Bellator 103 Results: Play-by-Play & Updates

Ricky Musgrave vs. Cody Carrillo

Round 1

Musgrave attacks with a rush of punches and Carrillo slips while trying to kick off of his back foot. Musgrave dives right into his guard and tries to pass to mount. Carrillo stops the pass but Musgrave lands some right hands before they each scramble back to their feet. Musgrave pops Carrillo's head up with a jab and moments later, connects with a right hand-left hook that stumbles Carrillo, who ends up falling to the mat again. Carrillo lunges to top again, this time getting an overhook and pounding his foe with the other hand.

“The Spazmanian Devil” is in complete control, moving to full mount and smashing his fellow Kansas native. Carrillo shakes him off, but Musgrave keeps punching him from the turtle position. Carrillo tries to roll away and reclaim guard, but winds up beneath Musgrave with his arm exposed. The U.S. Army vet attacks it immediately, locking up a kimura and stepping over Carrillo's head with both legs. Carrillo tries to roll, but is trapped and taps out.

The Official Result

Ricky Musgrave def. Cody Carrillo via Submission (Kimura) R1 2:59

Jeimeson Saudino vs. Jesse Thornton

Round 1

Saudino and Thornton both show a variety of kicks in the opening 60 seconds, including an attempted meia lua kick by Saudino, but nothing is landing. Saudino finally cracks Thornton with a low kick. Thornton has trouble closing the distance, so he finally takes a run at Saudino and gets cracked with a right hook en route to a clinch. Saudino digs short knee strikes into Thornton's thighs while trying to secure a trip takedown. Thornton turns him around and puts the Brazilian's back onto the cage. The two stay just active enough to hang out for a minute until referee “Big” John McCarthy breaks them up with 80 seconds to go in the round. Saudino lands two more leg kicks. Another half-moon kick from Saudino goes wide, prompting a clinch until the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Saudino
Joe Ortiz scores the round 10-9 Saudino
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Saudino

Round 2

Saudino slips with another kicking attack and Thornton opts to let him get up, only for the American to immediately grab him and toss him to the ground seconds later. Thornton tries to pound his way through Saudino's guard but isn't having much success. Saudino throws up a triangle, allowing “The Army Assassin” to elevate him and slam him, momentarily stunning Saudino. Thornton pounces with punches along the cage but Saudino scrambles to the safety of half guard after nearly having his back taken. Thornton chips away in half guard with left hands but can't advance his position much.

He stands up briefly, allowing Saudino to grapevine his leg for a kneebar, dragging him to the mat. Thornton wriggles free while punching Saudino to the body, taking top position again. Thornton stands up out of the Wichita-based Brazilian's guard, prompting Saudino to try to roll onto his leg once more. Thornton jumps free and John McCarthy resets them on the feet with 10 seconds to go. Thornton lands a short right hand, Saudino throws a wild back wheel kick and the bell rings.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Thornton
Joe Ortiz scores the round 10-9 Thornton
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Thornton

Round 3

Thornton circles the outside for the first minute of round three, just touching Saudino with outside low kicks. Saudino leaps in with a wild hook, so Thornton clinches and puts his man's back on he fence again. It's more of the same, with the pair landing ineffectual knees until McCarthy breaks them up again. Off the restart, Thornton throws a slow leg kick which Saudino catches. The Brazilian uses the leg to drag Thornton to the mat, but the active U.S. Army vet rolls forward into a takedown. Saudino jumps a guillotine, surrendering top position to Thornton. “The Army Assassin” can't find much offense on top and Saudino is able to escape to his feet. Thornton runs Saudino back to the fence with a front headlock, but when he tries to land knees to the head, Saudino puts his hand on the mat, making himself a grounded fighter. Thornton holds onto it, hoping for offense to materialize but McCarthy splits them up again with 20 seconds to fight. Thornton cracks Saudino with two hard right hooks along the fence and fittingly, another meia lua from Saudino goes well wide before the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Thornton (29-28 Thornton)
Joe Ortiz scores the round 10-9 Thornton (29-28 Thornton)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Thornton (29-28 Thornton)

The Official Result

Jeimeson Saudino def. Jesse Thornton via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) R3 5:00

Donnie Bell vs. Marcio Navarro

Round 1

The kickboxer Navarro immediately whips two left roundhouse kicks to the body but Bell is having none of it, bulling Navarro to the ground quickly with a power double. Bell moves to half guard, punching with his left hand. He moves from half guard right into the side crucifix with Navarro trapped on bottom. “Da Bomber” goes to work with left elbows. Navarro is able to finally free his right arm from between Bell's legs but Bell moves into full mount. Navarro smartly tries to use the cage to escape but Bell shows good hips and moves with him perfectly as the Kansas-based Brazilian shows his back.

Bell sinks his hooks, secures the back and looks for a rear-naked choke. Bell doesn't have his choking arm sunk well, but he torques Navarro's head sideways while pushing his own hips forward, bowing the Brazilian's back deeply. The part-crank, part-choke almost instantly yields a tap from the BJJ brown belt.

The Official Result

Donnie Bell def. Marcio Navarro via Submission (Neck Crank) R1 2:06

Maurice Jackson vs. Matt Uhde

Round 1

The 6-foot-9 Jackson lands a side kick to begin but Uhde swarms him looking for a takedown. He lands a short punch on the former basketball player, stumbling Jackson slightly. The stocky Uhde is crowding Jackson, who is nearly falling over himself to get away. Uhde keeps giving chase but eventually the much taller Jackson gets his distance and launches a left head kick that stuns the Kansas native. Uhde tries to stay on his feet, but “The Gorilla” plunks him with a hard one-two. In desperation, Uhde dives in on a single-leg takedown.

Uhde narrowly ducks under the first roundhouse kick but upon reshooting, he dives right into the Californian's left shin. Uhde is instantly spurting blood out of his head as Jackson takes to position and starts pounding away. Uhde is doing well to cover up, but blood is leaking out of a semi-circular cut on the top of his bald head. As soon as there is a lull in the action, referee “Big” John McCarthy calls the cageside physician to examine the cut. After examination, the doctor ruefully tells Udhe and McCarthy, “We gotta call it, man, I'm sorry.”

The Official Result

Maurice Jackson def. Matt Uhde via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) R1 0:52

Blake Pool vs. Remy Bussieres

Round 1

Pool pops his jab immediately, getting Bussieres' attenton. However, the French-Canadian is looking for bombs immediately. Bussieres doesn't land his first salvo of hooks, but cracks Pool with a two-piece when he throws a kick, knocking him off balance and down to the mat. Bussieres digs to the body from full guard before moving to half guard. Pool shrimps and regains full guard but can't get the hard-punching Bussieres off of him. Small hammerfists from the full guard land for Bussieres. Pool tries to throw up a triangle but “The Titan” passes underneath and takes his back. Although Pool rolls out of a near rear-naked choke attempt, Bussieres stays with him and rolls into full mount. “The Bull” finally bridges and escapes to his feet but he goes for a single-leg takedown and Bussieres nearly takes his back off of the attempt before scrambling back to his feet. With a minute to go, both fighters stand square in the pocket, cracking one another with clean hooks. It's pure Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots-style fighting for a moment until Bussieres slams Pool back to the canvas, easily taking mount and punching away until the bell, ending a wild five-minute period.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Bussieres
Joe Ortiz scores the round 10-9 Bussieres
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Bussieres

Round 2

Pool throws a lunging, looping left hook which misses by a mile but he puts a right hand behind it that puts stuns Bussieres and puts him on the mat. Pool swarms with shots but Bussieres takes the punishment and simply battles back to his feet. Both men have eaten a considerable amount of clean, standing punches. Pool stays active, circling around Bussieres while pumping his jab. However, Bussieres clinches, ragdolls the Kansas City fighter to the canvas and takes full mount again. Bussieres stays tight to Pool, grinding with short punches as Pool tries to bridge and escape. Pool finally escapes with just under two minutes to go and even clips Bussieres with a right hand on his exit. Bussieres, however, just keeps walking through Pool's punches to land his own, cracking the Missourian's jaw with another right hook, then a left hook. Pool is retreating now. Hard left hook from “The Titan” lands. Pool misses badly with an uppercut and eats a left hook-right hook, then another left on top of it. Bussieres is really starting to put the screws to Pool but the bell sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Bussieres
Joe Ortiz scores the round 10-9 Bussieres
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Bussieres

Round 3

Both lightweights are on fumes but Bussieres is still landing hard hooks on his feet from his compact boxing stance. Each time he throws his left hook, Pool eats it flush. Pool looks for a takedown, only to wind up in a front headlock eating knees.

He escapes and the bout devolves into another round of Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, with absolutely no defense from either fighter. The punches are little more than arm-weary slaps now. Bussieres is bleeding from the mouth and “The Bull” lands a hard uppercut to keep the blood flowing. However, Bussieres comes right back with several left hands that find their home. Pool does a good job landing several jabs, then walks right into a left hook-right hook from Bussieres that hurts him. The pair keep punching away until the bell, ending 15 minutes of brain trauma for both fighters.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Bussieres (30-27 Bussieres)
Joe Ortiz scores the round 10-9 Pool (29-28 Bussieres)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Pool (29-28 Bussieres)

The Official Result

Remy Bussieres def. Blake Pool via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Wayman Carter vs. Carlos Eduardo

Round 1

Eduardo shoots in on Carter who sprawls easily and pushes the Brazilian aside. A low kick lands for the Brazilian but Carter clips him with a right hand in a rush of punches.

The Brazilian hits the mat and the Kansas fighter swarms but Eduardo smartly uses the deep half guard to sweep to side mount on top. Eduardo goes to knee-on-belly, looking for an armbar, but instead winds up taking the back of a scrambling Carter. Eduardo sinks his hooks, lands some punches then digs for the rear-naked choke. “Cachorrao” goes palm-to-palm but Carter breaks his grip. On the second attempt, Eduardo figure fours his arms as Carter spits out his mouthguard and now the choke is on tight. Carter winces, struggles and inevitably, taps.

The Official Result

Carlos Eduardo def. Wayman Carter via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R1 2:06

Aaron Rosa vs. Mikhail Zayats

Round 1

The larger, longer Rosa tries to utilize his reach from the opening bell. He backs Zayats up with a rush of crosses but the Russian avoid any damage, bodylocks the oncoming Rosa and gets him on the mat easily. Zayats winds up in side mount, but in just the blink of an eye, Zayats passes from side control and is posted over Rosa's head, figure fouring his arm and looking for a kimura. The UFC veteran can't hold his grip and Zayats torques the Texan's left arm behind his back, prompting the submission in well under a minute. Complete schooling by Mikhail Zayats.

The Official Result

Mikhail Zayats def. Aaron Rosa via Submission (Kimura) R1 0:47

David Rickels vs. J.J. Ambrose

Round 1

Rickels sticks out his jab and probes the distance with kicks until Ambrose comes inside and the two trade glancing hooks at close range. The lightweights jockey for position along the cage until Rickels puts Ambrose's back on the fence, swims to the neck tie and pops him with two knees. Ambrose works for a single, then switches to a double and back again, but Rickels economically staves it off and frees him. Rickels backs Ambrose up with his boxing then lands a beautiful teep square to the face. A hard right cross follows and gets the partisan Kansas crowd excited. Ambrose shoots a takedown to avoid any more damage and again, Rickels sprawls and drags him back to his feet. Another clinch knee and crosses follow. Ambrose retreats but “Caveman” pressures him with more boxing, tagging him with left hands en route to a bodylock takedown. It's one-way traffic for the former Bellator lightweight title challenger. Rickels pounds on Ambrose, smashing him from Ali-Inoki position until Ambrose tries to scramble and escape. Rickels dives on his back and sinks his hooks, looking for a rear-naked choke. Ambrose shakes Rickels and turns into his guard with 45 seconds left in the round. Rickels elbows Ambrose from his back, stagnating any offense the top man might've hoped to have before the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Rickels
Joe Ortiz scores the round 10-9 Rickels
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Rickels

Round 2

Rickels' presses in behind his jab and right hook. Ambrose circles the outside to escape, only to walk into Rickels' right low kick. It takes him two attempts to finish it but Ambrose finally gets Rickels on the ground cleanly with a single-leg takedown. Rickels quickly works back to the cage and the “Caveman” smartly hops back to his feet after stopping any real Ambrose offense. After regaining his feet, Rickels hacks into Ambrose's liver with a left body kick that drops him in a heap. The local lightweight pounces on Ambrose with both hands with sustained punches, but he can't break his guard and land very clean, so referee “Big” John McCarthy lets them fight on. Ambrose rolls into a desperate takedown and gets back on top but has to fight off a triangle attempt from Rickels. After escaping, Rickels uses double butterfly guard to push Ambrose away, goes back to his feet and goes back to work. In just seconds, Rickels knocks his man down with a leg kick and has Ambrose rolling for his leg desperately. Rickels sprawls and elbows to the body, pounding away until the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-8 Rickels
Joe Ortiz scores the round 10-8 Rickels
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Rickels

Round 3

More forward pressure from Rickels, who lands hooks with both hands and prompts Ambrose to shoot again. Ambrose gets in deep on Rickels' leg and manages to yank his foot off the mat, getting him on his back against the fence. Rickels instantly kicks him away, slides up the fence and lands a right hook that prompts another Ambrose shot. Rickels digs to his ribs with elbows and punches while Ambrose drives on a takedown that just isn't there. “Caveman” is just tenderizing the ribs of Ambrose, who is motionless with his head stuck between Rickels' legs.

Ambrose isn't in any particular danger but he's getting his body absolutely wailed on now. More punches and elbows from both sides from Rickels. John McCarthy tells Ambrose that he has to do something, but he stays facedown, buried beneath Rickels. McCarthy finally intervenes to save the battered Ambrose. Following the stoppage, Rickels hops over the fence and runs into the stands inside the Kansas Star Casino, slapping hands and celebrating with his Kansas faithful.

The Official Result

Dave Rickels def. J.J. Ambrose via TKO (Punches and Elbows to the Body) R3 2:37

Justin Wilcox vs. Joe Taimanglo

Round 1

Taimanglo measures the distance with an array of low kicks while Wilcox sets about trying to counter off of them. Wilcox stutter-steps forward with a right hand so Taimanglo drops for a single-leg takedown that goes nowhere. Wilcox shrugs him off then comes inside and winds up in a front headlock from Taimanglo, who tries to jump to a guillotine but perhaps wisely bails on it and gets back to his feet rather than sacrificing position. The Guam product gets his lead hand going but Wilcox knocks his head back with a hard right. “Baby Joe” sticks his jab out again and Wilcox ducks underneath getting in on his waist. Taimanglo locks onto Wilcox's head, giving up the takedown and half guard to “The Silverback.” Wilcox pressures hard with his shoulder, driving into Taimanglo's jaw and neck. Short left hands and elbows landing for the Strikeforce veteran. Wilcox is just muscling Taimanglo on top, methodically chipping away and wearing him out. Taimanglo tries to get a hold of a kimura and go belly down but gets nowhere. Wilcox yanks out, but when he does, “Baby Joe” pops up and tags him with a right hook before the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Wilcox
Joe Ortiz scores the round 10-9 Wilcox
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Taimanglo

Round 2

Taimanglo opens up with his hands, tagging Wilcox and knocking him off balance momentarily. Wilcox goes upstairs with a head kick, his knee cracking Taimanglo in the face but not slowing the Guamanian fighter. Taimanglo pops him with three punches and Wilcox moves in for a single-leg takedown, which “Baby Joe” limplegs out of nicely. Taimanglo switches to southpaw and puts two straight lefts on Wilcox's chin. Wilcox finally gets in on a single-leg takedown, runs the pipe and gets on top. Wilcox moves to half guard while Taimanglo tries to tie up his left arm. Taimanglo incrementally shrimps away, gets his hip to the canvas then stands up. Wilcox stays glued to his waist and nearly takes his back but Taimanglo turns himself around and breaks free. Just as soon as Taimanglo starts boxing, Wilcox changes levels and deposits him on the canvas with a minute to go. Wilcox keeps Taimanglo down but simply can't find any real offense before the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Taimanglo
Joe Ortiz scores the round 10-9 Taimanglo
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Wilcox

Round 3

The American Kickboxing Academy product goes right back to his wrestling base, changing levels, driving through and putting Taimanglo on the mat early in the first round. Wilcox just keeps wearing Taimanglo down from half guard, controlling his head, smothering him with hard shoulder pressure. He briefly threatens with an arm-triangle choke from the top of half guard, but releases his control and moves to side control.

“The Silverback” moves back toward the legs of “Baby Joe,” hoping to hop over them and get into full mount. Taimanglo blocks it, holding on the half guard, but just barely as Wilcox keeps driving his shoulder into Taimanglo's neck and peppering him with short punches. The Guamanian manages to regain full guard, but when he does, Wilcox gets busy with both hands, popping Taimanglo in the face cleanly and getting back to half guard. Wilcox keeps steadily pounding away, controlling the affair until the final bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Wilcox (29-28 Wilcox)
Joe Ortiz scores the round 10-9 Wilcox (29-28 Wilcox)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Wilcox (29-28 Wilcox)

The Official Result

Justin Wilcox def. Joe Taimanglo via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) R3 5:00

Patricio Freire vs. Fabricio Guerreiro

Round 1

The 45 seconds is cautious as the rangier Guerreiro paws at the stocky Freire. He finally engages and both men jockey for a bodylock takedown of their own. Eventually, the smaller “Pitbull” gets a headlock and manages to trip the outside leg, getting his fellow countryman to the mat and getting to half guard. Freire attacks Guerreiro's right arm with a kimura, baiting him to defend and allowing Pitbull to walk over his knees and take full mount. Guerreiro uses the cage to stand up and goes right back to the clinch, looking for a trip takedown. Freire defends, changes levels and puts his man on the mat again. Freire passes to the side close to the cage, putting himself between Guerreiro and the fence and briefly moving to full mount. Guerreiro pushes him away and gets back to half guard. Freire tries to step over Guerreiro's right arm and unleash some punches but success is short-lived. Pitbull stands up and starts punching down at his foe, but Guerreiro kicks him away and clinches up on the feet to avoid any real damage before the bell rings.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Freire
Joe Ortiz scores the round 10-9 Freire
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Freire

Round 2

Guerreiro changes levels as soon as Freire punches at him but Freire elevates and sweeps his opponent as they hit the ground, winding up on his knees and getting a front headlock. Guerreiro tries to scramble up but Pitbull is still on his waist. Guerreiro turns himself around, inviting the over-under clinch with the shorter Brazilian. They mostly just trade short knees inside until referee John McCarthy separates them. Guerrerio is the aggressor on the feet now, winging left hook-right hook combinations, nicely tagging Freire with a right hand. Pitbull grabs double underhooks on an approaching Guerreiro and marches him back to the fence, where they resume kneeing one another in the stomach and thighs. Guerreiro turns Freire around in the fence but Pitbull reclaims his position. John McCarthy doesn't much care, however, and breaks the featherweights up. Both men go back to lobbing hard hooks, Freire landing a hard two-piece combination. Guerreiro lands a nice outside low kick, but when he attempts to back to the well, Freire knocks him on his backside with a clean right cross. Guerreiro gets back to his feet and launches a spinning back fist that goes wide. Just before the bell, they clinch up and Pitbull moves to a rear waistlock, slamming Guerreiro to his knees at the 'ding.'

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Freire
Joe Ortiz scores the round 10-9 Freire
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Freire

Round 3

The rangy Guerreiro throws more kicks, forcing Freire to defense. He closed in and lands and outside trip but Freire once more sweeps Guerreiro as they hit the mat, using a whizzer to roll through and take top position for himself. Freire winds up on top in half guard, where he drives his left knee on the open side into Guerreiro's body. Guerreiro shrimps away and stands. Unfortunately, his first attack is another spinning back fist, so Pitbull simply ducks under and gets another rear waistlock. Pitbull knees Guerreiro in the head as he turns around to face him, then ducks under, picks Guerreiro up and slams him right back down to the mat. Freire just controls Guerreiro's upper body, methodically passing to side control. However, when he gets there, his opponent shrimps away and slides up the cage with 45 seconds to go. Guerreiro, sensing he's behind, attacks Freire with wide-swinging hooks. Freire simply circles away, picking off Guerreiro as he charges forward. The bell rings and there should be no question as to who Justin Wilcox will meet in the Bellator Season 9 featherweight tournament final.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Freire (30-27 Freire)
Joe Ortiz scores the round 10-9 Freire (30-27 Freire)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Freire (30-27 Freire)

The Official Result

Patricio Freire def. Fabricio Guerreiro via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00