Bellator 44: Chandler the latest Mizzou wrestling product to emerge

The transition from wrestler to mixed martial artist isn't an easy one. Once they start getting popped in the face, plenty of grapplers decide the sport isn't for them. Michael Chandler isn't one of those guys. He actually looked like he enjoyed taking a beating so he could dole one out.

The former Missouri wrestler took Patricky "Pitbull" Freire's best on Saturday using his grappling skills to slow the fight and win a unanimous decision, 29-27 on all cards, in the final of Bellator's Season 4 lightweight championship.

Chandler, 25, won $100,000 and gets an automatic title shot against Bellator 155-pound champion Eddie Alvarez.

He's the second straight fighter out of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas to take home a 100k prize. Jay Hieron won the welterweight tourney last week at Bellator 43. Hieron will face Bellator welterweight champ Ben Askren in the fall. One has to wonder if Chandler's loyalties will be tested.

Chandler, Askren and Strikeforce welterweight prospect Tyron Woodley all wrestled for Missouri.

Chandler, a walk on, was a big success story for the Tigers. He was the Big 12 runner-up in 2008 and 2009, and became just the 16th Tiger to win 100 matches.

Askren and Woodley helped paved the way for Chandler in MMA. When he saw how Woodley's MMA career was developing, Chandler decided to jump in the cage with little training. After an easy win in his debut back Aug. of 2009, Chandler (8-0) began training full-time.

The card also featured two nasty standup wars. Alexander Shlemenko brutalized Brett Cooper in taking a unanimous decision.  Bellator middleweight champ Hector Lombard scores an awesome KO with a big right on the chin of Falaniko Vitale.

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Rampage Jackson Almost 'Squashes Beef' Following UFC 130 Victory

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LAS VEGAS -- MMA Fighting caught up with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson following his UFC 130 win over Matt Hamill. Jackson talked how his injured hand was feeling after the fight, what's next for him and his takedown defense during the fight. He also took the time to take a few parting shots at yours truly.

Watch the video interview below.

 

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Couture likes Hamill over ‘Rampage’ at UFC 130

Randy Couture is breaking down UFC fights for Affliction. In this video, he likes the stronger wrestler in the Quinton "Rampage" Jackson-Matt Hamill fight. Couture respects Rampage's punching power, but the ground work of Hamill is enough to make him pick the upset.

Jackson is coming off a narrow win over Lyoto Machida while Hamill is fresh off beating up Tito Ortiz. Everyone's old pal Tom Atencio "goes out on a limb" and chooses Jackson. Rampage is a minus-260 favorite.

UFC 130 betting odds (remaining fights posted later):

Quinton Jackson (-320) vs. Matt Hamill (+260)

Roy Nelson (-115) vs. Frank Mir (-115)

Brian Stann (-140) vs. Jorge Santiago (+110)

Thiago Alves (-220) vs. Rick Story (+180)

You can watch UFC 130 right here on Yahoo! Sports

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UFC 130 postfight: Bonuses, injuries, TUF 14 news, and SEAL Team 6 was at event

- Travis Browne, Gleison Tibau, Brian Stann and Jorge Santiago all received $70,000 postfight bonuses. Browne got Knockout of the Night and Tibau's rear-naked choke of Rafaello Oliveira got him Submission of the Night. Stann and Santiago were honored for Fight of the night.

- UFC 130 produced a lot of injuries. Frank Mir beat Roy Nelson easily on the scorecards, but may have suffered a broken his jaw for his efforts. Struve, Oliveira and Michael McDonald all went to the hospital as well. Stann showed up for the presser even though he suffered a broken thumb.

- The injury news of night revolved around Brock Lesnar and his battle against diverticulitis. According to UFC president Dana White, Lesnar had surgery on Friday to remove 12 inches of his colon. Amazingly, Lesnar told White he was "a little sore." The surgery went well and Camp Lesnar hopes he can return at the start of 2012. White said Lesnar will probably lose a lot of weight on a liquid diet over the next few months.

- Quinton "Rampage" Jackson elaborated on his fractured hand reference in the Octagon following his win over Matt Hamill. Jackson said he injured his left hand back in December or January in Japan. He did so when he was horsing around with a friend.

- If Jackson legitimately has a broken hand, it may cost him a shot at a fight against Jon Jones in the fall. Lyoto Machida is also in the running. White wouldn't commit to choosing an opponent for the UFC light heavyweight champ.

- There  was interesting news about Season 14 of "The Ultimate Fighter." White confirmed that Jason Miller and Michael Bisping will be the coaches, but their season ending fight will not take place on pay-per-view. The fight will be part of the TUF 14 Finale that airs free on Spike.

- Stann revealed the inspiring news that members of "SEAL Team 6" were in attendance at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The elite military operatives comprised the crew that located and killed Osama bin Laden.

- Stann was asked about future opponents and sounded offended at the suggestion that he could fight fellow military veteran Tim Kennedy in the future.

- White also revealed his dream for the future of TUF. While discussing international destinations for the show like the Philippines, White said he like to hold a season with 16 different TUF's in locations around the world. The UFC would close out the season by holding a TUF World Cup with the 16 winners.

- In Hollywood news, White confirmed that a first will go down in a new MMA movie starring Kevin James. The UFC is allowing the movie to use its name and some of its personalities including fighters, Joe Rogan and Bruce Buffer. White said he was asked to be in the movie, but turned down the offer.

- White elaborated on the Chael Sonnen situation confirming that the promotion won't be going renegade with the fighter and taking him to another state other than California. When asked why Zuffa is involved with allowing Josh Barnett, also in license limbo with California, to fight in Texas, White said, "That's not me. That's their deal." White was referencing Strikeforce management.

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Mendes shows stones by taking Yahya fight and risking future date with Aldo

UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo won't be able to fight at UFC 133 in Philadelphia. The reasoning is still murky, but his opponent Chad Mendes isn't going to wait around.

The unbeaten featherweight says he wants to fight in early August, so MMAWeekly reports that Mendes is taking a fight against submission specialist Rani Yahya.

SBNation think it's a bad decision for Mendez to risk the Aldo title fight:

Why is Mendes, a hungry young fighter who's been telling anyone who will listen that his belief that he can beat Aldo is at a "10" on a scale of 1-10, so quick to give up on what should be every fighter's dream? In athletics, winning, especially winning championships, is intended to be the primary motivator. Across sports you hear plenty of platitudes about being the best. Mendes has that opportunity - the chance to write his name in the history books. Instead he's willing to fight anyone else rather than wait a month or two for his shot at glory.

The site takes a stab at the reason Mendes is fighting:

It's a baffling decision - until you look a little closer, delve into the weeds a little. The culprit? The UFC's notoriously stingy fighter pay. [...] It's unconscionable to pay a title contender like Mendes $19,000 to fight. Not only does it necessitate tough decisions like this, it also creates an unbalanced playing field. With that kind of money backing him, Mendes can barely afford a world class training camp and can forget about maintaining a reasonable standard of living. Chad Mendes, the top contender to the featherweight crown, is giving up on a chance to win the championship of the world - likely because of money issues.

Or he could be fighting to stay active and has no fear of Yahya. What do you think? Why isn't Mendes waiting for Aldo?

Part of the issue, could be the confusion on Aldo's injury. He's reportedly struggling with neck issues, but recently tweeted that he's fine.

"Let me be clear I'm not hurt again, I'm not hurt. I picked up a suspension (from) the Canadian commission and therefore should only return to training (after) 30 days this month. So once again, I'm not injured."

Mendes, a former college wrestler, has only 11 professional fights under his belt. The 26-year-old could certainly use the experience, but a loss could prove incredibly costly especially with the growing depth in the 145-pound decision.

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Watch UFC 130 prelims right here at Cagewriter

Do you want to watch Rafaello Oliveira vs. Gleison Tibau, Michael McDonald vs. Chris Cariaso, and Renan Barao vs. Cole Escovedo for free? Of course you do.

Good news. You can catch the first three fights from UFC 130 right here.

The first bouts start at 6:45 p.m. ET. Check them out here, followed by Tim Boetsch vs. Kendall Grove and Miguel Torres vs. Demetrious Johnson on Spike before the main card on pay-per-view at 9 p.m. ET.

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Tito Ortiz bails out accused suspect in murder-for-hire case

Las Vegas is buzzing about what sounds like a wacky real-life movie plot and now it's reached another level with the inclusion of UFC star Tito Ortiz.

Keith Harriman is facing 12 felony counts connected to a plot to have his 27-year-old son killed. He'd complained of not having the money to hire sufficient legal representation, so putting up the money to cover his $500,000 bond was out of the question. That was until Ortiz came into the picture.

The former UFC light heavyweight champ posted the necessary money on the down low, but because of Harriman's claims that he's indigent, a district judge forced him to reveal who posted the bail.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Ortiz and Harriman, 49, have a relationship through Harriman's brother.

Ortiz, a former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion, apparently has a relationship with Keith Harriman's brother, Wayne Harriman, a used car dealer in Las Vegas.

According to published reports, Wayne Harriman helped bridge a rift between Ortiz and UFC chairman Dana White that led to a six-fight contract.

Ortiz has gotten himself involved in a wild story.

At a preliminary hearing in February, Dominick Harriman testified his father wanted him dead because he told insurance fraud investigators his father's $160,000 burglary loss claim was a scam to feed a crack cocaine addiction. Dominick Harriman also said his father was angry because he had slept with both his dad's ex-girlfriend and his ex-wife.

Dominick Harriman was shot at least nine times Aug. 27 at the used car dealership where he worked for his uncle, Wayne Harriman, at Nice Cars of Nevada, 3401 S. Decatur Blvd. The shooter has not been identified.

Ortiz spent a few days in Las Vegas last week around the UFC's Fighter Summit at the Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa.

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