BELLATOR VII RESULTS
May 16, 2009 by searstapper
Fans watching Bellator VII at The Aragon Entertainment Center saw exciting action in semi-finals of the welterweight tournament, the wife of a popular UFC personality make a successful debut, and three Chicagoland fighters see action in the circular cage.
MTC FIGHTERS PREPARE FOR BELLATOR VII
April 25, 2009 by searstapper
When Bellator Fighting Championships hits the Aragon Ball Room a couple local fighters will be on the fightcard. Kevin Knabjian and Ryan Williams are set to take part in the night’s festivities. Both are welterweights training at Midwest Training Center in Schaumburg.
BELLATOR INVADES THE WINDY CITY
Bellator Fighting Championships is making its way to Chicago. They are putting on an event at the Aragon Ballroom on May 15th. Chicagoans know that the nickname for the Aragon is “The Brawlroom”, so perhaps it’s the perfect place to stage an MMA event.
We will have interviews with fighters Eddie Alvarez and Jorge Masvidal within the next day or so here at Chicago’s MMA, as well as more details and the full card.
Bellator Fighting Championships’ is in their premiere season. They are featuring 12 two-hour events broadcast Saturday nights on ESPN Deportes. The English-language broadcast is available on their website each Wednesday. The events feature both tournament and non-tournament bouts. There are four simultaneous tournaments taking place in season one over a three month period: one in each of the Featherweight (145 lb.), Lightweight (155 lb.), Welterweight (170 lb.) and Middleweight (185 lb.) divisions. Check out their fighter roster.
*Chicago’s MMA also learned local MTC welterweights Ryan Williams and Kevin Knabjian both will participate on the card. Williams faces Anthony Lapsley, while Knabjian will take on Jacob Volkman.*
TUF 9 HAS CHICAGO FLAVOR
Chicago’s MMA knew that 2 Chicago-area fighters would be vying for spots on this season of “The Ultimate Fighter”. What we didn’t know (until recently, but we aren’t spoilers) is that the two would be squaring off against each other in the prelims.
Welterweights, training partners and friends, Mark Miller and Kevin Knabjian had to battle each other for a spot in the house on episode 2 of TUF9. Miller emerged the victor.
From UFC.com: “After a competitive first round, the action kicked into gear in the second when Knabjian dropped Miller to the mat and went for a submission. Miller escaped, and moments later, he tagged Knabjian and hurt him. Miller didn’t let his friend off the hook, and referee Steve Mazzagatti halted the bout.”
Check out our interview with Mark Miller from last summer, when he was preparing for the debut of “Adrenaline”. He talks about his cage approach and the MMA scene in Chicago. Miller is also a veteran of the now defunct IF and trains with Dino Costeas MMA.
Check out this fight from Kevin Knabjian, from the debut of PFC last May against Mario Stapel. Knabjian trains with Gilbert Grappling.
Keep visiting Chicago’s MMA as we follow Miller’s progress on TUF and find out what’s next for Knabjian
VIDEO: TUF 9 CAST MEMBER KEVIN KNABJIAN
March 11, 2009 by searstapper
Kevin Knabjian is one of two Chicagoans participating in the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter. Mark Miller is the other cast member. Knabjian has a strong wrestling background and has spent time with Gilbert Grappling and The Midwest Training Center. The former Eastern Illinois University grappler brings a strong ground’n'pound style to The Octagon. This is one of his recent fights, a welterweight match with Mario Stapel at the debut event for Primetime Fighting Championships last May.
CLAY TO BATTLE DIEGO IN TUF 9 FINALE
March 5, 2009 by Matt
Sherdog reports that Chicago’s Clay Guida will be fighting the “Nightmare” Diego Sanchez in the headline bout of the TUF 9 finale.
The potent lightweight pair has agreed to meet in the headlining bout of “The Ultimate Fighter 9” finale on June 20 at the Pearl inside the Palms Resort in Las Vegas, according to sources close to the fighters. The bout will anchor a night of final deciding bouts for the Spike TV reality series, which begins airing in April.
Guida (25-9) has won his last 3 matches against Nate Diaz, Mac Danzig and Samy Schiavo, and trains out of MTC in Schaumburg.
Season 9 of the The Ultimate Fighter pits a team from United States against a United Kingdom team. Dan Henderson coaches the Americans while TUF 3 winner and British standout Michael Bisping will head the one from England. Local fighters Mark Miller (Dino Costeas MMA) and Kevin Knabjian (Gilbert Grappling) are cast members this season, which showcases lightweights and welterweights.
