CHICAGO (March 19, 2010) - The Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., will play host to Bellator Fighting Championships again this spring when the promotion returns to New England for Bellator XV on April 22.
Tickets for the event go on sale today at Ticketmaster.com and at the Mohegan Sun box office.
"The Mohegan Sun is a spectacular casino and resort destination and was a tremendous partner for us twice during Season 1," said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney. "We are very happy to be returning to the Mohegan Sun for this event on April 22nd."
The Mohegan Sun played host to two Bellator events during its first season: Bellator II on April 10, 2009, and Bellator XI on June 12, 2009 - a show that saw Lyman Good win the first-ever Bellator Welterweight Championship over Omar de la Cruz.
"We are extremely excited to bring Bellator Fighting Championships back to Mohegan Sun Arena," said Bob Yalen, director of sports and entertainment at the Mohegan Sun. "The events last year were a big success and we are thrilled to continue the partnership in 2010. Bellator always puts together fantastic cards, so MMA fans can expect some fierce battles here in Uncasville come April 22nd."
The fight card for the event - which will be broadcast nationwide on FOX Sports Net and in highlight shows on NBC and Telemundo - includes one yet-to-be-announced first-round lightweight tournament bout and three first-round welterweight tournament matchups:
- Dan Hornbuckle vs. Sean Pierson
- Jacob McClintock vs. ‘Judo' Jim Wallhead
- Steve Carl vs. Brett Cooper.
Hornbuckle (19-2) sent shockwaves through the MMA world last August with his brutal KO of PRIDE and UFC veteran Akihiro Gono following a devastating high kick. The fantastic finish went down as one of the most memorable of the year. The 9-4 Pierson, meanwhile, rides a four-fight win streak into the match, with all four of those wins coming via first-round stoppage.
McClintock, a 22-year-old product of Arizona Combat Sports, is undefeated in 6 professional fights, with each win coming via first-round stoppage. He'll square off against Wallhead, an 18-5 MMA veteran from England known for his judo skills and affiliation with Team Rough House.
Carl is an Iraq War veteran who began training in MMA about 5 years ago at Fort Hood in Texas. He boasts a 12-1 pro record including a stunning submission victory over the previously undefeated Ivan Ivanoff at a recent M1 Challenge event in Bulgaria. He faces Brett Cooper, an 11-5 veteran of the IFL and Affliction who has won seven of his last eight pro bouts.
For more information, please visit Bellator.com.
KJ Noons is officially back on the radar screen.
The former EliteXC lightweight champion recently inked a contract with Strikeforce and will return to MMA after nearly a two year absence. He will do battle against Andre Amade on March 22 at the DREAM 13 event in Japan.
Noons is probably best known for his November 2007 championship winning performance over Nick Diaz. He defended his title once against Yves Edwards before his belt was stripped by EliteXC management following a very public feud over a laundry list of issues.
He chose to concentrate on his professional boxing career thereafter and accumulated a 4 - 1 record leading up to his recent signing.
"King Karl" took some time out of his schedule to discuss his bitter fallout with EliteXC, a potential rematch with Nick Diaz, and recommitting to MMA.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Let me start by going back in time a bit. You defeated Nick Diaz to win the EliteXC Lightweight Championship in November 2007. Many were calling for an immediate rematch afterwards. Why did you choose to fight Yves Edwards in June 2008 instead?
KJ Noons: That's who EliteXC offered me. They never offered immediate rematch.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): At this time you had a bit of a falling out with EliteXC management. Now that they are no longer an organization you can clear the air once and for all. What were the differences between you and the EliteXC management team? Please explain.
KJ Noons: It was a contractual issue and money. I beat the guy and for the rematch they wanted to pay me three times less after I beat him AND beat Yves. I wasn't asking for much. I wanted even pay at the least.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): They ultimately stripped you of your belt in September 2008. Were you okay with their decision? Was it justified?
KJ Noons: I told them in an e-mail a couple days before they stripped me that I was going to give back their belt. They stripped me first to make themselves look good. I didn't care.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): I believe you still had two fights left on your EliteXC contract at that point. Was it your intention to still fulfill those remaining fights even though your belt had been stripped?
KJ Noons: No, they broke contract by stripping me. I was free agent.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Do you have any hard feelings towards Gary Shaw or any other member of the former EliteXC management staff or towards your own management at the time?
KJ Noons: No, it's in the past and I moved forward.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Overall, looking at the situation as a whole, do you have any regrets with what took place between you and EliteXC?
KJ Noons: No.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Fast forward to present day. You have had five professional boxing matches under your belt since the Edwards fight, but now you are jumping back into MMA by signing with Strikeforce. How many fights is your deal for and does it allow you to compete in boxing as well?
KJ Noons: I have four fights on my contract with Strikeforce. I can box but I told Strikeforce I wanted to show that I'm committed to MMA. I want to grow with them. We will have to see when the contract is up.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): You recently got to appear on NCIS: Los Angeles with some of your fellow Strikeforce fighters for an episode that will air in April on CBS. What was that experience like for you?
KJ Noons: It was cool. I had never been on a set before. Those were some long days.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Your opponent on March 22 at DREAM 13 is Andre Amade. How would you describe his overall skill set and fighting style?
KJ Noons: I think he is a good fighter and it will be a great fight.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): You're known for your standup skills first and foremost. On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate Amade's overall standup game?
KJ Noons: I think it's good, not great. He has power and you can't get caught with one of his shots or you're done. He's a very dangerous fighter.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Do you have an official prediction for the fight?
KJ Noons: My hand raised as the winner.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Are you open to a rematch with Nick Diaz sometime in the future?
KJ Noons: Yes.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Would you be willing to move to welterweight to fight Diaz or is it your intention to try to capture the Strikeforce lightweight belt?
KJ Noons: I want to get the lightweight belt, but wherever Strikeforce wants me to fight, I'll fight.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Any sponsors you would like to thank at this time?
KJ Noons: Rockstar and Atwater. Also, check out KJNoons.com
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Thank you very much for your time.
KJ Noons: Thanks.
Derek Bolender is a frequent MMAmania.com contributor. He is also a syndicated writer to FoxSports.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/DerekMMAwriter.
Tickets for Strikeforce: "Heavy Artillery" at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo., on Saturday, May 15, will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, March 26 at 10:00 a.m. CT.
However, "Strikeforce Insiders" e-newsletter subscribers will be afforded a special pre-sale ticket purchase opportunity that begins Tuesday (March 23) at 10:00 a.m. and ends on Thursday (March 25) at 10 p.m. CT.
Strikeforce Insiders will receive a special e-newsletter with the pre-sale code.
The Showtime televised event will mark the promotion’s return trip to "Gateway City" after successfully holding its "Lawler vs. Shields" cable television event there last June.
Confirmed for "Heavy Artillery" is a heavyweight grudge match featuring current Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair "Demolition Man" Overeem taking on rising star Brett "The Grim" Rogers.
Several of the promotion’s other top fighters will be in action on the card as well, including a heavyweight scrap between former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovski and hard-hitting Brazilian Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva.
Fast-rising lightweight prospect Lyle "Fancy Pants" Beerbohm is rumored to face Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro while Roger Gracie is expected to make his promotion debut opposite Kevin "The Monster" Randleman.
It’s going to be a great night of fights. If you live in the St. Louis area be sure to snag your tickets as quickly as possible.
They go fast.
For more on Strikeforce: "Heavy Artillery" click here.
Props: UFC.com
Quoteworthy:
"I don't like all the pre-fight talking, so I can't wait until I finally get my chance to shut him up," said Evans. "There were a lot of times on the show when I wanted to hit him right there. When Keith [Jardine] was training for his fight with Rampage, I had to mimic Rampage's style. I can probably beat Rampage as Rampage now. Plus, he's gotten fat. He needs to get in shape just to get in shape. I may come to the Octagon with Mr. T just to get in his head."
Former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans wants to settle the score with fellow TUF 10 coach and bitter rival Quinton Jackson when they collide at the upcoming UFC 114 event from the MGM Grand on May 29 in Las Vegas. "Sugar" was able to dispatch Thiago Silva earlier this year while "Rampage" went Hollywood for a role in the new A-Team movie as B.A. Baracus -- the part made famous by Mr. T. Could the original bearded brawler throw a wrench in the mental works of Jackson with his shiny jewelry and infamous mohawk? Or will Rampage pity the fool en route to a Evans beatdown?
