Bellator 122 Results: Play-by-Play & Updates

Stephen Martinez vs. Sergio Rios

Round 1

Martinez throws some lukewarm leg kicks while Rios responds with harder, but wild kicks. Rios backs Martinez up, then opts for a flying head kick but winds up going over top of Martinez. The Brazilian lands on his back and instantly throws his long legs up for an armbar. He is tenacious in pursuit as Martinez keeps stacking and trying to step over Rios' face. Rios is patient and methodical, but Martinez really takes his time, pressuring on Rios' chest with his knee and finally freeing himself. Rios traps him with an omoplata in the transition, but Martinez gets free at the halfway point of the round. Martinez settles into the closed guard of Rios and looks for elbows. Clean right hand lands for Martinez, then a left elbow. A short right elbow of Martinez opens a cut on the face of Rios and blood is starting to pour. The Brazilian looks to panic a bit as Martinez cuts right through his guard, into side control, then takes mount. Rios rolls free as Martinez tries to take his back. Martinez can't keep the position, but stays on top pounding away. Rios looks for another armbar, but Martinez escapes and keeps pounding on the bloodied Brazilian.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Martinez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Martinez
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Martinez

Round 2

A Rios left head kick is blocked by Martinez, but still makes solid contact. Rios, perhaps pressured by the cut on his forehead, lunges at his foe with a rangy salvo of punches. Martinez tries to stop the flurry and changes levels, but Rios shrugs him right off and keeps punching. Rios throws hooks with both hands and as Martinez tries to change levels again, Rios cracks him right between the eyes with his right shin. Rios pounces with punches to finish the fight as Martinez feebly clings to his leg. Referee Stephen Davis dives in to stop the rain of hammerfists, giving Rios the sudden, emphatic TKO win at 20 seconds of the second round.

The Official Result

Sergio Rios def. Stephen Martinez via TKO (Head Kick and Punches) R2 0:20

Saad Awad vs. Joe Duarte

Round 1

Duarte circles on the outside and launches a clean, straight right hand that floors Awad right off the bat. Duarte smells the finish and rushes into the guard with ground-and-pound. Awad recovers fast and easily secures a triangle choke on his opponent. The hold is tight though Duarte still has space to breathe, however it leaves him vulnerable to vicious elbows to the head. Awad pours them on from his back with the choke still applied until referee Stephen Davis has no choice but to intervene and halt the contest. Duarte pleads his case after the stoppage to no avail.

The Official Result

Saad Awad def. Joe Duarte via TKO (Elbows) R1 1:18

Karl Amoussou vs. Fernando Gonzalez

Round 1

Amoussou uses his jab until Gonzalez head kicks him, giving the Frenchman the easy opponrtunity to catch the kick and sweep Gonzalez's leg out. Amoussou sets up on top briefly but Gonzalez pushes away and regains his feet without incident. Gonzalez lands a head kick as Amoussou sticks the jab in his face. Two hooks lands for Gonzalez. Gonzalez rips a left body kick, then follows with a left hook to the body. Amoussou returns fire with two hard outside low kicks, then walks into another Gonzalez left hook. Gonzalez fires his way inside, only to eat a knee from Amoussou. Clean right ross for “The Menifee Maniac” lands off of an Amoussou low kick. Gonzalez catches a stepping knee form Amoussou, elevates him and slams him down to the mat. Gonzalez controls the head and just looks for short punches form the full guard. Amoussou overhooks Gonzalez's right arm and just looks to stall his way to a standup. Gonzalez keeps freeing his arms and punching away. Amoussou gets back to his feet before the bell but accomplishes nothing.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Gonzalez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Gonzalez
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Gonzalez

Round 2

Amoussou stalks Gonzalez with more kicking offense to begin the second round. Amoussou starts blending head kicks and low kicks together, but Gonzalez lands another hard body kick of his own as Amoussou begins to get comfortable. They come together in the clinch and it's Gonzalez who flurries then pushes Amoussou away casually. Two jabs set up a clean right by Amoussou. “Psycho” sticks with his jab and puts a few square into Gonzalez's face, backing him down and baiting the American into a desperate takedown.

One-two lands for Amoussou again.Inside low kick by Amoussou sets up a clean three-punch combo that snaps Gonzalez's head around. Amoussou continues walking his target down but can't register another serious blow before the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Amoussou
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Amoussou
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Amoussou

Round 3

The welterweights trade punches freely in the first 30 seconds and it is Amoussou's left hook that lands the hardest. A short right uppercut tags Gonzalez's chin, then Amoussou steps inside and knees him clean to the body. “The Menifee Maniac” lands a left hook to the body while packing up, then fires a left cross counter down the pipe and hits the charging Amoussou. “Psycho” gets Gonzalez's back to the fence, but can't pin him there. Instead, he walks him down across the other side of the cage, firing with both hands. Gonzalez shoots a sloppy double-leg and is easily denied. Gonzalez keeps looking for his counter left, but Amoussou is just throwing shots upstairs then crushing him with outside low kicks. Amoussou is split open between the eyes, up on the forehead, but is still landing with regularity. Outside low kicks and right crosses pour in for Amoussou, who keeps taking short left hands on his way in. With one minute to go, Amoussou gets lazy with the kicks, allowing Gonzalez to grab his heel and trip him to the mat. Gonzalez gets half guard but can't advance beyond that, landing shoulder strikes to Amoussou's face at the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Amoussou (29-28 Amoussou)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Amoussou (29-28 Amoussou)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Gonzalez (29-28 Gonzalez)

The Official Result

Fernando Gonzalez def. Karl Amoussou via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Bellator 2014 Summer Series Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal
Kelly Anundson vs. Luiz Philipe Lins

Round 1

The light heavyweights close the distance on each other quickly and Anundson looks for a head-and-arm throw from the clinch. He gets Lins down but forces a scramble. Anundson stays heavy on top and forces Lins to pull guard but the Brazilian is able to get upright quickly. Anundson clinches, but “Monstro” separates himself and looks to strike. Anundson throws an overhand right, prompting the Nova Uniao Kimura fighter to return with a reaching four-punch salvo. While throwing, Lins twists his left knee awkwardly and goes down in a heap.

Anundson steps away and referee “Big” John McCarthy quickly steps in to stop the fight. Kelly Anundson advances to the finals of Bellator's 2014 Summer Series light heavyweight tournament.

The Official Result

Kelly Anundson def. Luiz Philipe Lins via TKO (Knee Injury) R1 1:40

Bubba Jenkins vs. Poppies Martinez

Round 1

Just seconds into the contest, Martinez whiffs on an uppercut, hits the mat and Jenkins pounces. He is all over Martinez with two-handed ground-and-pound along the fence. Martinez ties to scoot up, but Jenkins jumps on his back and sinks his hooks. Jenkins can't keep his hooks in, so he just keeps a rear waistlock, riding Martinez from behind, driving him into the fence and belting him with right hands. “The Tachi Kid” finally escapes, only to eat two sharp rights from Jenkins. Jenkins starts flashing the jab, popping Martinez multiple times in the mush.

Martinez keeps walking forward, winging punches with both hands and it leads him into a hard Jenkins right that snaps his head back. Jenkins gets another grasp on his waist, and looks to pull him to the mat. Martinez tries to lock up a kimura on Jenkins' left arm, falling to the mat. Jenkins postures up, escapes and keeps pounding away from full guard. Jenkins punches his way to side control, forcing Martinez belly down. Martinez tries to block the heavy leather from the former NCAA Division 1 champion, but he's trapped on his knees against the cage with nowhere to go. “The Highlight Kid” keeps ripping away with punches until referee Jason Herzog intervenes.

The Official Result

Bubba Jenkins def. Poppies Martinez via TKO (Punches) R1 4:10

Matt Frembling vs. Augusto Sakai

Round 1

Sakai circles the outside with a low stance, looking to counter the southpaw Frembling. Sakai flicks some teeps to keep his man away, but Frembling keeps stalking. Frembling finally uncoils a hard left, his first strike of the bout, that stuns Sakai and sends him to the mat. Frembling sets up in full guard along the fence, taking a wide base and grinding down on Sakai. He breaks Sakai's grip on his wrists and lands a volley of clean punches. Frembling starts landing his left on top, getting the blood flowing from Sakai's mouth. Frembling keeps knuckling him up until there is 70 seconds in the round and Sakai slides up the fence and back to his feet. The Temecula, Calif. mative keeps advancing on Sakai but can't land clean. Frembling runs into the clinch, where he eats a host of knees from Sakai. Sakai lands another hard knee which is thrown just a split second after the bell and it drops Frembling to his back. Referee Jason Herzog says the knee was thrown at the bell, and thus legal, and asks Frembling if he can continue. Frembling gives him a thumbs up and goes back to his corner.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Frembling
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Frembling
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Frembling

Round 2

Perhaps inspired by his strong finish in round one, Sakai presses the issue immediately in the second round, walking forward with a variety of kicks on Frembling. Frembling lands a left to the body, then moments later, lands another one when Sakai lunges with a right hand. The Brazilian now goes inside and outside with low kicks, chopping away at the legs of the stationary Frembling. Frembling runs Sakai into the fence, but gets out of dodge as Sakai unloads a heavy knee. Sakai lands another left body kick, but Frembling at least touches him with the left hook counter.

Frembling runs Sakai into the fence again, but Sakai controls him with an overhook and lands two hard knees. They exchange again and Frembling lands a right hook-left hook that staggers Sakai, then an uppercut that rocks Sakai and puts him on the canvas again. Frembling dives on top, but Sakai controls his wrist and prevents any serious damage before the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Sakai
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-10
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Sakai

Round 3

Both men have slowed considerably, loading up on single shots. Frembling lands a good left and runs Sakai back into the fence, but in the ensuing clinch, lands a low knee. Referee Jason Herzog calls for time and allows Sakai to recover, but the Brazilian also complains that Frembling headbutted him. Nonetheless, the fight resumes quickly and Sakai comes out kicking. Sakai lands a slow-but-stern head kick that stands Frembling up a bit. The hometown hero gets caught reaching and Sakai clinches and drills him with more knees. With two minutes to go, Sakai throws his hands up and tries to bait Frembling. Frembling doesn't take it, but Sakai keeps attacking. He launches a head kick, catching Frembling behind the ear and freezes him, allowing the Brazilian to grab his neck again and unload more potent knees. An Frembling crumbles slowly to the mat and Sakai stays on top of him, landing accurate, fight-finishing punches that force Jason Herzog into action.

The Official Result

Augusto Sakai def. Matt Frembling via TKO (Knees and Punches) R3 3:32

Phil Baroni vs. Karo Parisyan

Round 1

Baroni takes the center of the cage while Parisyan circles, leg kicking and trying to catch Baroni advancing on him. Parisyan lands two right hook counters on the charging Baroni, then ties him up along the cage briefly. Parisyan disengages then uses his jab to pop Baroni and stand him up. “The Heat” follows with a short right uppercut that stuns Baroni. Baroni covers up against the cage but Parisyan posts his left hand on Baroni and unloads with rights. “The New York Bad Ass” manages to get back to his feet, but Parisyan unloads with hooks from both sides and drops him again, and “Big” John McCarthy steps in to rescue Baroni.

The Official Result

Karo Parisyan def. Phil Baroni via TKO (Punches) R1 2:06

Bellator 2014 Summer Series Light Heavyweight Tournament Final
Egidijus Valavicius vs. Liam McGeary

Round 1

After 30 seconds of pawing, Valavicius ducks under McGeary's long lead arm and rings him up with a pair of hooks, then charges him into the fence. McGeary wisely turns his man around and delivers a series of heavy knees that immediately draw blood from the Lithuanian veteran's nose. From range, McGeary sticks his jab back out before delivering a combination punctuated with a short right uppercut. Valavicius careens back into the fence and the British banger is all over him with hooks and knees. Referee Stephen Davis yells for Valavicius to defend himself, but the Lithuanian is trapped while getting stormed with left hooks and
knees to the face.

Davis jumps in and rescues Valavicius, who is still on his feet. Liam McGeary advances to the finals of Bellator's 2014 Summer Series light heavyweight tournament, where he will meet Kelly Anundson.

The Official Result

Liam McGeary def. Egidijus Valavicius via TKO (Knees and Punches) R1 2:10

Bellator Season 10 Middleweight Tournament Final
Brett Cooper vs. Brandon Halsey

Round 1

Halsey quickly uses his jab and leg kicks to get Cooper along the cage, then shoots a double and gets it without much fuss. Halsey quickly passes to side mount and looks for elbows. Cooper tries to fight Halsey passing to north-south and winds up getting ensnared in a slick nearside armbar. Halsey can't break Cooper's arm free of the spider web position initially. He breaks his grip, but can't get the elbow where he needs it to get the tap as he goes belly down. Halsey keeps working and grabs Cooper's thigh as if to roll him over.

When Cooper looks to defend, Halsey rips his arm straight and torques it to elicit the tap. Brandon Halsey is the Bellator Season 10 middleweight tournament winner.

The Official Result

Brandon Halsey def. Brett Cooper via Submission (Armbar) R1 2:09

Bellator Season 10 Welterweight Tournament Final
Andrey Koreshkov vs. Adam McDonough

Round 1

McDonough circles quickly to his right at the bout begins. The Russian keeps the Minnesotan in his sights, probing the distance with low kicks before throwing a spinning back kick to the head that goes wide. McDonough shoots and Koreshkov easily shrugs it off. McDonough continues circling and keeping his distance, so Koreshkov doubles up on his left hook on his retreating foe. The Russian lets off another spinning back kick up top and this one makes some contact, but is mostly blocked. Koreshkov stays tight, feinting to set up his attacks. He lets loose a four-punch rush on McDonough, then pancakes beautifully when McDonough shoots in on him again. Two rushing left hooks for Koreshkov graze McDonough, then he puts another one to the bread basket. They clinch briefly but McDonough disengages, eating an uppercut on the exit. McDonough continues to circle the cage but Koreshkov is getting more comfortable, tagging him with punches and kicks over the last 20 seconds.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Koreshkov
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Koreshkov
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Koreshkov

Round 2

McDonough shoots again, but once more, Koreshkov sprawls expertly. “Spartan” keeps stalking his prey, looking for long, straight punches and low kicks in the early second round. Again, Koreshkov rips off a spinning back kick upstairs and the third time is the charm: he smashes McDonough in the face and sends him flying into the fence. Koreshkov is on him in a hurry, but the American regains his wits quickly and ties Koreshkov up. McDonough changes levels, gets stuffed, then tries for a fireman's carry which Koreshkov denies, as well. Koreshkov keeps punching down at his desperate target and forcing the Minnesotan to turtle up.

Koreshkov boxes his ears and lands a left cross as McDonough scrambles up. Koreshkov lands a clean left hook to the body and pressures McDonough to the mat with a swarm of strikes. McDonough plays off of his back for a moment, ties Koreshkov up, then wall walks to his feet. Left hook-right uppercut for Koreshkov lands, then another spinning back kick to the head lands, too. McDonough is all-too-happy to hear the bell ring.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-8 Koreshkov
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-8 Koreshkov
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-8 Koreshkov

Round 3

Koreshkov continues pressuring McDonough with crosses, hooks and low kicks. McDonough rips a hard low kick, but the Russian checks it. McDonough shoots, Koreshkov sprawls and works the front headlock on McDonough, angling for a guillotine choke. McDonough pops his head out and wings two hooks at Koreshkov which are easily defended. McDonough shoots and Koreshkov sprawls again. This time, he drives a brutal knee into the ribs of the turtled McDonough, driving the American to pull guard for his own safety. McDonough does his best to tie Koreshkov up to avoid taking any serious damage and is effective enough in doing so that referee John McCarthy stands them up with 30 seconds to fight. McDonough fires off some tired kicks and Koreshkov chases him with big punches. McDonough hits a single-leg takedown out of self-preservation right at the final bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Koreshkov (30-26 Koreshkov)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Koreshkov (30-26 Koreshkov)
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Koreshkov (30-26 Koreshkov)

The Official Result

Andrey Koreshkov def. Adam McDonough via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00

Linton Vassell vs. Virgil Zwicker

Round 1

The popular local Zwicker starts the bout with a looping left hand that misses wide. Vassell changes levels and easily secures a double-leg takedown. Zwicker tries to get right back to his feet, but exposes his back and allows the Brit to easily claim back control. From there, Vassell accepts the gift he's been given, flattening out the Temecula, Calif. native and hastily securing the rear-naked choke for the win.

The Official Result

Linton Vassell def. Virgil Zwicker via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R1 1:02