant, Joe McColgan and Mason Jones.

In a recent interview with MMAFighting.com, McKee said: “A lot of the major [promotions] approached us… but Cage Warriors was the only one who I was really interested in talking to.

“I believe I’m going to climb through the division and get the title. Cage Warriors provide the platform, and I’ll provide the knockouts.”

In just the last few months alone, Cage Warriors have signed top European names Alex Lohore, Adam Proctor, Tim Barnett and ex-UFC veteran Mads Burnell to exclusive multi-fight deals, shaping an incredibly exciting vision for the promotion in the near feature.

“We’re continuously working hard to build the sport and our athletes, it’s simply what we do,” says Cage Warriors President Graham Boylan. “Rhys McKee is a super exciting addition to the Cage Warriors family. We’ve got some massive shows lined up across the map for the end of this year and the beginning of next, to ensure that Rhys and our other new signings have a platform to compete and showcase themselves very soon.”

Cage Warriors next event takes them to Birmingham’s Genting Arena for CW98, headlined by a Welterweight title fight between champion Stefano Paterno and Ross Houston, with a featherweight title eliminator tournament also on the card. After that, CW99 in Colchester and the historic CW100 back in the Cardiff Ice Arena close off a huge year for Europe’s leading MMA promotion.

What’s more, with 3 events in 15 days just announced for the beginning of 2019 in Liverpool, London (now taking place on Saturday March 2nd) and Copenhagen, Cage Warriors’ mission to showcase the best in European MMA is showing no signs of slowing.

Read about Cage Warriors next event in Birmingham CW98 HERE

Read about Cage Warriors event in Colchester CW99 HERE

Read about Cage Warriors event in Cardiff CW100 HERE

Tags Birmingham, Ireland, Liverpool, London

MMA & Other Fight Sports

JACK SHORE BRINGS IT HOME – CW97 RESULTS

Post author By f/s
Post date September 30, 2018

It was billed as the biggest MMA event in Welsh history, and it lived up to the hype. CW97 gave the sold out crowd at Cardiff’s Ice Arena one of the most explosive European MMA showcases of the year, ending with a huge first-round win for Jack Shore.

After a turbulent twenty-four hours which saw Jack Shore’s previous opponent deemed medically unfit to fight at late notice, the Welsh prospect stepped up a weight class to face Brazilian featherweight Weslley Maia in the main event. Shore didn’t disappoint, weathering the storm of heavy shots that Maia unleashed in the opening round and taking the Brazilian down. From there, he closed the show with some incredible ground and pound from top position.

The noise inside Cardiff’s Ice Arena prove that Jack Shore’s fanbase are truly one of the most notorious in Europe.

In the co-main event, Wales’ Mason Jones gave the home fans another performance that took the roof off the Cardiff Ice Arena. After taking some heavy shots that nearly handed him the first loss of his career in the opening seconds, Jones fired back in the clinch with a barrage of devastating strikes that kept his undefeated streak intact.

Before that, a hard-fought win for Belgium’s Brian Bouland put him back in the win column with a unanimous decision victory over home favourite Kris Edwards.

A third main-card win for Wales came when Aaron Khalid submitted Jamie Richardson in the very first round, staking his claim as a top name to watch in the Welterweight division. He’ll no doubt have his eye on the Welterweight title fight between Stefano Paterno and Ross Houston at CW98 in Birmingham next month.

Italy’s Micol DiSegni went to war with young Welsh Prospect Cory McKenna and put on a striking masterclass to edge the split decision. DiSegni joins the stellar list of Italian’s doing big things with Cage Warriors, alongside champions Stefano Paterno and Mauro Cerilli.

Highlights from the pro prelims included a first round knockout win for Steve Aimable, who stepped up on late notice despite already being confirmed to fight at Cage Warriors 99 in Colchester. Keep an eye out for Aimable’s fight-ending power at the Charter Hall on November 17th. To start the night, amateur prospects Christian Duncan, Jordan Peake and Chris Sterling all picked up impressive wins to advance to the finals of the Cage Warriors Academy Grand Prix at CW100. That’s two wins for the South East Academy and one for the Welsh, with the above fighters taking on finalists from the North West England and Irish Academies on December 8th.

What’s more, with 3 events in 15 days just announced for the beginning of 2019 in Liverpool, London and Copenhagen, Cage Warriors’ mission to showcase the best in European MMA is showing no signs of slowing.

Cage Warriors 97 full results

Main Card

Jack Shore def. Weslley Maia via TKO
Mason Jones def. Kacper Formela via TKO
Brian Bouland def. Kris Edwards via unanimous decision
Aaron Khalid def. Jamie Richardson via submission
Micol DiSegni def. Cory McKenna via split decision

Pro Prelims

Steve Aimable def. Liam Bennett via TKO
Struan Croxan def. Michael Corsten via unanimous decision
Luiz Finocchio def. Brett Hassett via submission
Luke Shanks def. Jason Jenkins via unanimous decision

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