Bellator 287 ‘Piccolotti vs. Barnaoui’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Sarvardzhon Khamidov (135.8) vs. Jose Maria Tome (135.6)

Round 1

The undefeated Khamidov (13-0, 0-0 Bellator) faces his toughest test to date against the well-traveled Tome (40-9, 0-0 Bellator), who once enjoyed a 17-fight unbeaten streak between Aug. 31, 2008 and May 24, 2013. Michael Bell draws the officiating assignment. Khamidov takes the center of the cage, as the Brazilian tries to stay light on his feet while circling on the perimeter. The Tajikistan native connects with multiple overhand rights, eats a few leg kicks and delivers a devastating kick to Tome’s midsection. His body shuts down and forces him to retreat to his knees, where Khamidov polishes off his latest win with punches before Bell can arrive on the scene.

The Official Result

Sarvardzhon Khamidov def. Jose Maria Tome—TKO (Kick to the Body and Punches) 1:01 R1

Andrea Fusi (181) vs. Steven Hill (179.9)

Round 1

Hill (4-0, 0-0 Bellator) puts his unbeaten record on the line against Fusi (8-6, 1-1 Bellator), who enters the match on a two-fight losing streak and in search of his first win since May 2019. Bell once again serves as the referee. Hill shoots for an immediate takedown and settles for the clinch. He connects with some knees to the inside of Fusi’s leg, holds him along the fence and secures double underhooks. Hill lowers his center of gravity, delivers a takedown and seeks to consolidate those efforts with positional control. Fusi builds his base and gets back to his feet, only to be returned to the mat. Hill postures inside the Italian’s open guard and chips away with punches to the body. Fusi again returns to his feet but fails to create the space necessary to get himself of the cage. Hill blends some knees to the legs with foot stomps, fires hooks to the body and resets in open space before shooting in and securing another takedown. Fuci maneuvers his way to a brief guillotine attempt, then releases his hands when the choke fails to materialize. 10-9 Hill

Round 2

Hill crowds his counterpart with kicks, retreats under duress and lures Fusi back into the clinch. He peppers him with short-range knees and punches, along the fence, before connecting with a knee south of the equator. Bell pauses the action to give Fusi time to recover. They get back to business after a brief respite, as Hill snatches a single-leg, sheds a weak attempt at a guillotine and passes to side control behind standing-to-ground-punches in the center of the cage. The situation seems to be deteriorating for Fuci. The SBG Ireland rep reclaims half guard but continues to eat damage, courtesy of shoulder strikes and elbows from Hill. The Brit works his way to Fuci’s back, transitions to side control and climbs to full mount with a little more than a minute remaining in the round. Fuci turns away from contact and gets to a crouched position, but Hill is relentless. He moves on top and unleashes punches and elbows. 10-9 Hill

Round 3

Fusi needs a stoppage as the third round arrives. Hill pumps out a one-two, followed by a leg kick and backs the Italian to the fence before moving back to the center of the cage. A left hook to the body forces a fading Fusi backward for a moment. The John Kavanaugh protégé shows no signs of upping his output as time continues to tick away. Hill paws with a jab and looks increasingly comfortable on the feet. He cuts off an advance with a takedown, pushes Fusi to the mat and hammers away with ground-and-pound. The writing seems to be on the wall in this one. Blood now streaming from his face, Fusi eats repeated short left hands and knees to the legs. Hill moves to the back with one hook in and begins to snake his left arm around the neck for a potential choke. Fusi dodges the submission, but Hill cracks him with lefts, carries him to the center of the cage and deposits him to the mat. Hill continues to hunt the submission, then settles for more ground-and-pound as the horn sounds. 10-9 Hill (30-27 Hill)

The Official Result

Steven Hill def. Andrea Fusi—Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-27, 30-26)

Lucas Alsina (204.4) vs. Luke Trainer (204.8)

Round 1

Trainer (5-1, 2-1 Bellator) enters the cage looking to rebound from his first professional defeat and sets his sights on the 36-year-old Alsina (11-3, 0-0 Bellator)—an Argentinian making his promotional debut on the strength of a three-fight winning streak. Referee Jerin Valel will officiate. Trainer follows a beautiful front kick to the face into a takedown and gets to work. He advances to half guard, delivers punches to the body and threatens with a brabo choke. Trainer transitions to the back, looks to his corner for directions, chips away with punches and cinches the rear-naked choke. Resigned to his fate, Alsina taps meekly.

The Official Result

Luke Trainer def. Lucas Alsina—Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 1:54 R1

Bourama Camara (170.9) vs. Nicolo Solli (170.8)

Round 1

Solli (3-1, 2-1 Bellator) carries the SBG Ireland flag ahead of his pairing with the 6-foot-4 Camara (5-1, 1-0 Bellator). Referee Bryan Miner presides over the encounter. Solli fires off a leg kick, follows with a burst of punches and closes the distance before clinching along the fence. Solli drags the Frenchman to the canvas, sets up shop in full guard and hunts for openings. The Italian progresses to half guard and delivers elbows to the head but allows Camara to escape to his feet. He slips behind Solli following a failed head-and-arm through and seizes control for the first time. Camara mixes in short punches, then cuts loose with left hands, utilizing his long arms. Solli mostly stays out of danger and initiates a scramble, as the two men grind to a halt on the cage. 10-9 Solli

Round 2

The hyperaggressive Solli once again punches into clinch range but falls to his back on an ill-conceived takedown attempt. Camara slips out of an attempted armbar, scores with hammerfists and applies pressure from top position. Not much unfolds, as the action slows to a crawl. Miner warns Solli more than once about hooking his toes in the cage. Camara drops a few short elbows while defending another armbar, pancakes downward and stalls. Solli locks up an armbar just as the horn sounds, perhaps saving Camara from real danger. 10-9 Camara

Round 3

Solli presses into clinch range but fails to corral Camara and winds up in open space. He connects with an accidental kick to the groin that results in a brief pause. They trade kicks to the body upon the restart, and Camara cuts off an attempted takedown while pushing Solli into the cage. They jockey for position along the fence, with neither man gaining a discernible advantage. Halfway through the round, the outcome remains in doubt. Camara uses his height and leverage to keep the SBG Ireland rep bottled up in close quarters. Miner restarts them with 90 seconds to go. Solli clips the Frenchman with a right hook, sprawls on a takedown and works his way to the back. He sinks the rear-naked choke, but his failure to secure position with his hooks allows Camara to escape. With 30 seconds remaining, they are back on their feet. Camara returns to the action to the clinch, as the remaining time bleeds off the clock. 10-9 Solli (29-28 Solli)

The Official Result

Nicolo Solli def. Bourama Camara—Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Simon Biyong (205.8) vs. Dragos Zubco (203.4)

Round 1

Biyong (8-2, 1-1 Bellator) attempts to gain some traction in the light heavyweight division against Zubco (3-1, 0-0 Bellator), who climbs into the cage on the heels of back-to-back victories. Valel oversees the action. Biyong casts quite a shadow as an intimidating physical presence. Zubco keeps him at bay with leg kicks and one-twos. He backs Biyong to the fence with punches but concedes a takedown via the inside trip. The Cameroon native works from half guard but cannot hold down his opponent. Zubco gets back to his feet but struggles to free himself in the clinch. Biyong bullies the Moldovan back to the canvas and again sets up in half guard. He chips away at the body with punches while mixing in the occasional elbow to the head. He climbs to full mount in an unfortunate development for Zubco. Some punches and short elbows follow, the situation growing increasing dire for Zubco. With 10 seconds left, Biyong postures and cuts loose. A finish fails to materialize, but the message has undoubtedly been set. 10-9 Biyong

Round 2

Zubco needs to get busy in the standup to avoid a repeat of what happened in Round 1. Instead, he looks gun-shy. Biyong ducks under a right hand, closes the distance and forces his opponent’s back to the cage. He then muscles Zubco back to the canvas and progresses immediately to mount. Trouble beckons for the Moldovan. Biyong postures and punches with three minutes still left in the round. He takes his time, piling up damage and control time. Zubco eventually breaks beneath a volley of punches and hammerfists.

The Official Result

Simon Biyong def. Dragos Zubco—TKO (Punches) 3:36 R2

Walter Cogliandro (146) vs. Yves Landu (145.6)

Round 1

Landu (17-9, 2-1 Bellator) zeroes in on Cogliandro (11-3-1, 0-0 Bellator) and aims to spoil the Italian’s organizational debut on home soil. Valel draws the officiating assignment. Landu looks eager right out of the gate, uncorking punching combinations and heavy body kicks. Cogliandro may have some difficulty keeping up. Landu catches a kick and fires a knee up the middle, only to be countered by an attempted takedown. Cogliandro chases a guillotine, surrenders a takedown and then scrambles into north-south position by kicking off the cage. Landu turns into him but finds himself ensnared in an anaconda choke. Cogliandro stays on the choke as the two men move to an upright position. Landu escapes and clips his opponent moving in, briefly stunning him. Light on his feet, Landu switches stances seamlessly and lets fly with combinations as the round concludes. 10-9 Landu

Round 2

Landu presses forward with punches and a flying knee, only to be cut off in the clinch. He gathers Cogliandro’s hips, hoists him skyward and dumps him on his back in the center of the cage. Landu passes to side control. The Cyrille Diabate protégé zeroes in on the left arm, anchors himself on his knees and fights for the kimura. Cogliandro escapes and chases a leg lock but nothing materializes. Landu moves back to side control and attacks the arm with another kimura, using it to progress to full mount with two minutes to go. Cogliandro bucks free and eventually escapes back to his feet. Land backs him up with a left cross-right uppercut and follows with multiple body kicks. He has a significant output advantage in the standup exchanges. 10-9 Landu

Round 3

Cogliandro likely needs to alter the direction of the narrative—and fast. Landu strikes at multiple levels with punches and kicks, dives on another takedown and advances to side control. He moves to a topside crucifix, forces Cogliandro to accept the position and piles up points and damage with punches and elbows. Cogliandro extricates himself briefly but winds up turtled, with Landu feeding him punches from behind. The Frenchman jumps back into side control, then climbs to mount. Cogliandro is once again in real danger. Landu scores with ground-and-pound, forces his adversary to surrender his back and secures position with a body triangle. He stays one step ahead of Cogliandro at every turn and, with less than a minute remaining, positions himself for another victory. 10-9 Landu (30-27 Landu)

The Official Result

Yves Landu def. Walter Cogliandro—Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)

Manuela Marconetto (115.8) vs. Chiara Penco (115.1)

Round 1

An all-Italian battle between Penco (7-3, 3-1 Bellator) and Marconetto (3-1, 0-0 Bellator) keeps the undercard moving in the women’s strawweight division. Blake Grice serves as the referee. Marconetto comes out swinging, only to be sat down by a right hand from her opponent. Penco looks to counter, as Marconetto charges in, head down, and fires her hands. Marconetto tries her luck in the clinch, gets nowhere and moves back out into open space. Her volume punching is giving Penco problems. Marconetto continues to move forward behind active hands, and while she eats some return fire, she finds her way into the clinch. Penco turns to knees up the middle and enjoys some success with them. However, she seems to be spending to much time backing up. 10-9 Marconetto

Round 2

Marconetto picks up where she left off as the more aggressive and active fighter. Penco counters but only with one shot at a time. Marconetto operates behind her jab, throws out one-twos and presses forward. Again, not a good look for Penco, and meaningful adjustments do not appear to be forthcoming. Marconetto mixes in the occasional leg kicks but generally leans on one-twos before resetting and getting back to business. Penco enjoys some success with her jab, but the good moments appear to few and far between. Marconetto maintains control of the center of the cage. 10-9 Marconetto

Round 3

Penco appears to need a finish entering Round 3. Jabs and leg kicks flow out of Marconetto, whose confidence grows by the second. Penco continues to work with single strikes, her back to the fence as she circles on the outside. She doubles up on right hooks during a dirty boxing exchange but does little to exploit the opening and returns to an approach that does not serve her best interests. Marconetto advances behind punches, taking two steps forward for every one she gives back. Lacking the firepower necessary to turn the tide in her favor, Penco seems to be fighting a losing battle with a minute remaining in the fight. Marconetto connects with a one-two, setting up a clean right cross with a jab. She snaps back Penco’s head with several punches, forces her to stay on her back foot and rides out the remaining time. 10-9 Marconetto (30-27 Marconetto)

The Official Result

Chiara Penco def. Manuela Marconetto—Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)

Alfie Davis (156) vs. Thibault Gouti (155.9)

Round 1

Gouti (16-5, 1-0 Bellator) tries to extend his current winning streak to five fights in a three-round confrontation with Davis (5-1-1 Bellator), who seeks his first victory in more than two years. The 35-year-old Gouti has never lost in 15 appearances outside of the UFC. Grice will handle the officiating duties. Davis counters his opponent’s aggression with accurate counterpunches and kicks. The Frenchman throws in a leg kick or two to keep him off-balance. Davis stays composed. He sticks Gouti repeated jabs, opening a cut on the bridge of the nose. Gouti continues to apply pressure, as Davis delivers hooks to the body from both hands. An accidental eye poke results in a brief pause in the action. Davis ups his aggression on the restart but cannot keep the UFC veteran at bay. Davis appears to be timing the rushes better, utilizing hooks to the head and body kicks. Momentum has shifted. 10-9 Davis

Round 2

Davis backpedals in the face of continuous pressure and slams a kick into the Frenchman’s ribcage. A kick from the London Shootfighters standout appears to damage Gouti’s lead arm, changing the tenor of the match almost immediately. Gouti gives ground for the first time. He has not thrown a right hand since being struck by the kick. Davis picks his spots, generates some power with a right uppercut and answers Gouti’s forward movement hooks. Gouti’s punching output has dwindled noticeably, for obvious reasons. Davis circles on the perimeter and scores with punches and kicks with roughly a minute left in the round. Gouti continues to apply pressure, even without one of his primary weapons. 10-9 Davis

Round 3

Gouti is nothing if not game. Davis pops him with jabs and occasionally targets the arm with kicks, even as the Frenchman throws punches with it. Davis sneaks in a few left hands, often pairing them with kicks to the opposite side of the body. Gouti is going to have trouble sleeping tonight. Davis gives ground as the UFC veteran presses forward but continues to score off the back foot. Gouti stays true to his approach, but forward movement only goes so far. He has no real answer for the multi-pronged striking attack Davis is throwing at him. Jabs, hooks and crosses all land, along with intermittent one-twos. Gouti absorbs more kicks to the arm but shows no signs of relenting in an admirable effort. 10-9 Davis (30-27 Davis)

The Official Result

Alfie Davis def. Thibault Gouti—Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Kamil Oniszczuk (185.4) vs. Costello van Steenis (185.4)

Round 1

Van Steenis (13-2, 5-1 Bellator) welcomes Oniszczuk (9-1, 0-0 Bellator) to the cage and looks to build some additional momentum at the expense of the promotional newcomer. Bryan Miner presides over the festivities. Van Steenis targets the lower leg with kicks, nearly knocking him off his feet. Oniszczuk uncorks a punching volley and a body kick. Van Steenis catches the leg, pushes the Pole backward into the fence and goes to work in the clinch. He shows no signs of rust after a two-year layoff. Oniszczuk cuts off an attempted takedown with sublime balance but remains trapped in the clinch. Van Steenis feeds him a few knees before scoring with a trip takedown. He jumps to the back while Oniszczuk builds his base and returns to his feet. Van Steenis connects with a partially blocked head kick off the break. Oniszczuk drives in the Dutchman’s hips in a bid to answer a takedown, but those efforts come up short. 10-9 van Steenis

Round 2

Oniszczuk carries a huge hematoma on his lead shin into the second round, courtesy of his opponent’s low kicks. Van Steenis goes back to the kicks, further compromising his counterpart’s base. Oniszczuk now lacks zip on his kicks and punches, perhaps a byproduct of the van Steenis kicks. Van Steenis steps into an overhead right, then unleashes an exquisite multi-strike volley he punctuated with a kick. Oniszczuk dives on the legs out of desperation, wanders into a brabo choke and finds no avenues of escape. The Ankos MMA product has no choice but to tap.

The Official Result

Costello van Steenis def. Kamil Oniszczuk—Submission (Brabo Choke) 3:02 R2

Davy Gallon (155.8) vs. Daniele Scatizzi (154.8)

Round 1

Gallon (21-7-2, 3-0 Bellator), who has not tasted defeat since March 2018, puts his five-fight winning streak on the line against Scatizzi (3-2 Bellator). Jacob Montalvo draws the officiating assignment. Scatizzi unleashed punches in bunches, follows with a leg kick and secures a takedown inside the first minute. Gallon escapes back to his feet. Scatizzi slips in the clinch and winds up pinned underneath Gallon but manages to get back to an upright position in short order. He moves to the rear waistlock position, as the action stalls in the clinch—not all that unexpected in a showdown between two judo players. Scatizzi stays one step ahead at close range with time ticking off the clock. The SBG Ireland surges later, firing off punches from both hands as the horn sounds. 10-9 Scatizzi

Round 2

Scatizzi sets the tone with a front kick to the body. Gallon closes the distance and bullies his way into the clinch, where they jockey for position. The two men take turns with their back to the fence, trading foot stomps. Gallon connects with a short elbow off the break, as they drift into open space. The Adrenaline Fight Team product steps into an overhand right, gives ground in the face of return fire and circles out of danger. Gallon sprawls on a takedown and threatens the neck before securing a takedown from the clinch. He progresses immediately to the back and secures position with a body triangle. Scatizzi breaks free from the body triangle and locks up a guillotine from the bottom. Gallon scrambles to his back to alleviate the pressure but winds up in a disadvantageous position. They close the round with a standup exchange, neither man gaining a decided edge. 10-9 Gallon

Round 3

Neither man should be comfortable entering Round 3. Scatizzi swoops in on the legs but fails in his bid for a takedown. Another clinch ensues. Not much happens as they once again fight for dominance at close range. With two minutes remaining, it appears to be up for grabs. Gallon scores with heel strikes to the back of the leg, while Scatizzi answers with foot stomps. Gallon delivers a takedown and lands in side control with 35 seconds on the clock, then moves to the back as Scatizzi stands. They clinch again before closing with a flurry—a fitting end to a highly competitive fight. 10-9 Gallon (29-28 Gallon)

The Official Result

Daniele Scatizzi def. Davy Gallon—Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Andrew Fisher (146) vs. Justin Gonzales (145.2)

Round 1

Having climbed into Bellator’s Top 10 at 145 pounds, Gonzales (13-1, 2-1 Bellator) attempts to move another step closer to contention in his battle with Fisher (19-8-1, 2-2 Bellator). The 37-year-old Fisher has not lost since Oct. 1, 2016. Referee Jerin Valel will adjudicate matters inside the cage. Gonzales, who once wrestled alongside Justin Gaethje at the University of Northern Colorado, fires jabs to the body and head, working in an overhand right and a front kick. Fisher uncorks an occasional right hand, but eats a few leg kicks in response. A tepid affair thus far. Gonzales ducks under a right hand and executes a high-amplitude takedown. Fisher gets back to his feet but struggles to detach. Eventually, the two men separate. Gonzales keeps the Englishman at bay with a jab and uses his speed to his advantage, dodging the shots being thrown back in his direction. 10-9 Gonzales

Round 2

Gonzales hammers away with leg kicks, throws a beautiful body-head combination and sets the tone right out of the gate. Fisher looks like a man out of his depth. Gonzales seems to land everything he throws—jabs, low kicks and hooks to the body and head. Speed, variety and power all to appear to be in the American’s favor, not to mention the significant advantage he holds in the wrestling department. A hematoma has begun to develop around Fisher’s left eye. 10-9 Gonzales

Round 3

Fisher needs a miracle, as he seeks to avoid his first setback in more than six years. Gonzales cracks him with a one-two and follows with a right hook to the body, the former Legacy Fighting Alliance champion tightening his grip on the match. Fisher continues to absorb shots to the body and head, as the gap between the two men widens with roughly half a round remaining. Gonzales doubles up on his jab, fires the right hand behind them and forces the Englishman into a defensive shell on the feet. In terms of moral victories, Fisher has bloodied his opponent’s nose with jabs of his own. Gonzales wipes away the blood every so often, then resumes his assault on the head, midsection and legs. He pins Fisher on the fence with punches, forces him to dive on a takedown and leaves him in a kneeling position as the round ends. With a little more time at his disposal, Gonzales likely would have finished it. 10-9 Gonzales (30-27 Gonzales)

The Official Result

Justin Gonzales def. Andrew Fisher—Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Saul Rogers (155.3) vs. Tim Wilde (155.8)

Round 1

Rogers (15-4, 3-2 Bellator), in his first appearance since outpointing Georgi Karakhanyan at Bellator 266, more than a year ago, undoubtedly has designs on using Wilde (14-4-1, 2-1-1 Bellator) as a steppingstone at 155 pounds. Referee Bryan Miner steps in as the arbiter. Rogers backs up his countryman up with a jab, then eats a right hand for his troubles. Wilde lands a leg kick, then a front kick to the body before circling on the outside. Rogers swoops in on the hips, works on a takedown and drags it to the ground. Wilde scrambles back to his feet, drifts into a guillotine choke and eventually surrenders his back. Rogers scores with his ground-and-pound, transitions to half guard and passes to side control. Wilde opens a cut above Rogers’ right eye with an elbow strike from the bottom. Rogers nearly finishes a Peruvian necktie, resets himself and goes for the rarely executed maneuver a second time before the two men scramble back to their feet. Wilde denies a late takedown attempt. 10-9 Rogers

Round 2

Wilde connects with a kick to the chest, nearly clipping Rogers’ chin with his knee. Rogers completes another takedown but fails to control Wilde, who forces him to engage him in the standup. Wilde scores effectively on the feet and throws an ill-advised spinning attack but lands in top position on the ensuing scramble. This was not where Rogers expected to be at any point in the fight. Wilde bides his time and applies his ground-and-pound in full guard. Rogers get back to his feet after scrambling out from the bottom and threatening with a single-leg takedown. The lightweights, now upright, return to the center of the cage to throw hands. Wilde follows a head kick with a clean two-punch combination and appears to have seized control of the bout. Rogers needs to recalibrate between rounds. 10-9 Wilde

Round 3

Wilde opens the round with a right uppercut and circles on the outside, clearly cognizant of the takedown threat. Rogers dives in, only to be denied. Wilde switches stances, strings together multiple punches and connects with a left uppercut. Wilde turns away another attempted takedown. These developments have to be a drain on Rogers’ confidence. Wilde taps Rogers with a front kick, takes aim at the lead leg and exits without eating any shots in return. Rogers looks flat-footed and fatigued. Nevertheless, he catches a leg and dumps Wilde to the canvas with 90 seconds on the clock. Rogers makes another pass at a Peruvian necktie, releases the choke and scrambles to the back, securing his position with hooks. Wilde scrambles free, builds his base and gets back to his feet. Whatever reserves Rogers had in the tank appear to have been emptied. 10-9 Wilde (29-28 Wilde)

The Official Result

Tim Wilde def. Saul Rogers—Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Fabian Edwards (185.4) vs. Charlie Ward (185.2)

Round 1

The co-main event sees Edwards (10-2, 6-2 Bellator)—the younger brother of reigning UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards—tangle with SBG Ireland’s Ward (10-4, 7-1 Bellator), who turns 42 in December. Blake Grice takes the reins as referee. Edwards tests the waters with front kick and takes the center of the cage. An extended feeling-out process gives way to a few body kicks from Edwards. Ward answers with an inside leg kick, but caution is the word of the moment for both men. Edwards cracks him with a head kick and sets him on rubbery legs but loses his footing during his follow-up attack. Ward takes top position with a little more than 90 seconds left in the round. Ward passes to half guard but allows Edwards to get back to his feet. The Irishman connects with a few clubbing right hands and stays out of danger. 10-9 Edwards

Round 2

Edwards moves into range immediately, perhaps sensing that Ward is still compromised. He shoots in on a takedown and climbs toward mount. He floats onto the back during the subsequent scramble and returns Ward to the mat. He sets his hooks but loses position while hunting the choke. A knee to the groin from Ward prompts a pause in the action. Edwards lands to kicks to the leg, one inside and one outside, then secures a takedown. Ward works back to his feet, only to be taken down again. Edwards drops elbows on his heavily tattooed counterpart and climbs to the back, applying hip pressure. Ward refuses to be flattened out, but Edwards powers into mount and cut loose with elbows before threatening with an arm-triangle. Edwards loses his footing while exchanging punches but avoids any issues on the ground. 10-9 Edwards

Round 3

Ward looks weary at the start of Round 3 but pecks away with his jab. Edwards follows a head kick with a straight left, executes a takedown and moves to full mount. Ward gives up his back. Edwards flattens out the Irishman, secures his position with a body triangle, scores with punches and starts to zero in on the neck. Ward denies his advances, but reality set in long ago. The two men start exchanging profane pleasantries on the mat, as the action stalls. 10-9 Edwards (30-27 Edwards)

The Official Result

Fabian Edwards def. Charlie Ward—Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Adam Piccolotti (155.2) vs. Mansour Barnaoui (154.6)

Round 1

Barnaoui (19-4, 0-0 Bellator) returns to the MMA stage for the first time in 1,260 days and makes his long-overdue organizational debut in an intriguing headliner against Piccolotti (13-4, 9-4 Bellator). Jacob Montalvo handles the officiating duties. Piccolotti strikes for an immediate takedown. Barnaoui sweeps into top position, frees himself from an omoplata and pounds away with jackhammer left hands. He advances toward the back with Piccolotti in a crouched position and drives a few right hands into his face. Barnaoui locks in body triangle and increases the intensity of his ground-and-pound. From there, he threatens the neck with his arms and contorts the body in a painful position with his legs. Piccolotti survives, but the round did not go as he had hoped. 10-9 Barnaoui

Round 2

Piccolotti bites down a guillotine and powers into top position inside the first 30 seconds. In an instant, Barnaoui swings onto the Californian’s back. The guy is a wizard on the ground. Barnaoui locks in the body triangle once again, softens his opponent with punches to chants of “Mansour” from the Italian crowd and fishes for the choke. Piccolotti defends initially, but Barnaoui transitions to a palm-to-palm grip, tightens his squeeze and forces the tap. Exceptional performance from Barnaoui, who figures to move through the ranks quickly if he so desires.

The Official Result

Mansour Barnaoui def. Adam Piccolotti—Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 2:51 R2