Bellator vs. Rizin 2 Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Andrey Koreshkov (170.8) vs. Lorenz Larkin (170.6)

Round 1

The Bellator portion of Bellator vs. Rizin 2 kicks off with a clash between welterweight striking specialists and general entertainment merchants Koreshkov and Larkin. Their first meeting, in the headliner of Bellator 229 nearly four years ago, ended in a razor-close win for the American. Kerry Hatley is the referee. Both men set up in orthodox stance and Larkin is the first one to connect, with a right hand. Larkin comes forward early, pawing with the jab. Koreshkov comes up short with a spinning hook kick, then lands a left leg kick. Larkin is looking to walk Koreshkov to the fence, but the Russian is wise to it and slides out laterally. Koreshkov lands to the body. Two minutes in, Koreshkov drops levels and gets an easy double-leg takedown on the advancing “Monsoon.” Larkin scoots back to the cage, and Koreshkov laces both legs while he works to pull his opponent back off the fence. Larkin is pushing down on the head, trying to keep Koreshkov from advancing, but the position seems to be close to a stalemate. With a minute left, they’re still in that position, when Larkin looks briefly to hit an inside switch. Koreshkov simply shifts to the other side. At the 10-second warning, Larkin bursts to his feet. The bell sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Koreshkov
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Koreshkov
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Koreshkov

Round 2

Koreshkov lands a spinning kick to the body, then a low kick. Larkin is trying to bounce into range to land punches on the taller man, but Koreshkov is doing a good job keeping him outside. Koreshkov drops levels, but gives up on the takedown and runs Larkin to the fence. Koreshkov lands a couple of knees then tries to lock his hands behind Larkin. Larkin does a good job winning the head position battle. Koreshkov shucks the Russian off and they return to the center of the cage. Larkin lands a nice level elbow that stings Koreshkov, who steps back. Larkin follows him to the fence, but Koreshkov quickly reverses him there. Larkin has an overhook, keeping Koreshkov from getting him to his hips or separating to land strikes. They separate before the horn. Close round.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Larkin
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Koreshkov
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Koreshkov

Round 3

The final round opens with Larkin coming forward. They exchange medium-speed leg kicks. Koreshkov catches the oncoming Larkin with a nice left hand. Koreshkov shoots a double-leg from way outside but gets it, wrapping Larkin up at the thighs and tipping him over at the base of the cage. He sets up once again with a leg ride on the seated Larkin. Larkin lands a couple of short punches and downward elbows. Koreshkov keeps his arms locked and manages to lace both legs, but Larkin pops back up. Two minutes are left. Koreshkov lands a crisp left. Larkin hits Koreshkov with a short elbow and the Russian is looking very tired. Tired or not, however, he times Larkin’s next swing and gets a duck-under for another easy takedown. Koreshkov once again sets up shop against the base of the cage, but Larkin shows some urgency in getting back up right away. Koreshkov keeps a rear waistlock, and Larkin spins around. Koreshkov works for a double-leg and loses it just as time expires, closing out another ultra-close scrap between these two.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Larkin (29-28 Larkin)
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Larkin (29-28 Koreshkov)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Larkin (29-28 Koreshkov)

The Official Result

Andrey Koreshkov def. Lorenz Larkin via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)

Danny Sabatello (135.8)vs. Magomed Magomedov (136)

Round 1

The brash “Italian Gangster” and the best Magomed Magomedov in MMA get to work under the watchful eye of Jason Herzog. Sabatello flicks out a high kick, but it comes up a foot or two short. Sabatello shoots a blisteringly fast takedown from outside, and comes out of the ensuing scramble on top. Magomedov stands up at the base of the fence and Sabatello flings him back down, taking the back an instant later. He rolls to a supine position with the Dagestani on top of him and tries to sink the hooks. Magomedov spins out and Sabatello keeps hold of his neck. Sabatello can’t get back to a position to finish, though, and lets go. Magomedov bursts free. Magomedov trips Sabatello down and looks for a choke. Sabatello escapes, but Magomedov snatches a front headlock, wraps up a guillotine choke, closes his guard and sinks to his back. Sabatello fights the choke, even as his neck is bent and extended at an alarming angle, but Magomedov’s squeeze is deadly and the American taps seconds later. Sensational finish by Magomed Magomedov.

The Official Result

Magomed Magomedov def. Danny Sabatello R1 3:55 via Submission (Guillotine Choke)

Kana Watanabe (125.5)vs. Veta Arteaga (126)

Round 1

Two occupants of Bellator’s flyweight Top 10 take to the cage in streaking Arteaga and Watanabe. Bryan Miner draws the referee assignment. Arteaga closes the distance immediately and clinches, but it’s Watanabe who takes control from there, running the American to the fence. They disengage quickly, and set up in mirrored stances, Watanabe southpaw and Arteaga orthodox. They exchange a couple of glancing single punches before Watanabe steps in and grabs hold of Arteaga. Arteaga turns her back and Watanabe sinks a hook as they stand against the fence. She looks close to completing a back take, but Arteaga shrugs her off and steps away. Watanabe closes the distance again but is met by an elbow and a right hand. Watanabe returns fire with a sharp right hand, then clinches with her against the fence and drives a couple of knees up the middle. Arteaga returns fire with a couple of punches that clearly hurt, spurring Watanabe to shoot for a takedown. Arteaga gets underhooks and stands her back up. Arteaga lands a hard right cross, then another right, followed by a left. Under a minute left and Arteaga is looking confident on the feet. Watanabe drops for a double-leg, but Arteaga wide-legs against the fence and defends. Watanabe changes angles and finally secures a takedown with 15 seconds left. She lands a couple of nice right hands to the kneeling Arteaga before the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Arteaga
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Arteaga
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Arteaga

Round 2

Arteaga sticks out the jab to start Round 2, looking to build on her good work in the first frame. Watanabe wades through a couple of hooks and elbow strikes to grab a single-leg. She looks close to hauling Arteaga down, but Arteaga manages to escape. Watanabe scores with a couple of left hands, then drops for a takedown, which she gets with ease. Arteaga is on her knees at the base of the cage with Watanabe behind her, hands locked around her waist. With the round halfway gone, Arteaga escapes and pops back up. Arteaga throws a glancing one-two. Watanabe comes back with a long jab that barely lands. Watanabe shoots a single-leg and ends up on Arteaga’s legs at the base of the fence once more. Arteaga again turns away and works back to her feet. Watanabe stays stuck to her back as she rises, but Arteaga turns towards her and shoves her off. Watanabe shoots again immediately and gets back to Arteaga’s hips, again at the edge of the cage. The round expires as Arteaga stands and separates.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Arteaga
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Arteaga
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Arteaga

Round 3

Watanabe lands the first solid strike of the round, but Arteaga comes back with a right cross that snaps her opponent’s head back. Arteaga lands another pair of punches before Watanabe shoots. She wraps up Arteaga’s legs and hauls her to her knees at the base of the cage. Arteaga once again turns her back, climbs up and separates. Watanabe lands a nice lead left. Arteaga returns fire with a right hand but Watanabe eats it, changes levels and shoots for another takedown. She drives Arteaga to the fence, but Arteaga stands her back up. Watanabe shoots again and Arteaga slams her with a couple of elbows to the side of the head. They separate with two minutes left. Arteaga circles and gives ground as Watanabe pursues. Arteaga clips Watanabe with a right hand. Watanabe looks about to change levels, but straightens up quickly. She drops levels a moment later and is snared in a front headlock. Arteaga uses it to drive Watanabe to her back, and Watanabe throws her legs up for an armbar. Arteaga defends easily, and they make it back to their feet at the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Arteaga (30-27 Arteaga)
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Arteaga (30-27 Arteaga)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Arteaga (30-27 Arteaga)

The Official Result

Kana Watanabe def. Veta Arteaga via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Kyoji Horiguchi (124.2)vs. Makoto Takahashi (125)

Round 1

The inaugural Bellator MMA men’s flyweight title is at stake and someone is going to have to make some room on the mantelpiece, as Horiguchi looks to add to his Bellator, Rizin Fighting Federation and Shooto bantamweight hardware against red-hot 23-year-old “Shinryu,” who comes into the bout on a 10-fight win streak and with Cage Fury Fighting Championships and Deep titles already to his name. Jason Herzog is the third man in the cage, and after a glove touch, they commence to fighting. Horiguchi is in orthodox, Takahashi southpaw, and the inherent awkwardness manifests itself immediately, as Takahashi takes an inadvertent finger to the right eye in the first serious exchange. Herzog calls time and “Shinryu” is clearly bothered by the eye poke, pacing and blinking. A lengthy wait ensues while Herzog consults the cageside doctor and injured fighter, and after some back-and-forth through the translator as the five-minute injury break expires, Herzog waves it off. A huge disappointment for all involved, of course, and nobody will have to rearrange their trophy case just yet after all, as the Bellator men’s flyweight belt will remain ownerless for now.

The Official Result

Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Makoto Takahashi Ends in a No Contest at R1 0:25 (Inadvertent Foul)

Patricky Freire (160)vs. Roberto Satoshi de Souza (160.6)

Round 1

The main event features the rarity of a divisional grand prix fight taking place outside of the division in question, as Rizin lightweight champ “Satoshi” steps in for the ailing A.J. McKee on days’ notice to face “Patricky Pitbull” at a 161-pound catchweight, but with the winner nonetheless set to advance in Bellator’s 155-pound tournament. After the aborted Horiguchi-Takahashi co-main, let us perhaps just hope that we even get a winner. Kerry Hatley will do his best to ensure that in his role as the final referee of the Bellator portion of the evening. Both men are in orthodox stance, and both are ultra-cautious in the early going. Thirty seconds in, neither man has thrown a punch in earnest. De Souza lands a low kick for the first significant strike of the fight. He goes for a high kick, but “Pitbull” beats him to the spot with a low kick to his plant leg. “Satoshi” chips away with another low kick of his own. De Souza steps in and Freire throws a couple of hard hooks that glance off the guard. De Souza drops for his first takedown attempt, but Freire extricates his leg and hops away easily. Halfway through the round, Freire is the one coming forward, looking to close the distance on the much taller “Satoshi,” but both fighters are still noticeably trigger shy, choosing to explode with single shots rather than commit. De Souza launches a flying knee but the resulting collision lacks impact. With under a minute left, “Pitbull” launches a flying knee of his own, but de Souza is moving away and he hits little but air. In the closing seconds, Freire comes forward with a flurry of punches and de Souza responds in kind, with “Pitbull getting slightly the better of it.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Freire
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Freire
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Freire

Round 2

“Pitbull” comes forward to begin Round 2 as “Satoshi” gives ground, both men bouncing on their toes. De Souza flicks out a low kick that glances. A moment later, he shoots for a takedown. Freire is all over it, but de Souza pulls guard and falls to his back. “Pitbull” shrugs out of it and stands, choosing not to meet his foe in his own wheelhouse. Two minutes down and the action is still tense and deliberate. Freire feints with the hands, but ends up throwing a low kick. He comes forward and lands a one-two, then briefly switches stances. He switches back to orthodox, but camps out too long in front of de Souza and takes a pair of punches for his trouble. “Pitbull” lands a nice low kick on the retreating de Souza. Just under a minute left and de Souza shoots a fast takedown from outside, but Freire sprawls effortlessly. “Pitbull” launches a flying knee that hurts de Souza badly, and swarms as he goes down. He relents, however, and steps back, causing Hatley to wave de Souza back to his feet. The bell sounds a few seconds later.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Freire
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Freire
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Freire

Round 3

The middle round opens up with de Souza showing some initiative, marching forward and feinting a level change. “Pitbull” throws a hard calf kick to the lead leg and de Souza goes down in pain. “Satoshi” turns away and goes belly-down as Freire dives in with punches, but Hatley is already interposing himself for the stoppage, having correctly seen de Souza’s body language as surrender. A decisive finish, and “Pitbull” advances to the semifinals and a date with Alexander Shabliy, one step closer to reclaiming the Bellator 155-pound belt he once owned.

The Official Result

Patricky Freire def. Roberto Satoshi de Souza R3 0:49 via TKO (Leg Kick)