SB Nation Minnesota - Bellator 70: Cole Konrad Defeats Eric Prindle To Keep Heavyweight Titlehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48959/mn-fave.png2012-05-25T20:55:52-05:00http://minnesota.sbnation.com/rss/stream/28060172012-05-25T20:55:52-05:002012-05-25T20:55:52-05:00Bellator Results: Cole Konrad Defeats Eric Prindle For Heavyweight World Championship
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<p>Minnesota's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122986/cole-konrad">Cole Konrad</a> defeated <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/130766/eric-prindle">Eric Prindle</a> on Friday night in New Orleans to keep the Bellator <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/heavyweight">Heavyweight</a> World Championship. The fight headlined a long list of battles for the event, but anyone blinking may have missed it. </p>
<p>Konrad avoided a big combination from Prindle to move inside and dump him on his back. From there, Konrad used a Kimura on his opponent. Prindle groaned in pain as Konrad torqued his arm. In a flash, Prindle tapped out. Konrad was declared the winner via submission just one minute into the first round of the fight. </p>
<p>The win moves Konrad to 9-0 as a mixed martial artist. He won the heavyweight title at the first Bellator event in 2010. This was his first defense of that title.</p>
<p>As a wrestler with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Konrad won two NCAA titles with a career record of 155-13. </p>
<p><i>For more on Bellator 70, including the rest of the fight card, be sure to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/97390/bellator-70">check out SB Nation's hub page</a>.</i></p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2012/5/25/3044318/bellator-results-cole-konrad-defeats-eric-prindleRyan Van Bibber2012-05-25T18:45:14-05:002012-05-25T18:45:14-05:00Bellator 70 Fight Card: Minnesota's Cole Konrad To Defend Championship In Main Event
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<p>The Bellator Heavyweight World Championship is on the line on Friday night in New Orleans, as Minnesota's own heavyweight Cole Konrad will headline <a href="http://www.mmamania.com/2012/5/15/3022026/bellator-70-fight-card-line-up-may-25-new-orleans">a stacked Bellator 70 fight card</a>.</p>
<p>Konrad, who is 8-0 as a mixed martial artist, will face off against 7-1 Eric Prindle in the night's main event for the heavyweight belt. Konrad won a pair of NCAA titles as a wrestler with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, and finished his college career with a 155-13 record. He submitted Neil Grove to win the inaugural Bellator Heavyweight Tournament back in October of 2010, but Friday night will mark his first title defense.</p>
<p>The broadcast will get underway at 6:00pm CST with a handful of top local prospects facing off on the undercard, and can be seen for free on Spike.com. The main card, which will air on MTV and HD on EPIX, will start one hour later at 7:00 pm CST. Here is the full fight card:</p>
<p><b>Main Card</b><br> Heavyweight Title Fight: Cole Konrad vs. Eric Prindle<br> Lightweight Tournament Final Fight: Rick Hawn vs. Brent Weedman<br> Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal Fight: Luis Nogueira vs. Hiroshi Nakamura<br> Lightweight Feature Fight: Rich Clementi vs. Derek Campos</p>
<p><b>Prelims</b><br> Catchweight Feature Fight: Josh Shockley vs. Keith Schneider<br> Welterweight Feature Fight: Charlie Rader vs. A.J. Matthews<br> Middleweight Feature Fight: Jonas Billstein vs. Mike Seal<br> Lightweight Feature Fight: Kyle Bradley vs. Josh Harris<br> Bantamweight Feature Fight: Blake Dufour vs. Derek Arcement<br> Middleweight Feature Fight: Jeremiah Riggs vs. Kelvin Tiller</p>
<p><i>For more Bellator 70 coverage, be sure to check out <a href="http://minnesota.sbnation.com/2012/5/24/3041976/bellator-70-fight-card-results-cole-konrad">SB Nation's hub page</a>.</i></p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2012/5/25/3044107/bellator-70-fight-card-minnesota-cole-konrad-heavyweight-championshipDave Ryan2012-05-25T12:00:30-05:002012-05-25T12:00:30-05:00Bellator 70: Minnesota's Cole Konrad Is Ready For Friday Night After Long Layoff
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<p>Bellator's heavyweight championship isn't a long established title, but former Minnesota Golden Gophers wrestler <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122986/cole-konrad" class="sbn-auto-link">Cole Konrad</a> is looking to make some noise with the strap around his waist. That can't happen if he's unable to defend the belt on Friday night against challenger <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/130766/eric-prindle" class="sbn-auto-link">Eric Prindle</a>, though, so there's quite a bit of pressure on the 265-pound behemoth.</p>
<p>Konrad might be at a disadvantage considering he's had to wait quite awhile to defend his title due to a bevy of random issues in Bellator's tournament, but <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mmamania.com/2012/5/21/3035214/polar-express-interview-with-bellator-heavyweight-champion-cole-konrad">he told SB Nation's MMA Mania that he's ready to go on Friday night</a>.</p>
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<p><b>Brian Hemminger</b> (<a href="http://www.mmamania.com/">MMAmania.com</a>): That time off and eagerness to come back, Is that part of the reason why you decided to take your title fight within two weeks of Prindle not ending up having to fight in the finals?</p>
<p><b>Cole Konrad</b>: Absolutely. As rare as I'd been getting fights there, I didn't know when the next offer would come. They could have offered me a fight on two days' notice and I would have taken it. That's just how it was. I was training so it wasn't completely out of the blue but obviously, you'd like to have a full camp going into a fight but I took that fight on short notice because as rare as I was getting fights offered, I had to take it. I have to make a living too.</p>
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<p>It should be a fun night of fights, especially if Konrad comes out running on all cylinders after the long layoff.</p>
<p><i>For more on Bellator 70, including the rest of the fight card, be sure to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/97390/bellator-70">check out SB Nation's hub page</a>.</i></p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2012/5/25/3042395/bellator-70-cole-konradScott Schroeder2012-05-25T08:02:13-05:002012-05-25T08:02:13-05:00Bellator 70: Cole Konrad Has Chance To Be The Best MMA Heavyweight To Come Out Of Minnesota
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<p>Cole Konrad, who followed Brock Lesnar as a national wrestling champion at the University of Minnesota, has a chance to do the same thing in mixed martial arts when he defends his Bellator Heavyweight Championship against Eric Prindle tonight..</p> <p>For the second time in his career, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122986/cole-konrad">Cole Konrad</a> has a chance to follow <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122494/brock-lesnar">Brock Lesnar</a> into sporting glory. Only this time, he's looking to fill the big shoes (literally) of being the best mixed martial artist out of Minnesota.</p>
<p>Lesnar, the 2000 NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion out of the University of Minnseota and former UFC <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/heavyweight">Heavyweight</a> Champion, has retired from MMA after battling diverticulitis and consecutive losses to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122504/cain-velasquez">Cain Velasquez</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122499/alistair-overeem">Alistair Overeem</a>. He has since returned to the WWE while Lesnar's former training partner at Team Deathcluch Konrad continues to make his own mark in MMA as Cole defends his Bellator Heavyweight Championship for the first time tonight at <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/97390/bellator-70">Bellator 70</a> against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/130766/eric-prindle">Eric Prindle</a>.</p>
<p>Like Brock, Konrad is both a collegiate wrestling - winning back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007 as a Golden Gopher - and MMA champion. He doesn't, however, have the same recognition based on both not being a WWE superstar before entering the cage and the organization he fights in (Bellator is much smaller than the pay-per-view behemoth UFC). Despite that, Konrad posts an undefeated 8-0 record as a professional and in October 2010 became the inaugural Bellator heavyweight champion after winning 3 fights in 3 months.</p>
<p>Cole has been on the sideline for much since then because unlike other organizations, Bellator only grants title shots to fighters who win eight-men tournaments. Being inactive is not something he prefers; telling <a href="http://www.mmamania.com/2012/5/21/3035214/polar-express-interview-with-bellator-heavyweight-champion-cole-konrad" target="_blank">MMA Mania</a> "I would fight every weekend if they let me. I don't care who it is or what it's for. I don't care if it's a superfight or not. I'd be content taking any fight I possibly could. So yes, I would." Since then he has fought a non-title fight against former UFC title contender <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/130567/paul-buentello">Paul Buentello</a> to keep busy as he awaited the end of a strange set of circumstances surrounding the season 5 heavyweight tournament and opponent Eric Prindle.</p>
<p>Originally Prindle and fellow finalist <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/131683/thiago-santos">Thiago Santos</a> fought to a no-contest at <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/84680/bellator-59">Bellator 59</a> in November 2011 when Eric was unable to continue from a kick to the groin. This was followed by a scheduled rematch in March at <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/95276/bellator-61">Bellator 61</a> where the fight ended up being postponed a week due to Prindle having the flu. Then during that fight's weigh-in, Santos came in at 277 pounds - 12 pounds over the heavyweight limit of 265 lbs - and Prindle ended up being named the winner without fighting. To make matters worse, Konrad accepted a fight against Prindle on two week's notice at <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/95383/bellator-65">Bellator 65</a> before an injury to Eric postponed it until tonight.</p>
<p>As a mixed martial artist, Cole relies heavily on his wrestling background to control opponents that has led to calls from fans to call him a "lay and pray" artist. However, he has utilized jiu-jitsu to submit opponents - most notably against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122985/neil-grove">Neil Grove</a> - and Konrad kept most of his last fight standing against Buentello to show off his boxing skills.</p>
<p>Keeping the fight standing might not be the best strategy as Prindle, a former amateur boxer and training partner at Deathcluch, enters tonight's fight having knocked out or TKOed 3 of his last 4 opponents (excluding the no-contest against Santos). At the same time, it's a necessity as Konrad evolves and faces tougher competition; being one-dimensional in MMA only gets a fighter so far.</p>
<p>Overall, tonight's fight is a chance for Cole Konrad to take that step. Despite being in the shadow of Brock Lesnar or the UFC (who is putting on an all-heavyweight pay-per-view Saturday night) or labeled a "lay and pray artist," Bellator 70 against Eric Prindle gives the former Golden Gopher the opportunity to get his name in the heavyweight conversation.</p>
<p>And being the best heavyweight from a state that Brock Lesnar calls home doesn't hurt either.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2012/5/25/3042837/bellator-70-cole-konrad-brock-lesnar-best-mma-heavyweight-from-minnesotaNathan Wells2012-05-24T18:12:34-05:002012-05-24T18:12:34-05:00Bellator 70 Weigh-In Results: Minnesota's Cole Konrad Makes Weight
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<p>The final step before Friday night's heavyweight championship went off without a hitch on Thursday evening at the Bellator 70 weigh-ins. Minnesota's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122986/cole-konrad">Cole Konrad</a> and his opponent <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/130766/eric-prindle">Eric Prindle</a> both successfully made weight, thereby ensuring their matchup for the title will go on as planned.</p>
<p>Konrad didn't make weight by much, however, as he weighed in at a whopping 265.2 pounds -- less than a pound under the legal limit. Prindle's a big dude himself, too, as he weighed in at an even 265 pounds for the battle of the big men in Friday night's main event.</p>
<p>The complete weigh-in results from Thursday night are posted below, <a href="http://www.mmamania.com/2012/5/24/3040792/bellator-70-weigh-in-results-live-from-new-orleans-for-konrad-vs" target="_blank">courtesy of our friends at MMA Mania</a>.</p>
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<h4>Main Card</h4>
<p>265 lbs.: Cole Konrad (265.2) vs. Eric Prindle (265)<br>155 lbs.: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/129493/rick-hawn">Rick Hawn</a> (156) vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122595/brent-weedman">Brent Weedman</a> (156)<br>135 lbs.: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/130560/hiroshi-nakamura">Hiroshi Nakamura</a> (135.8) vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/152598/luis-nogueira">Luis Nogueira</a> (135.8)<br>155 lbs.: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/151943/derek-campos">Derek Campos</a> (154.8) vs. Rich Clementi (157.2*)</p>
<h4>Preliminary Card</h4>
<p>185 lbs.: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/151940/jeremiah-riggs">Jeremiah Riggs</a> (185.2) vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/156532/kelvin-tiller">Kelvin Tiller</a> (190.8**)<br>135 lbs.: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/156531/derek-arcement">Derek Arcement</a> (136) vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/156530/blake-dufour">Blake Dufour</a> (136)<br>157 lbs.: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/156529/kyle-bradley">Kyle Bradley</a> (156.8) vs. John Harris (155.8)<br>185 lbs.: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/142410/jonas-billstein">Jonas Billstein</a> () vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/156528/mike-seal">Mike Seal</a> ()<br>170 lbs.: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/130558/a-j-matthews">A.J. Matthews </a>(170.8) vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/129715/charlie-rader">Charlie Rader</a> (171)<br>174 lbs.: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/156527/keith-schneider">Keith Schneider</a> (173.6) vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/129829/josh-shockley">Josh Shockley</a> (170.8)</p>
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<p><i>For more on Bellator 70, including the rest of the fight card, be sure to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/97390/bellator-70">check out SB Nation's hub page</a>.</i></p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2012/5/24/3041993/bellator-70-results-weigh-ins-cole-konradScott Schroeder2012-05-24T08:01:19-05:002012-05-24T08:01:19-05:00Cole Konrad To Defend Heavyweight Championship In Bellator
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<p>Former Minnesota wrestler Cole Konrad will defend his heavyweight championship on Friday night at Bellator 70 against Eric Prindle.</p> <p>Fans of the Minnesota Golden Gophers wrestling program were probably pretty disappointed to see <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122494/brock-lesnar">Brock Lesnar</a> leave the UFC to head back to professional wrestling. All isn't lost, however, as the "U" still has an elite-level heavyweight competing in mixed martial arts.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122986/cole-konrad">Cole Konrad</a> will defend his heavyweight championship for the first time on Friday night at Bellator 70, facing <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/130766/eric-prindle">Eric Prindle</a> in a matchup pitting together two of the biggest guys in MMA. The two-time national champion will and three-time Big Ten champion has had to wait quite awhile to defend his belt, but Bloody Elbow notes that Friday night's fight <a href="http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/5/23/3037167/bellator-70-mma-notebook-cole-konrad-vs-eric-prindle-rick-hawn-vs-brent-weedman" target="_blank">should be worth the wait</a>.</p>
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/heavyweight">Heavyweight</a> champion Cole Konrad defends against Eric Prindle in the night's expected main event, falling in the shadow of Saturday's UFC alternative of Junior dos Santos vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122495/frank-mir">Frank Mir</a>. Konrad (8-0) has been on the shelf since defeating <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/130567/paul-buentello">Paul Buentello</a> last August in a non-title fight with Friday's bout marking the first defense of the title he won in October 2010.</p>
<p>Prindle got the shot through a bizarre set of circumstances where his season five closing bout with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/131683/thiago-santos">Thiago Santos</a> was ruled a no-contest due to a nasty low blow from Santos. The fight was rescheduled for the early part of the sixth season, but was put off once due to an illness from Prindle. A week later, Santos couldn't make weight and Prindle (7-1-0-1) was declared the de facto winner.</p>
<p>Before the Santos no-contest, Prindle had won seven in a row with four knockouts. He's gone the distance twice, while Konrad has been to a decision five times in eight fights. This fight was originally scheduled for mid-April, but was (of course) delayed because of injury.</p>
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<p>It's quite the feat for Konrad to be defending a championship in just his ninth professional fight, but shows that Minnesota is quite adept at preparing its wrestlers for careers after college. It doesn't hurt, either, that Konrad's coach is former Gophers coach Marty Morgan.</p>
<p>For more on Bellator 70, including the rest of the fight card, be sure to <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/97390/bellator-70" target="_blank">check out SB Nation's hub page</a>.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2012/5/24/3040276/cole-konrad-bellator-fight-heavyweight-championshipScott Schroeder