Bellator FC 14 - Info, Weigh-Ins & Results

[Keithlewis]

MMA legend and prominent local MMA instructor Jeff Curran, two of his students and an up-and-coming young female fighter from the Chicago suburbs are among seven fighters from Illinois slated to participate in Bellator Fighting Championships’ Thursday night event at the historic Chicago Theatre.

The 32-year-old Curran has been fighting professionally for more than 12 years and has competed for virtually every major MMA promotion including the UFC, Strikeforce, the WEC, PRIDE and the IFL. He is also widely considered to be the Chicago-area’s top mixed martial arts instructor and has trained hundreds of aspiring young MMA fighters over the past decade at his Curran Martial Arts Academy in suburban Crystal Lake.

Among them are two up-and-coming pro fighters who will compete along with him at the Chicago event: 12-4-1 Ryan Sturdy of Crystal Lake and Jeff’s own cousin, 9-3 Pat Curran of suburban Cary.

“It’s going to be an interesting night because I have my own fight and I’ll also be there to support Ryan and my cousin Pat,” Jeff Curran said. “It’s gonna be a great night all around — especially since I get to fight here in my hometown for a really big, up-and-coming promotion like Bellator. I know I’m sure going to do my part to put on an exciting show for all the Chicago fans who’ll be there.”

In addition, the Chicago Theatre event will feature Bellator’s first female fight of 2010, pitting six-time world champion lightweight boxing champion and budding MMA star Jessica Rakoczy against Buffalo Grove, Ill., native Felice Herrig, one of the world’s most-talked about up-and-coming female MMA stars.

“It’s not very often that I get to fight in front of my hometown fans,” Herrig said. “I have a pretty big fan base here in Chicago and I really feed off the energy of the crowd so it should be a great night. On top of that, the Chicago Theatre is an awesome venue and Bellator is a great promotion.”

The complete Local Feature Fight Card is as follows:

- Main Event: Chicago’s own MMA legend Jeff Curran (32-12-1) versus Bryan Goldsby (15-6), a Macon, Ga., product discovered by Bellator officials during a recent open tryout in South Florida;

- MMA up-and-comer and hometown favorite Felice Herrig (2-2) of Buffalo Grove, Ill., versus six-time world champion lightweight boxing champion and budding MMA star Jessica Rakoczy (0-1) of Las Vegas;

- Chicago-based Strikeforce veteran Louis “Battery” Taylor (5-1) versus Curran Martial Arts Academy product and former college football standout Ryan Sturdy (12-4-1) of Crystal Lake, Ill.;

- Cincinnati product Daniel Straus* (10-2) versus Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist and Strikeforce veteran Jonatas Novaes* (5-3).

The event will also feature four nationally televised first round bouts in Bellator’s eight-man single-elimination lightweight, featherweight and welterweight tournaments.

Each of these tournament bouts will be broadcast live on FOX Sports Net nationwide and will be featured during weekly Saturday-night Bellator highlight shows on NBC and Telemundo. They are:

- Main Event: Former two-time NCAA wrestling champion and U.S. Olympian Ben Askren (3-0) of Milwaukee versus former UFC contender Ryan “The Tank Engine” Thomas (10-3) of Lee’s Summitt, Mo..

- Former NYU wrestling star Shad Lierley (5-2) of Seattle, Wash., versus Brazilian takedown artist and former EliteXC Featherweight Champion Wilson Reis (9-1).

- Georges Saint-Pierre training partner Mike Ricci (5-0) of Montreal versus Pat Curran (9-3) of Cary, Ill., the cousin of MMA legend Jeff Curran; and

- A battle of undefeated fighters with Brazilian submission artist Patricio Pitbull (12-0) versus the highly touted Canadian fighter William Romero (5-0).

[Keithlewis]

Bellator 14 Weigh-In Results:



One day before Bellator Fighting Championships’ much-anticipated show at the Chicago Theatre, the historic venue played host to the official weigh-in for the event.

Bellator 14 will be broadcast live in prime time nationwide on Thursday on FOX Sports Net and during special Bellator highlight shows on Saturday night on NBC, Telemundo and mun2.

The card’s Main Event is a match-up between former NCAA wrestling champion and 2008 U.S. Olympian Ben Askren and former UFC standout Ryan “The Tank Engine” Thomas, who used Wednesday night’s weigh-in as an opportunity to set the stage for the fight.

“Ben is a great wrestler, but this isn’t a wrestling match,” Thomas said during the press conference portion of the event. “So we’re gonna find out if he’s a real fighter or if he should just stick to wrestling.”

Without missing a beat, Askren shot back confidently that “the last person who talked about my wrestling got put to sleep.”

The official results of the weigh-in are as follows:

Main Card:

-Ben Askren (170.5) vs. Ryan Thomas (170.5)
-Shad Lierley (144.5) vs. Wilson Reis (145.5)
-Mike Ricci (155.5) vs. Pat Curran (155.5)
-James Krause (155.5) vs. Toby Imada (155.5)


Local Feature Fight Card:

-Jeff Curran (141) vs. Bryan Goldsby (141) – at 140 lbs. catchweight
-Felice Herrig (117) vs. Jessica Rakoczy (121) – at 120 lbs. catchweight
-Daniel Straus (154) vs. Jonatas Novaes (156)
-Louis Taylor (185.5) vs. Ryan Sturdy (188.5)*

[Keithlewis]

Bellator FC 14 - Results


Main Card:

Welterweight Tournament First Round:

Ben Askren vs. Ryan Thomas - Submission (Anaconda Choke) Round 1 (2:40)

Shad Lierley vs. Wilson Reis - Submission (RNC) Round 3 (3:33)


Lightweight Tournament First Round:

Toby Imada vs. James Krause - Submission (Armbar) Round 2 (2:44)

Mike Ricci vs. Pat Curran - TKO (Strikes) Round 1 (3:01)



Local Feature Fight Card:

Jeff Curran vs. Bryan Goldsby - Unanimous Decision (29-28 all cards)
Felice Herrig vs. Jessica Rakoczy - Split Decision (29-28.28-29,29-28)
Daniel Straus vs. Jonatas Novaes**
Louis Taylor vs. Ryan Sturdy - TKO (Strikes) Round 1 (1:08)


**Novaes was unable to compete due to an undisclosed illness.

[Keithlewis]