Kavanagh will aim to end an up-and-down period for Irish mixed-martial-arts with a victory over the veteran Brazilian.

Regardless of whether she achieves this, the fighter will go down in history as the first Irish MMA fighter to compete for a belt in the organisation.

Ciaran Clarke and Danni Nielan earned wins at last week’s Bellator 270 event at the 3Arena in Dublin but their successes were outweighed by those that fell short.

Peter Queally’s title fight loss in the main event to Patricky Pitbull, James Gallagher’s submission defeat to Patchy Mix and Stephen Costello’s first professional fight ending with a 1 in the loss column.

However, Ian Garry’s UFC debut at Madison Square Garden ended in a flash knockout before the first round was up that gave fans a glimpse into what he is capable of after a shaky start to the fight.

Kavanagh will look to add to Garry’s high and take home the Bellator Women’s Featherweight title by beating Cyborg, who has only lost twice in her professional MMA career.

Her debut fight with Erica Paes ended in defeat and her UFC Featherweight crown was taken by Amanda Nunes.

Cyborg’s opponent on Friday night, who trains with SBG Ireland, has the task of doing what has only been done twice in 16 years.

The 35-year-old Inchicore-born fighter comes into the biggest bout of her life with a two-fight win-streak under her belt.

However, previous to this streak, she suffered losses to Arlene Blencowe, who also appears on the card and Leslie Smith in a 1-4 run.

The named fighters above suffered successive defeats at the hands of the current Featherweight queen in Cyborg’s most recent title defences.

Kavanagh will have to produce the performance of a lifetime to shock the world and shape her legacy, with the odds stacked in her favour.

The next challenger for the belt may be on this card – Blencowe opens the main card of Bellator 271 with a bout against Pam Sorensen.

Full Card

Main Card

Cristiane Justino (145) vs. Sinead Kavanagh (145) – Women’s FW Championship
Tyrell Fortune (253.8) vs. Linton Vassell (239.2)
Aaron Pico (145.4) vs. Justin Gonzales (145.6)
Arlene Blencowe (145.8) vs. Pam Sorenson (146)

Preliminary Card

Steve Mowry (249.6) vs. Rakim Cleveland (249.6)
Valerie Loureda (127.6) vs. Taylor Turner (127.2)
Cody Law (145.4) vs. Colton Hamm (145.8)
Roman Faraldo (171) vs. Robert Turnquest (177.8)**
Bruna Ellen (125.6) vs. Desiree Yanez (125.4)
Waldo Cortes-Acosta (256.6) vs. Muhammed DeReese (255)
Mahmoud Sebie Fawzy (170.8) vs. Ethan Hughes (170.8)

Odds (American/Moneyline)

Cristiane Justino (-3000) vs. Sinead Kavanagh (+1300)
Tyrell Fortune (-190) vs. Linton Vassell (+160)
Aaron Pico (-360) vs. Justin Gonzales (+280)
Arlene Blencowe (-370) vs. Pam Sorenson (+290)

Preliminary Card

Steve Mowry (-700) vs. Rakim Cleveland (+500)
Valerie Loureda (-410) vs. Taylor Turner (+310)
Cody Law (-1400) vs. Colton Hamm (+700)
Roman Faraldo (-600) vs. Robert Turnquest (+425)
Bruna Ellen (-225) vs. Desiree Yanez (+185)
Waldo Cortes-Acosta (-235) vs. Muhammed DeReese (+190)
Mahmoud Sebie Fawzy (+550) vs. Ethan Hughes (-800)

To convert the odds into fractions, click here and enter them into the Moneyline box provided.

Where To Watch

Bellator 271 will be available to watch live in Ireland on Virgin Media Sport from 11:30 pm. Alternatively, the prelims will be available to watch on the Bellator MMA YouTube channel from 12 pm.

The post Bellator 271 – Preview, Full Card, Odds, Where To Watch appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Kavanagh’s quest for gold will potentially reach its final boss just a week after SBG Ireland teammate Peter Queally was stopped by Patricky Pitbull in Dublin.

The challenger, who is on a two-fight win streak, comes into the fight with confidence in her training and her abilities.

“[I feel] good, everything’s perfect,” the featherweight said. “I’m feeling strong. You can’t doubt this week like, it’s been a great week. I’ve seen her and I’m not afraid.”

Cris Cyborg is seen as one of the greatest women’s mixed-martial artists of all time and has held the Bellator featherweight title since winning it on her debut in the organisation.

She followed up her title win over Julia Budd with victories against Arlene Blencowe and Leslie Smith and will now entertain the Dubliner in Florida.

Kavanagh has lost half of her eight fights in the organisation, with losses to Blencowe and Smith on her record but her latest streak has earned her the chance of a lifetime

However, Cyborg is a heavy 1/20 favourite to defend her latest belt for a third time with a win over Kavanagh, who says the veteran’s mind games have already started.

“You won’t believe what they’re up to. They’re up there tagging me in that suplex. We’re out running, she’s in her sweat gear.

“Two o’clock in the afternoon like, blistering heat in that sweat gear like, and they’re running and then me and me missus are walking past and video cameraing and stuff like that.

Kavanagh also revealed that Cyborg has been using cards based on the hit Netflix show ‘Squid Game’ in an attempt to intimidate her.

“She has these cards, these squid game cards with her face on it and she’s leaving them everywhere I go like – leaving them in me corner, leaving them on me floor like.

“She’s trying to play mind games, she’s trying to break me but she can’t like – that’s what she does to her opponents.”

Cris Cyborg and Sinead Kavanagh will battle it out for the belt in the main event of Bellator 271 – the main card is set to begin at 3 am GMT.

The post Sinead Kavanagh: I’ve seen Cyborg and I ain’t afraid’ appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The event will take place on November 12 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida and will be available to watch on Virgin Media Two.

Bellator President Scott Coker announced the news on Wednesday’s edition of ‘The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani’ along with the news that Peter Queally and Patricky Pitbull’s rematch in Dublin has been upgraded to a title bout.

It will be Cyborg’s third title defence since her win over Julia Budd in January 2020 to earn the title in her debut for the promotion.

The 36-year-old has not lost since making the move to Bellator after a seven-fight run in the UFC.

Cyborg most recently defeated Leslie Smith via TKO in the fifth round at Bellator 259 in May.

Kavanagh will enter the fight on a winning streak of two after victories over Olga Rubin and Katharina Lehner.

The SBG Ireland athlete will fight for the first time in 13 months when she enters the ring in search of Bellator gold.

Her most recent loss comes against Smith in July 2019 – Kavanagh has also lost to Arlene Blencowe, who was Cyborg’s opponent for her first title defence.

The news follows Fight Academy Ireland prospect Paul Hughes’ win over Morgan Charriere to claim the interim featherweight championship at Cage Warriors 128.

The post Sinead Kavanagh to get featherweight title shot at Bellator 271 appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.