Lightweight World Title Fight: Michael Chandler vs. David Rickels: Round 1.
Main event time ya'll!! tap of the gloves and we're off. Leg kicks by Rickels, Chandler not checking any of them. A few jabs from Chandler landing clean. heavy right hand drops Rickels , Rickles pops back up and another few rights drops Rickels for good. As long as it took me to type this, they have replayed the ending and Rickels is still out!! Dddaaammmn!! Chandler literally ate a left right before he countered w/ a right to initially drop Rickels. Holy hell.
Official Results: Chandler def. Rickels via KO at 0:44 or Round 1.
Welterweight World Title Fight: Ben Askren vs. Andrey Koreschkov: Round 1. Damn, they engage immediately and Askren is doing some funky cradle/pedigree type move and he damn near mounted Koreschkov. Koreschkov escapes but lands in a one arm in guillotine but Koreschkov holds on and gets out. Askren is all over Koreschkov from the jump. Koreschkov is fighting from behind already. Koreschkov is being schooled big time. Askren has one hook in and doesn't seem to be concerned w/ putting the second one in. Askren threatens w/ a RNC but Koreschkov defends. Askren is riding Koreschkov and not letting Koreschkov have any air at all. Round ends, damn.
Round 2. Askren shoots and Koreschkov sprawls and nearly gets his back but Askren gets Koreschkov down and is in side control and now full mount, Jesus. He just mounted him like Koreschkov has no defense. Askren continues to ride Koreschkov as he literally stopped , raised his arm and chanted USA! USA! Wheelock said it best, who does that? "Funky" is quite the character. I hope he never leaves Bellator. They roll over and Askren continues to threaten w/ a RNC but he seems more comfortable rolling and riding Koreschkov rather than finishing. The keep scrambling and Askren gets to north-south but does nothing w/ it. Now he moves to side mount. Koreschkov has no answer for Askren's funkiness. Crucifix and Askren is landing right hand after right hand and the round ends.
Round 3. Damn, I just realized this is a title fight and we have 3 more rounds to go. This might suck if the ref doesn't stop this fight. Askren shoots and momentarily gets Koreschkov's back. They roll over and Askren in back to the mount. I realize Askren is very good, but every opponent he's fought seem surprised. They have this look on their faces like they're surprised when they get here, getting schooled by Askren. Really? Askren doing a welterweight impression of Cain Velasquez, pounding his opponent on the ground w/ little to no submission attempts. Askren is handing Koreschkov his ass on a red, white and blue colored platter, no joke. They roll over a scramble but Askren stays stuck on Koreschkov's back. North-south and maybe a kimura by Askren, and no, false alarm. Askren twirls his finger in the air like whoop de f--king doo, I'm winning as the round ends.
Round 4. Askren shoots and gets the takedown. He passes immediately but this time, it looks like he may have a side choke. It looks deep and Koreschkov isn't fighting it that much, besides the "answer the phone" block. He gives it up and jumps back to mount. Koreschkov rolls but Askren gingerly moves from half to side to mount and back to side control as if he's scratching his balls. Ok back to mount. Koreschkov rolls and Askren gets back mount. The ref was basically looking for a reason to stop the fight and Askren gave it to him by throwing a few consecutive punches. End of fight, thank god. Not that I don't like grappling, but 2 more rounds of this shit would've sucked big time, for Koreschkov just as much as for fans.
Official Results: Askren def. Koreschkov via TKO at 2:58 of Round 4.
Light Heavyweight Tournament Final: King Mo vs. Jacob Noe: Round 1.
Despite all the shit talk from yesterday, they shake hands before the bout. They meet in the center and King Mo hands are nice and high. Mo waits for a kick from Noe and Mo gets a single leg and an easy takedown. Noe is trying to get back up, he does but Mo takes him back down. Mo putting a lot of pressure on Noe. Knee to the body by Mo as Noe gets back up. Noe is bouncing around on one foot before Mo takes him down once more. Mo lets Noe get back up only to power through w/ a blast double leg. Noe covers up as Mo is unloading some decent GnP. Nothing is landing clean but they're unanswered punches. Noe doing a good job of posturing on his hip to avoid heavy shots. Mo is in Noe's half guard and Mo is using his right arm for a one-on-one behind Noes back preventing Noe from getting back up. Nothing really exciting but steady pressure from Mo and a knee to the body right as the bell rings.
Round 2. Straight right by Noe barely missed. Inside kick by Noe, lands perfectly. Not a lot of power but I'm sure it stung. Mo changes levels and eats a jab for it. Mo changes levels again and this time shoots and gets the takedown. Noe is on his right hip as Mo postures to land some nice punches. Noe brings his legs up for an armbar but Mo scarcely defended it before Noe gave up. Mo keeps Noe against the fence, switches between body and head, everything is landing for Mo. Mo is landing more and more, there's a bit of blood on Noe's nose and some swelling under his left eye. Noe just can't seem to get anything off. No one punch is hurting Noe, it's a matter of accumulation.
Round 3. Double leg by Mo, easy takedown. Smith and Wheelock have been teasing w/ a big announcement coming up from Rampage later in the broadcast.Bellator comes back from commercial break and the camera pans in on former middleweight, super middleweight,light heavyweight and heavyweight champ, Roy Jones Jr. Did Bellator just prematurely blow their wad? Maybe. Noe gets up only to receive a few heavy punches, possibly opening Noe's mouse under his eye. Mo shoots in again and takes him down once more. A little more GnP by Mo and the ref has seen enough. Good call by the ref. No need to continue if Noe is only going to take a worse ass whopping for 2 or 3 more minutes. Bellator finally get's what they wanted, King Mo w/ a light heavyweight title shot.
Official Results: King Mo def. Noe via TKO at 2:51 of Round 3.
Heavyweight Tournament Final: Ryan Martinez vs. Vitaly Minakov: Round 1.
Tap of the gloves and we're off. Minakov lunges i nw/ a wide right, misses, and they clinch. Minakov against the fence. Martinez trips Minakov nicely and momentarily threatens w/ a guillotine but Minakov escapes. They continue to trade, the crowd ooohhs and aaahhhs after every swing. They clinch and an inside trip by Minakov takes Martinez down. Martinez pops back up and eats a knee. Martinez attacks and lands a wide left hand, Minakov does a mini chicken dance but regains his legs. Minakov has now felt Martinez's power but he's still attacking. Minakov clinches and land when he breaks it. Minakov taking some deep breaths, if I didn't know any better, I'd say he'a already tired. Minakov clinches and they're up against the fence. They exchange right hooks off the break. Martinez is catching on to Minakov doing this and tried to beat him to it. Minakov shoots and Martinez's short stature helps in sprawling. Close round.
Round 2. They begin w/ a small exchange. Lots of blood coming from Martinez's nose, not sure what happened there. Minakov is now lunging in more and Martinez is able to see it coming and counter. He's done it twice now. Minakov clinches and pushes Martinez to the fence. Groin shot (knee) by Minakov. Ref separates them and is giving Martinez time. Wow, the ref is deducting a point for the low knee w/ no warning. Shit, Minakov is gonna have to push it now. Time in. Straight right lands for Minakov as Martinez misses his right hook. I have him ahead but Jimmy Smith has Martinez ahead. Another lead right hand from the orthodox Minakov, his lead lands quicker than Martinez's southpaw lead right hook. Minakov lunges and Martinez lands a counter straight left down the center. Neither of these gentlemen are throwing jabs, just lead power shots. Minakov shoots from way outside and Martinez's stuffs it easily. They stay in a clinch until the bell rings.
Round 3. Minakov continues to press the action, often lunging in, this time Minakov get's the takedown. Minakov stands and lands a few punches and is almost in full mount. They're up against the fence as Minakov just moves into full mount. Minakov is holding Martinez's head down w/ his left while raining down single punches w/ his right. Now Minakov is switching to elbows. They both look gassed and Martinez is occasionally trying to turn over but Minakov keeps him flat. Martinez tries to roll over but stays on his side. After several looping right hands to the back of Martinez head, Minakov punches begin to land cleanly on Martinez face, the ref has seen enough and jumps in to end the fight.
Official Results: Minakov def. Martinez via TKO at 4:02 of Round 3.
Featherweight Feature Bout: Jared Downing vs. Patricio Pitbull: Round 1.Wow, they're throwing already. High kick by Pitbull. Hard right hand by Pitbull drops Downing, Pitbull attacks and slaps on a guillotine but Downing escapes. That was close. Downing on top of Pitbull against the fence. Pitbull gets back up but Downing is in tight w/ a clinch. Pitbull turns Downing. They'r broken and back to the center they go. Right hand misses by Pitbull. Low kick, lands low but time is not called. 1-2-3 combo Pitbull lands nicely. They clinch against the fence and Pitbull breaks. Downing lands some nice some nice jabs. Downing lunges in and gets caught again, Downing drops and pops back up, Pitbull attacks and Downing trys to buy some time clinching against the fence. Downing drops for s double and gets it. Downing ends the round on top. Good action.
Round 2. Am I tripping or does the Bellator cage looks bigger? Maybe it's just me. Ok, we're on. Downing walking Pitbull down. High kick by Pitbull, barely missed. Another 1-2 by Pitbull catches Downing clean again and down goes Downing, he pops up but once more Pitbull drops Downing. Downing is up and back peddling and one last 1-2 down the center drops Downing like a tree and the ref jumps in to save Downing. it seems as if the 1-2 knocked Downing out and the back of his head bouncing off the canvas actually woke him back up, as nuts as that sounds. After the ref jumps in, Downing gets right back up as if nothing had happened but he was hurt, no doubt. Crazy scene though.
Official Results: Pitbull def. Downing via TKO at 0:54 of Round 2.
Undercard
Jeremy Kimball def. Keith Berry via second-round KO (1:45)
Shawn Bunch def. Russell Wilson via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Javier Palacios def. Richard Jacques via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Adrian Cruz def. Felipe Chavez via second-round TKO (4:24)
Donald Sanchez def. Cliff Wright Jr. via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Bubba Jenkins def. Mike Barreras via TKO (strikes, ref stoppage) at 1:05 of round 2
Anthony Leone def. Frank Baca via submission (rear naked choke) at 1:07 of round 3
Rafael Silva def. Rodrigo Lima via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:03 in round 3
Will Brooks def. Cris Leyva via TKO (strikes, ref stoppage) at 2:20 of round 3
Main event time ya'll!! tap of the gloves and we're off. Leg kicks by Rickels, Chandler not checking any of them. A few jabs from Chandler landing clean. heavy right hand drops Rickels , Rickles pops back up and another few rights drops Rickels for good. As long as it took me to type this, they have replayed the ending and Rickels is still out!! Dddaaammmn!! Chandler literally ate a left right before he countered w/ a right to initially drop Rickels. Holy hell.
Official Results: Chandler def. Rickels via KO at 0:44 or Round 1.
Welterweight World Title Fight: Ben Askren vs. Andrey Koreschkov: Round 1. Damn, they engage immediately and Askren is doing some funky cradle/pedigree type move and he damn near mounted Koreschkov. Koreschkov escapes but lands in a one arm in guillotine but Koreschkov holds on and gets out. Askren is all over Koreschkov from the jump. Koreschkov is fighting from behind already. Koreschkov is being schooled big time. Askren has one hook in and doesn't seem to be concerned w/ putting the second one in. Askren threatens w/ a RNC but Koreschkov defends. Askren is riding Koreschkov and not letting Koreschkov have any air at all. Round ends, damn.
Round 2. Askren shoots and Koreschkov sprawls and nearly gets his back but Askren gets Koreschkov down and is in side control and now full mount, Jesus. He just mounted him like Koreschkov has no defense. Askren continues to ride Koreschkov as he literally stopped , raised his arm and chanted USA! USA! Wheelock said it best, who does that? "Funky" is quite the character. I hope he never leaves Bellator. They roll over and Askren continues to threaten w/ a RNC but he seems more comfortable rolling and riding Koreschkov rather than finishing. The keep scrambling and Askren gets to north-south but does nothing w/ it. Now he moves to side mount. Koreschkov has no answer for Askren's funkiness. Crucifix and Askren is landing right hand after right hand and the round ends.
Round 3. Damn, I just realized this is a title fight and we have 3 more rounds to go. This might suck if the ref doesn't stop this fight. Askren shoots and momentarily gets Koreschkov's back. They roll over and Askren in back to the mount. I realize Askren is very good, but every opponent he's fought seem surprised. They have this look on their faces like they're surprised when they get here, getting schooled by Askren. Really? Askren doing a welterweight impression of Cain Velasquez, pounding his opponent on the ground w/ little to no submission attempts. Askren is handing Koreschkov his ass on a red, white and blue colored platter, no joke. They roll over a scramble but Askren stays stuck on Koreschkov's back. North-south and maybe a kimura by Askren, and no, false alarm. Askren twirls his finger in the air like whoop de f--king doo, I'm winning as the round ends.
Round 4. Askren shoots and gets the takedown. He passes immediately but this time, it looks like he may have a side choke. It looks deep and Koreschkov isn't fighting it that much, besides the "answer the phone" block. He gives it up and jumps back to mount. Koreschkov rolls but Askren gingerly moves from half to side to mount and back to side control as if he's scratching his balls. Ok back to mount. Koreschkov rolls and Askren gets back mount. The ref was basically looking for a reason to stop the fight and Askren gave it to him by throwing a few consecutive punches. End of fight, thank god. Not that I don't like grappling, but 2 more rounds of this shit would've sucked big time, for Koreschkov just as much as for fans.
Official Results: Askren def. Koreschkov via TKO at 2:58 of Round 4.
Light Heavyweight Tournament Final: King Mo vs. Jacob Noe: Round 1.
Despite all the shit talk from yesterday, they shake hands before the bout. They meet in the center and King Mo hands are nice and high. Mo waits for a kick from Noe and Mo gets a single leg and an easy takedown. Noe is trying to get back up, he does but Mo takes him back down. Mo putting a lot of pressure on Noe. Knee to the body by Mo as Noe gets back up. Noe is bouncing around on one foot before Mo takes him down once more. Mo lets Noe get back up only to power through w/ a blast double leg. Noe covers up as Mo is unloading some decent GnP. Nothing is landing clean but they're unanswered punches. Noe doing a good job of posturing on his hip to avoid heavy shots. Mo is in Noe's half guard and Mo is using his right arm for a one-on-one behind Noes back preventing Noe from getting back up. Nothing really exciting but steady pressure from Mo and a knee to the body right as the bell rings.
Round 2. Straight right by Noe barely missed. Inside kick by Noe, lands perfectly. Not a lot of power but I'm sure it stung. Mo changes levels and eats a jab for it. Mo changes levels again and this time shoots and gets the takedown. Noe is on his right hip as Mo postures to land some nice punches. Noe brings his legs up for an armbar but Mo scarcely defended it before Noe gave up. Mo keeps Noe against the fence, switches between body and head, everything is landing for Mo. Mo is landing more and more, there's a bit of blood on Noe's nose and some swelling under his left eye. Noe just can't seem to get anything off. No one punch is hurting Noe, it's a matter of accumulation.
Round 3. Double leg by Mo, easy takedown. Smith and Wheelock have been teasing w/ a big announcement coming up from Rampage later in the broadcast.Bellator comes back from commercial break and the camera pans in on former middleweight, super middleweight,light heavyweight and heavyweight champ, Roy Jones Jr. Did Bellator just prematurely blow their wad? Maybe. Noe gets up only to receive a few heavy punches, possibly opening Noe's mouse under his eye. Mo shoots in again and takes him down once more. A little more GnP by Mo and the ref has seen enough. Good call by the ref. No need to continue if Noe is only going to take a worse ass whopping for 2 or 3 more minutes. Bellator finally get's what they wanted, King Mo w/ a light heavyweight title shot.
Official Results: King Mo def. Noe via TKO at 2:51 of Round 3.
Heavyweight Tournament Final: Ryan Martinez vs. Vitaly Minakov: Round 1.
Tap of the gloves and we're off. Minakov lunges i nw/ a wide right, misses, and they clinch. Minakov against the fence. Martinez trips Minakov nicely and momentarily threatens w/ a guillotine but Minakov escapes. They continue to trade, the crowd ooohhs and aaahhhs after every swing. They clinch and an inside trip by Minakov takes Martinez down. Martinez pops back up and eats a knee. Martinez attacks and lands a wide left hand, Minakov does a mini chicken dance but regains his legs. Minakov has now felt Martinez's power but he's still attacking. Minakov clinches and land when he breaks it. Minakov taking some deep breaths, if I didn't know any better, I'd say he'a already tired. Minakov clinches and they're up against the fence. They exchange right hooks off the break. Martinez is catching on to Minakov doing this and tried to beat him to it. Minakov shoots and Martinez's short stature helps in sprawling. Close round.
Round 2. They begin w/ a small exchange. Lots of blood coming from Martinez's nose, not sure what happened there. Minakov is now lunging in more and Martinez is able to see it coming and counter. He's done it twice now. Minakov clinches and pushes Martinez to the fence. Groin shot (knee) by Minakov. Ref separates them and is giving Martinez time. Wow, the ref is deducting a point for the low knee w/ no warning. Shit, Minakov is gonna have to push it now. Time in. Straight right lands for Minakov as Martinez misses his right hook. I have him ahead but Jimmy Smith has Martinez ahead. Another lead right hand from the orthodox Minakov, his lead lands quicker than Martinez's southpaw lead right hook. Minakov lunges and Martinez lands a counter straight left down the center. Neither of these gentlemen are throwing jabs, just lead power shots. Minakov shoots from way outside and Martinez's stuffs it easily. They stay in a clinch until the bell rings.
Round 3. Minakov continues to press the action, often lunging in, this time Minakov get's the takedown. Minakov stands and lands a few punches and is almost in full mount. They're up against the fence as Minakov just moves into full mount. Minakov is holding Martinez's head down w/ his left while raining down single punches w/ his right. Now Minakov is switching to elbows. They both look gassed and Martinez is occasionally trying to turn over but Minakov keeps him flat. Martinez tries to roll over but stays on his side. After several looping right hands to the back of Martinez head, Minakov punches begin to land cleanly on Martinez face, the ref has seen enough and jumps in to end the fight.
Official Results: Minakov def. Martinez via TKO at 4:02 of Round 3.
Featherweight Feature Bout: Jared Downing vs. Patricio Pitbull: Round 1.Wow, they're throwing already. High kick by Pitbull. Hard right hand by Pitbull drops Downing, Pitbull attacks and slaps on a guillotine but Downing escapes. That was close. Downing on top of Pitbull against the fence. Pitbull gets back up but Downing is in tight w/ a clinch. Pitbull turns Downing. They'r broken and back to the center they go. Right hand misses by Pitbull. Low kick, lands low but time is not called. 1-2-3 combo Pitbull lands nicely. They clinch against the fence and Pitbull breaks. Downing lands some nice some nice jabs. Downing lunges in and gets caught again, Downing drops and pops back up, Pitbull attacks and Downing trys to buy some time clinching against the fence. Downing drops for s double and gets it. Downing ends the round on top. Good action.
Round 2. Am I tripping or does the Bellator cage looks bigger? Maybe it's just me. Ok, we're on. Downing walking Pitbull down. High kick by Pitbull, barely missed. Another 1-2 by Pitbull catches Downing clean again and down goes Downing, he pops up but once more Pitbull drops Downing. Downing is up and back peddling and one last 1-2 down the center drops Downing like a tree and the ref jumps in to save Downing. it seems as if the 1-2 knocked Downing out and the back of his head bouncing off the canvas actually woke him back up, as nuts as that sounds. After the ref jumps in, Downing gets right back up as if nothing had happened but he was hurt, no doubt. Crazy scene though.
Official Results: Pitbull def. Downing via TKO at 0:54 of Round 2.
Undercard
Jeremy Kimball def. Keith Berry via second-round KO (1:45)
Shawn Bunch def. Russell Wilson via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Javier Palacios def. Richard Jacques via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Adrian Cruz def. Felipe Chavez via second-round TKO (4:24)
Donald Sanchez def. Cliff Wright Jr. via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Bubba Jenkins def. Mike Barreras via TKO (strikes, ref stoppage) at 1:05 of round 2
Anthony Leone def. Frank Baca via submission (rear naked choke) at 1:07 of round 3
Rafael Silva def. Rodrigo Lima via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:03 in round 3
Will Brooks def. Cris Leyva via TKO (strikes, ref stoppage) at 2:20 of round 3