Latest news with #Bellator
USA Today
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Host of UFC personalities appear in new trailer for 'The Naked Gun' reboot
Host of UFC personalities appear in new trailer for 'The Naked Gun' reboot More than 30 years after the character last appeared on the big screen, a legendary cop returns in a few weeks – sort of. Lt. Frank Drebin is back in legacy sequel of "The Naked Gun," but it's as Frank Jr., played by Liam Neeson, and not Leslie Nielsen. The movie arrives in theaters Aug. 1 – and it will have a strong UFC presence, too. For a few quick frames in the new trailer for the film, Neeson can be seen punching out UFC announcer Bruce Buffer and longtime referee and former Bellator analyst John McCarthy while a broadcast team including UFC play-by-play voice Jon Anik and commentator Michael Bisping call the action. "The Naked Gun" will be the fourth film in the franchise. The original was released in 1988, starring Nielsen and Priscilla Presley, and was based on the 1980s police spoof TV series "Police Squad." Two sequels, "The Naked Gun 2 1/2" and "The Naked Gun 33 1/3," were released in 1991 and 1994. The new version stars Neeson as the son of Nielsen's Drebin; Pamela Anderson as his love interest; Paul Walter Houser as Drebin Sr.'s former partner's son; and even WWE wrestler Cody Rhodes. The film is directed by Akiva Schaffer of "Saturday Night Live" and The Lonely Island fame, and counts "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane among its production team. Check out the trailer above. What lands at No. 1 on our chart? The best (and worst!) MMA movies (and TV series) of all time
USA Today
18 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Jorge Masvidal heaps praise on Movsar Evloev: 'This guy's going to be champion'
Jorge Masvidal heaps praise on Movsar Evloev: 'This guy's going to be champion' Jorge Masvidal says his American Top Team teammate Movsar Evloev has unmatched work ethic. Evloev (19-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) will welcome former Bellator standout Aaron Pico (13-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at UFC on ABC 9 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+) on July 26 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. UFC CEO Dana White said that with a win, Evloev will likely be next in line for UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. Having trained with Evloev on numerous occasions, Masvidal says it's only a matter of time before the Russian has UFC gold around his waist. "I know Movsar a long time, four years at American Top Team," Masvidal told Red Corner MMA. "Me and Movsar train a lot together. At the time, I'm like 185, 190 pounds and Movsar's like 150, 160. So at first, we're wrestling, I'm doing OK, but this guy does not stop. By the last minute, my head was going to explode because he just doesn't stop, and he's just shooting, shooting, wrestling, wrestling, shooting. "Does not stop, always advancing position. When I went with him I was like, 'Man, he's able to keep that pace with me, and I'm a lot bigger and more experienced than him? This guy's scary,' and I've trained with him numerous times and I've also seen him train with some of the best in the gym. I'm telling you, this guy's going to be champion at 145." Masvidal also praised Evloev for his training regimen. "God gave him genetics, but also, this guy works harder than everybody else," Masvidal said. "Every day, he does conditioning after wrestling. Two hours and a half of wrestling, then he'll go roll, he'll go run, he'll go lift weights. This makes a big difference."
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Paddy Pimblett calls for Ilia Topuria fight as UFC star vows to end heated feud
After Topuria decided to move up to lightweight and become a two-division champion, Pimblett is eager to settle their bitter feud once and for all Paddy Pimblett has confidently promised to stop long-time rival Ilia Topuria wherever 'the fight goes' amid talks of a showdown between the pair. Pimblett, 30, is widely regarded as one of the biggest names in the sport. Still undefeated in the UFC, the Liverpudlian is ranked eighth in the lightweight rankings. 'The Baddy' continues to rise up the division and - earlier this year - picked up the biggest win of his career. Back in April, Pimblett scored a stunning knockout victory over former Bellator lightweight champion, Michael Chandler. Many believe the 30-year-old is at least one win away from competing for a world title. Over the last few years, Pimblett has gone back-and-forth verbally with Topuria. After almost clashing at a fighter hotel in London back in 2022, the pair have talked about a potential fight in the near future. With Topuria now moving up to 155lbs, a clash between the two could come sooner than expected. 'El Matador' is scheduled to face Charles Oliveira for the vacant title next weekend - with Pimblett set to be cageside for the mouthwatering clash. Should the former featherweight champion come away unscathed and with his hand raised, Pimblett can see him fighting for the belt next. In an interview with on behalf of All Out Fighting, he said: "If Ilia wins, I can see me fighting for the belt next. I'd never usually have said that if it was anyone else, as I'm only ranked 7, but the fact that he keeps talking about me and saying things about me, he's basically telling the world he wants to fight me. "I'm going to be there in Las Vegas on June 29 cage side. If he mentions me, I'll be getting pulled into the cage and I'll be laughing my head off. It'll be quite funny." Regarding how a potential clash between the pair would play out, 'The Baddy' fully believes that he will topple Topuria and settle their bitter feud once and for all. "I'd beat him just like I beat Michael Chandler," he continued. "Ilia thinks he'll knock me out, but he won't get close to me. I wouldn't let him get in range, I'd kick him everywhere and more than likely T/KO him with a punch or a kick. I could even ground him and stop him that way. "I think people overestimate Ilia. He's had a good run, I'm not saying he hasn't, but Jai Herbert hit him with a head kick a few fights ago and he almost didn't survive that. If Jai would have been a bit quicker after he dropped him, he would have finished him. He was very, very lucky to survive that. I'm a lot bigger than Jai, if I'd have hit him with that head kick, I'm snapping his chin, never mind knocking him out. "He's overestimated and had a nice easy run up the featherweight division. I know everyone says that about me, that I've fought people at the right time, and I probably have, but he's fought everyone at not just the right time, but the perfect time. I'd beat Ilia however the fight goes, and whenever it happens." If it is not Topuria next, Pimblett revealed he is open to taking on former interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje in October. However, the American's manager, Ali Abdelaziz, recently claimed that his star client could walk away from the UFC if he does not fight for the title next. Reacting to Abdelaziz's comments, Pimblett did not mince his words, but has the utmost respect for Gaethje amid talks of a potential clash. "His manager talks s***. His manager is the craziest helmet in all of MMA, and that's saying something because there are a lot of helmets in the sport. It's a load of shit. It's scare tactics into giving him a title shot - I don't believe any of it. "I respect Gaethje, he's a brilliant fighter, but he's just beat the no.12 ranked fighter by decision, whereas I've just knocked out the no.7. I stopped Chandler in round 3, Gaethje couldn't even finish him. He had to take him to a decision."
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Aaron Pico gets unbeaten Movsar Evloev for UFC debut in Abu Dhabi
Aaron Pico gets unbeaten Movsar Evloev for UFC debut in Abu Dhabi Former Bellator standout was one of many to leave PFL behind after merger Aaron Pico's UFC era will begin this summer in Abu Dhabi. The longtime Bellator featherweight standout was a high-profile free agent signing by the UFC earlier this year when he departed the PFL. Now Pico (13-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will make his promotional debut at UFC on ABC 9 against Movsar Evloev (19-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC). UFC officials announced the booking Tuesday. Pico vs. Evloev is scheduled for five rounds and will be the co-main event of UFC on ABC 9 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+) on July 27 at Etihad Arena. Pico fought exclusively in the U.S. for the first 15 fights of his MMA career, but this will be his third straight fight overseas. Of his 13 wins under the Bellator banner, 11 were finishes. Pico moved up to lightweight in February 2024 for a fight against Henry Corrales the PFL vs. Bellator showcase event and won by first-round knockout for this third straight victory. Evloev remains unbeaten in his pro career, including his first nine in the UFC – all of which have been decisions. Those wins have come against increasingly stiff competition, including Arnold Allen in early 2024 and former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling late this past year. A middleweight bout between former champion Robert Whittaker and ex-ONE Championship dual titleholder Reinier de Ridder, who's coming off a major upset of Bo Nickal, will headline the card. Below is the latest UFC on ABC 9 lineup:
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Ben Askren's wife provides emotional health update on ex-UFC star's condition
The former UFC star was unresponsive last week after he contracted pneumonia- with his wife Amy now providing an update on her husband's condition Ben Askren 's wife Amy has given an emotional update on her husband, confirming that the ex-UFC star remains in hospital on a ventilator. The 40-year-old was recently hospitalised earlier this month after contracting pneumonia as a result of a staph infection. Last week, the American was unresponsive - and rumours began circulating online that he had died. However, those rumours were quickly shut down. Askren's good friend Daniel Cormier recently claimed that the former two-promotion champion was back home. However, Amy has since provided a fresh update on her husband's condition via Facebook on Tuesday evening. She revealed that her partner's body 'can't handle coming off sedation,' and he may need to undergo a lung transplant. In an emotional post uploaded to social media, she wrote: "I haven't shared an update because Ben has been in limbo for a while and I was hoping to have him wake up and be the one to decide what to share. I've had some media people contact me that they are going to share an update and I would rather it come from me. "Ben is still on a ventilator and ecmo to support him while he heals. There are good days and bad, but on the good, they have been able to wean his sedation enough for him to open his eyes and squeeze hands. His body can't handle coming off sedation too much yet. I'm still praying for a miracle with his current lungs, but they are currently starting the evaluation process for a lung transplant." Both Amy and Ben married in 2010 and the pair have three children together with two daughters, Alex and Andy, and a son called Ozzi. She continued: "Please pray for his continued healing, and if transplant is the solution, that he can get on the list quickly and easily. I know transplants are such a blessing and I'm overwhelmed at the thought of him receiving a gift like that. No one would take better care of that gift than Ben. "Thank you for every message and all of the support. Despite this awful situation, I'm feeling so blessed by the community we're surrounded by. Give your loved ones a hug today and make sure you're prepared (for) situations like this. Ben is the healthiest guy I know and I never could have expected this." The emotional update comes just hours after wrestling journalist Pat Mineo had claimed that Askren was making progress, but also that challenges still remained. He had said: "All the prayers and medical support Ben Askren has been receiving is working! He was able to open his eyes and squeeze hands, showing some responsiveness. He is still expected to need a lung transplant, but some of his levels are improving and he is fighting like a Champ! Keep praying for Ben Askren." During the peak of his powers, the American was considered one of the top welterweights in the sport after he won titles in both Bellator and ONE Championship. He eventually joined the UFC in 2019 and submitted former champion Robbie Lawler on his promotional debut. However, he would then go on to lose back-to-back fights against Jorge Masvidal and Demian Maia. Just a few weeks after the Maia fight, Askren announced his retirement from MMA, but it was not long before he eventually returned to combat sports after agreeing to fight Jake Paul in the boxing ring. The 40-year old would go on to suffer a knockout defeat in the first round in what was his only fight inside the squared-circle.
