Bellator 147 Results, Updates & Play-by-Play

James Terry vs. Nick Barnes

Round 1

The fighters enter the cage and have to pace around in their corners for a few minutes as referee Mike Beltran waits for the commission to get set at cageside. When the action gets going, Terry flicks out a few jabs before coming over the top with a right hand against the southpaw. Barnes continues eating jabs but gets one back with a straight right of his own. Barnes stays in the pocket too long after the right and gets zapped with a counter from Terry, who’s getting his combinations going here, now one minute into the bout. Terry denies a brief takedown attempt and then shrugs off a clinch to attack Barnes’ body with punches. Terry doubles up on a short left hook and then goes back to the body with a ripping right hand. Barnes shoots again and this time completes a takedown, rolling to trap Terry’s arms for a crucifix position. With Terry’s left arm locked between his legs, Barnes gives up the right arm in order to wrap up his opponent’s neck with a rear-naked choke. Terry struggles for a moment, then taps out to the RNC.

The Official Result

Nick Barnes def. James Terry via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R1 2:48

A.J. McKee vs. John Donaldson

Round 1

McKee has a high kick deflected but connects with a straight left hand behind it, sending Donaldson stumbling backward to the fence. Donaldson drops but jumps back up, getting slapped with a high kick along the way. Donaldson drives McKee against the fence with a double-leg takedown attempt but gets reversed and whipped to the ground by the “Mercenary.” McKee, leaking blood from a cut above his left eye, locks up a guillotine choke and pulls Donaldson back to his feet. When the choke doesn’t stick, McKee drops him back to the ground and then shoves Donaldson against the fence from full guard. Donaldson throws up an armbar, and McKee opts to stand, giving Donaldson a punch as they scramble up. The featherweights tie up and Donaldson drills McKee with a couple good elbows in the clinch. McKee connects with a spinning kick to the body, then has to back up as Donaldson blitzes with punches as he turns. Two minutes left in the round, and the action slows a bit here. Donaldson rushes McKee against the fence with more punches, then drops levels. McKee pulls down Donaldson’s head in the clinch and blows him up with a knee to the face. Donaldson hits the ground on his knees, covering up, and McKee needs only add a few punches before the referee intervenes.

The Official Result

A.J. McKee def. John Donaldson via KO (Knee) R1 3:19

Idris Wasi vs. Brandon Hester

Round 1

Both middleweights flash kicks in the opening 30 seconds, but Hester catches one and scoops the leg to run Wasi to the ground. Hester postures up in Wasi’s closed guard, still can’t much going after 40 as Wasi wraps up his arms and wrists. Hester tries to make things uncomfortable, planting a hand on Wasi’s face or grinding with his forearm when he can’t land strikes. Two minutes in, Hester passes to side control on Wasi’s left, the other side flush against the fence. Hester leans across to try an armlock but the cage doesn’t leave much room. They move away from the fence and Hester gets pushed back to half guard, then full guard. He holds Wasi’s head in a can opener, drops a few punches and continues to grind away in the final minute. 10-9 Hester.

Round 2

Hester goes straight after another takedown at the start of round two, but this time Wasi denies the shot. The next double-leg attempt succeeds and puts Hester back in Wasi’s guard less than one minute into the frame. Again, Hester lands sporadic ground-and-pound in between hunting for an arm to lock up. Wasi is all defense underneath, eating an increasing number of punches though seeming unfazed by the shots. One left hand knocks out Wasi’s mouthguard, and the referee stands up the middleweights after the action slows. Hester shoots in behind a jab and trips Wasi back to the mat with 90 seconds on the clock. Hester gets side control on the left side of Wasi and again leans across to look for an arm, but the fence is there to block him. At the 10-second clapper, Hester abandons the submission search and postures up to crack Wasi with a few heavy hammerfists. 10-8 Hester.

Round 3

Hester again completes a takedown in the opening minute of the round and picks up where he left off, roughing up Wasi on the mat with punches and short elbows. Wasi tries to lock down Hester’s arms as he wraps him up tight in guard, so Hester puts a forearm across his opponent’s throat and postures up to increase the pressure. Wasi withstands the forearm choke but looks to be fading underneath, unable to get any relief from Hester’s top pressure. Ninety seconds remain in the bout now, and Hester repositions to side control on Wasi’s right. More grinding forearms and short punches connect with Wasi’s face as Hester turns up the volume here in the late going. 10-9 Hester (30-26 Hester).

The Official Result

Brandon Hester def. Idris Wasi via Unanimous Decision (30-24, 30-25, 30-27) R3 5:00

Khomkrit Niimi vs. Gabriel Carrasco

Round 1

Niimi does a cartwheel and a flex in his corner at the opening bell, then shoots for an awkward takedown and winds up pulling guard. Carrasco follows him to the ground and sets up in Niimi’s guard, posturing up to land short ground-and-pound while Niimi makes bizarre whoops and squeals. The noises drop off momentarily as Carrasco offers up some harder punches, then a slicing elbow which opens a gash on the Thai fighter’s forehead. Niimi starts up with the sound effects again, but they only seem to make Carrasco throw harder shots. The blood is spurting from Niimi’s head as Carrasco lands increased ground strikes. After a series of seven or eight heavy elbows bounce Niimi’s face off the canvas, referee Mike Beltran stops the bout.

The Official Result

Gabriel Carrasco def. Khomkrit Niimi via TKO (Elbows) R1 3:19

Virgil Zwicker vs. Brian Rogers

Round 1

Rogers picks at the lead leg of Zwicker as the fighters circle in the center during a tense opening minute. Zwicker eats a right hand on the front of a combination, resets and tags the “Predator” with a clubbing overhand right of his own. Rogers keeps the leg kicks coming, turns Zwicker’s head with a short right hook in the pocket. Rogers tries to close the gap with punches and has to dip back out as Zwicker counters with a windmill combo. Zwicker slips a left hand and pushes Rogers backward with a front kick to the body. The exchanges are getting wilder in the last two minutes, leaving more openings for Zwicker’s wide power punches. Rogers lays a loud kick across Zwicker’s midsection before plowing him to the ground with a blasting takedown. Rogers lands in side control on Zwicker’s right and frames up an arm-triangle choke as Zwicker tries to sit up. Zwicker rolls out and powers back to his feet in the last 20 seconds. 10-9 Rogers.

Round 2

One of Rogers’ early low kicks catches Zwicker on the cup, but the “Rezdog” quickly jogs it off and comes back to fight. A few seconds later, another kick from Rogers lands low; this one is much harder and Zwicker immediately drops to his knees. Rogers gets a second warning from referee Edward Collantes, while Zwicker kneels to recover. The fighters get back to it with four minutes on the clock, and now Rogers goes outside with a leg kick. Zwicker switches stances to keep Rogers thinking on the kicks. The tactic seems to work, as Rogers’ kicks drop off toward the middle of the frame. Rogers ducks under a spinning backfist and pushes Zwicker to the fence, but he misses as he lunges at the Californian with a Superman punch. The fighters clash low kicks and Rogers slips to the ground, then has to dodge punches from Zwicker on his way up. With 70 seconds on the clock, Rogers hits another late takedown. Zwicker gives up his back, then rolls over, leaving Rogers in full mount. Rogers wants to finish this here, dropping heavy elbows on Zwicker’s face. Zwicker covers up under fire, so Rogers locks up an arm-triangle choke and hops off to the side. Zwicker resists for a few seconds and then taps out.

The Official Result

Brian Rogers def. Virgil Zwicker via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) R2 4:38

Adam Piccolotti vs. Mario Soto

Round 1

Piccolotti walks Soto toward the fence, shoots low for a single-leg and then picks an ankle to complete the takedown. Soto gives up his back straight away, then has to struggle and roll to his back to escape the position. It leaves Piccolotti in full mount, where “The Bomb” is able to frame up an arm-triangle choke. Piccolotti hops off to try and finish the choke but is blocked by the fence and steps back into full mount instead. Soto forces Piccolotti to bail out of mount with an ankle lock attempt, but Piccolotti pulls the leg free and the lightweights come back to their feet. Both men fire off high kicks and single punches, but neither is gaining an advantage on the feet. Soto shoots for Piccolotti’s legs and gets spun against the fence, then kneed in the gut before Piccolotti circles away. A pair of short punches score for Piccolotti, but Soto keeps coming and slugs back with an overhand right. Piccolotti presses forward in the final minute, landing leg kicks to keep Soto circling around the outside. Soto misses with a whipping wheel kick and gets turned around by a few more leg kicks from Piccolotti in the final seconds. 10-9 Piccolotti.

Round 2

Piccolotti catches a body kick with his left arm, slugs Soto with a right hand and then kicks out his other leg to put him on the ground. Stepping over to full mount is Piccolotti, now cramming Soto up against a cage post, giving him no room to breathe. Soto gives up his back and Piccolotti secures the position with a body triangle before going hunting for a rear-naked choke. Piccolotti can’t get the RNC, so he goes back to peppering Piccolotti with punches. Soto reclaims half guard and tries to roll for a kneebar, but Piccolotti is hip to it. Piccolotti stands, pulls the leg free and then steps right back into full mount. Soto surrenders his back again, then rolls over to put Piccolotti back in mount. Piccolotti is riding high, so he doesn’t have a great angle to land ground strikes. Nonetheless, a well-placed elbow slices Soto above the right eye. Soto rolls to his knees, and this time Piccolotti gets his right arm around Soto’s throat. Piccolotti cinches the RNC and squeezes tightly, forcing Soto to submit as blood sprays out of his nose.

The Official Result

Adam Piccolotti def. Mario Soto via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R2 3:25

Derek Anderson vs. Patricky Freire

Round 1

Freire gets in the first good licks of the fight with a left hook and follow-up right hand which draws a grin from his opponent. Anderson leans into the pocket with a straight right and takes another left hook upstairs. Freire throws a huge left and hits only air, leaving himself open for a counter on the other side. “Pitbull” has been fighting with his back to the fence until this point, but now he bursts out to the center with a barrage of punches which has Anderson putting up his guard. Halfway through the round, Freire shoots for a takedown and runs into a guillotine, but he gets his head free as he spins Anderson to the mat. Anderson takes a knee and Freire jumps on his back, but the Brazilian can’t get both hooks in and Anderson slips free. Now it’s Anderson’s turn for a shot, and he lifts Freire into the air for a big slam. Freire reverses as soon as his back hits the mat, but Anderson keeps hold of a leg and reclaims top position a few seconds later. They scramble up with 30 seconds on the clock and Freire puts up his gloves to deflect a four-punch combo. 10-9 Anderson.

Round 2

Anderson stings Freire with a few good right hands over the top as round two begins, but Freire gets him right back with a lunging left hand that snaps back Anderson’s head. Anderson sticks a jab, comes across the center with a right hand and takes a kick on the lead leg. Freire connects with a jab and a leaping knee which sends Anderson shooting for a takedown. Pitbull limp-legs away while Anderson, now sporting a bloody nose, inches forward. Freire shoots and again gets snared in a guillotine on the way to the ground; this time, the Brazilian lands in side control, immediately neutralizing Anderson’s headlock. With two minutes left in the round, Freire takes the back of Anderson and locks up a body triangle. Anderson punches over his shoulder and works to control Freire’s wrists, alternating tactics to slow Freire’s hunt for a rear-naked choke. Freire comes closer to slapping on the RNC in the last 30 seconds but can’t catch Anderson before the bell. 10-9 Freire.

Round 3

Anderson walks across the cage and backs up Freire near the fence with body kicks and snappy punches. Freire steps back to the center, grabs for Anderson’s legs and gets pushed away, so he gives the American a leg kick instead. Anderson is controlling the range with his kicks and long jabs one minute into the round. Freire puts up his gloves to deflect them for another 20 seconds or so before bursting forward to land a takedown. Anderson opens up his guard, rolls out and jumps back to his feet with little effort. Halfway through the round, Freire shoots again and pushes Anderson against the fence, then comes back up for a bodylock when he can’t complete the double-leg. Anderson is the fresher man here in round three, and he easily overpowers Freire to land short, hard elbows in the tie-up. Freire steps forward, looking tired with 90 seconds left, but he still has enough left to drill Anderson with a hard knee to the gut. Now it’s Anderson’s turn to shoot for a takedown on the fence, but Freire hits the switch and comes out on top. Freire stands over Anderson and socks him with a right hand as they get up. Anderson goes shooting one more time in the last 15 seconds and gets reversed again as time expires at the end of a very close bout. 10-9 Anderson (29-28 Anderson).

The Official Result

Derek Anderson def. Patricky Freire via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) R3 5:00

Daniel Weichel vs. Georgi Karakhanyan

Round 1

Karakhanyan gets a chest to the body and tries to catch the leg, but Weichel pulls it back and continues throwing kicks at his foe’s body and legs in the opening minute. An inside thigh kick strays high and Karakhanyan needs a minute to recover from a grazing cup shot. The featherweights are back to business with just over three minutes on the clock. Karakhanyan lands his best punch of the fight so far, a shoveling right hand which gets Weichel’s attention. Karakhanyan grabs for a takedown, can’t get it, continues walking Weichel across the cage. Weichel reverses the momentum inside the last two minutes, but he can’t get any steady offense going either. Inside the last minute, the round still appears up for grabs. Weichel gets Karakhanyan leaning left with a leg kick and pops him with a right hook. Weichel sticks a jab and follows with a right over the top. Karakhanyan shrugs off the strikes and taunts Weichel a bit as he steps forward at the end of the round. 10-9 Weichel.

Round 2

Karakhanyan sticks a jab and takes two in return, then has a leaping knee caught and has to yank back his leg in a hurry. Weichel grazes with an overhand right and gets a head shake from Karakhanyan, so the German feeds him the right again. Weichel’s right hand has proven his best weapon through the midway point of the fight; Karakhanyan has struggled to find a consistent weapon aside from the occasional leg kick. Mostly, Karakhanyan is being forced into a defensive shell as Weichel takes control on the feet with his volume striking. Weichel lands a nice front kick to the jaw in the last minute of the round but stays in range too long and eats a counter right hook. Karakhanyan tries to regain some ground at the end of the frame but misses with a spinning backfist and a flying knee. 10-9 Weichel.

Round 3

Karakhanyan comes out with a little more aggression at the onset of the final round, but his attack is soon slowed by Weichel’s straighter, more accurate punches. Weichel spends the better part of 90 seconds circling his opponent, sticking his jab, before Karakhanyan finally drops his hands to his waist and gives the German a look of exasperation. Weichel takes an inside leg kick on the cup but doesn’t want any time to recover. Karakhanyan is growing increasingly frustrated as Weichel picks him apart from range with jabs and low kicks. After one chop to his left knee, Karakhanyan drops his hands and says “come on” to Weichel, who obliges with more jabs and kicks. Karakhanyan grabs Weichel around the neck with his left hand and slugs the “Weasel” with a pair of hard right hooks before releasing. Weichel tries a Thai clinch but can’t get off with a knee before Karakhanyan throws hands. Karakhanyan tries a spinning kick and falls to the ground. Weichel allows him to stand and tags “Insane” with more punches and body kicks down the stretch. 10-9 Weichel (30-27 Weichel).

The Official Result

Daniel Weichel def. Georgi Karakhanyan via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00

Josh Thomson vs. Pablo Villaseca

Round 1

Jason Herzog is the referee for tonight’s 155-pound main event. Thomson dodges the first head kick and flurry of punches from Villaseca, then grabs the Chile native in a body lock and trips him to the ground. Villaseca keeps a tight guard, then tries to swing his legs for an armbar, but Thomson stacks him up and smashes clear with a big right hand. Ninety seconds in, Villaseca rolls for a kneebar and uses the submission threat to sweep. Thomson throws up a triangle as he hits his back, loses the choke and switches to an armbar, then an omoplata. Villaseca stands and pulls his arm free, and the lightweights are back on their feet midway through the opening round. Villaseca tries a takedown, leaning “The Punk” against the fence with a high double. Thomson denies the shot and circles out, and Villaseca follows to give the veteran a hard chop to the lead leg. A clinch knee from Thomson is turned around on the fence, and now Villaseca is able to complete a takedown. Thomson is back on his feet within seconds, then pulled back to the mat by Villaseca with a rear waistlock. They scramble up again and fight in the clinch near the fence, where Villaseca drills Thomson with an accidental knee to the groin. Thomson takes a few seconds to compose himself and comes back with a single-leg shot that plants Villaseca on the ground in the middle of the cage. 10-9 Thomson.

Round 2

Thomson pulls down Villaseca’s head in the Thai clinch, gets shoved against the fence and uses the head to deny a takedown attempt. The veteran brings Villaseca to his knees and then his back, and now Thomson gets to work with some solid ground-and-pound from half guard while shoving Villaseca against the base of the fence. Thomson leans across to lock up an arm-triangle choke, but he’s blocked by the cage on the side where he needs to be in order to finish the submission. Thomson rotates Villaseca away from the fence, still can’t get to the other side, so he abandons the choke to posture up and blast Villaseca with heavy right hands. Villaseca is staying conscious, eating the shots and shifting underneath to show that he’s still defending himself, but referee Herzog is having a close look and the strikes keep coming. Thomson has landed a few dozen unanswered punches now, and with Villaseca showing no signs of escaping, the referee intervenes.

The Official Result

Josh Thomson def. Pablo Villaseca via TKO (Punches) R2 3:59