Bellator 91 Results: Live Play-by-Play & Updates
Bellator 91 Fight Card
- Bellator Light Heavyweight Title Fight: Christian M'Pumbu vs. Attila Vegh
- Bellator Season 8 Lightweight Tournament Semifinal: Saad Awad vs. Will Brooks
- Bellator Season 8 Lightweight Tournament Semifinal: David Rickels vs. Jason Fischer
- Holly Holm vs. Katie Merrill
- Blas Avena vs. Lenny Lovato
- Andres Quintana vs. Russell Wilson
- Josh Montoya vs. Ed West
- Adrian Cruz vs. Nick Gonzalez
- Josh Appelt vs. Josh Lanier
- Yair Moguel vs. Brennan Ward
Sherdog.com will report from the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, N.M., at approximately 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 91, which is headlined by a light heavyweight title fight and two lightweight tournament bouts.
Check out the MMA Forums to discuss the card or enter your comments and predictions below.
Advertisement
Yair Moguel vs. Brennan Ward
Round 1
Ward shoots and takes down Moguel against the cage. Ward moves to his opponent’s back sinks in both hooks and looks for a rear-naked choke. Ward flattens his man out, sinks in the choke and Moguel is left with no choice but to tap. The official time the submission is 57 seconds into round one.
Josh Appelt vs. Josh Lanier
Round 1
Appelt immediately swarms the lanky Lanier with punches and pushes him into the fence. After 30 seconds of jockeying for position, Lanier manages to separate himself, then drives Appelt into the fence, looking for a single-leg takedown of his own. He nearly yanks the squatty Appelt off the fence but fails on the takedown and ends up falling to his back. Appelt jumps on top and nearly winds up in a triangle, but pushes behind the knee and passes underneath to side control. Appelt looks for the pass to side control and pounds for a minute before opting to simply stand up instead. When Lanier stands, Appelt lands two left hooks that stun his foe, prompting yet another clinch. Referee separates them, but just as soon as they're separated, Appelt runs Lanier awkwardly to the canvas again. Lanier tries to climb the ladder once more, seeking an armbar, but Appelt pulls out and forces Lanier to stand again. Two more lunging lefts for Appelt forces Lanier to clinch, but Appelt keeps coming with left hands, briefly dropping his man to the mat. Lanier covers up, regains his feet and makes it to the bell under fire.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Appelt
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Appelt
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Appelt
Round 2
The second frame begins with a head kick from Lanier which Appelt blocks. When Lanier tries to follow up with crosses, he runs right into a left cross. Lanier hits the deck and Appelt follows with a left hand and winging punches. Lanier simply covers his head, but Appelt doesn't stop punching, prompting referee Robert Romero to halt the bout just 16 seconds into the second frame.
Adrian Cruz vs. Nick Gonzalez
Round 1
Gonzalez lands a left hook on Cruz, prompting an instant double-leg takedown from his opponent. Cruz gets to half guard and sets up on top. Gonzalez locks down his foe from the bottom, not permitting the pass. Cruz lands short shots but is stood up, perhaps prematurely, by referee Raul Porrata. Upon the restart, Gonzalez lands another hook but Cruz shoots and gets him on the mat again. Gonzalez gets an omoplata and nearly rolls Cruz into top position, but “Killa” shrewdly stays on top and passes to side control. Cruz pins Gonzalez's arm down and nearly mounts him. Gonzalez rolls, but before Cruz can sink his hooks in, the bell rings.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Cruz
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Cruz
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Cruz
Round 2
Photo:
Wilson Fox/Sherdog.com
Cruz's sub paid tribute to Mark Coleman.
Joshua Montoya vs. Ed West
Round 1
West starts aggressively with kicking offense, but Montoya defends well. West throws a left roundhouse kick to the body, but Montoya catches it and dings him with left crosses. West continues to throw the low cut kick while Montoya tries to counter. Inside low kick for West scores, but two head kicks are blocked. Two inside low kicks land for the Arizonan, then a head kick. West continues to circle the outside and throw inside and outside leg kicks with speed and accuracy. Two more outside low kicks for West. Snapping front kick up top glances for West who is starting to style on Montoya with kick after kick after kick. As Montoya circles away, West even runs up the fence and feints throwing a “Showtime kick” but Montoya gets out of range. Good counter left hook for Montoya lands as West kicks again, but West comes right back with a one-two-head kick.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 West
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 West
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 West
Round 2
Photo: W.
Fox/Sherdog.com
West left his foe flat on the canvas.
Andres Quintana vs. Russell Wilson
Round 1
Wilson starts aggressively with low kicks and winging hooks. Quintana tries to respond in kind, but neither man can land clean .Wilson tags him with a right hook and shoots in for a takedown, wrestling his man to the mat, but he can't keep him flat. Quintana smartly uses the cage to scoot to his feet and Wilson switches off to a single. Wilson elevates his opponent's leg and tries to roll back to a leglock, but can't find it. He hops up and drives his man into the cage again with a single attempt. He tries to pull Quintana to the mat, but Quintana slickly dives over his back and transitions into an armbar attempt. Wilson humorously rolls his eyes and tells referee Robert Romero he's OK before going over the top, freeing his arm and locking up a guillotine as they scramble. He jumps guards in attempts to finish the choke but can't find the submission before the bell.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Wilson
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Wilson
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Wilson
Round 2
The southpaw Wilson lands some left hooks while Quintana returns in kind with heavy right hands. Quintana begins to move forward and starts to finally land more punches of his own, prompting another shot from Wilson. Quintana sprawls out, defending nicely before standing back up. “The Bullet” touches Wilson with some punches before driving a right knee into the gut. Unfortunately, the maneuver only sets up another Wilson takedown along the cage. Quintana gets a whizzer and smartly uses it to stand. Once again, Wilson gets in on a single-leg takedown but can't finish it, so he jacks Quintana leg up high and trips his plant leg. As they tumble to the floor, Wilson again looks for a leglock but can't find the heel hook he seeks before the horn.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Quintana
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Quintana
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Quintana
Round 3
Wilson runs right across to the cage in pursuit of a takedown but runs into three massive knees from “The Bullet.” Wilson's nose is gushing blood as he dives for the legs, but Quintana avoids and drives Wilson's head into the mat. Wilson's nose is just pouring blood onto the canvas as Quintana hammers him with punches. The defeated Wilson is just covering up on his knees, eating punches as he pours plasma from the face. Referee Robert Romero is forced to rescue the Albuquerque native 32 seconds into the final round.
Blas Avena vs. Lenny Lovato
Round 1
Photo: W.
Fox/Sherdog.com
Avena levelled Lovato quickly.
Holly Holm vs. Katie Merrill
Round 1
and pushes her in the fence. Each woman with knees to the body before Holm pushes away. “Hottie” scores with a low kick and attempts a side kick which Merrill avoids. The “Hol-ly! Hol-ly!” chants start as the former boxing star starts working her jab and throwing combinations. Merrill attempts to grab a single but Holm bounces on her left leg, then gets underhooks and separates. Hard left cross from Holm backs Merrill up as she kicks. Merrill keeps sticking her jab out as a defensive measure, so Holm smashes her with a left roundhouse to the body. Merrill looks hurt but Holm is patient. The Jackson's MMA fighter throw a one-two that misses but smashes Merrill to the body again with a left kick to the midsection.
Another body kick prompts Merrill to shoot, but Holm defends with an underhook. Merrill finally dumps Holm on the canvas, but the bell rings just a moment later.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Holm
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Holm
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Holm
Round 2
Photo: W.
Fox/Sherdog.com
Holm flattened her outmatched opponent.
Merrill is hurt and tries to throw a kick, but Holm smashes her to the mat with a left hand and swarms with punches. Referee Raul Porrata halts the bout at 3:12 of the second round.
Bellator Season 8 Lightweight Tournament Semifinal
David
Rickels vs. Jason
Fischer
Round 1
Rickels and Fischer open up with varied standup, with each fighter showing punches and kicks. Rickels connects on a body kick and Fischer tags him with a jab. Rickels lands two good right hands of his own and starts to turn the pressure up on Fischer, pushing him back to his heels. Fischer continues putting his jab out there on the advancing Rickels, who pushes him into the fence. “Caveman” keeps seeking the clinch, getting a collar tie and landing short punches, but doesn't seem interested in a takedown. Rickels right hand becoming more effective, reddening the face of his foe before the bell.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Rickels
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Rickels
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Rickels
Round 2
Rickels keeps pumping his hands against a now-tentative Fischer who seems hesitant to engage early in the second round. As Fischer finally approaches his target, Rickels changes levels and drives him to the mat with a double-leg takedown. The Detroit native tries to get his legs high for an armbar, but Rickels shuts it down and passes to half guard. Rickels tries to pass up the middle straight to full mount, but he gets greedy and Fischer rolls him nicely and takes top position for himself. Rickels controls Fischer's head from the bottom and pushes away, getting back to the fence and then to his feet. Rickels lands a right roundhouse kick to the body as Fischer throws a right hook. Right cross-left hook for Rickels lands. Fischer tries to get a single-leg takedown, but Rickels pushes him back and sits on him on top, hammerfisting as the Mash Fight Team rep tries to roll through and finish the takedown from the bottom. Unfortunately for him, the bell rings first.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Rickels
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Rickels
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Rickels
Round 3
W.
Fox/Sherdog.com
Rickels advanced to the finals with style.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Rickels (30-27 Rickels)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Rickels (30-27 Rickels)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Rickels (30-27 Rickels)
Official result: Judges Felix Rios and Mark Sanchez score the bout 30-27, while Chris Paez sees it 29-28 for the winner by unanimous decision, David Rickels. Rickels advances to the finals of the Bellator Season 8 lightweight tournament.
Bellator Season 8 Lightweight Tournament Semifinal
Saad
Awad vs. Will
Brooks
Round 1
W.
Fox/Sherdog.com
Awad teed off on Brooks in round one.
Bellator Light Heavyweight Title Fight
Christian
M'Pumbu vs. Attila
Vegh
Round 1
The bout starts cautiously with Vegh stalking M'Pumbu, each fighter pawing with their lead hand. No legitimate strikes are landed through the first minute. The champion finally lands an inside leg kick after briefly switching to orthodox stance. Vegh steps in with a right hook and drops M'Pumbu, but when he rushes in to finish, the French-Congolese fighter recovers and winds up taking top position on the charging fighter. Vegh looks for an armbar, but M'Pumbu escapes and passes to side control. Vegh smartly strafes up the fence and gets back to his feet, where he is forced to deal with an M'Pumbu guillotine. Vegh frees himself and they resume standing. More feinting and pawing from both fighters. The southpaw Vegh rushes and launches another right-handed haymaker but can't connect. Outside leg kick from the champion. M'Pumbu clinches up and Vegh hip tosses him to the canvas, getting a front headlock and landing short shots until the bell.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Vegh
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Vegh
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Vegh
Round 2
More feinting from each fighter to begin the second round. M'Pumbu backs up from the advancing Vegh and lands some low kicks, but the Slovakian chases him with a rush of straight punches and cracks him with a right hand. Vegh steps in with a left uppercut-overhand right but “Tonton” avoids it and clinches him along the cage. They separate and begin the pawing process again, irritating the New Mexico crowd. Vegh charges in with two more punches and a hard outside low kick that momentarily stumbles M'Pumbu. M'Pumbu shoots in, but Vegh defends and flips him over with underhooks, taking top position for himself. As Vegh looks to punch, M'Pumbu tries scramble from the bottom and Vegh tries for a leglock. The champion gets to his feet, escapes and the leglock and sits down with into full mount. Vegh rolls and ends up giving up his back. He tries to shake M'Pumbu, who looks for an armbar over the top. Vegh simply waits it out until the bell.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 M'Pumbu
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-10
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Vegh
Round 3
The round begins with the familiar glove touching and jabbing until the challenger unloads a hard left uppercut that drops M'Pumbu. The champion recovers quickly but Vegh claims top position. M'Pumbu looks for an armbar from the bottom, but Vegh escapes. The Slovakian is having trouble dealing with the long legs of M'Pumbu, who swings for a leglock. Vegh cracks him in the face with a hard right hand as the champ squirms beneath him, looking for a triangle. Vegh escapes again and forces M'Pumbu back to guard before impressively stepping over his legs right into full mount for a moment. M'Pumbu reclaims half guard, switching to a deep half and trying to sweep Vegh. Vegh opens up with elbows that slash the side of M'Pumbu's head open. The champion tries to play wrist control from the bottom and Vegh smacks him for it before raining down more punishment from the top before the bell.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Vegh
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Vegh
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Vegh
Round 4
The first time the fighters engage in the championship rounds, M'Pumbu basically falls to his back, giving top position to Vegh who ground and pounds for a moment until the champion scrambles back to his feet. The action has slowed and the Santa Ana Star Center crowd is getting restless. M'Pumbu looks exhausted as Vegh cracks him with a right hook and a knee. “Tonton” tries to get away and eats another left hand, forcing him into a tepid takedown attempt. Vegh simply hooks through his legs, perhaps looking for a switch, but mostly just stalling until referee Jason Herzog splits them up. On the restart, M'Pumbu runs Vegh into the fence until the bell.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Vegh
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Vegh
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Vegh
Round 5
The fifth and final round begins with more feinting until Vegh charges the champion and runs him into the fence. It's mostly stalling until the pair separate at which point they resume the endless fist-bumping that has marked most of the contest. “Tonton” throws a left hook-right uppercut, and Vegh lands a right hand in return. Vegh throws a three-piece but hits only air, and M'Pumbu's attempted counter uppercut goes wild. Nice left hook lands for M'Pumbu and Vegh wobbles a bit, but Vegh tags him with a counter hook as he tries to close in, stopping his momentum. The Slovakian pushes his man into the cage once more and M'Pumbu simply opts for wrist control. Vegh can't find any offense before the bell.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-10 (49-47 Vegh)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-10 (50-47 Vegh)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 M'Pumbu (48-47 Vegh)
Official result: Judge Richard Epinoza sees it 50-45, Mark Sanchez has it 49-46 and Felix Rios scores the contest 48-47 for the winner by unanimous decision and the new Bellator light heavyweight champion, Attila Vegh.
Related Articles