Bellator 255 ‘Pitbull vs. Sanchez 2’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring
- Patricio Pitbull (144.1) vs. Emmanuel Sanchez (144.5)
- Neiman Gracie (170) vs. Jason Jackson (170.9)
- Tyrell Fortune (251.2) vs. Jack May (264.3)
- Usman Nurmagomedov (155.2) vs. Mike Hamel (155)
- Alejandra Lara (124.2) vs. Kana Watanabe (124.8)
- Magomed Magomedov (135) vs. Cee Jay Hamilton (134.4)
- Mandel Nallo (154.9) vs. Ricardo Seixas (154.9)
- Fabio Aguiar (187.7: Missed Weight) vs. Khalid Murtazaliev (183.6)
- Roger Huerta (159.4) vs. Chris Gonzalez (159.2)
- Jose Augusto (203.2) vs. Jonathan Wilson (204.2)
- Roman Faraldo (171.1: Missed Weight) vs. Trevor Gudde (170)
- Jordan Newman (185.1) vs. Branko Busick (183.8)
Sherdog's live Bellator 255 coverage kicks off Friday at 6 p.m. ET. Also, free live streams of the prelim and main cards can be watched here.
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Jordan Newman (185.1) vs. Branko Busick (183.8)
Round 1
The “Showtime Era” for Bellator MMA kicks off with Bellator 255 and a middleweight matchup between Newman (2-0, 2-0 BMMA) and Busick (2-1, 1 NC; 0-1 BMMA). John English is your referee. No touch of gloves as the 185ers set up, Newman southpaw, Busick orthodox. Newman clinches and runs Busick to the fence, looking for the takedown but Busick defends with an overhook. Newman drills Busick with a knee just before they disengage. 90 seconds gone. Newman clinches again, they’re against the fence, and Newman drills Busick with a knee to the cup. After a brief break, they’re back to it. Newman again closes the distance and clinches. They jockey for position away from the fence, Newman just misses a big elbow on the break. Busick slips and Newman chases him down. Newman sets up in half guard, then moves to the back. He lands a couple of hard shots that have Busick squirming to get out. Newman grabs a no-hooks rear-naked choke but Busick slips out. Newman ends up in side control, where he rains down punches. He ends up back in half guard as the round expires. Big round for Jordan Newman.Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 NewmanTyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Newman
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Newman
Round 2
Newman shoots a double-leg takedown immediately and gets Busick to the ground. He lands in half guard near the fence and starts throwing punches. Busick is bloody and battered. Newman takes a crucifix, then side control. English pauses the action to give Busick back his lost mouthpiece. Newman is right back to pounding on Busick with elbows from side control. Busick’s left arm is trapped, he’s unable to defend himself and English steps in to halt the beating. Complete domination by the Roufusport prospect, who moves to 3-0.The Official Result
Jordan Newman def. Branko Busick R2 2:30 via TKO (Elbows)Roman Faraldo (171.1: Missed Weight) vs. Trevor Gudde (170)
Round 1
A scheduled welterweight clash between Faraldo (4-0, 1-0 BMMA) and Gudde (2-1, 1-0 BMMA) is officially a catchweight affair, as Faraldo missed weight by a minuscule 0.1 of a pound. English is the referee once again. Faraldo nails Gudde with an overhand right. A few moments later, he lands again. The impossibly tall Gudde is standing straight up. A left hand drops Gudde, but Faraldo walks away and English motions Gudde to stand. A lead left and right straight drop Gudde again. Faraldo wants it back on the feet. A left hand drops Gudde for the third time this round, and English is waving it off. That was a one-sided beating.The Official Result
Roman Faraldo def. Trevor Gudde R1 1:30 via TKO (Punches)Jose Augusto Azevedo Barros (203.2) vs. Jonathan Wilson (204.2)
Round 1
Light heavyweight debutants “Gugu” Augusto (6-2, 1 NC; 0-0 BMMA) and “Johnny Bravo” Wilson (9-3, 0-0 BMMA), both of them normally middleweights, prepare to square off. Dan Miragliotta is set to officiate. Wilson sets up southpaw, Augusto orthodox. Wilson pawing with the right jab early. Augusto explodes forward with a one-two, then a moment later with a right high kick that lands with a loud slap, but Wilson is unfazed. Wilson lands a low kick. Wilson ducks under a punch and clinches, landing an uppercut as they separate. Wilson shoots a single and after a lengthy series, gets Augusto to the canvas. Wilson in half guard. Augusto throws up an omoplata, trapping Wilson’s right arm and throwing some punches from the bottom. Wilson steps over and escapes, but Augusto escapes and takes top position. Augusto ends up in side control against the fence with 90 seconds left. Augusto takes a crucifix and starts punching Wilson’s head. Wilson squirms and struggles, trying to wall-walk. Augusto goes for an arm-triangle with under 15 seconds left, hopping to the opposite side. It looks as though time will run out, but with two seconds left on the clock, Wilson taps! Impressive stuff from “Gugu.”The Official Result
Jose Augusto Azevedo Barros def. Jonathan Wilson R1 4:58 via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)Roger Huerta (159.4) vs. Christopher Gonzalez (159.2)
Round 1
Well-traveled veteran Huerta (24-12-1, 1 NC; 1-5 BMMA) meets one of Bellator’s more promising young homegrown talents in Gonzalez (5-0, 4-0 BMMA), at a contracted catchweight of 160 pounds. Kevin MacDonald is the referee. Gonzalez pushes Huerta to the fence where he’s looking for a takedown. Suddenly he scoops Huerta up with a high-crotch and slams him to the canvas. Gonzalez very heavy on top, as Huerta switches between full and half-butterfly guard from the bottom. Halfway through the round, Gonzalez passes to half guard. Huerta scrambles to his knees and Gonzalez grabs north-south position. Gonzalez spins to the back. With 90 seconds left, he sinks both hooks. Gonzalez flattens Huerta and begins throwing big shots to the head. He goes for a rear-naked choke with a minute left, or perhaps a neck crank. He gives it up and throws some more heavy punches to the sides of Huerta’s head. With under 30 seconds left, Huerta gets back to his knees, but Gonzalez is still walloping him at the horn. Huge round for Gonzalez.Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 GonzalezJay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Gonzalez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Gonzalez
Round 2
Gonzalez shoots a blast double, running Huerta to the ground within the first 15 seconds. He moves to half-guard. Huerta locks down Gonzalez’s left leg and throws short shots from the bottom, but Gonzalez is not even distracted as he looks to trap an arm. Huerta regains full guard. Gonzalez heavy on top, with his head in the middle of Huerta’s chest, throwing punches to the head and body. Halfway through the round, Huerta’s guard is closed, Gonzalez still chipping away from top position. Huerta bucks Gonzalez off him, stands and lands three good punches. Gonzalez half-staggers away, but it doesn’t look as though he’s hurt badly. Gonzalez shoots a single and gets another takedown. The round ends with Huerta on his back.Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 GonzalezJay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gonzalez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Gonzalez
Round 3
Huerta is the man coming forward as the final round opens. Gonzalez circles out, looks to counter. 90 seconds, in there are no takedown attempts yet from the decorated wrestler. Huerta stalking, throwing hard kicks to the legs and body. Gonzalez misses with a huge Superman punch. Huerta throws a glancing head kick. At the midpoint of the round, on a cue from his corner, Gonzalez shoots a takedown and gets it easily. He moves instantly to the back, sinks a hook and begins throwing punches. He flattens Huerta out against the fence and out of nowhere, Huerta taps. Not sure whether it was some injury or pure “no mas,” but either way, Chris Gonzalez remains undefeated in dominant fashion.The Official Result
Christopher Gonzalez def. Roger Huerta R3 3:01 via TKO (Submission to Punches)Fabio Aguiar (187.7: Missed Weight) vs. Khalid Murtazaliev (183.6)
Round 1
Next up is our third catchweight of the evening, this one another of the unscheduled variety, as Aguiar (17-1, 0-0 BMMA) missed the middleweight limit for his Bellator debut by nearly two pounds. The man we call “The Murdalizer” (14-2, 0-0 BMMA) will take a chunk of his purse, and the fight goes on. Todd Anderson is the third man in the cage. They touch gloves and set up in matching orthodox stances. Aguiar shoots a double-leg almost immediately. Murtazaliev sprawls against the fence and Aguiar switches to a single. 90 second in, they’re still jockeying. Murtazaliev gets away with a fence grab, then uses another to take top position. Anderson stops the fight immediately, gets a Russian translator and issues a warning. He also restarts the fight in the middle of the cage, standing. Aguiar’s lead hand is reaching, pawing as both men throw low calf kicks. Murtazaliev lands a nice jab. Aguiar runs forward and lands a one-two. With a minute and a half left, it’s the Russian who initiates the clinch and shoves Aguiar to the fence. Aguiar fights off the takedown, but Murtazaliev lands a hard elbow as they separate. Aguiar keeps rushing forward with big hooks, several of which land. Aguiar clinches and is looking for a takedown at the horn. Aguiar appears to slip and nearly fall out of his stool between rounds!Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 AguiarJay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Aguiar
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Aguiar
Round 2
Aguiar is the aggressor on the feet to open Round 2, coming forward with jabs and looping punches, including a couple to the body. Murtazaliev shoots a double-leg and drops Aguiar to his seat against the fence. He takes Aguiar’s back against the fence and looks to flatten the Brazilian out, and Anderson is forced to intervene again, this time to tell Murtazaliev to keep his fingers out of Aguiar’s gloves. Aguiar gets back to his feet briefly, but Murtazaliev trips and hauls him back down, this time away from the fence. Murtazaliev in full guard, throwing short punches to the head. Aguiar turns away, then gives up half-guard. Murtazaliev is driving Aguiar all around the cage on his back. Aguiar sits out and the round ends with Murtazaliev on Aguiar’s back, sitting.Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 MurtazalievJay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Murtazaliev
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Murtazaliev
Round 3
It’s anyone’s fight, on our scorecards at least, and both men are fighting like it. Aguiar comes forward with more wide punches. Murtazaliev holds his ground and throws a spinning back kick that misses. Aguiar shoots a single-leg and pushes Murtazaliev to the fence. Murtazaliev defends ably with an overhook, then as Aguiar switches to a double-leg and pulls him down, he tries to deny the takedown by grabbing a single-leg of his own. Aguiar completes the takedown and tries to take the back, but Murtazaliev denies him and takes top position. Halfway through the round, it’s Murtazaliev in Aguiar’s full guard. Aguiar scoots to the fence and tries to stand. He gets back up, with Murtazaliev at his waist trying to pull him back down. A minute left and Murtazaliev is still working for the takedown. He gets it, but Aguiar pops right back up. Aguiar is working on a kimura, but he loses the grip and the Russian hauls him to the canvas. As the 10-second clapper sounds, it’s Murtazaliev behind a seated Aguiar once again. The horn sounds on a grueling final round, and we're headed to the judges' scorecards for the first time tonight.Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Murtazaliev (29-28 Murtazaliev)Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Murtazaliev (29-28 Murtazaliev)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Murtazaliev (29-28 Murtazaliev)
The Official Result
Khalid Murtazaliev def. Fabio Aguiar via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)Mandel Nallo (154.9) vs. Ricardo Seixas (154.9)
Round 1
After a brief break to watch a man remove tape from his toes to the sweet strains of reggae, Seixas (9-2, 1-0 BMMA) and Nallo (7-1-1, 1 NC; 2-1, 1 NC BMMA) face off, with Dan Miragliotta the third and largest man in the cage. Brazilian and Canadian are both orthodox to start things off, and Nallo uses his long reach to land a snappy jab in the early seconds. Nallo is getting the better of the range striking early, as he touches Seixas up with low kicks and jabs. Nallo throws a spinning back kick to the midsection. It’s Seixas coming forward, and Nallo circling away and jabbing. Seixas’ face is bloody. Nallo throws a glancing right high kick. Nallo hurts Seixas with a right straight and now it’s the Canadian coming forward, perhaps sensing blood in the water. Nallo lands a front kick to the face, a right question mark kick to the ear, then drops Seixas with a long, sharp right hand Superman punch. Seixas is done as Tan Dan rushes in for the stop, right behind a final, glancing standing-to-ground blow. Near-flawless striking performance from Mandel Nallo.The Official Result
Mandel Nallo def. Ricardo Seixas R1 3:23 via KO (Superman Punch)Magomed Magomedov (135) vs. C.J. Hamilton (134.4)
Round 1
Magomedov (17-1, 1-0 BMMA), perhaps best known as the first man to beat former UFC champ Petr Yan (even if it was an iffy decision) welcomes short-notice opponent Hamilton (15-7, 0-0 BMMA) to Bellator MMA. John English is the referee. Magomedov stalks forward in orthodox, as Hamilton bounces around, switching stances. Magomedov throws a huge spinning back kick, which Hamilton ducks under easily. Magomedov catches a low kick one-handed and trips Hamilton to the floor. Hamilton pops right back up and clinches with Magomedov against the fence. Magomedov reverses the position with an overhook. They disengage and Hamilton lands a body kick. Magomedov shoots a fast single from outside but Hamilton counters with a single-leg of his own. Halfway through the round, they’re back on their feet. Magomedov grabs another single and spins Hamilton to the ground. He passes quickly to side control. Hamilton is working diligently to regain guard or escape. Magomedov postures up and throws down a huge standing to ground punch. Magomedov gets his hooks in, flattens Hamilton and starts whaling on him. English is looking on closely. At the 10 second clapper, Magomedov hoists Hamilton with a huge body lift to suplex, then throws punches until the horn. What a finish to the round for Magomedov, as he turned a competitive frame into a blowout in the final minute.Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 MagomedovJay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Magomedov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Magomedov
Round 2
Magomedov throws a spinning back kick to the body, then another to Hamilton’s lead leg, both of which connect. He lands a flying knee. Magomedov changes levels for a takedown and Hamilton grabs a guillotine. He squeezes for dear life, but Magomedov finishes the takedown and moves to side control. As Hamilton lets go and tries to stand, Magomedov executes a lightning-fast back take, secures a rear-naked choke as he sinks his hooks, and this is over. They crash back to the canvas and Hamilton is tapping. Wow. Dominant display by Magomed Magomedov, who moves to 18-1 and looks like a serious contender at bantamweight.The Official Result
Magomed Magomedov def. C.J. Hamilton R2 1:22 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)Alejandra Lara (124.2) vs. Kana Watanabe (124.8)
Round 1
The main card kicks off with the official Bellator debut of Watanabe (9-0-1, 1-0 BMMA), who appeared in the Bellator cage as a member of the Rizin roster at the promotions’ collaborative year-end card in December 2019. Welcoming her will be Lara (9-3, 3-2 BMMA), whose losses in Bellator have been against the only two women to hold the title. Lara comes out southpaw, Watanabe orthodox. Lara crashes the pocket with overhand punches that land, forcing Watanabe to retreat. Lara lands a left hand that sends Watanabe stumbling into the fence but overpursues, and the judoka grabs a body lock and slams her to the canvas. Watanabe tries to take the back, but Lara stands. Watanabe grabs Lara and tries a trip, but Lara takes her back as soon as they hit the canvas. Lara sinks the hooks and flattens Watanabe, looking to strike, but Watanabe tripods, then stands, and gets Lara to slip over the top. They clash in the middle of the cage, Watanabe looking to grab hold of Lara, Lara giving ground and swinging. The horn sounds.Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 LaraJay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Lara
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Lara
Round 2
The flyweights come out swinging, and it’s Watanabe landing the first hard shot of the round, an overhand right. Lara tags her back with a combination, they clinch against the fence and Lara hits her with a knee to the midsection. They disengage, and when they collide a moment later, Watanabe gets another fast takedown. Lara is active from her back, looking for perhaps an armbar or triangle, but is forced to give it up. Watanabe is in Lara’s full guard, but Lara lands a couple of surprisingly hard strikes from the bottom before hipping out and sweeping to top position. Watanabe isolates Lara’s left arm in a kimura — well, she’d probably call it an ude-garumi — and sweeps to top position. She moves to the back, where she lands some punches to Lara’s head before peeling off for an armbar. She can’t lock anything up before the horn sounds.Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 WatanabeJay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Watanabe
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Watanabe
Round 3
Once again, Watanabe and Lara charge right in, swinging. Watanabe clinches, and after a series of positional reversals against the fence, dumps Lara on her back. Watanabe is in Lara’s guard, landing elbows and short punches. Two minutes in, Lara is in half guard with her arms locked around Watanabe, no longer throwing strikes from her back. Watanabe throws a half-dozen left hands to the ribs of Lara, who seems to get some more urgency to get out of the position. 90 seconds left, and Watanabe is still in Lara’s half guard. She appears to frame an arm-triangle choke for a moment, then moves back into full guard. At the clapper, Lara pops back up to her feet, but Watanabe uses an overhook to force her back to her knees. The fight ends with them side by side against the fence.Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Watanabe (29-28 Watanabe)Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Watanabe (29-28 Watanabe)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Watanabe (29-28 Watanabe)
The Official Result
Kana Watanabe def. Alejandra Lara via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)Usman Nurmagomedov (155.2) vs. Mike Hamel (155)
Round 1
It’s the highly anticipated stateside debut of Usman Nurmagomedov, the newest scion of — with all due respect to the Gracies — MMA’s current royal family. He meets Hamel, who gave Adam Borics a tough fight in his short-notice Bellator debut at 150 pounds. Todd Anderson waves the lightweights into action, and both men set up in southpaw stance. Hamel is the one coming forward in the early going, as Nurmagomedov gives ground and throws long, probing kicks. Nurmagomedov’s height and reach advantages are screamingly obvious, but Hamel is working hard to get into range. Nurmagomedov is kicking almost exclusively, as he often does early in fights, throwing a question-mark kick and a spinning back kick, both of which land. Halfway through the round, Nurmagomedov is the matador to Hamel’s bull, using good footwork to get out of the way of Hamel’s charges and tag him on the way out. Nurmagomedov slips on a kick with 90 seconds left, but pops back up before Hamel can react. Nurmagomedov switches stances, then switches back and touches Hamel with a couple of righty jabs. Nurmagomedov grabs a single-leg, but lets go almost immediately. Hamel lands a leg kick at the 10-second clapper, and the round ends.Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 NurmagomedovJay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov
Round 2
The second frame begins much like the first, with Hamel coming forward and trying to close the distance, while Nurmagomedov circles out and throws kicks. A minute in, Hamel charges in for a takedown, briefly takes Nurmagomedov’s back against the fence, but is forced to bail on the attempt. Nurmagomedov back Hamel up with a one-two, but when he throws a knee Hamel steps in and nearly takes him down again. A little over halfway into the round, it’s Nurmagomedov who steps in and looks to take Hamel down with an over and underhook, but gives it up as Hamel disengages. Hamel is still coming forward gamely in the final minute, throwing punches, bleeding from a clearly busted nose. Nurmagomedov is beginning to throw his jab harder and more often, and it’s there every time. The horn sounds on another one-sided round of striking.Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 NurmagomedovJay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov
Round 3
Hamel is aggressive once again to open the final stanza, but Nurmagomedov is still just too long, too quick and generally a step ahead. Hamel crashes in for a takedown and gets a standing rear waistlock, but Nurmagomedov gets his base low and breaks the hold. Nurmagomedov switches to orthodox halfway through the round, still throwing jabs and mixing in a right cross. Hamel catches a kick but can’t capitalize. Nurmagomedov is throwing more kicks, one up high that’s blocked but still looks like it hurt, then one to the midsection that lands cleanly. Hamel shoots for another takedown, once again gets to Nurmagomedov’s back, and once again Nurmagomedov bends at his waist, breaks the grip and spins into Hamel. With 30 seconds left, no quit whatsoever in Hamel, who charges forward and throws Hail Mary punches. The final bell sounds on a fight that, in its own way, might elevate both men’s stock.Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov (30-27 Nurmagomedov)Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov (30-27 Nurmagomedov)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov (30-27 Nurmagomedov)
The Official Result
Usman Nurmagomedov def. Mike Hamel via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)Tyrell Fortune (251.2) vs. Jack May (264.3)
Round 1
The lone heavyweight fight of Bellator 255 features rising prospect Fortune (9-1, 1 NC; 9-1, 1 NC BMMA) in a rematch with the towering May (11-7, 1 NC; 1-0, 1 NC BMMA), who stepped in for Matt Mitrione a few days ago. The first meeting between Fortune and May last September ended in via no-contest in the first round after an inadvertent but brutal groin strike by Fortune, so tonight let’s hope for…anything but that. Dan Miragliotta, wisely, is your referee. He tells the heavyweights to get busy, and they do, both in orthodox stance. They don’t stay that way for long, as Fortune drops for a fast single-leg and brings May down in the first 15 seconds. May scoots to the fence and gets back to his feet, but Fortune is stuck to his back and hauls him back down. May gets up once again, and Fortune gets his second mat return. This time he lands in May’s half guard and starts raining down short punches. Fortune braces a forearm against May’s chin and throws punches to the ribs. He starts throwing to the face, May turns to his side and Miragliotta is telling May he needs to move. Two minutes left and May is turtled, covering up. Miragliotta has seen enough, and he waves the fight off. Complete mauling by the man from Arizona Combat Sports, who has a few choice words for May before he heads to celebrate.The Official Result
Tyrell Fortune def. Jack May R1 3:16 via TKO (Elbows and Punches)Neiman Gracie (170) vs. Jason Jackson (170.9)
Round 1
Gracie (10-1, 8-1 BMMA) and Jackson (13-4, 4-1 BMMA) meet in a welterweight co-main event with major title implications. Jackson enters on a three-fight win streak since his razor-thin decision loss to Ed Ruth, while Gracie bounced back from his first career loss to Rory MacDonald by steamrolling Jon Fitch on the ground last September. The winner may very well be the next challenger for Douglas Lima’s 170-pound belt. Kevin MacDonald is the referee. Both men are in orthodox stance, and Jackson is throwing lightning-quick jabs and one-twos, punctuated with low calf kicks. Gracie lands a sweeping right hook that Jackson shrugs off. Jackson lands a right hand and a moment later, Gracie shoots a double-leg. Jackson is all over it, as Gracie ends up on the ground against the fence, but suddenly Gracie scoots out and takes Jackson’s back as Jackson appears frozen. There’s a bit of confusion as to what happened, perhaps an eye poke by Gracie, and MacDonald is asking Jackson questions even as Gracie works for a rear-naked choke. They break for the doctor to check Jackson. Replay reveals that it was the fence scraping Jackson’s face as he was unable to bring a hand up to break his fall. No foul, so they restart with Gracie in full mount and two minutes left. Jackson sweeps to top position and escapes to his feet and after a few half-hearted exchanges there, the bell sounds on a bizarre five minutes.Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 GracieJay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gracie
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Gracie
Round 2
Jackson comes forward, throwing his fast jab and low kicks again. His right straight and right cross keep landing every time he throws them. Gracie changes levels, pulls Jackson down and takes his back as he turns to stand. Jackson shakes Gracie off against the fence and they break. Gracie comes forward behind a one-two and clinches, pushing Jackson to the cage. Gracie drops to Jackson’s hips and pulls his legs out from under him. At the halfway point of Round 2, Gracie is kneeling over Jackson, who is seated against the fence. Jackson controls Gracie’s legs with his hands and tries to use the fence to stand, while Gracie looks to lock down Jackson’s legs with his own. Under a minute left and the ground work has slowed to a crawl. At the 10-second warning, Jackson tries to stand once more, but the round ends in the same position.Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 GracieJay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gracie
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Gracie
Round 3
Jackson sticks Gracie with a popping jab immediately, but it’s Gracie moving forward and forcing the Jamaican to give ground. Gracie walks right into a counter right, then lands a spinning back kick to the gut. Gracie lands a jab, then ducks a wide right hook. In the exchange, Gracie inadvertently thumbs Jackson’s right eye; i.e. the one that hadn’t been injured yet. After a brief break for the cageside doctor, they’re back to business with three minutes left. Gracie grabs double underhooks and looks to trip, but it’s Jackson who lands on top, in Gracie’s full guard. Gracie locks his arms around Jackson’s torso and grapevines both legs, controlling his posture completely. Jackson gets a warning from MacDonald against poking Gracie in the eye, as Gracie switches to half-butterfly guard, then a figure-four on both of Jackson’s legs. Gracie scoots out the side and looks to sweep, but Jackson keeps his hips and the horn sounds.Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-10 (30-28 Gracie)Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Jackson (29-28 Gracie)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Jackson (29-28 Gracie)
The Official Result
Jason Jackson def. Neiman Gracie via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Bellator Featherweight Title & WGP Semifinal Bout:
Patricio
“Pitbull” Freire (144.1) vs.
Emmanuel
Sanchez (144.5)
Round 1
The main event features the second semifinal of Bellator’s ongoing featherweight grand prix, as defending champ Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (31-4, 19-4 BMMA) and Emmanuel “El Matador” Sanchez (20-4, 12-3 BMMA) run back their outstanding and highly competitive first fight. Awaiting the winner in the tournament final will be undefeated phenom A.J. McKee, who is mic’ed up and watching from the analysts’ desk. Todd Anderson is on duty as the referee. The featherweights go to work, both from orthodox stance, and the pace is very deliberate in the opening minute. “Pitbull” sets up in the center of the cage, as Sanchez slides around the outside, darting in to throw jabs and low kicks. Sanchez scoring with low kicks to the outside of both legs of the champ, while Freire returns fire with a low kick of his own and a one-two upstairs. Freire catches Sanchez coming in with a three-piece. A moment later he catches him again with a hard one-two that catches Sanchez on one foot, practically swats him out of the air and drops him to his seat. “Pitbull” pounces and locks up his trademark guillotine in a flash. Sanchez stands as Freire locks up the choke and jumps to guard. Sanchez struggles for a few seconds, but presently, Freire tells Anderson that he’s out and sure enough, he is. The champ jumps up to celebrate, having put a definitive stamp on his series with Sanchez, on his way to the grand prix final.The Official Result
Patricio Freire def. Emmanuel Sanchez R1 3:35 via Technical Submission (Guillotine Choke)
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