<ul class="summary-list"><li>Bellator MMA's most recent show was a wild, chaotic affair.</li><li>There was an accidental leg break. One fighter later tried to pop a dislocated shoulder into place.</li></ul>A fighter trying to pop his dislocated shoulder into place, an accidental leg break, and a headlining athlete shouting "fuck you" to a booing crowd encapsulated a wild <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/bellator-mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bellator MMA</a> event Saturday in Long Beach, California.It all began at the very start of the show when Cee Jay Hamilton and Richard Palencia fought a bantamweight bout that was called off early when Palencia suffered a gruesome leg injury 12 seconds into the second round.As we've seen a few times in mixed martial arts in the modern era, Hamilton defended one of Palencia's leg kicks and, when the fighter re-set, his bone buckled from beneath him and broke.Hamilton won on account of Palencia being unable to continue.<div type="image" title="Leg break at Bellator MMA event." height="534" width="1000" msid="94628603" hostid="261" sizebytes="23864"></div>Watch the shin-on-shin action right here:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1576350185575391232">October 1, 2022</a></blockquote>Palencia was then taken out of the arena on a stretcher to receive further medical attention.But some way, somehow, it didn't even seem to be the wildest moment of the night. The Bellator 286 event, really, was just getting started.In one of the main card bouts broadcast on premium US network Showtime, Aaron Pico was matched with Jeremy Kennedy in a featherweight fight.<h2>Pico showed extraordinary toughness in Kennedy fight</h2>Bellator boss Scott Coker had long touted Pico as a standout talent during numerous interviews with Insider through the years, however, the prospect's rise through the ranks hit the skids when he lost his sixth and seventh fights.This forced a considerable rebuild from 2020 to 2022. Pico developed his skills, tallied wins, and became a threat once again.With those wins, Pico was on the rise once again and on the cusp of forcing a Bellator title fight.But few could have predicted what lay in store for Pico in the Kennedy fight, as the American fighter suffered a dislocated shoulder and could be seen trying to pop it back into place in the middle of battle.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1576410810750042112">October 2, 2022</a></blockquote>Even Pico's corner tried to reset the shoulder when they had a minute's respite.The footage below looks nothing short of gnarly, and yet Pico barely grimaces.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—ESPN MMA (@espnmma) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1576428152687136768">October 2, 2022</a></blockquote>Ultimately, the fight was stopped shortly after this, as the referee waved the bout off before a second round could even start.<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CjOWgUQIIfN/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In an Instagram post on Sunday</a>, Pico said his shoulder was "still a little sore."He said he thinks the injury happened around 30 seconds into the fight when he "threw a hook" and felt his shoulder pop out.Regarding his coach, Brandan Gibson, yanking his arm around in the clip above, Pico said: "Keep in mind, guys, he's not an expert, he's not a chiropractor, he doesn't know how to put shoulders back into place — my orders to him were, 'Hey, my shoulder's out, do whatever you possibly can to put it back into place.'"So we tried everything, and we couldn't do it, and ultimately the fight was stopped, which was probably the smartest thing."I was rushed to the hospital and put it back into place."Pico finished his statement by saying he "will be champion one day."Watch the clip right here:<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CjOWgUQIIfN" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Aaron Pico (@aaronpicousa)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></div></blockquote><h2>Pitbull shouts 'fuck you' to booing crowd</h2><div type="image" title="Patricio Pitbull Freire." height="800" width="1200" msid="94628605" hostid="261" sizebytes="124014"></div>In the main event, Patricio "Pitbull" Freire dominated his featherweight opponent Adam Borics with scores of 48-27, 49-46, and 50-45 but was booed by a crowd that wanted more — like the chaotic war A.J. McKee and Spike Carlyle had engaged in, in the co-main event."Why are you booing me?" Pitbull said to the crowd during a post-fight interview."I'm the fucking champion," said the 35-year-old, whom Coker has called one of the greatest Bellator fighters of all time."I'm the fucking GOAT," he added. "Fuck you, everyone."Bellator MMA returns with its next event on October 29 at the Allianz Cloud Arena in Milan, Italy.Adam Piccolotti headlines in a lightweight match against Mansour Barnaoui.

American fighter Aaron Pico kept trying to pop his dislocated shoulder into place during a Bellator MMA bout

<ul class="summary-list"><li>American fighter <keyword id="12514563" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="aaron-pico" source="Orion">Aaron Pico</keyword> returns to the <keyword id="12118724" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="bellator-mma" source="Orion">Bellator MMA</keyword> cage Friday on Showtime.</li><li>Ahead of his fight, Pico spoke to Insider about his game, happiness, life, his focus, and more.</li></ul>American fighter <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/aaron-pico" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aaron Pico</a> is ready to slice his <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/bellator-mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bellator MMA</a> opponent's face wide open if he even dares to clinch him Friday at the Bellator 271 in Hollywood, Florida."<keyword id="12514564" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="justin-gonzales" source="Orion">Justin Gonzales</keyword> will make the fight dirty and get in the clinch," Pico told Insider this week."But little does he know my slice elbows are crazy. If he gets in a clinch with me, he's leaving with a cut, or something sliced on his face."Pico is one of the most interesting combatants Bellator has in its growing roster. He is home-grown, an athlete Bellator boss <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/scott-coker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scott Coker</a> has invested in for years, and one who has had to overcome numerous hurdles in his career.With an impressive background in both boxing and wrestling, there was a time the 25-year-old was considered one of the very best prospects mixed martial arts could offer - someone destined for the top of the game.But Pico suffered a shock loss in his pro debut when he was submitted by Zach Freeman's guillotine choke in 2017.Two years later, he was beaten in back-to-back fights by Henry Corrales and Adam Borics to see his record fall to four wins against three losses.Since then, he's been on a tear - rejuvenating his career with four finishes from four fights."Everything's going according to plan," he told us. "With a four-fight winning streak, I'm in a good spot. I have more things to work on but I've come a long way and I'm excited about the future."Pico has scored some thunderous knockouts in his time - in 2020 <a href="https://www.insider.com/watch-aaron-pico-add-frightening-ko-to-his-highlight-reel-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he finished John de Jesus with an awesome power punch before trash-talking over his opponent</a>'s body.In his most recent win over Aiden Lee, five months ago, Pico displayed excellent wrestling skills, submitting Lee with an anaconda choke.That well-rounded skillset is something that Pico takes pride in as he continues to evolve as a fighter."I've got good wrestling, grappling, and striking. I take a lot of pride in my grappling development and feel I've done a really good job of putting time in, in jiu jitsu, and think my submissions have gotten a lot better."If I can take a guy down and submit them, go home, that's ideal for me," he said.Pico added that a knockout punch feels good, but there is something extra special when you make a man tap, or send him to sleep.Someone knocked out could claim it was a lucky punch, according to Pico, but there is nothing unlucky about being caught in a submission.You're there because you deserved to be."I love knockouts," said Pico. "But submitting a human being is actually a really good feeling because they can't say, 'Hey, I got caught with a punch.'"When you submit a guy, you make them tap, and they're saying, 'I'm done.' You can't say you got caught. I really enjoy it."And it takes away the risk. With trying to land the knockout punches, there's a lot of risk that goes into it," as you leave yourself open to counters, Pico said.<h2>Another one-time prospect, A.J. McKee, is now the face of Bellator <keyword id="11922276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma" source="Orion">MMA</keyword>, but Pico is not jealous of his position</h2><div type="image" title="A.J. McKee celebrates his first-round win over Patricio Freire at Bellator 263 in Los Angeles." height="833" width="1250" msid="87653733" hostid="261"></div>At the same time Pico was developing hype as a future star, so too was A.J. McKee - another homegrown fighter in Bellator's stable of athletes under contract.But while Pico suffered setbacks, McKee continued to soar.He entered the Bellator featherweight grand prix, fought his way to the final, and then destroyed the long-reigning Bellator GOAT Patricio Freire in a final that earned him a $1 million winner's check.Pico insists there's no ill will toward McKee, a fighter he has sparred multiple times in the past."There's no jealousy at all," said Pico."Everybody's journey is just a little bit different and that's what I'm really focused on. My journey's different to A.J.'s, to Kamaru's, to GSP's - everybody has their own story. That's just the way my story is written."Would I love to be undefeated? If I'm completely honest, yes. I don't want anybody to know they've beaten me. It's a fucked up feeling, to be honest. But I can't have a bag of rocks weighing down on me all the time."Pico told us he's happy with how his career is unfolding because, if it weren't for his losses, he wouldn't have the team he does now, with a new manager in Ali Abdelaziz, and coaches. He has moved his entire life to Albuquerque in New Mexico.There, he learns from the combat brains inside the famed Jackson-Wink MMA fight club. Pico has Greg Jackson in his corner - the trainer who has coached Jon Jones, Holly Holm, and Rashad Evans.What's more, he says, he has a life outside of MMA."I have a beautiful place in Albuquerque with horses, and I've met a lot of good people in Albuquerque outside the gym - people I consider family."I started my family and so those losses might have meant I wouldn't have ended up there. I would not change it for the world. There's nothing I would change. Nothing."There's no reason to be jealous of A.J. I live a good life. I love my wife, my kid, and horses. I love to work cattle on the weekend. I have a good life. I think when you become jealous, you're life starts to … it's not a good thing to have."McKee said things are slightly different when he looks at McKee as a fighter, rather than the trappings that have come with his brilliance of late."He's so damn good at fighting!"Pico has sparred McKee multiple times over the years, working together on their grappling, and said he's "very good and a problem for anybody" in the world."The decisions he makes inside the cage are 100% perfect, to be honest with you. Wow, how does he do it? I can say that. He's a guy who just makes the right decisions, and a very good fighter."<h2>Pico is hellbent on his own path, which includes cutting Justin Gonzales open</h2><div type="image" title="Aaron Pico Bellator MMa" height="1381" width="2000" msid="87653735" hostid="261"></div>Closing the gap between where he is right now, ranked No.6 in Bellator's featherweight rankings, and where McKee is, as the superstar champion and the No.1 fighter in the entire company, is something Pico is not thinking about, he said.Insider has spoken to Pico multiple times through the years, from his status as a novice fighter, to the ranked contender he is today, and rarely has he seemed as focused as he was during this conversation.When he said he has no answer about how far he is from the Freire's and the McKee's of the division, it is easy to believe him."I'm just focused on Justin Gonzales," he said."That's my one job. I'm not focused on the title, or the top five guys. I'm focused on just one man - Justin Gonzales. I'm staying in the present and what I can control, because I cannot control the future."Pico said he does not see "anything too special" in Gonzales' game after studying tape of him. "But that doesn't take away the fact that he's dangerous. In this game, everybody's dangerous."I understand there's a lot of risk. But if I'm looking at his skillset, there's nothing that's standing out as, 'Wow.' He's good everywhere, a strong guy, but I think I'm better. So we go prove it Friday night."He's a very gritty fighter who looks to beat guys up in the clinch. I think I'm a better striker, wrestler, and on the ground. I'm way better than him."Wherever the fight goes, I'm looking to cut him up. Cut him up, for sure."Pico fights Friday at the Bellator 271 event. The show will be broadcast on Showtime in the US.

American fighter Aaron Pico is ready to slice his Bellator MMA opponent's face wide open if he dares to clinch

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="10274783" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="aaron-pico">Aaron Pico</keyword>'s return to <keyword id="6150626" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="bellator-mma">Bellator MMA</keyword> is being pushed back at least a month.</li><li>Bellator President <keyword id="3395273" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Scott-Coker">Scott Coker</keyword> broke the news Tuesday to Insider.</li><li>"The fight supposed to happen in April is being pushed back … [to] May or June," said Coker.</li></ul>A fight between Bellator <keyword id="6403489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma">MMA</keyword> super prospect Aaron Pico and Aiden Lee is being postponed.The Bellator MMA President Scott Coker broke the news Tuesday to Insider, saying that the fighting return of the fast-rising American phenom Pico is getting pushed into "May or June."The 24-year-old fought three times in 2020, including two behind-closed-doors bouts at Bellator's residency inside the Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut.Pico was scheduled to fight the British featherweight Aiden Lee on the main card at Bellator 257 on April 16, however, the same bout will instead take place at a later date."The fight that was supposed to happen in April is being pushed back," Coker confirmed to Insider."[Pico] has some medical issues that he had to take care of, so now he's probably being pushed back to the second fight [event] in May, or June."<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">-Al Dawson (@AlanDawsonSport) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1374442249698746377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2021</a></blockquote>An accomplished freestyle wrestler and a championship-winning amateur boxer, Pico entered the mixed martial arts space with great hype when Coker signed him as a teenager in 2014.Pico lost his MMA debut to Zach Freeman by guillotine choke at Bellator 180, and suffered back-to-back knockouts in his sixth and seventh bouts in the promotion to drop his record to four wins (four knockouts) against three losses.He has rebounded tremendously over the last year, though, winning by finish in all of his last three fights <a href="https://www.insider.com/watch-aaron-pico-add-frightening-ko-to-his-highlight-reel-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">including a frightening KO four months ago in which he trash-talked over his opponent's concussed body</a>.The developing 145-pounder will be hoping to keep that momentum going at his rescheduled featherweight fight.

A Bellator MMA fight between super prospect Aaron Pico and Aiden Lee has been postponed

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="10274783" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="aaron-pico">Aaron Pico</keyword> defeated John de Jesus in devastating fashion on Thursday.</li><li>After dominating him with ground-and-pound in the first, Pico knocked de Jesus to the floor with a wicked blow in the second, forcing the referee to wave the bout off for good.</li><li>The <keyword id="6150626" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="bellator-mma">Bellator MMA</keyword> featherweight match took place behind-closed-doors at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.</li><li>Watch the terrifying knockout right here.</li></ul>A 24-year-old American called Aaron Pico scored a frightening knockout with a tremendous power punch, then trash-talked over his opponent's body.On Thursday, at the behind-closed-doors Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, Pico dominated John de Jesus with a variety of blue-chip skills.The first round was one-sided as Pico took his opponent to the floor and manhandled him with nasty ground-and-pound.Pico finished the fight for good in the second round with a right hand thrown over the top. As soon as it hit de Jesus, he crumpled to the floor, beaten.The sound of the punch alone is a testament to how heavy Pico's hands are and that if he continues to improve and work his way up the featherweight rankings, he can pose many an opponent a problem.It took de Jesus at least two seconds to regain his senses after being beaten to the ground with that one-punch knockdown, and then all he could do was cover-up, but the referee had seen enough. It was over. Pico rained down some verbals on the sprawled de Jesus and ordered to walk away by the referee.Watch the finish right here:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Bellator Europe (@Bellator_Europe) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1327030963378020358?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2020</a></blockquote>Pico is one of the most interesting prospects in mixed martial arts.He was once considered the most promising young talent in combat <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword>, according to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bellator-promoter-scott-coker-mma-prospect-aaron-pico-mike-tyson-2017-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Bellator MMA boss Scott Coker. He told Insider</a> as early as 2017, before the fighter had made his pro debut, that the company had been investing in Pico for years.But disaster struck in his first bout when he submitted via guillotine choke in the first round of Bellator 180 and suffered back-to-back losses in 2019.With his most recent victory, Pico now has three wins on the spin and is living up to his billing with many more years ahead of him to develop further.Much of that recent success coincides with moving his camp to JacksonWink MMA, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, training alongside bona fide fighting stars Jon Jones and Holly Holm.His record now stands at seven wins (six knockouts and one submission) against three defeats.Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/watch-keri-taylor-melendez-destroy-opponent-won-in-182-seconds-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">An American fighter destroyed her opponent with pin-point striking and a rear-naked choke in a dominant 182-second win</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/watch-trevor-gudde-end-bellator-bout-with-elite-knee-strike-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A 6-foot-7 welterweight with an elite mullet kicked-off the Bellator 252 event with a chin-cracking, fight-ending, kneecap to the face</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/khabib-nurmagomedov-will-likely-return-to-ufc-for-one-fight-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">It's becoming increasingly apparent that Khabib Nurmagomedov will un-retire and return to the UFC for one more fight</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/saul-canelo-alvarez-taking-short-notice-fight-vs-callum-smith-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez is taking a short-notice fight in America just days after becoming boxing's biggest free agent</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/errol-spence-on-returning-to-normal-after-ferrari-crash-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">America's best boxer said it took 4 sparring sessions to return to normal after crashing his $300,000 Ferrari at high-speed</a>

A 24-year-old American scored a frightening KO with an awesome power punch, then trash-talked over his opponent's body

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12525635" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="cris-cyborg" source="Orion">Cris Cyborg</keyword> landed a powerful right hook Friday at a <keyword id="12118724" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="bellator-mma" source="Orion">Bellator MMA</keyword> event in Florida.</li><li>It put opponent <keyword id="12525636" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="sinead-kavanagh" source="Orion">Sinead Kavanagh</keyword> on her back. Cyborg then landed three hammer fists.</li></ul>Combat <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword> queen <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/cris-cyborg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cris Cyborg</a> retained her <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/bellator-mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bellator MMA</a> crown as she scored the 21st finish of her illustrious career, flattening Sinead Kavanagh at the Bellator 271 event Friday.Cyborg, 36, has fought - and won - championships in Strikeforce, Invicta FC, and the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a>.She won the Bellator featherweight title in 2020 with a knockout performance against Julia Budd, and has defended her championship against Arlene Blencowe and Leslie Smith.Her most recent match - a third featherweight title defense against Kavanagh - epitomized her run at Bellator, as she finished the Irishwoman with ease.In the simplest terms, Cyborg is levels above the Bellator roster. She rules.At the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, Florida, Cyborg needed only 92 seconds to detonate a bomb of a right hook on Kavanagh's jaw.The shot did enough damage to put her opponent down and out.One shot - boom.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">-BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1459392519557554183?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2021</a></blockquote>To be sure of the victory, Cyborg pounced on Kavanagh and hit her flush with three hammer fists before the referee intervened.Watch it in full here:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">-BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1459387252879069184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2021</a></blockquote>"I had a feeling about the fight, I feel great," said Cyborg in a post-match statement sent to Insider. "I am happy with the win.""The right hand did it fast and was the key. I was very excited for the count."Victory advanced Cyborg's pro <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MMA</a> record to 25 wins (20 knockouts, one submission, and four decisions) against two losses.The two-time <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/pfl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PFL</a> champion Kayla Harrison sat cageside for the bout. Cyborg said she would welcome a fight against her, should she ever leave the PFL for Bellator <keyword id="11922276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma" source="Orion">MMA</keyword>."I really appreciate Kayla Harrison coming to the fight," Cyborg said. "If she wants to fight me one day, that would be great."<div type="image" title="Cris Cyborg celebrates her knockout win over Sinead Kavanagh." height="1334" width="2000" msid="87684027" hostid="261"></div>Elsewhere on the card, Linton Vassell defeated Tyrell Fortune, Arlene Blencowe out-pointed Pam Sorenson, and <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/aaron-pico" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aaron Pico</a> outclassed Justin Gonzales to win a unanimous decision.Pico is one of the most exciting up-coming fighters in Bellator, but Friday's fight was the first time he went the distance."It is the first time I've gone three rounds," said Pico. "It's my first decision. I need the experience. I'm happy I got the win.He continued: "I knew I was the dominant performer, but I have to get better. I am just so hard on myself. I want to finish guys. "Let's go back to the drawing board. Once I step out of this cage, it's going to be a whole different ball game. I have to get prepared for the next opponent, so let's get to work."

MMA queen Cris Cyborg flattened her Bellator opponent with a thunderous hook in 92 seconds

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Nurmagomedov brand value in <keyword id="11922276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma" source="Orion">MMA</keyword> is superior to the Mayweather legacy in <keyword id="11922196" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="boxing" source="Orion">boxing</keyword>.</li><li>That's according to unbeaten <keyword id="12118724" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="bellator-mma" source="Orion">Bellator MMA</keyword> fighter <keyword id="13211640" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="usman-nurmagomedov" source="Orion">Usman Nurmagomedov</keyword>.</li></ul>The <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/khabib-nurmagomedov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nurmagomedov</a> family legacy in <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mixed martial arts</a> is superior to the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/floyd-mayweather" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mayweather</a> brand value in boxing, according to rising <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/bellator-mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bellator MMA</a> star <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/usman-nurmagomedov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Usman Nurmagomedov</a>, who is following in his famous cousin Khabib's footsteps as an unbeaten and dominant fighter."I believe we're even better than the Mayweathers," Usman told Insider through a translator earlier this month.Despite Khabib's retirement from MMA, following his resounding victory over Justin Gaethje in 2020, Usman, Abubakar, and Umar continue to fly the Nurmagomedov family flag in a variety of combat <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword> promotions.Conversely, Jeff, Roger, and Floyd Sr. all competed at a high level in <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/boxing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boxing</a> through the 1980s, but it was Floyd Jr. who brought the Mayweather name into his sport's Hall of Fame because of his status as one of the greats."We've got a better record and I believe the caliber of me and [my family members] is higher than the Mayweathers," Nurmagomedov said. "But I can see why you would compare us."<h2>Usman returns to Bellator MMA on Friday against Chris Gonzalez</h2><div type="image" title="Usman Nurmagomedov." height="1334" width="2000" msid="93063057" hostid="261" sizebytes="66814"></div>Usman returns to competition Friday for a Bellator 283 lightweight bout against American athlete Chris Gonzalez."I wouldn't say my next opponent is the toughest of my career," Usman said with a cool and calmness that typified his cousin Khabib's run to the highest echelons at the <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword>.Unfazed about taking on the undefeated Gonzalez, he added: "For me, he's just another fight."Should he triumph at the Emerald Queen Casino and Hotel in Tacoma, Washington, Usman will have a Bellator title shot in his crosshairs."I have huge goals," he told us. "I'm moving step-by-step, and focusing on my opponent to get my arm raised. But I want that title shot, to win the belt, and then defend the belt."<div type="image" title="Usman Nurmagomedov." height="1333" width="2000" msid="93063058" hostid="261" sizebytes="69712"></div>Nurmagomedov's blend of high-level wrestling with Muay Thai mastery has seen him advance his undefeated pro MMA record to 14 wins (12 finishes).He told us that Russian wrestling "is much better" than the American style because "Russian wrestlers are hungrier" and "have advantages over Americans in every aspect."Regardless of whether Gonzalez fights on the ground, or on his feet, Usman said he'll be ready. But, if he had a preference, he'd rather engage in stand-up battles. "I like to strike," he said.<h2>Nurmagomedov is one part of a new wave of talent making their names in Bellator MMA</h2><div type="image" title="Usman Nurmagomedov." height="1333" width="2000" msid="93063059" hostid="261" sizebytes="58470"></div>Usman represents one of the things Bellator has been getting right of late as the Los Angeles-based company targets promising talent it can harness into viable contenders and champions.Bellator boss Scott Coker has a proven history of nurturing talent — from Dan Cormier and Ronda Rousey in his Strikeforce days — to new-gen American fighters like A.J. McKee and Aaron Pico.Usman may well be one of those talents, too."I'm glad and happy to be part of this new wave in the Bellator MMA organization," he told Insider. "I'm proud."But as for whether there'll be any other young Nurmagomedovs joining Bellator, or its rival MMA organizations like UFC or PFL MMA, Usman remained tight-lipped."Not for now," he told us. "But, in the near future … we'll see."The Bellator 283 event will be broadcast Friday from 7.00 p.m. on Showtime Sports. The prelims are available on YouTube.Douglas Lima and Jason Jackson compete in a welterweight main event.Sidney Outlaw and Lorenz Larkin compete in separate bouts.

Usman Nurmagomedov says his family's legacy in MMA is superior to the Mayweathers' in boxing

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="6150626" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="bellator-mma">Bellator MMA</keyword> returns Friday with its second event of the year.</li><li>The company's president <keyword id="3395273" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Scott-Coker">Scott Coker</keyword> recently told Insider about its April shows.</li><li>He told us that his firm is in the healthiest position its ever been in.</li></ul>The <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/bellator-mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bellator MMA</a> roster is in the healthiest state it has ever been in, company boss Scott Coker said, as he marveled over recent signings including <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/khabib-nurmagomedov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khabib Nurmagomedov</a>'s cousin Usman.The Hollywood-headquartered combat <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> promotion restarted its live events business April 2 with <a href="https://www.insider.com/bellator-mma-patricio-pitbull-chokes-emmanuel-sanchez-unconscious-2021-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a thumping performance</a> from its <a href="https://www.insider.com/pitbull-freire-is-the-bellator-goat-according-to-scott-coker-2021-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GOAT fighter Patricio "Pitbull" Freire</a>.Pitbull advanced to the fight firm's featherweight final and will meet A.J. McKee in the coming months for a $1 million fight likely to be one of the biggest in the company's history.Bellator, meanwhile, has another event Friday as a light heavyweight grand prix gets underway.Ahead of this, Coker told Insider about the four-month pause in its live event schedule, the ever-growing roster of athletes, and scoring premium broadcaster partners like Showtime in the US and BBC iPlayer in the UK.Regarding the reasoning behind the hiatus, Coker said: "It was really scheduling with TV on the Bellator side.""We needed time to get our companies [Bellator and Showtime] in the same alignment and the same page. We were on Fite TV, CBS, Paramount, and having Viacom as the ownership group is a great thing because they have many different platforms they can offer you."Coker has been on Showtime before with his previous firm Strikeforce, which was sold in 2011 to Zuffa - the parent company of the UFC. Strikeforce fighters then became UFC fighters."I felt really good about the conversation when they [Viacom] said: 'You're going to Showtime,' because that's where I built Strikeforce."The same people who were there in 2009, 2010, 2011, are still there today. Senior executive producer, the SVP of marketing, communications department … I don't think anybody's ever left Showtime."So this is the second opportunity for myself to be back with a company like Showtime that really know how to promote <keyword id="6403489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma">MMA</keyword>, and the quality fights they've put on in the past."In 1986, I was watching Mike Tyson on Showtime. Recently, Floyd Mayweather - that whole run. When it comes to television, marketing, story-telling, what an amazing network to be with."<h2>Bellator's roster has improved drastically since Coker took over in 2014</h2><div type="image" title="Usman Nurmagomedov Bellator MMA" height="1370" width="2000" msid="81968903" hostid="261"></div>Zuffa retained Coker for a contracted period of three years when it acquired Strikeforce in 2011.Months after that period lapsed in 2014, Coker replaced Bjorn Rebney as the boss of Bellator and asked American Kickboxing Academy coach Bob Cook for his take on the quality of the roster at the time."When I came to Bellator, I'll never forget … I sat down with Bob Cook from AKA and I said: 'Here's our roster, what do you think?'"And he said: 'You don't have much here. It's kind of thin.' So I said: 'Okay. Let's go sign some new guys. Who do we sign?'"He recommended Aaron Pico and gave us a load of athletes to go after with development deals. As we're doing that and nurturing him, we signed Phil Davis, Ryan Bader, Fedor Emelianenko - people that are the free agents."The strategy of building fighters like Pico and McKee, while signing free agents, built the quality of Bellator's roster year on year.In 2020, Coker made further additions. Insider asked him who has gotten him most excited."I think Magomed Magomedov," he said. "That guy is a beast - a killer - and he'll give our guys a lot of headaches."I'm really excited about Usman [Nurmagomedov]. There's also Pico who is a guy we've invested in, backed for a long time."Joey Davis is another kid I'm confident about."Now, we've got the greatest roster in the history of this company. But this roster took six years to this point."This was always the game plan, Coker told us."One thing I learned from Strikeforce - you have to build from the bottom up. And you have to buy free agents from the top down."But free agents alone aren't going to make your business. They'll come and go. The health of your company is about the fighters you build."I knew that at Strikeforce with Tyron Woodley, Ronda Rousey, Daniel Cormier, and Luke Rockhold - the list goes on and on." All four athletes Coker named were champions in the UFC after it absorbed Strikeforce."You have to have your base. And that's the part that stuck. Sometimes it takes five to six years to see fighters get to a world class level where they could fight anybody."This is the healthiest and greatest fight roster we've ever had in this company," he said.<h2>Bellator has big broadcast partners</h2><div type="image" title="Nemkov beats Bader, Bellator MMA" height="844" width="1500" msid="81968906" hostid="261"></div>As well as the partnership with Showtime in the US, Bellator events are being broadcast on the BBC iPlayer in the UK. This, Coker said, is a testament to the mainstreaming of MMA."Right now we're in the process of sealing a lot of international deals," Coker said. "But we're excited about the BBC iPlayer deal. To have the BBC put a stamp of approval on MMA is not only a victory for our company, but for the sport."It wasn't that long ago, 10 years ago, when there was no MMA on CBS, or Fox, or ESPN. It wasn't on major television like it is today."Now, you've seen mixed martial artists become accepted in mainstream America."The first show I did in 2006, a guy asked me if it was like human cockfighting. They have no idea what it is. So this is good for the industry as a whole, this BBC deal."Bellator returns Friday with Bellator 256, an event broadcast on Showtime and BBC iPlayer from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.The main event features Ryan Bader against Lyoto Machida in a light heavyweight tournament quarterfinal. Further down the card, Liz Carmouche fights Vanessa Porto.

The Bellator MMA roster right now is the healthiest it has ever been, company president Scott Coker says

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="6150626" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="bellator-mma">Bellator MMA</keyword> returns for its second pandemic era show Friday at the Mohegan Sun Arena inside the Mohegan Sun casino resort, Connecticut.</li><li>Bellator boss <keyword id="3395273" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Scott-Coker">Scott Coker</keyword> this week told Insider all about its first show back last month, the safety protocols within the company's bubble, and what's in store this weekend.</li><li>There are many differences in the way his firm conducts its business now it has to navigate the coronavirus pandemic.</li><li>There's the sheer amount of testing, obviously, but there's also "a little army" to ensure everything goes to plan, everybody there is compliant, and nobody runs off and accidentally bursts the bubble.</li></ul>The UFC is not the only mixed martial arts show fully operational in the coronavirus era.Bellator MMA is set to hold its second pandemic event when it returns to the behind-closed doors Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut for the Bellator 243 event Friday.Santa Monica-based Bellator, which is owned by the entertainment giant Viacom, is run by Scott Coker, an eighth-degree black belt in Taekwondo.Insider spoke to Coker this week about his company's "bubble," the sanitized set-up in which his mixed martial arts players compete, as well as the matches he is most excited about.At a normal Bellator event, more than 10,000 fans would be packed into the venue, but today's business model is completely different.The worldwide health crisis saw <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> emerge from an enforced hiatus with a plan to navigate around the pandemic, and so, for now, the live fan experience is removed entirely.But the biggest difference in how combat sports is running during the pandemic is testing for the coronavirus, together with its associated safety protocols, and that cannot be overstated, Coker said."There's a lot of dialogue and communication about testing. A lot of testing. More testing. And then more testing," he said, laughing."That's the first [difference]."<h2>There's also security measures to ensure the bubble does not burst</h2><div type="image" title="Scott Coker, Bellator MMA boss" height="1000" width="2000" msid="77411967" hostid="261"></div>Coker, 57, has been involved in combat sports for decades.He founded the kickboxing organization Strikeforce in 1985, and oversaw its evolution into a successful MMA firm which developed stars like Ronda Rousey, Dan Cormier, and Nick Diaz.He took over at Bellator as the CEO in 2014 and now, with Viacom's backing, he wants his new company to close the gap on the UFC, if not top it as the industry's market-leader.Coker is experienced in the fight game. And one thing he told us that he is acutely aware of is that communication with his fighters, in the middle of a pandemic, is crucial.Many of his fighters, he said, are young. And one of the worst case scenarios would be an athlete being unaware of the seriousness of the situation, leaving Bellator's bubble, and risking contagion."Everyone really has to follow the protocol because these kids … fighters … they're young, [they have] young trainers, and some just want to go out."Sometimes I think they don't understand the gravity of the situation and it's up to us to instill our protocol and make sure they're in compliance — health and safety first."We'd hate for there to be a breakdown on our watch, so we're very careful, and we have people monitoring the hotel."And once you get to the hotel and you check-in, you go right to testing, quarantine, test results come back 12 hours later."We worked out a deal with a laboratory in Hartford [Connecticut's state capital] where we get our results back right away. Sometimes in California it could be a 10 or 14 day wait to get results back."So we're fortunate we have a relationship where we get results back in half a day. Then they're [athletes, staff, officials] released back into the bubble."They can go to the arena. Everything's in the arena. The training facility. The production offices. The fight itself."We urge people to leave their room and go to the arena, and the arena is a very sanitized area where nobody has access unless they've been tested and had a negative result. Everyone in that room is COVID-free."And then go back to the room. That's the process, and we put our foot down. You can't deviate from this."<h2>Bellator's one pandemic era show so far was a success</h2><div type="image" title="Bellator 242" height="3000" width="2000" msid="77411970" hostid="261"></div>The Bellator 242 event on July 24, also held at the Mohegan Sun, may have only had seven fights, but the event involved weeks of planning.It wasn't just about constructing the card, but building the safety protocol."To see it on paper, in the planning stages for four to five weeks, trying to get approvals back then, and then to finally see it in action and to see operations, it's going well, and I'm very happy about the process and the protocols that we've implemented for the athletes, production, officials, cornermen."Coker said there's "a little army" in the arena to ensure everything runs smoothly, and to oversee compliance."Everyone seems to be cooperative and understands it's a very serious matter and it's a very special time in history that we have to go through this. And it's working."As for the matches themselves, Aaron Pico was one of the fighters to create the most headlines.Pico signed for Bellator as a blue-chip prospect, and has been guided by Coker — but it has not been without hiccups.Pico has long been touted as one of MMA's new generation of up-and-comers because of his outstanding wrestling background, and his training at the Wildcard Boxing Gym with Freddie Roach — who famously coached Manny Pacquiao to be one of the greatest boxers in the modern era.Pico scored his second win of 2020 with a first round rear-naked choke submission win over Chris Hatley last month, something which thrilled Coker as it bucked back-to-back losses in 2019."Aaron could turn his career around and he's starting to do it," Coker said. "He's shown the skill-level he has, and he's still very young at 23 — still beginning his career. I'm happy for the guy."<h2>The behind-closed doors format can actually benefit fighters, according to Coker</h2>Because of Bellator's partnership with the premium television network Showtime, the set-design has evolved for the better, Coker said."And the behind-closed doors format can have advantages for fighters who just want to fight, rather than be caught up in media obligations throughout the week."I'm so happy with the relationship between Showtime Sports and our production crew. This is a collaborative effort. They designed the set. It's the best set in-studio. To me, the design was amazing."It doesn't feel cavernous like some of the boxing shows I've seen, or other MMA … a big arena, there's nobody there … cavernous feeling."We built an arena inside an arena. One of the best in combat sports right now. It looks good, feels good, and the fighters performed."The fighters I spoke to really enjoyed it and said they can't wait to come back into the bubble and fight again."It doesn't have pressure, for Aaron Pico, let's say. Where there's so much media attention, fans, obligation."Now, it's testing, train, isolate, go back to the room and hangout. He prefers this over a normal fight week and wants to fight again."<h2>There are 9 fights on Friday's Bellator 243 card</h2>Four of Friday's fights include:<ol><li>Michael Chandler vs. Benson Henderson — lightweight</li><li>Matt Mitrione vs. Timothy Johnson — heavyweight</li><li>Myles Jury vs. George Karakhanyan — lightweight</li><li>Valeria Loureda vs. Tara Graff — women's flyweight</li></ol><div type="image" title="Bellator 243" height="808" width="1000" msid="77411971" hostid="261"></div>The bout between Matt Mitrione and Timothy Johnson could produce the next heavyweight to challenge for the Bellator championship currently held by Ryan Bader."This fight with Matt Mitrione and Timothy Johnson … both of these guys have similar records, and this fight, depending on who wins, might have a step closer to getting a title shot with Ryan Bader, or whoever is the champion at the time."Valeria Loureda … people are excited about that fight. She's continuing to grow and do quite well."But it is the main event which is the most significant, a rematch between Michael Chandler and Benson Henderson, who first fought in 2016. Chandler won with a split decision over Henderson that night, and Henderson wants revenge."Of course, the Benson Henderson and Chandler fight is a big fight."Last time, honestly, Michael Chandler won the first two and a half rounds and I think Benson won the last two and a half rounds."Michael won I think it was a split decision. It was a very close fight, but Benson Henderson proved he might be the toughest guy in MMA."I'm looking forward to that fight because I genuinely feel like those two guys do not like each other."I'm excited because I think it could be an amazing match-up."Bellator 243 airs on Paramount in the US and Sky Sports in the UK.Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/conor-mcgregor-nurmagomedov-will-s-his-pants-in-gaethje-fight-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor said Khabib Nurmagomedov will be 's----ing his pants' when he fights Justin Gaethje in October</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/contender-series-dana-white-awards-ufc-contract-1st-round-ko-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dana White called an American fighter a badass, instantly awarding him with a UFC contract, after watching him deliver a nasty 1st round finish</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/mike-tyson-roy-jones-jr-circus-act-why-people-watch-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Tyson's comeback against Roy Jones Jr. is a ridiculous circus act — but that's exactly why people will tune in</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/watch-joe-george-land-an-uppercut-his-opponents-body-stiffens-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">An unbeaten American boxer landed an uppercut so hard his opponent's body stiffened, losing by instant knockout</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/conor-mcgregor-is-teasing-a-boxing-comeback-manny-pacquiao-linked-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><a href="https://www.insider.com/inside-fight-island-the-ufcs-most-ambitious-project-of-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Inside UFC's 'Fight Island,' where its top stars took late-night joyrides at 160mph, sunbathed in 115 degree heat, and played golf at dawn</a>

Bellator boss Scott Coker has 'a little army' to ensure his young fighters don't run off and burst the company's coronavirus bubble

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a37e47fb0bcd5ea6d8b528f-1067/a44i0151preview.jpg" alt="Aaron Pico" data-mce-source="Bellator MMA">Bellator MMAAaron Pico - the next superstar fighter like Conor McGregor?</img></div></div></div><ul><li>Cage fighting's "next great superstar" Aaron Pico is "going in for the kill" when he fights at Bellator 192 on Saturday.</li><li>Pico tells Business Insider how he was "brought back to life" while laying low in Mexico after a humiliating loss in his debut fight last year.</li><li>He has linked up with combat sports veteran Antonio McKee who guided Pico to a crushing victory in his subsequent fight.</li><li>Pico tells us he has been training for a repeat performance this weekend.</li></ul><hr>&#xa0;Blue chip cage fighting prospect Aaron Pico has a simple plan for his third professional bout at The Forum in Inglewood, California on Saturday.That plan involves ramming the tip of his elbow into his opponent's skull so hard that it "makes him ugly."Pico told Business Insider that he is "going for the kill" and expects his opponent Shane Kruchten to "fold" under his pressure at the Bellator 192 event this weekend.It is a confidence that is perhaps a far cry from the immediate aftermath of the disastrous loss he suffered in his fighting debut last year.In the build-up to his debut at Bellator 180 in June 2017, Bellator boss Scott Coker told us that Pico will be a "<a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/bellator-promoter-scott-coker-mma-prospect-aaron-pico-mike-tyson-2017-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">big, big star</a>" in mixed martial arts. According to reports, he could become the next Conor McGregor -&#xa0;<a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2014/11/16/7228067/bellator-signs-blue-chip-prospect-aaron-pico-to-long-term-contract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the "next great superstar" in the sport</a>.Coker had so much belief in Pico that for the two years prior to his first fight, Bellator paid&#xa0;the youngster a wage to stay in the gym and train full time as a job. Coker even arranged sessions with some of the most respected trainers in jiu-jitsu and in boxing so that Pico could scrap on his feet and on his back.He learned boxing from Manny Pacquiao's coach Freddie Roach and was taught strangleholds by respected submissions expert Eddie Bravo.But disaster struck in Pico's debut as the youngster suffered a humiliating 24-second loss."It was a terrible feeling," Pico told Business Insider. "Especially with all that anticipation. It was crazy."Explaining how lonely the walk back to the dressing room was, Pico said: "It was a tough pill to swallow. I put my clothes back on, manned up, and faced the media. It's times like those when you find out who's actually behind you. I got an Uber, by myself, back to the hotel."Pico met family members at the hotel but said he had to "cross the border to Mexico" to lay low. But not long after, he got a phone call that effectively brought him back from the dead."I got a call from [former UFC fighter] Antonio McKee and he brought me back to life," he said.McKee, a 37-bout veteran in MMA, turned to coaching when he hung up his fighting gloves in 2014. From his base at Bodyshop MMA in California, McKee trains other prospects like his son A.J McKee and Baby Slice - the son of renowned street brawler Kimbo Slice, who died in 2016."McKee has known me since I was a kid," Pico said. "He said he was behind me and can make me the best."It is a message that will have resonated with Pico as there is not a day that goes by where he does not visualise becoming a Bellator champion.Since linking up with McKee, he took a huge step forward to realising that goal as he crushed his next opponent, Justin Linn, in just one round at Bellator 183 in September, 2017.The nature of the victory was a stark contrast to the "terrible" loss he suffered just three months earlier."The loss before made the Linn win so much sweeter," Pico explained. "Especially as I knocked him out on my birthday. It just felt… oh man, now it's starting. Now my career is starting. Between McKee and my boxing coach Freddie Roach, it's flowing well, and I'm ready to go."After beating Linn I just got straight back to the gym and I haven't stopped working. I need more experience, cage experience, the lights, big crowds in big shows. I love that stuff. Champion of the world, I think about it every day."Standing in Pico's way is Kruchten, a Marine Corps combat veteran. But, according to Pico, Kruchten won't be standing for long."I'll take my time and relax but if I have a chance to put him away in 30 seconds, I'll do that. You don't take chances in MMA."I'm going in for the kill, it's what I'm trained to do. I'm going to elbow you in the face and make you ugly. That's my mentality.He added: "I train hours and hours every day for every fight. That's why I'm confident and ready to go. You will fold, it's that simple."<div><blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en">Ladies and gentlemen...<a href="https://twitter.com/AaronPicoUSA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AaronPicoUSA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bellator183?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bellator183</a> <a href="https://t.co/kp5mHl7pfS">pic.twitter.com/kp5mHl7pfS</a>- Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/BellatorMMA/status/911768355572391936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/shaq-love-new-tech-steve-jobs-iphone-geek-2018-1">Shaq on his love for new tech and how he tried to get Steve Jobs to give him a preview of the iPhone</a></h3> <div> <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/XvBhqr8i-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script> </div> </div></hr>

Cage fighting's 'next great superstar' tells us how he plans to 'go for the kill' in his fight on Saturday

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12118724" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="bellator-mma" source="Orion">Bellator MMA</keyword> has three events in five weeks in Europe.</li><li>It has received a big reaction from fans in multiple European cities, but is excited to head to Russia.</li><li>Russia is a hotbed for fighting, and the presence of <keyword id="12224427" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fedor-emelianenko" source="Orion">Fedor Emelianenko</keyword> is a boon for the brand.</li></ul>LONDON - <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/bellator-mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bellator MMA</a> is using Fedor Emelianenko's wild popularity to break further ground in its European strongholds.Emelianenko's celebrity status in Russia is so high that cardboard cutouts of his 6-foot-1, 235-pound frame appear behind the windows of banks, as advertising for credit cards.That's according to head of Bellator Europe, <keyword id="12224428" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="david-green" source="Orion">David Green</keyword>, who has been tasked with bringing the Los Angeles-based company back to London, to Dublin, and to enter new territory with a show in Moscow.Here are Bellator's upcoming event dates in Europe:<ul><li>Friday, October 1 - Bellator 267: Lima vs. MVP 2 - London, England</li><li>Saturday, October 23 - Bellator 269: Fedor vs. Johnson - Moscow, Russia</li><li>Friday, November 5 - Bellator 270: Gallagher vs. Mix - Dublin, Ireland</li></ul>Insider has reported previously from its London and Dublin shows, and both are home runs for the promotion - particularly in Ireland, where fervent crowds provide unforgettable atmospheres.But after speaking to numerous people at Bellator this week, it is clear that the company is excited about entering the Russian market.It is a chance to have Emelianenko not only compete under the company's banner, but provide an ambassadorial role for the promotion in a country where <keyword id="11922276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma" source="Orion">MMA</keyword> is life."The plan is to do European shows, and more of them, under the Bellator name," Green told us earlier this week, ahead of an MMA event that will opens its doors for a maximum capacity."We've been waiting for so long, and now we've got three events in five weeks. We're happy to be back in London, to be back in Dublin, but we've been trying to break Moscow for a long time. It's a great market for us."The stars have been aligning for some time. Bellator, via Green, struck a TV deal with Russia's Okko Sport in 2020.The Bellator MMA President <keyword id="12224429" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="scott-coker" source="Orion">Scott Coker</keyword> confirmed to Insider earlier this year that a show in Russia would happen in 2021.And, over recent years, the promotion has signed numerous talents from the region."Okko is a big and ambitious company, which is key to getting a foothold in the country," said Green."When you look at that, combined with the roster we've signed, well, the Russian roster is one of the strongest nations we've got on the Bellator roster."With Fedor at the top and his guys, and then the new guns coming out there, it makes sense to have an event when we could."And so we pulled the trigger on this one about three months ago, and it's probably the best MMA card somebody's put on in Russia, when you look down that list."Here are some of Bellator's notable athletes from Russia:<ul><li>Fedor Emelianenko, heavyweight</li><li>Valentin Moldavsky, heavyweight</li><li>Vadim Nemkov, light heavyweight</li><li>Usman Nurmagomedov, lightweight</li><li>Islam Mamedov, lightweight</li></ul><h2>Bellator is trying to replicate its Irish success in Russia</h2><div type="image" title="Usman Nurmagomedov Bellator MMA" height="1370" width="2000" msid="86686660" hostid="261"></div>In 2019, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bellator-exploiting-market-seemingly-neglected-by-the-ufc-2019-7?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Insider reported about Bellator's continued plans to exploit a market in Ireland that had otherwise been neglected by the UFC</a>.The Straight Blast Gym owner and coach John Kavanagh, famed for training Conor McGregor, is routinely praised by those at Bellator, and has been regarded as integral to Bellator's growth in that region.Speaking to Insider this week, Green said that his plans in Russia are similar to how Bellator approached the boon of the sport in Dublin."To go into a market and really try and build the traction there, you have to have a few things in your armory," said Green."We have that in Ireland. We have a full house at the 3Arena, a great card, and great fans. I'm hoping for the same thing in Russia."Fedor's a talisman for MMA in Russia, and it's not until you go there when you realize how big the guy is. He's out there on the windows of banks advertising credit cards! Where would that happen in the world? He is a true legend over there."So, to have him on our books, for him to lead a strong gym," where he mentors Nemkov, who "has dominated our light heavyweight division - he just looks great, is a great ambassador for us over there, and represents the next-gen."The baton, Green said, is being passed from Fedor to Nemkov, but they're not the only high-caliber Russians competing for the fight firm."We also have the guys coming out of Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, like his cousin Usman. There's a younger generation coming through."We're in a really good spot, over there. And it's nice for me because it means it's less US focused, and we've got a more global look in our roster."<h2>Bellator wants to get rid of its reputation as a place for old men</h2><div type="image" title="Nemkov beats Bader, Bellator MMA" height="844" width="1500" msid="86686662" hostid="261"></div>Bellator's recent strategy has been curious, as its focus on A.J. McKee, 26 - an American who has only ever fought for Bellator - and 28-year-old Yaroslav Amosov, a Ukrainian who is unbeaten in pro MMA, are both champions in the featherweight and welterweight divisions.There's then other homegrown up-and-comers like Aaron Pico, 25, in America, and Usman Nurmagomedov, 23, from Russia.Bellator has consciously been trying to move away from its stereotype as an old man's league that willingly signs fighters cut from the UFC."The turnaround in the last four to five years has been really interesting," Green said. "And it's been a big part of Scott's plan to get behind that, and build it upwards."What has happened is, we've got great scouts around the world. But, also, the MMA world has gotten a lot smaller over the years."Talented guys in Russia go to train in America, and very quickly people will get to know about them. It's a small community."I also think fans are more accepting of pure talent now. And people don't talk about that."We're maturing as a sport. People might have wanted to see the same guys, which made it hard from a promotional point of view, because, to build a guy is expensive and takes time."But people now really understand MMA, and are well-versed in MMA. So you can truly get these new gems coming through, and get fans who are interested to see how they get on."<h2>Bellator will hold events in key European cities, as well as new ones, in 2022</h2><div type="image" title="Scott Coker and David Green, Bellator MMA" height="938" width="1250" msid="86686663" hostid="261"></div>Bellator is not only focused on the UK, Ireland, and Russia, though.It held a hat-trick of events in Milan during the pandemic, was one of the first organizations to hold an event in Paris after France backtracked on the sport's ban in 2020, and it is trying to develop MMA in Germany, where "the sport is in its infancy," according to Green.Though planning events is tricky while COVID-19 continues to circulate, and restrictions can be imposed at short notice, Bellator will plan more events in 2022."We'll get these three events out the way in 2021, and I'm more confident of booking more events in 2022," Green confirmed."I think when we're trying to build, it's important to go back to where you've had success," he said, indicating where fight fans can expect Bellator MMA shows to take place."Friday will be our best London event, headed by a fantastic card. Ireland is always brilliant. And Russia is very strong, as we've got the roster to play with over there."I'd like to see us back there, but also add a few new cities to the Bellator world tour."Friday's Bellator show will be broadcast on BBC iPlayer in the UK, and Showtime in the US.

Bellator MMA is using Fedor Emelianenko's wild popularity to break further ground in its European strongholds

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5cffa2126fc9201b3446de76-2000/heather%20hardy%20bellator%20boxing.jpg" border="0" alt="Heather Hardy, Bellator boxing" data-mce-source="Photo by Bilgin S. Sasmaz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images" data-link="https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/american-boxer-heather-hardy-beatless-martial-artist-news-photo/951338648?adppopup=true"><a href="https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/american-boxer-heather-hardy-beatless-martial-artist-news-photo/951338648?adppopup=true">Photo by Bilgin S. Sasmaz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images</a>Heather Hardy.</img></div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Heather Hardy is a fighter.</li><li>She once suffered a nose injury so bad, she spat chunks of bone out her mouth, but has insisted to Business Insider that mixed martial arts (MMA) is a fun sport - one she has fallen in love with.</li><li>The same is not true for boxing where she says world titles are not lost, they're taken from fighters because they don't happen to be the "promoter's girl."</li><li>Hardy's life story is filled with tragedy. She survived a sexual assault aged 12, went through a challenging divorce, and was left homeless after a hurricane ravaged her home town.</li><li>She once had to work seven jobs to make ends meet. But now she's only got one - fighting, and she is next in action on Saturday when she returns to the cage at Bellator 222.</li><li>"I'm a beast," she told us. "I wouldn't want to fight me."</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul>When Heather Hardy suffered her first loss as a professional athlete, she walked out of the cage with her "f------ nose hanging off" her face.She had already won 20 fights as a boxer, setting records, and was an accomplished amateur. But in 2017 she switched sports, signed a contract with mixed martial arts firm Bellator, and won her cagefighting debut in her home city, New York, in the summer.After that win, Hardy addressed the press, smiled despite bruising on her cheek, a black eye, and blood splattered over her white training bra, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQM44ZsY-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">and said she had "fallen in love"</a> with the game that night. "I'm so happy right now," she beamed. "I don't even care I have stitches in my face."She lost her second Bellator bout later in the year but showed great heart by fighting through moments that would distress normal people. She wanted to carry on throwing punches even though she was wearing a mask of blood.Her opponent Kristina Williams landed a perfect kick - shin bone to face - in the second round. According to the combat sports website Bloody Elbow, Hardy suffered a nose <a href="https://twitter.com/BloodyElbow/status/921563184066002951" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"explosion"</a> and bled profusely. The ringside doctor said Hardy was in no state to continue. It was over.To <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKccCcd7Am0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Luke Thomas on Sirius XM</a>, Hardy would later say she was kicked so hard she was blinded temporarily. She was also "spitting chunks of bone" out her mouth.For many people, this might seem like the stuff of nightmares.But Hardy is not like many people. For Hardy, this was just an occupational hazard from competing in the sport she loves.Watch a recap of her first MMA fight here:Hardy is now just days away from her fourth MMA bout and has been telling Business Insider why fighting is so much fun."I have a lot of cockiness and confidence in the boxing ring as I know what I can and can't do in there," Hardy, who is an undefeated featherweight world boxing champion, said.<blockquote class="pullquote float_right">I'm 37 years old. I don't have 10 years for the sport of boxing to come around."</blockquote>"In the cage, it's like: 'Fight for your life!'" she said."So it's a different kind of fun in both, right? There's a lot more going on in the cage, a lot of stuff I don't know how to do, or how to get out of. You get to see my primal instincts and the street come out of me."I've walked out of MMA with my f------ nose hanging off my face. I'm not afraid to fight, I'm not afraid to lose."<h2>Hardy had a warrior's spirit before she pulled on the gloves</h2><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5cffc8b46fc9202c931d2167-2000/heather%20hardy%20boxing%20bellator.jpg" border="0" alt="Heather Hardy, boxing Bellator" data-mce-source="Photo by AP Photo/Frank Franklin II" data-link="http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/Day-Ayala-Boxing/ba305b2407e44614891d1aa4266d571d/14/0"><a href="http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/Day-Ayala-Boxing/ba305b2407e44614891d1aa4266d571d/14/0">Photo by AP Photo/Frank Franklin II</a>Hardy is a world champion boxer.</img></div></div></div>Hardy survived <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/gvaxj3/heather-hardy-doesnt-back-down-from-any-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sexual assault when she was just 12 years old</a>, a difficult divorce from an ex-husband who didn't pay child support, and homelessness when a natural disaster ravaged her neighborhood.Hardy tells us when she divorced in her 20s, she moved her daughter in with her sister and her nephew. Hardy took on the role of the father while her sister played mom to their kids, she said.She worked seven jobs in the New York gig economy to bring money into the house. She sold lights in the Bowery district, stacked shelves, and did internet marketing. She delivered books to high schools and did secretary work "for random companies." She even volunteered for USA Boxing, the national governing body for Olympic-style amateur boxing in America, and answered phones in the city's iconic fight club; Gleason's Gym, a place steeped in boxing history as Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali, and Roberto Duran all trained there.The divorce made her try something new: fighting.It turned out she was a natural even though she began the sport as a 28-year-old. "Within 18 months, I had won every title you could as an amateur boxer." She won Golden Gloves, national championships, and was the number one amateur competitor in her weight class in her country, she said.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/keith-thurman-boxing-not-about-killing-people-2019-5?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Manny Pacquiao's next opponent Keith Thurman has pushed back against Deontay Wilder's controversial comments, saying boxing is 'not about killing people'</a>Hardy turned professional after her 30th birthday, in 2012. Shortly after, Hurricane Sandy hit New York and devastated many communities throughout the five boroughs.<blockquote class="pullquote">I've walked out of MMA with my f------ nose hanging off my face.</blockquote>The hurricane put the Hardy home in Gerritsen beach, Brooklyn, "under seven or eight feet of water," Hardy said. It made her and her daughter homeless.Hardy sent her daughter to live temporarily with relatives while she worked and slept at Gleason's, even <a href="http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/22407787/heather-hardy-fighter-own-words" target="_blank" rel="noopener">crying in an office</a> at the gym, until she got back on her feet.Hardy's boxing coach Devon Cormack took her under his wing. "Devon taught me how to teach people [to box] and took me on as an apprentice. I was able to quit one job at a time until I had enough of a clientele. I could use his office at the gym, he let me use the equipment and stuff, and he moulded me into the coach that I am today."By 2013 and 2014, I became a full-time fighter and a full-time coach and trainer at Gleason's."This meant she never had to worry about working in the gig economy again.Hardy said in <a href="http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/22407787/heather-hardy-fighter-own-words" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an ESPN feature</a> last year that people would say to her that she'd never be able to "make a career" out of boxing, and that if she were to compete then it would have to be for fun.For Hardy, boxing remains behind the times. It fails to sufficiently promote its athletes, more so its women, and has been beaten to the punch by MMA, which makes superstars out of Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, Cris Cyborg, Amanda Nunes, and Valentina Shevchenko."It was 2012 before women were even allowed to box in the Olympics. Boxing is the oldest sport since the first Olympics. And girls in 2012 are just allowed to box? We're so far behind the times," she told Business Insider."Women have been openly welcomed in MMA as fighters, but boxing has been slow coming around to it. I'm 37 years old. I don't have 10 years for the sport of boxing to come around."<blockquote class="pullquote">I make more in MMA than I did in my world title fight in boxing.</blockquote>She has long been a full-time trainer and fighter, but it's only since she made the decision to move into MMA that she experienced a significant bump in pay.Are Bellator fight contracts considerably larger than the ones she received because of boxing. "Yeah!" She said with no hesitation. "I mean, I've fought in a [boxing] world title fight. I fought for a world title in October. On HBO, right?"Hardy said the broadcaster helped fund a $4.2 million purse to compensate boxers Daniel Jacobs and Sergiy Derevyanchenko for their main event fight. But Hardy's bout against Shelly Vincent, also for a world title, didn't get anywhere near that much. "They put 10 grand in the pot for my fight."She added: "I make more in MMA than I did in my world title fight in boxing."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5d00def0ba3a736185561978-1778/heather%20hardy%20world%20champion%20who%20is%20she.jpg" border="0" alt="Heather Hardy world champion who is she" data-mce-source="Photo by AP Photo/Frank Franklin II" data-link="http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/Day-Ayala-Boxing/c8b98fa828754473a37ea73bb1845c2c/26/0"><a href="http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/Day-Ayala-Boxing/c8b98fa828754473a37ea73bb1845c2c/26/0">Photo by AP Photo/Frank Franklin II</a>Hardy won her world title on HBO's last boxing broadcast, last year.</img></div></div></div>If competing as a mixed martial artist in Bellator's circular cages provides a superior salary, surely she wouldn't be tempted to return to the ring. "Well … if the money's right, then you can still convince me! If it makes dollars, it makes sense."One boxer <a href="http://www.irish-boxing.com/heather-hardy-open-to-2019-katie-taylor-fight/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hardy has long been linked with is Katie Taylor</a>, a wildly successful amateur with 18 gold medals, including one at the 2012 Olympic Games. Taylor has the backing of boxing juggernaut Matchroom Sport, the same company that promotes Anthony Joshua, Callum Smith, and Oleksandr Usyk.<blockquote class="pullquote">What's yours will be taken from you … The politics of boxing does not care who it takes from, whether its a single mom, a full time police officer, or a world champion.</blockquote>Taylor recently fought Delfine Persoon in a lightweight title unification on the undercard of Joshua's unsuccessful American debut at Madison Square Garden, when <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/andy-ruiz-jr-knocks-anthony-joshua-out-in-heavyweight-shocker-2019-6?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the heavyweight lost his titles to Andy Ruiz Jr</a>. in a seventh-round upset.Controversy surrounding the result, a win for Taylor, was somewhat overshadowed by the nature of Joshua's loss in the main event. But Hardy believes the victory was not fair, that the belts were taken from Persoon. She decried what she saw as injustice on her Twitter account.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/anthony-joshua-setback-should-have-listened-to-floyd-mayweather-2019-6?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anthony Joshua's humiliating setback proves he should have listened to Floyd Mayweather 2 years ago</a>"I'd love to clarify a little bit," she told us. "I'm in no way shape or form a Katie hater. I am one of Katie's biggest fans. What she's done for the sport of women's boxing, the way she carries herself, she is a true champion and a true queen. And I genuinely mean that."My being upset comes because with a fight like that you have two champions in the ring, two champions defending their belts, right? You're supposed to have a fight where the only way a person loses their belt, is if the other person beats them for it, right?"There is no way Delfine Persoon lost her title. They were taken from her. Katie didn't earn that win. And I know I'm not the only one to score it that way. The way that girl fought her heart out and outworked Katie in the last four or five rounds of that fight, she did not deserve to walk out of that stadium with that ending."And it just really speaks to the politics of boxing. If you're not protected and you're not the promoter's girl, it doesn't matter if you win. What's yours will be taken from you. The politics of boxing does not care who it takes from, whether its a single mom, a full-time police officer, or a world champion."That is one of the reasons Hardy feels more at home in MMA than in boxing. "I just hate the thought of handing it over, you know what I mean? That's the s--- part about boxing."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5d00e95a6fc9203e6c3c6a13-2000/who%20is%20heather%20hardy%20fighting%20in%20bellator.jpg" border="0" alt="Who is Heather Hardy fighting in Bellator" data-mce-source="AP Photo/Gregory Payan" data-link="http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/Bellator-180-Weigh-In/00065615ef17405c96b3b9879728307a/42/0"><a href="http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/Bellator-180-Weigh-In/00065615ef17405c96b3b9879728307a/42/0">AP Photo/Gregory Payan</a>Hardy returns to competition this weekend.</img></div></div></div>Regardless, she won't rule out defending her boxing championship. "I'm WBO world champion, single mom, fighting in both sports."<blockquote class="pullquote">She's got a ton of experience, but … I'm a beast. I wouldn't want to fight me.</blockquote>Hardy fights on Friday at Madison Square Garden again in New York. She takes on Taylor Turner in an MMA fight at Bellator 222.It will be a festival of fights and includes big-name combatants Aaron Pico, Dillon Danis, Darrion Caldwell, Lyoto Machida vs. Chael Sonnen, and the headlining bout Rory MacDonald vs. Neiman Gracie.It is a big event for Hardy, for Bellator, and the fight game in general. It is the third weekend in a row the Garden has hosted a big combat sports event, after Gennady Golovkin's knockout win over Steve Rolls, and Joshua's stunning loss to Ruiz Jr.&#xa0;Hardy's opponent Turner has traded wins for losses throughout her career, but has beaten her last two opponents by stoppage. Hardy isn't taking her lightly, but she also has no fear. "She's got a ton of experience, man. I'm not taking this chick lightly. My team is preparing me for her type of style."But I'll be honest with you, I'm a beast. I wouldn't want to fight me."And neither would we.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tbt?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tbt</a> to Bellator NYC - My MMA debut 👸🏼 <a href="https://twitter.com/BellatorMMA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BellatorMMA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hillimpact?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hillimpact</a> <a href="https://t.co/c0dR5ooPOt">pic.twitter.com/c0dR5ooPOt</a>- Heather Heat Hardy (@HeatherHardyBox) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1113786135464038401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2019</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">Six years ago i was homeless, living out of my office at Gleasons Gym. Tonight, there's a billboard with my face hanging in Herald Square. Thanking God for never giving up on me. <a href="https://t.co/o7uJZKZgRk">pic.twitter.com/o7uJZKZgRk</a>- Heather Heat Hardy (@HeatherHardyBox) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1055603767494746113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2018</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">I'm crying for Persoon. What a horrible feeling to be stripped of your well earned win due to the politics of boxing. And THIS is why, I'm ready to hang up my boxing gloves. <a href="https://twitter.com/hillimpact?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hillimpact</a>- Heather Heat Hardy (@HeatherHardyBox) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1134994973320011776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2019</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-american-men-suck-soccer-world-cup-2018-6">The US women's national team dominates soccer, but here's why the US men's team sucks</a></h3> <div> <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/SaEwZba3-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script> </div> </div>

You Searched For "aaron pico" and got 12 results

American fighter Aaron Pico kept trying to pop his dislocated shoulder into place during a Bellator MMA bout

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