Bellator 163 Results: Play-by-Play & Round-by-Round Scoring

Ilya Kotau vs. Carlos Corriea

Round 1

Kotau backs Correia into the fence while throwing power punches. Kotau clinches with his foe and pushes him into the fence. They separate and Correia lands a left hand before changing levels for a takedown. Kotau defends it and now they jockey for position against the cage. Correia trips Kotau to the canvas and takes his foe’s back as Kotau attempts to stand. Kotau is now forced to carry Correia’s weight as he hunts for the rear-naked choke. Correia lands a couple punches as Kotau falls to his knees. Correia briefly slides his left arm under Kotau’s chin but Kotau escapes and turns into his opponent’s guard. Correia uses an omaplata to sweep. He loses the hold, gets Kotau’s back but relinquishes that position as well. Kotau lands a right hand in an exchange before Correia drives for a takedown. Kotau gets the back in a scramble and slams Correia down on his rear, ending the frame with both hooks in and back control. 10-9 Correia.

Round 2

Kotau drops Correia almost immediately with a right hand. Kotau dives into Correia’s guard and finds himself ensnared in a triangle. Correia transitions to an armbar then back to the triangle and back to the triangle again. Kotau attempts to roll out of danger but Correia hangs on. Correia throws a couple left hands to the ribs and then lets the triangle go. Correia transitions to a heel hook. Kotau breaks free and stands, but he allows Correia to push him into the cage as he stands. The action slows as Kotau defends the takedown against the fence, throwing occasional elbows to the side of the head. Correia finally gets his man down but Kotau is quickly back up. They separate and return to the center of the cage with a minute to go. Correia ducks under a punch and shoots for a takedown. Kotau stuffs it and works his way to Correia’s back and lands some punches as the horn sounds. 10-9 Kotau.

Round 3

Correia lands a left jab to begin the frame. They lock up and Correia pushes his foe into the fence. Both men appear to be fatigued as they trade knees in close quarters. Correia winds up in top position after a scramble. He stands and then drops back for a foot lock. Kotau escapes with ease and takes the back. Kotau has one hook in as he lands punches to the side of Correia’s head. Correia reverses position and ends up in side control. He takes Kotau’s back and both hooks are in with a little more than one minute remaining. Correia briefly has his left arm under Kotau’s chin, but he loses the hold. Kotau attempts to spin out of danger but Correia is able to maintain back control. Kotau finally assumes top position just as the round expires. 10-9 Correia (29-28) Correia.

The Official Result

Carlos Correia def. Ilya Kotau via Split Decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27) R3 5:00

Ed Ruth vs. Dustin Collins-Miles

Round 1

Ruth is flashing his jab early as he takes the center of the cage. Collins-Miles seats Ruth with a counter-right hand. Ruth pops up and slams his opponent down with a double-leg takedown. He takes a big step over to mount. Collins-Miles is doing his best to control the head and keep Ruth from posturing up. Collins-Miles gives up his back, and Ruth lands several right hands to the side of the head. Collins-Miles is cut from one of the shots and is bleeding profusely on the canvas. Ruth lands some elbows from the wrestling ride position. Ruth is picking up the intensity of his right hands on a prone Collins-Miles now. Collins-Miles isn’t doing much to defend himself, and referee Kevin MacDonald has seen enough. Ruth has his first professional MMA victory.

The Official Result

Ed Ruth def. Dustin Collins-Miles via TKO (Punches) 3:19 R1

Tyrell Fortune vs. Cody Miskell

Round 1

Fortune pops Miskell with a quick jab and a follow up one-two to begin his MMA debut. Fortune lands another one-two, and Miskell backs off. Fortune counters with a left hand and flurries to back Miskell into the fence. Fortune takes control in a scramble and rides Miskell near the fence, where he lands hard right hands and a knee to the body. Miskell is turtled up and Fortune lands two more vicious knees and follow up with more right hands. Referee John McCarthy warns Miskell to defend himself, but the assault continues and the bout is halted.

The Official Result

Tyrell Fortune def. Cody Miskell via TKO (Knees and Punches) 2:22 R1

Josh Diekmann vs. Tyler King

Round 1

The rangier King lands a leg kick about 30 seconds into the heavyweight rematch. King shoots for a takedown and Diekmann shucks him into the fence and fires off a combination. He jaws at King as they stand in the center of the cage. King responds with another outside leg kick. Diekmann has remained on the outside, while King lands periodic leg kicks in what has been a slow-paced bout after three minutes. Diekmann lands a counter right on a slow body kick by King. Diekmann checks a couple leg kicks and King drives Diekmann down with about 30 seconds remaining. King finishes the frame in his opponent’s half guard. 10-9 King.

Round 2

King again leads off with an outside leg kick. King jabs but can’t land, but he is keeping Diekmann at a safe distance. King bulldozes Diekmann to the canvas with a takedown near the fence. King works his way to side control before stepping to mount. King postures up to land some punches and Diekmann gives up his back. Shortly thereafter, King secures a rear-naked choke and Diekmann taps out in a matter of moments.

The Official Result

Tyler King def. Josh Diekmann via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 1:39 R2

Steve Skrzat vs. Tim Caron

Round 1

Caron goes up top with a high kick but it’s only a glancing blow. Skrzat catches a body kick and drives Caron into the fence. Skrzat and Caron trade knees in the clinch. Skrzat tries to drag Caron down but Caron winds up on top. Skrzat powers his way back up. Caron lands a knee to the body before they separate. The fighters trade leg kicks. Caron blocks a big left hook. Skrzat closes the distance and tries to complete a takedown against the cage. Caron defends and lands some elbows to the ribs. Caron turns and lands several knees to the head of Skrzat. Caron keeps Skrat’s back to the fence as he lands punches to the body and knees. Caron goes up top with an elbow. Time expires with Caron in control. 10-9 Caron.

Round 2

Caron lands a glancing high kick early. Caron moves forward and Skrzat lands a left hand over the top. Skrzat has his leg kicked out from under him as he attempts another big overhand left. Skrzat appears to be hurt and Caron pounces on his turtled foe. Caron unloads with with left and right hands from the wrestling ride, eventually forcing a stoppage after a series of unanswered blows.

The Official Result

Tim Caron def. Steve Skrzat via TKO (Punches) 1:22 R2

Sarah Payant vs. Hannah Regina

Round 1

The flyweights clinch up and Payant trips her adversary to the canvas. Regina hunts for a leg lock and Payant counters with one of her own. Regina escapes and moves to top position. Regina pulls guard as she locks in a brabo choke. Regina rolls on top but lets the hold go. Regina alternates elbows and punches to the body. Payant stands and pushes Regina into the fence. Regina turns and counters with a knee to the body and an elbow to the face. Regina muscles Payant to the mat. Payant eats short punches as she stands. Regina takes her opponent back down near the fence and remains busy with punches to the head and body. Payant gets back up and trips Regina down. Regina responds with an armbar attempt from her back and moments later, she forces a tapout to win her pro debut with less than 10 seconds remaining in the stanza.

The Official Result

Hannah Regina def. Sarah Payant via Submission (Armbar) 4:51 R1

Sergei Kharitonov vs. Javy Ayala

Round 1

The heavyweights touch gloves and Kharitonov goes on the attack almost at once with punches. Ayala responds by shooting for a takedown but Kharitonov stuffs it. They separate briefly. In the ensuing exchange, Kharitonov looks to throw a left hook, but Ayala steps into an overhand right that catches the Russian behind the ear. Kharitonov’s head snaps back and the Pride Fighting Championships veteran is unconscious before he hits the floor. Referee Dan Mirgliotta waves off the contest before any more damage can be done, giving Ayala a massive upset victory.

The Official Result

Javy Ayala def. Sergei Kharitonov via KO (Punch) 0:16 R1

Neiman Gracie vs. Rudy Bears

Round 1

Gracie and Bears touch gloves for this catchweight bout and we’re underway. Gracie goes high with a kick but Bears blocks it. Bears comes up short on a one-two combination. The crowd begins to boo as no one has landed any offense a minute and a half into the fight. Gracie shoots for a double leg that’s blocked. Bears counters by attempting a hip toss and and is thrown to the canvas by Gracie for his troubles. Gracie transitions from mount and takes his foe’s back with ease and secures a body triangle. Gracie tightens the body triangle and slides his left arm under the chin of Bears. Bears pries the hold free but Gracie is still attached to his back. Gracie traps Bears’ left arm with his left leg for a moment, but “Bad News” is able to free his limb. Gracie transitions to an armbar, and Bears tries to yank his arm free as he stands. Instead the arm pops and Bears has no choice but to tap out.

The Official Result

Neiman Gracie def. Rudy Bears via Submission (Armbar) 4:39 R1

Saad Awad vs. Brennan Ward

Round 1

Awad falls on a high kick and Ward dives in but they’re quickly back up. Ward secures a body lock and pushes his man toward the fence but lets Awad go, apparently at his opponent’s request. Ward is throwing virtually everything with malicious intent, but Awad is doing his best to answer. Ward unloads with everything he has and backs Awad into the cage. Awad throws caution to the wind and engages in a firefight but it’s Ward who catches his man with a clean left hook on the chin. Awad tumbles forward face first onto the canvas. Ward pounces and lands three or four follow-up shots on the ground but they aren’t even necessary, as referee Kevin MacDonald dives in to bring a halt to the short-lived welterweight brawl.

The Official Result

Brennan Ward def. Saad Awad via KO (Punch) 1:26 R1

Bellator Light Heavyweight Title Fight:
Liam McGeary vs. Phil Davis

Round 1

McGeary takes the center of the cage and throws a push kick to begin the action. Davis throws a low kick while McGeary probes with his jab. Davis closes the distance and locks up with the champ, but McGeary shoves him away. Davis tries for another takedown and eats a knee to the body. Davis tags McGeary with a left hand and McGeary responds by tying up. McGeary marches forward carelessly with punches and Davis gets him down with ease. “Mr. Wonderful” has full mount near the fence. Davis lands left hands and knees to the body from the wrestling ride position. McGeary fires an elbow back in Davis’ direction but misses. Davis moves to McGeary’s back but the Brit somehow rolls out of danger and dodges a left hand from his opponent as they resume standing. McGeary goes back to work with his jab with less than a minute to go. Davis pushes McGeary against the fence briefly but the combatants separate. Davis falls on a kick as the round expires. 10-9 Davis

Round 2

Davis throws a low kick and McGeary counters with a jab. Davis alternates an outside low kick followed by an inside low kick and is warned by John McCarthy for going too low. Both fighters trade kicks to the body. McGeary lands a lead hook and then they trade leg kicks. They tie up in the center of the cage and Davis powers his foe down near the fence. McGeary’s guard is active as Davis attempts to pass guard. Davis finally steps into full mount with a little more than two minutes to go. Davis creates space to land some short elbows from above, then later lands some punches to the face. McGeary pushes off the cage and shoves Davis away, allowing the British champ to get to his feet late in the round. McGeary marches forward as the round expires but isn’t able to land anything of note. 10-9 Davis

Round 3

McGeary counters Davis with a nice right hand. Davis fires off a rear kick to the body. Davis is mixing kicks and punches well before changing levels for a takedown. Davis picks McGeary up high and drops him. The champ is threatening with his guard almost as soon as he hits the canvas. Davis avoids any trouble and moves to full mount at about the 3:30 mark. Davis looks to trap McGeary’s arm for a kimura, which limits the Englishman’s chances for offense from his back. McGeary nearly uses his long legs to push Davis away, but “Mr. Wonderful” simply finds full mount once again, stepping into the position with relative ease. Davis moves from side control back to mount, staying just busy enough with punches, elbows and submission attempts. McGeary rolls for a kneebar but Davis avoid it with no issue. Davis stands and McGeary invites him back into his guard. McCarthy orders a standup late in the round and the horn sounds with both men standing. 10-9 Davis.

Round 4

McGeary probably needs a finish as the championship rounds begin. Davis blends low kicks with punches. McGeary lands a knee to the body as Davis shoots for a takedown. The American pushes through it and plants his foe on his back yet again. McGeary attempts to frame a triangle from his back but Davis slips out and moves to full mount. He peppers McGeary with short left hands from above. A cut has been opened on McGeary’s head, as Davis goes to work with more short elbows. Davis stays heavy on top, battering McGeary with ground-and-pound. Davis traps McGeary’s head with his legs and tries hard for a kimura. That allows McGeary to stand but only a few seconds remain in the frame. 10-9 Davis

Round 5

McGeary moves forward, throwing several jabs and a push kick. McGeary continues the pressure, but Davis clinches with his foe and pushes him to the fence. McGeary attempts to isolate an arm for a kimura but he can’t get it and Davis shoves him down. Davis ends up back on top with three and a half minutes remaining. Davis’ approach looks similar to the previous rounds, as he moves from mount to side control while leaving his knee on McGeary’s body to neutralize his adversary. “Mr. Wonderful” continues to control McGeary’s long limbs, lands periodic ground and pound and maintains consistent pressure from above as time ticks off the clock. McGeary looks exhausted as Davis forces him to carry his weight. Davis sits up, then jumps past McGeary’s guard with a right hand. The fight ends with Davis in mount, likely clinching a one-sided championship victory for the former UFC standout. 10-9 Davis (50-45 Davis).

The Official Result

Phil Davis def. Liam McGeary via Unanimous Decision (50-43, 50-45, 50-44) 5:00 R3