Official results, quotes and photos from Thursdays “Bellator: British Invasion” weigh ins

Light Heavyweight Champion Emanuel Newton vs. Liam McGeary

Photo Credit: Bellator MMA/ Eric Coleman

The official weigh-ins concluded this afternoon for Bellator’s highly anticipated “British Invasion” show which will serve as the first tentpole event of the year and takes place tomorrow, Feb. 27..  The night of fights airs LIVE and FREE on Spike TV at 9/8c from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT, and features three of the UK’s top MMA fighters competing on American soil, as well as a super fight between “King Mo” Lawal and Cheick Kongo.

Champ Emanuel Newton (204.5 lbs.) vs. Liam McGeary (204 lbs.)

Cheick Kongo (239 lbs.) vs. “King Mo” Lawal (217 lbs.)

Paul Daley (171 lbs.) vs. Andre Santos (171 lbs.)

Linton Vassell (205 lbs.) vs. Rameau Sokoudjou (205 lbs.)

Brennan Ward (171 lbs.) vs. Curtis Millender (170 lbs.)

Matt Bessette (145 3/4 lbs.) vs. Josh Laberge (145 lbs.)

Raphael Butler (260 lbs.) vs. Josh Diekmann (238 1/4 lbs.)

Jason Butcher (186 lbs.) vs. Tamdan McCrory (185.5 lbs.)

Bobby Flynn (170.5 lbs.) vs. Neiman Gracie (171 lbs.)

Michael Mangan (155 1/4 lbs.) vs. Dean Hancock (155.5 lbs.)

Newton: “I am going to finish [Liam McGeary] tomorrow. Whether it be by choke, KO, TKO or submission, I am going to finish him.

“I am connected to my inner-being. All I ever request of myself is victory. I don’t request a nice car or a big house, all I request is victory and it will be given to me.”

Liam McGeary: “I am going to become the first Englishmen to win a major title in America tomorrow. I put the work in. I have sacrificed too much to come up short. I have a great team behind me.”

Chieck Kongo: “Two big guys are getting in that cage tomorrow, and at the end I will be the winner.

“I trained like crazy for this fight. I finished training camp without injury and I came to get what I deserve.

“If he gives me the opportunity to knock him out, I surely will do it. But if not, we will go the full rounds and I will claim victory.”

King Mo: “I am going to have my hand raised tomorrow. I am not sure how exactly it’s going to happen, but I will make sure of it.

“I train hard and smart. I have seen everything there is to see in this game. My camp was great.

“Whatever he gives me, I’m going to take.”

Daley: “Andres Santos is in a lot of trouble. He is going to get knocked spark out. He says he’s Brazilian and a lot of these guys are getting laid out on the floor; he’s going to be another one of them.”

Andres Santos: “I am very confident in my ability tomorrow. I know I will come out with the victory. I have prepared very long and hard for this fight and I will come out the victor.”

Vassell: “I’m going to finish him [Sokoudjou] either on the ground, pound or by submission. He only has a couple minutes in him and that’s when I will be looking for the knockout. If not, then I will take him down and save up for the TKO or submission.”

Sokoudjou: “I’m going to beat him to the ground, that’s the game plan. Whether it is on our feet or on the ground, I am going to beat him.

“I trained very hard during training camp, it was very tough. I am healthy and ready to go.”

Brennan Ward: “Im going to go out there and punch [Millender] him on his head. I’m Brennan Ward and I’m going to do when I do. When I’m on my game, no one can stop me.

“It means a lot to be fighting in front of my hometown friends and family. I’m going to put on a show.”

Millender: “I’m going to take him down and beat him at his own game. My striking is my biggest strength.

“He’s not going to expect me to be the wrestler that I am. He’s going to be in a lot of trouble.

“I am absolutely looking for the knockout, it doesn’t matter how I get it.”

  Cheick Kongo vs. King Mo

Paul Daley vs. Andre Santos