Beyond the more traditional offerings, several newer sports have hit their stride in the new millennium, including girls lacrosse and competitive spirit (99,750 and 161,358 annual female participants, respectively, according to the most recent NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey), with ice hockey, sand volleyball and others also gaining some footing.

One of those others is girls flag football, which is currently sponsored by NFHS member associations in five states: Alabama (currently no state championship), Alaska (no state championship), Georgia, Florida and Nevada. And while that total remains low for the moment, it may not be long before the game’s increasing popularity grabs national attention. In fact, some years from now, it’s possible we will look back on girls flag as the emerging sport of the 2020s.

And if the first things that come to mind at the words “girls flag football” are the light-hearted powderpuff games during Homecoming week festivities, think again. In most states, games are played on 80- or 100-yard fields with seven or eight players on each side, and feature a lightning-quick tempo, intricate offensive and defensive systems and personnel substitution packages.

“I know there are schools that record their games, so I’m assuming they’re studying film, too,” said Jeremy Hernandez, assistant director of officials and flag football sport administrator for the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA).

Regular-season schedules range in length from 12 games (Georgia) to 20 games plus a “jamboree” date (Alaska), with the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) electing not to establish a minimum or maximum number of contests for its pilot year. The most notable variable between states, however, is the time of year the sport is played, as Alaska and Georgia – and now Alabama – run their seasons in the fall, while Nevada uses the winter season and Florida plays in the spring.

After several years as a club sport, girls flag football first ascended to the state association level when the FHSAA made it a recognized sport ahead of the 2002-03 school year. To achieve recognized sport status, the association required that at least 48 schools commit to having a season, a mark some new programs struggled to reach in their early years.

Girls flag encountered no such difficulty.

Led by Broward and Orange Counties, two densely populated counties in south and central Florida, respectively, 103 schools and 3,855 participants competed in the FHSAA’s first official campaign. By 2016, those figures had grown large enough to warrant a second state championship division, and in the Sunshine State’s 20th flag football season this spring, 284 schools will battle for an FHSAA title with 36 more conducting a regular season only.

“The numbers really shot up kind of quickly – it’s been one of our fastest-growing sports,” Hernandez said. “I believe a lot of our female athletes are already entrenched in that football culture, and just being able to play it themselves and show that females can be successful in that sport is probably one of the biggest factors.”

The flag football storyline in Nevada follows a similar yet unique path. Pamela Sloan, director III of athletics and activities for the Clark County (Nevada) School District (CCSD), originally hatched the idea from the results of a survey designed to boost female student participation in CCSD athletic programs.

“We needed better balance between our male and our female numbers,” Sloan said. “So, we took the bull by the horns and surveyed our female students, as we still currently do, and the (highest) interest was for flag football. We had conversations with our administrators about Florida and some other states that were doing it, and we just wanted to try to provide those opportunities.”

Rather than going directly to the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) right away, Sloan began a pilot program using all 34 schools in CCSD beginning with the 2013 season.

And much like in Florida, that was all it took.

Surging numbers required the adoption of junior varsity programs in 2014 and “B” teams in 2015, and by 2016, more than 1,900 girls were donning flag belts in Clark County, a remarkable climb from 785 in Year 1.

“The NIAA knew what we were doing, and we told them that we were going to come to the Board once we got established,” said Sloan. “And so that’s when we went to them and showed them all the success we had experienced in everything that we put together. And it’s been a huge success ever since.”

This season, 37 schools from the NIAA Southern League – made up mostly of Clark County schools – will take part in the association’s flag football program, which consists of classes 3A, 4A and 5A. Efforts to recruit more schools from the northern part of the state are ongoing but have been hampered thus far by concerns over colder temperatures.

“The only downfall is that we play flag football in the winter,” Sloan said. “We’re in Las Vegas and our winters are not extreme – like, 40 to 50 degrees. The winters up north are rough, but we would love to have the North compete and have a true state championship. That would be phenomenal.”

Another major growth component is the sport’s cost-effective nature. In contrast to sports like tackle football, ice hockey and lacrosse, which can require schools and/or individual players to purchase helmets, shoulder pads, goggles, gloves and other protective paraphernalia, students need little more than a pair of cleats or athletic shoes for flag football.

“We’ve heard of schools starting out wearing their old basketball jerseys or volleyball jerseys,” Hernandez said. “So, if you eliminate that cost by reusing an older jersey, you really have just your flags and a few balls, and then most schools have a football field or soccer field, so you don’t have to have any type of special field outside of what you may already have on campus.”

For some schools, however, that minimal cost of equipment can still be an obstacle alongside other typical expenses like transportation and travel, and compensation for coaches and officials. And as with any new initiative, success is hard to come by without additional funding and promotional efforts to generate interest. To help fill these voids, Nike and several National Football League (NFL) organizations have come forward to contribute to the cause.

In early February, Nike announced a massive $5-million partnership with the NFL that offered a one-time $100,000 payment to any state association willing to set up a flag football pilot program in 2021, as well as any others looking to grow their existing flag football provisions. Florida was the first state to receive grant money from Nike, and since flag football was already being played there, schools that applied received their money directly and used it to purchase new football uniforms, socks and other accessories.

As far as assistance from NFL teams, the AHSAA and the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) stand out as beneficiaries thanks to their relationships with the Atlanta Falcons.

The Falcons organization began devising its plan to bring girls flag football to Georgia in 2016 and presented its idea for a small pilot program to Gwinnett County Public Schools – the largest school district in the state – one year later.

Entirely funded by the Falcons and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation (named for the team’s owner), 400 girls from Gwinnett County’s 19 high schools took the field in the fall of 2018 and completed a successful first season that culminated in the state’s first-ever Girls Flag Football Championship held in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The following year, five more counties – Cherokee, Forsyth, Henry, Muscogee and Rockdale – were added to the experiment to total 52 schools and 1,040 participants.

As teams reconvened at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for another round of championship games in December 2019, the GHSA decided that the two promising years of the pilot program were enough to officially take control of girls flag football, and announced it would begin sanctioning the sport with the 2020 season.

“Our relationship with the Falcons is terrific,” said Ernie Yarbrough, assistant executive director and girls flag football sport coordinator at the GHSA. “They provide grant money based on need to our GHSA schools that apply for it. For some, it helps pay for game officials; for others, it’s a coach’s stipend. It really is awesome. And they have really helped us grow, too. We went from 91 schools last year – our first year as a sanctioned championship sport – to 191 this year.”

With Georgia off and running, the Falcons turned their attention to Alabama, and are now seeing the fruits of their labors as the state began Year 1 of its pilot program at the beginning of September with 44 schools.

“They have been an unbelievable partner from the very beginning when this was introduced to our member schools back in April,” said Jeff Segars, AHSAA assistant director and flag football director. “They have put their money where their mouth is, and they came up with money to help our schools, whose budgets are stretched thin as it is. You go in to a superintendent or a principal and say, ‘hey, I want you to do this,’ and one of the first things they’re going to say is, ‘how much is it going to cost me?’ And with the help of the Falcons, we were able to help defer some of those costs. I don’t think we would be where we are without them.”

The AHSAA will also hold some form of a year-end tournament, though the concrete details regarding format and location(s) have yet to be determined.

The Falcons have since shifted their focus to yet another state – Montana – and have already made significant headway. This past spring, the Montana High School Association Executive Board approved girls flag football as a piloted sport with schools expected to begin exploring their options over the next year.

“The Atlanta Falcons are honored to be the leader in establishing high school girls flag football in Georgia, Alabama and beyond,” said Amanda Dinkel, the Atlanta Falcons’ director of community relations. “We view this as an opportunity to get thousands of girls involved in being part of the sport of football. Not only will they learn the fundamentals of football, but it also provides them access to being part of a team sport and an additional way for them to stay physically active. Most of all, we hope the girls are able to just have fun playing the game we all love!”

Izell Reese is president and CEO of RCX Sports, the official operating partner of NFL FLAG and its 1,500 youth flag football leagues around the country. His role as it pertains to high school girls flag football is to work directly with NFL teams and high school state associations to establish partnerships that lead to growth in female participation.

While the Falcons have been exemplary in their support, other teams including the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Florida, the Chicago Bears, and the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles in Pennsylvania, are stepping up with funding, hosting promotional events to drive interest, and holding training clinics for prospective players and coaches.

And according to Reese, those teams represent just the tip of the iceberg.

“The Seattle Seahawks have launched a pilot in their state, and we just had a call with the (San Francisco) 49ers, who are looking at supporting girls flag football in Hawaii,” said Reese. “So, there are several clubs that are getting involved. And I would say we’re having some type of conversation with all 32 clubs about supporting the association in their respective state or in other states. And it’s a team effort. It’s one of those rare times when you can see where all 32 teams are joining in to help and working together to promote this.”

Both past and current progress provide an encouraging outlook for girls flag football in the years ahead, but there is much work to be done before it becomes a standardized offering across the country. However, with the dogged persistence of state associations and entities like RCX, NFL FLAG, the Atlanta Falcons and others, the race to that end zone may be shorter than perceived.

“We’re pushing to get more states – and hopefully every state – in the coming years, and when I say, ‘coming years’, I’m saying two to three at most,” said Reese. “Just given the momentum we’ve built, I’ll be really surprised if two years from now every state isn’t playing. I think you’re going to start seeing flag football as one of the fastest growing sports nationwide.”

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These changes stand out among the seven total recommendations brought forth by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee, which held its annual rules meeting January 23-25 at the Conrad Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. The NFHS Board of Directors subsequently approved all seven of the committee’s suggestions.

“With this year’s rules changes, the committee once again showed its focus on minimizing risk in high school football,” said Bob Colgate, NFHS Director of Sports and Sports Medicine and liaison to the NFHS Football Rules Committee. “By expanding the parameters for a legal forward pass and redefining the chop block so it can be more easily officiated by game officials, the committee has taken measures to mitigate two potentially risky situations within the game.”

Rule 7-5-2 EXCEPTION 2 now permits a player to purposefully throw an incomplete forward pass without warranting an intentional grounding penalty provided the passer is outside of “the pocket” (lateral boundary of the free-blocking zone) and the pass reaches the neutral zone or the extension of the neutral zone beyond the sideline.

“The question (with this rule) has always been, ‘if the defense makes a good play, are we bailing out the offense by letting the quarterback throw the ball away?’” said Richard McWhirter, Chair of the NFHS Football Rules Committee and Assistant Executive Director of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association. “This year, I think the committee felt the wellbeing of the passers and not subjecting them to extra hits was worth changing the rule.”

An alteration to Rule 2-3-8 addressed the new definition of a chop block, which is now described as “a combination block by two or more teammates against an opponent other than the runner, with or without delay, where one of the blocks is below the waist and one of the blocks is above the waist.” Previously, the defensive player’s knee was used to determine the high and low components of a chop block.

“This is going to strengthen the rule and it’s also going to help the game officials,” said McWhirter. “I think they’re going to be able to enforce this rule better than they have in the past because determining ‘below the knee’ and ‘above the knee’ is tough to do. I think it’s really going to improve the game.”

Players will be able to wear the number 0 as a jersey number starting in 2022, as the range of acceptable numbers listed in Rule 1-4-3 was expanded from 1-99 to 0-99. However, any number preceded by the digit zero will be illegal.

State associations now have the option to extend sideline team boxes beyond their traditional 50-yard expanse (between the 25-yard-lines) as long as both teams are allowed to use the same dimensions. This new NOTE attached to Rule 1-2-3g also gives state associations the freedom to decide which individuals can access the extended area.

Two minor changes involving game clock and play clock procedures were made to Rules 3-4-7 and 3-6-1a(1)e EXCEPTIONS, respectively.

In Rule 3-4-7, any foul committed within the last two minutes of either half will automatically result in the offended team’s option to start the game clock on the snap. Prior to this change, the offended team was required to accept its opponent’s penalty in order to gain control of the game clock.

The committee edited the EXCEPTIONS to Rule 3-6-1a(1)e, which clarify the necessary conditions for an abbreviated 25-second play clock after a stoppage in play. This rule now includes an exception for Rule 3-5-7i, mandating that a 40-second play clock be employed following a foul committed only by the defensive team.  

The final rule change for 2022 is an alteration to Rule 1-3-3 regarding game equipment. Any game official – not just the referee – may order the ball changed between downs.

The NFHS Football Rules Committee is composed of one representative from each of the NFHS member state associations that use NFHS football rules, along with a representative from the NFHS Coaches Association, NFHS Officials Association and NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee.

A complete listing of the football rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Football.”

According to the most recent NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, 11-player football is the most popular high school sport for boys with 1,006,013 participants in 14,247 schools nationwide. In addition, there were 31,221 boys who participated in 6-, 8- and 9-player football, along with 2,604 girls in all four versions of the game for a grand total of 1,039,828.

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The Colonial Athletic Association announced Tuesday that North Carolina A&T. has accepted an invitation to join the conference as a full member on July 1, 2022.

The Aggies will also join as a member of CAA football starting on July 1, 2023.

“We are pleased to welcome North Carolina A&T as the newest member of the CAA,” CAA Commissioner Joe D’Antonio said. “The Aggies fit perfectly into the framework of the Conference’s vision that calls for our membership to work together to advance nationally competitive athletic programs – coupled with outstanding academic programs – that empower student-athletes as whole persons to strive at the highest level in every aspect of their lives. The CAA is excited to add a second HBCU to its membership, and going forward the Conference will continue to be focused on making decisions that ensure its membership a competitive and sustainable model.”

CAA Football’s membership will expand to 14 in 2023 with the addition of North Carolina A&T.

Decisions regarding scheduling formats and championship field sizes are ongoing and will be determined over the coming months.

“This is yet another great day for the CAA,” said Drexel University President John Fry, Chair of the CAA Board of Directors. “I continue to be profoundly grateful for the sustained engagement of our Presidents over the last 16 months, as together with our Athletics Directors we have forged a principled vision for the future in these turbulent times. To know that an institution with the academic and athletic prestige of North Carolina A&T shares in these same aspirational values for college athletics is not only gratifying but speaks volumes about the future success of our Conference.”

“We bring a significant level of achievement as a university to this new association, which enhances our excitement about joining an athletics association with so many outstanding peers who share so much in common with our university,” said A&T Chancellor Harold L. Martin, Sr. “The CAA is rich with opportunity for A&T, our outstanding student-athletes, highly engaged research faculty, distinguished academic programs and accomplished alumni.

“While we will be fierce competitors on the playing field, we look forward to exploring many opportunities for mutually beneficial collaborations with our new conference colleagues.”

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Lincoln (22-7 overall) finished off ECSU with a 20-8 run in the final seven minutes to pull away from a 47-44 lead. Brown, named Tournament MVP, scored eight points during the spurt. The Vikings (21-7 overall) tried to make a dent in their 10-point halftime deficit but got as close as three points before the Lions’ title-clinching run.

Morton added 12 points for the Lions, who earned the CIAA’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament. Jade Young had 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals and Shantel Cheeks totaled nine points.

Sireann Pitts, the CIAA Defensive Player of the Year, stood out for Elizabeth City State with 15 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks. Felicia Jackson added 10 points, five assists and four rebounds for the Vikings, who led 22-21 with 4:45 in the second period.

It was then that Morton sparked what turned out to be a game-changing run. She drained two three-pointers and scored on a nifty layup during a 13-2 surge that gave the Vikings a 34-24 halftime lead.

The Lions maintained their working margin throughout the second half and closed out strong to gain the title. The Vikings will await the release of the NCAA Division II Tournament brackets to see if they qualified.

Brown, the Tournament MVP, led the CIAA All-Tournament team which included teammate Young, Destiny Coleman of Claflin, Natalia Leaks of Virginia State, Pitts and Naterria Luster of Elizabeth City State, Amaya Tucker and O’Shea Hartley of Winston-Salem State, and Jamiah Lane and Andresia Alexander of Livingstone.

Livingstone captured the Sportsmanship Award. The women’s bracket featured several upsets this week, but the conference’s top two teams avoided the pratfalls to meet in the CIAA Title game.

The contest showcased two teams gunning for their first-ever conference crown and two coaches – Janice Washington of Lincoln and Tynesha Lewis of ECSU – who led their teams to the title game in their first season.

Courtesy: CIAA 

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Today, platinum-selling Tauren Wells released his new single, “Fake It” Feat. Aaron Cole, via Capitol Records/CCMG, marking the 10-time GRAMMY^® nominee’s first release on the label. On this upbeat, infectious track Wells celebrates the joy that comes from being loved as you are, freed from any need to “fake it”. Listen to “Fake It” HERE. Wells and Cole wrote “Fake It” with Chris Stevens – who produced the track with Tedd T. – and Emily Weisband. 

In the official video for “Fake It,” which premiered as an exclusive on Facebook today, Wells gives a high-energy performance alongside Cole and a growing troupe of blazer-clad dancers. They shot the clip in Los Angeles with producer Raj Kapoor, who recently helmed Adele’s CBS special, and director Noah Clark. View HERE. The Capitol/CCMG team was on hand at the video shoot to welcome Houston-based Wells to the label.

“Hold Us Together (Hope Mix),” Wells’ 2021 duet with H.E.R., is nominated for a GRAMMY^® Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song and an NAACP Image Award in the Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song category. View the official video for “Hold Us Together (Hope Mix)” HERE. Wells’ 2021 album, Citizen of Heaven (Live), received a GRAMMY^® nod for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album.

Wells, who has toured with such iconic artists as Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey, recently wrapped up the sold-out, 23-city “Citizen of Heaven” tour. The celebrated recording artist, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter has amassed over one billion combined global streams and 225 million video views in his career to date, charted six No. 1 radio singles and received 10 GRAMMY^® Award nominations.

Web: https://www.taurenwells.com

Music: https://TaurenWells.lnk.to/FacebookCY

Twitter: https://TaurenWells.lnk.to/twitterCY

IG: https://TaurenWells.lnk.to/instagramCY

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/tgwells04  

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What: AT&T reveals its IG Spaces Dream Talk, “Boldly Moving Forward,” with Black Future Makers VINCINT and Zerina Akers hosted by Black Future Maker alumnus Terrence J. The company also announces its fourth group of 2022 Black Future Makers including husband and wife music artists Tobe and Fat Nwigwe; writer and podcast host Darian Symone; TV producer and showrunner Rikki Hughes; entrepreneur Trell Thomas; blogger and culture curator Willie Greene and financial expert Eric Patrick. Last week gospel artist Jekalyn Carr; singer-songwriter and music producer Ne-Yo; motivational speaker Eric Thomas; hip-hop artist BAS, fashion designer Timeekah Murphy and music executive Craig King were also revealed as 2022 Black Future Makers with one-of-a-kind portraits including a living portrait of Meagan Good. The portraits were inspired by the afro-futuristic artwork of Black Future Maker and Dream In Black artist-in-residence Georgie Nakima. 

When:Instagram Spaces Dream Talk- February 21, 2022; Instagram: 6 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. PST 

Why:AT&T believes that access opens the door to opportunities that help create equality for all. The Black Future Makers campaign is just one of many ways the company continues to invest in programs that honor and elevate Black leaders of tomorrow to support them in reaching their fullest potential. Consumers are also invited to participate in the Black Future Maker contest for a chance to win $10,000 to invest in their dreams. ** Official rules at attdreaminblack.com/contest **

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Hunter, the No. 1 prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, signed with J5 Caffe, a Black-owned coffee company based in Mississippi.

“Hunter set the sports world ablaze when he chose to play for Coach Prime and JSU,” J5 Caffe said in a news release. “Hunter possesses unique skills and a mindset that will allow him to be a phenomenal two-way threat for JSU. His uniqueness complements the uniqueness of J5 Caffe’ and they will both change the game.

According to its website a percentage of sale proceeds “go to help minority businesses and creates scholarships for students from low socioeconomic communities who desire to attend a Historically Black College and University in Mississippi.”

“J5 Caffe’ partnership with Hunter was paramount because both express the mission of making a difference in HBCU colleges, but more importantly the black community,” said company founder Jabari O. Edwards.

Hunter joins Shedeur Sanders and other JSU football players to ink NIL endorsement deals in recent months.

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Tennessee State quarterback Geremy Hickbottom was named Offensive Most Valuable Player as he helped Team Gaither to a resounding 22-6 win over Team Robinson at the HBCU Legacy Bowl in New Orleans.

Airing on the NFL Network and presented by the Black College Hall of Fame, the HBCU Legacy Bowl featured the top draft-eligible players from HBCUs and was the culmination of a week-long event that celebrated Black culture and history. It pitted Team Gaither, named after Florida A&M University coaching great Jake Gaither, against Team Robinson, which was named after Grambling State coaching legend Eddie Robinson.

Hickbottom was 9 of 15 for 72 yards and rushed five times for 25 yards and a 3-yard score with 9:18 to go in the game. He was one of three quarterbacks who had a hand in Team Gaither touchdowns, though, as it largely dominated Team Robinson.

After a slow and scoreless start, Chowan University’s Bryce Witt (15 of 21 for 131 yards and a touchdown, three carries for 32 yards) led Team Gaither into the end zone and to a lead it wouldn’t relinquish when he piloted a scoring drive late in the second quarter. Witt’s TD pass began a 15-0 run to start the game for Team Gaither.

Team Robinson defensive back Antwan Collier (Florida A&M) garnered Defensive MVP with a game-high nine tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.

Other notable outings came from Team Robinson linebacker Derrick Mayweather out of Florida A&M, who had six tackles, and Team Gaither defensive lineman Da’Shaan Dixon (Norfolk State; four tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, pass breakup) and wide receiver Marquis McClain (Southern University and A&M College; seven receptions for 84 yards).

Another promising prospect is running back Ezra Gray out of Alabama State, but he fumbled away possession on Team Robinson’s first drive. The 5-foot-7 dynamo was able to rebound to turn in a relatively solid day to the tune of four carries for 33 yards (8.3 yards per carry), which stood as game-high rushing honors.

Following a scoreless opening quarter, Team Gaither found the end zone first. Witt ignited the offense, marching his squad downfield before he found running back Calil Wilkins (Bowie State) for a 12-yard score and a 6-0 lead.

A Team Gaither takeaway led to a 9-0 lead in the third stanza, as Jefferson Souza (Virginia Union) converted a 21-yard field goal. The score was set up when linebacker Wesley Bowers (Bowie State) forced a fumble and Javon Frazier (Virginia State) scooped it up.

Team Gaither turned the game into a blowout when quarterback Juwan Carter (Norfolk State) took a QB draw untouched for seven yards and a 15-0 lead (the extra point was missed as the kicking games of each squad struggled all day).

Quarterback Juwan Pass (Prairie View A&M) got Team Robinson on the board late in the third when he took it in himself for a score and cut the score to 15-6.

But Team Gaither had the majority of the highlights on the day, including the last one, when Hickbottom salted away the game with his rushing score. Roughly nine minutes later, the first HBCU Legacy Bowl was in the books.

Courtesy: NFL 

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205-POUND CHAMPION VADIM NEMKOV TO BATTLE TOP-RANKED COREY ANDERSON FOR $1 MILLION PRIZE IN BELLATOR LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD GRAND PRIX FINAL

BELLATOR 277  SET FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 15, AT 10 P.M. ET/7 P.M. PT LIVE ON SHOWTIME INSIDE THE SAP CENTER IN SAN JOSE, CALIF.

TICKETS ON SALE THIS FRIDAY

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 16, 2022) – Two outstanding world-championship showdowns. Four of BELLATOR MMA’s best pound-for-pound fighters. One highly anticipated rematch. The promotion’s all-time greatest athlete striving to avenge a highlight-reel loss to the company’s homegrown superstar. A tournament final awarding a seven-figure jackpot to the victor.

BELLATOR’s fourth phenomenal fight card of 2022 promises to be one for the ages.

Fresh off a 117-second destruction of his upcoming opponent and claiming the $1 million bounty at the BELLATOR MMA Featherweight World Grand Prix Finale, unbeaten BELLATOR Featherweight World Titleholder A.J. McKee (18-0) hopes to take the next step toward becoming the sport’s greatest fighter as he battles former top pound-for-pound and two-division champion Patricio Pitbull (32-5) for the second time in less than nine months on Friday, April 15, at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT live on SHOWTIME.

In the co-feature of BELLATOR 277: McKee vs. Pitbull 2 at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., current 205-pound BELLATOR MMA World Champion Vadim Nemkov (15-2) will defend his title for the third time and aims to take home the $1 million prize three days before U.S. Tax Day when he squares off against the surging No. 1-ranked contender Corey Anderson (16-5)in the BELLATOR MMA Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix final.

Tickets for BELLATOR MMA 277: McKee vs. Pitbull 2 go on sale this Friday, Feb. 18 at both Ticketmaster.com and Bellator.com with a special presale starting the day prior.

Additionally, four preliminary bouts have been announced including a mouthwatering matchup between two highly ranked heavyweights as No. 5-ranked Tim Johnson (15-8) faces surging No. 6-ranked Tyrell Fortune (11-2, 1 NC) in a rematch from BELLATOR 239. Their first fight ended with Johnson securing a win that earned great consideration for the 2020 KO of the Year. The preliminary bouts will stream live three hours earlier at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV.

In their historic initial matchup at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif., McKee stunned Pitbull by landing a punishing left leg kick to the head at 1:40 of the opening stanza at BELLATOR MMA 263 on July 31, 2021. The champion then continued the onslaught by unleashing a series of brutal unanswered head shots that floored the Brazilian legend.

Moments later as McKee prematurely raised his arms in celebration, Pitbull rose from the depths of defeat only to be greeted by a fighter hell bent on stealing his crown and claiming the $1 million prize. With the 25-time BELLATOR MMA veteran backed up against the fence, MMA’s brightest young brawler locked in a guillotine choke. With Pitbull seeming to lose consciousness, referee Mike Beltran halted matters at 1:57 of the opening frame.

“Hosting the world’s best mixed martial artists in the great city of San Jose is something that has been important to me during my career as a fight promoter and I’m happy to continue that with our card on April 15,” BELLATOR President Scott Coker said. “The rematch between A.J. McKee and Patricio Pitbull for the featherweight title, as well as our Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Final featuring Vadim Nemkov against Corey Anderson are two fights that could headline any event on their own, but we are bringing both to SAP Center at San Jose on the same night to show the fans here that we truly value their support throughout the years.”

A native of Long Beach, Calif., BELLATOR’s top-rated pound-for-pound fighter has exceeded the lofty expectations placed on him since his professional debut three days following his 20^th birthday. Armed with six knockouts and seven submissions, the Team Bodyshop product, who will turn 27 eight days before his rematch against Pitbull, has shown a knack for securing lightning-fast finishes with 10 coming in the first round. “Mercenary” has earned dominant victories over every fighter who has opposed him, including former World Champions Pitbull, Pat Curran, and Darrion Caldwell, who McKee submitted with a rare-modified neck crank that was later dubbed the “McKee-otine.” The winner of the 2020 Submission of the Year Award for his 71-second annihilation of Caldwell has fought a total of 33 rounds across 18 career contests (1.8 rounds per bout), while logging less than 41 total minutes in the BELLATOR cage since turning pro in August 2012.

One half of the vaunted Pitbull Brothers duo, Patricio has long been considered the crown jewel of BELLATOR MMA, where he currently sits at No. 3 in the BELLATOR MMA men’s pound-for-pound rankings. Holding a remarkable 32-5 record with wins over elite competition, including the likes of former World Champions Pat Curran, Juan Archuleta, and Daniel Straus (twice). In 2019, the 34-year-old Brazilian captured the BELLATOR Lightweight World Championship from Michael Chandler, becoming only the second BELLATOR athlete to hold two titles simultaneously. With 23 finishes in 37 professional fights, Pitbull has shown repeatedly that he possesses the well-rounded skillset required to reign over multiple weight classes.

Currently BELLATOR MMA’s second-ranked pound-for-pound fighter, Nemkov captured the BELLATOR MMA light heavyweight crown by defeating Ryan Bader via second-round TKO at BELLATOR MMA 244 in August 2020.  Riding a nine-fight winning streak dating back to June 2016, the ferocious 29-year-old sports seven first-round knockouts, with two in the initial minute of action. After successfully defending his light heavyweight belt by earning a tough unanimous decision over Phil Davis, the pride of Belgorod, Russia and Fedor Emelianenko protégé scored a fourth-round submission of late replacement Julius Anglickas in the semifinals of the BELLATOR Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix during his last outing on Oct. 16, 2021.

Anderson, of Robbinsville, N.J., has ascended to the top of the BELLATOR 205-pound rankings by vanquishing seven of his past eight opponents, including a third-round stoppage of Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov at BELLATOR MMA 257 on April 16, 2021. Exactly six months later at BELLATOR MMA 268, the Rockford, Ill., native walked into the cage to the spellbinding sounds of The Doors’ “Five to One,” and took the song title literally by knocking out Arizona State University wrestling legend Ryan Bader in 51 seconds in front of Bader’s hometown crowd at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Ariz.  In his first promotional appearance, “Overtime” registered a second-round TKO over Dutch kickboxing legend Melvin Manhoef at BELLATOR MMA 251 in November 2020. Prior to joining BELLATOR, Anderson tallied a 10-5 record with a rival promotion, winning “The Ultimate Fighter 19” tournament in 2014, and boasting impressive wins over Glover Teixeira, Jan Błachowicz and Johnny Walker, among others.

Additional bouts will be announced soon.

BELLATOR 277: McKEE VS. PITBULL 2 MAIN CARD:

Friday, April 15 – live on SHOWTIME

10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT 

Featherweight World Championship: C–A.J. McKee (18-0) vs. No. 1-Patricio Pitbull (15-5)

 Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Final: C-Vadim Nemkov (15-2) vs. No. 1-Corey Anderson (16-5)

PRELIMINARY CARD: 

BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel | Pluto TV

7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT

Heavyweight Bout: No. 5-Tim Johnson (15-8) vs. No. 6-Tyrell Fortune (11-2, 1 NC)

Welterweight Bout: No. 10-Kyle Crutchmer (8-1) vs. Michael Lombardo (12-2, 1 NC)

Welterweight Bout: Shane Keefe (2-0) vs. Tyson Miller (2-0)

140-Pound Contract Weight Bout: Gaston Bolanos (5-3) vs. Cass Bell (5-2)

The post TWO WORLD TITLE FIGHTS! MCKEE-PITBULL 2, NEMKOV-ANDERSON TOP INCREDIBLY STACKED NEW FIGHT CARD SET FOR APRIL 15 IN SAN JOSE appeared first on WE SPEAK MEDIA.