Coker discusses ‘production decision’ to go with Mauro Ranallo over Mike Goldberg at Bellator
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After his time as one of the most visible figures and the de facto voice of the UFC, Mike Goldberg was let go from the company in 2016 and signed by Bellator the following year. Recently that company announced he will no longer be doing commentary for them.
Bellator president Scott Coker discussed the matter in a post-fight presser after Bellator 255, an event for which Goldberg was absent. In his place was Showtime staple Mauro Ranallo, who opened the show with a production package celebrating the legacy of MMA programming on the network and bringing back something of a classic Strikeforce feel.
Former UFC commentator Mike Goldberg will no longer be with Bellator now that they have started broadcasting on Showtime.
Bellator president Scott Coker said there are no hard feelings between the two parties. He said that it was purely a business decision. He also praised commentator Mauro Ranallo, who will be taking over for Goldberg. (
“Listen, Mike is – one, he’s a friend,” Coker said. “He’s been a voice of MMA for such a long time, along with Mauro. I mean, Mauro, he’s been around (since during) PRIDE with Bas Rutten. This is way back (in) ’97, ’98, ’99.
“At one time, we had the two best on the planet. It was a production decision and they decided to move forward. That’s where we stand. But you know what? This is the kind of business that, you never know. If there’s boxing on one side and Mauro is doing it, who knows what will happen in the future? But that’s the way it rolled out.”
Karate Combat Returns for Third Season with Josh Quayhagen vs. Dionicio Gustavo Title Bout
Full-contact karate competition is returning as Karate Combat has announced its third season. The promotion, which has already completed two full seasons, will record 12 new episodes from an undisclosed location outside the U.S. due to the current global COVID-19 pandemic.
Highlighting the new season will be a welterweight title match-up between American Josh Quayhagen and Dominican Dionicio Gustavo. The pair have met once before with Louisiana’s Quayhagen topping the navy commando and two-time Pan-American gold medalist. Following the win, Quayhagen would go on to become the first American titleholder under the Karate Combat banner. In addition to his win over Gustavo, Quayhagen has also defeated UFC veteran Anthony Njokuani and kickboxing veteran Cosmo Alexandre.
Evolution is a part of our daily lives. No, I am not talking science here, or politics, but more so the lives that we live each day. It’s how we grow and succeed with the tasks at hand and any other curveball that slides its way in as well.
Sports in general have seemingly evolved along with the times. The NFL has made equipment upgrades and focuses on the safety of its players. The NHL doesn’t let two players throw down until one player is left standing. These are sports that have been around for decades and have evolved with the times, as they should have. Insert MMA and the landscape of this conversation becomes much more complicated.
Lio Rush makes New Japan Strong Debut and Lionâs Break Contender Series Culminates
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Jan 22, 2021
New Japan Strong which airs on NJPW World every Friday night at 10PM JST/Saturday 12AM EST. New Japan Strong kicked off 2021 in a big way with The Lion’s Break Contenders Series.
On the January 29th edition of NJPW Strong the Lion’s Break Contender Series culminates plus we will see the NJPW Strong debut of Lio Rush.
Here is the full preview:
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Clark Connors vs The DKC:
Preview (via NJPW) - The action on January 29 will kick off with an all LA Dojo battle, as Clark Connors faces The DKC. After a defeat at the hands of Rocky Romero on January 8, The DKC made a direct appeal to Katsuyori Shibata to be allowed to train at the LA Dojo, and is now officially the Dojo’s newest member. Here, he hits the ring as a Young Lion for the first time, facing the captain of the team in Clark Connors. Connors and DKC formed a solid team toward the end of 2020, and Connors pas