MMA Odds and Ends for Friday: Scott Coker to launch Bellator Kickboxing and two new fights added to UFC 197

Scott Coker to launch Bellator Kickboxing in April on Spike TV Bellator President Scott Coker and Spike executives announced Thursday that the promotion would be annoucing a kickboxing promotion named “Bellator Kickboxing.” Corker also revealed the first event will launch in April 16th and will air on Spike TV. In addition the first event will be co-promoted with Oktagon Kickboxing. Notable fighters slated to compete for the organization include Joe Schilling, Raymond Daniels, Kevin Ross, Keri Taylor-Melendez and Anastasia Yankova. Coker started his combat sports career promoting kickboxing and now it’s come full circle. Stay tuned to MMAOddsBreaker for more updates when they become avaliable.   Kevin Lee vs. Efrain Escudero, Danny Roberts vs. Dominique Steele added to UFC 197 in April.  The UFC confirmed Thursday that a lightweight and welterweight matchup has been added to UFC 197 featuring Efrain Escudero vs. Kevin Lee and Danny Roberts vs. Dominique Steele. Lee (11-2) is coming off a stunning TKO loss to Leonardo Santos at UFC 194 which subsequently snapped his four-fight win streak. Escudero (24-10) heads into this matchup off a loss as well, as the TUF 8 winner suffered a decision defeat to Leonardo Silva at UFC Fight Night 78 back in November. Roberts (12-1) is coming off a successful UFC debut over Nathan Coy this past December at UFC Fight Night 80, where he submitted the TUF veteran in the first round. Steele (14-6) lost his UFC debut to Zak Cummings at UFC on FOX 16, but rebounded in his last fight scoring a third-round slam-knockout over ”Maestro” Dong Hyun Kim at UFC Fight Night 79.   UFC 197 takes place April 23 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Here’s an updated look at the card. Daniel Cormier (c)  vs. Jon Jones – for light heavyweight title Demetrious Johnson (c) vs. Henry Cejudo – for flyweight title Edson Barboza vs. Anthony Pettis Rafael Natal vs. Robert Whittaker Jessica Aguilar vs. Juliana Lima Clint Hester vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima Andre Fili vs. Yair Rodriguez Glaico Franca vs. James Vick Danny Roberts vs. Dominique Steele Efrain Escudero vs. Kevin Lee

Written by James Lynch

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