Join us tonight on Bloody Elbow for live results and coverage as Bellator 132 transpires from the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, CA. The entire preliminary card will also stream live and free right here on Bloody Elbow.
Recently crowned featherweight champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire rematches ever-improving wrestle-boxer Daniel Straus in the main-card’s headliner while D1 wrestling champion Bubba Jenkins draws his stiffest challenge yet in the form of wily veteran Georgi Karakhanyan. Also on the main card: Houston Alexander and Virgil Zwicker give it another go and bruiser Fernando Gonzalez, hot off an upset over Karo Parisyan, opens the Spike TV broadcast against Marius Zaromskis.
Though rising prospect Fabricio Guerreiro won’t be in action after opponent Nick Piedmont was allegedly denied a license to compete, the preliminary card still offers Dustin Jacoby vs. John Salter along with scrapper Derek Anderson, who takes on Danny Navarro. The full lineup and schedule follows. Check the Bellator 132 Vivisection for detailed analysis and predictions.
BELLATOR 132: Freire vs. Straus
Main Card (Spike TV at 9:00 p.m. ET)
Patricio Freire vs. Daniel Straus — Featherweight Championship
R1: Straus has a left high kick blocked. The size disparity is evident as Straus plunges a long one-two after dodging a low kick. Freire glances with a step-in right and Straus answers with a knee to the body in the resulting clinch. Straus finds the mark with a counter left. Then another that lands clean on the next exchange. A pair of inside low kicks land lightly for Straus, who again establishes his counter left hand when Freire returns fire.
They clinch up and Straus walks Freire to the fence. They split uneventfully. Straus loses his balance with a wild left and Freire cracks him with an inside low kick. Freire shuffles left while firing rights and scores with a short uppercut on the next exchange but we pause for an accidental clash of heads. They’re back at it quickly and Straus backs Freire up with more sharp left hands. They collide and Freire shucks off a Straus takedown attempt, circles off the fence and attacks with a pair of knees, a horizontal elbow and a combo. Straus stands his ground, covers up and then flashes his hands back at “Pitbull.” Freire’s kick catches Straus in the cup and we pause for another accidental infraction. 10-9 Straus.
R2: Straus lands an inside low kick, then leads with a long left to the breadbasket. Straus accidentally lands a knee low and they continue regardless, but he lands it low again and we have another timeout. With the tension palpably heightened, they re-engage with fists flying. Now it gets plain weird as Freire complains about another low shot that referee John McCarthy doesn’t see. He halts the fight regardless and takes a point from Straus for a low blow despite the replay showing an inadvertent eye poke to be the culprit.
We restart and Freire dives on a single leg, then off-balances Straus during the ensuing scramble, landing in the front headlock with the guillotine grip. Straus defends and Freire holds position while firing rights to the ribs. Straus takes a knee and gets the body lock, hitting a powerful counter throw. Freire is feisty and scrambles free, then ends up back in the front headlock. Straus escapes again and puts Freire on the fence with double underhooks. Freire snaps Straus’ head down and nearly gets behind him, but settles for a knee to the body as Straus attempts to stand. Two more rugged knees to the gut from Freire. 10-9 Freire; 10-8 with the point deduction.
R3: Freire blocks a left high kick. One-two combo followed by a high kick for Straus, all of which are blocked. Freire just misses with his step-in right. Another Straus high kick is blocked but he sneaks one through to the body. Jab high and a right that plunges to the body for Straus. John McCarthy warns Straus for stretching out his fingers and Straus snaps back at him.
Straus scores with a clean left cross. Not much cookin’ for Freire here. Straus uncorks another high kick and Freire partially blocks and partially eats it. Straus charges with a combo and Freire surprisingly changes levels and dumps Straus with a double. Freire holds position briefly before pursuing a leg lock that Straus easily slips out of. They restart on the feet with Straus maintaining his aggressive punch/kick output. 10-9 Straus.
R4: Freire opens with a pair of crisp one-twos and Straus clinches up. Freire circles off the fence and holds Straus there. After a few short lefts to the body from Freire, Straus lands a knee to the body and backs Freire off with a big left. Straus gets the better of their next exchange and Freire is starting to bleed from his right eye. Straus dings Freire with a left and it drops him momentarily. Straus clinches up and Freire circles off the fence again, apparently recovered.
Straus gets the Thai plum grip until Freire alternates lefts and rights to the body in order to break it. Straus with a left downstairs and a body kick. Straus wades forward too aggressively and Freire blasts Straus with a right hand that wobbles him. Freire lands a knee below the belt and Straus goes down. After another pause for a foul, they restart with Freire’s eye now bleeding freely. Freire whiffs on a wild right and Straus counters with a left. Freire wades forward in pursuit of a double leg and completes it with a minute left. Straus gets double wrist control and Freire digs left hands into his side. Straus, without any sort of guard, goes for the kimura and Freire uses the threat of the counter armbar to take back control. “Pitbull” sinks in the rear-naked choke and coaxes the finish a moment after.
- Patricio “Pitbull” Freire defeats Daniel Straus by submission (rear-naked choke) R4 4:49
Bubba Jenkins vs. Georgi Karakhanyan
R1: Karakhanyan throws a one-two and a kick, causing Jenkins to change levels and hoist him overhead for a power double leg. In mid-air, Karakhanyan ties on a guillotine and uses it to transition to the front headlock. Jenkins takes a knee and looks to break the hold but Karakhanyan readjusts and falls back to wrench the guillotine. Karakhanyan is relentless with the hold but Jenkins scrambles free just as he tightens it. Easy reactive takedown for Jenkins on the restart but Karakhanyan again pounces on the guillotine. After a brief struggle, Jenkins freezes and Karakhanyan finally convinces referee Herb Dean that he’s unconscious.
- Georgi Karakhyanyan defeats Bubba Jenkins by technical submission (guillotine choke) R1 1:49
Houston Alexander vs. Virgil Zwicker
R1: They start tentatively until Alexander times a takedown during a spinning attack from Zwicker. Alexander patiently maintains control as Zwicker tries to cage walk, then unloads a series of thudding right hands to the ribs. Zwicker gets halfway back up but Alexander readjusts and puts him back down. Alexander keeps a low base and posture in half guard, throwing ineffectual left hands that Zwicker answers with rights from his back.
Zwicker bucks himself off the cage to create a scramble and, after a sharp knee to the head from Alexander on his way up, is finally able to separate cleanly. Blood streaming from the left eye of Zwicker. “The Rez Dog” measures distance with an extended left hand but is yet to commit on anything. Lunging left hook grazes for Zwicker, who attacks with a flurry as the ten-second clapper sounds. 10-9 Alexander.
R2: Alexander heaves a hook to the gut. Zwicker capitalizes on a Alexander’s reduced activity and tags him with a right cross, then drops him with an uppercut. Zwicker vaults forward and takes flight to land a flying knee to the head, then continues his momentum with a takedown. Alexander pivots on his left hip in half guard but a few elbows from Zwicker prevent any escape opportunities. Alexander takes a knee and stands but digests another cracking uppercut from Zwicker.
After a short lull in action, Alexander offers a sluggish three-punch combo that might be indicative of being gassed out. Zwicker stays off-center with cautious combination until Alexander times a reactive takedown during a kick, and completes it. Full, open guard for Zwicker, who sustains his advantage by pelting Alexander with short punches and elbows from his guard. 10-9 Zwicker.
R3: Alexander probes with a jab from outside but can’t find his follow-up right cross. Alexander pivots left and hurls a wide right to the body. Zwicker answers with a low kick to the thigh. Zwicker circles left and lands a jab, then circles right to connect on an outside low kick. Alexander ducks and fires downstairs on the next exchange but there’s no mustard on them. Zwicker digs a left body kick to the ribs. Alexander snatches a single leg but Zwicker shows good balance in staying afoot.
Zwicker plasters Alexander with a quick one-two when they reset and it might’ve stunned him. Though he only lands in moderation, Zwicker is by far the more active fighter as Alexander is reduced to covering and winging sloppy counters. Alexander lands a penetrating jab and it snaps Zwicker’s head back. Then a grazing jab from Alexander. Switch kick lands to the body for Zwicker, who slips on his next attempt. Alexander catches him with a knee to the body on his way back up and Zwicker returns fire with a right hook. They both empty the chamber as the round ends. 10-10. I have it a 29-29 draw.
- Virgil Zwicker defeats Houston Alexander split decision (27-30, 29-28 x 2)
Fernando Gonzalez vs. Marius Zaromskis
R1: Zaromskis comes out whirring his hands wildly and Gonzalez is forced to plant and return fire to back him off. Gonzalez weathers the storm with good defense and they both stand in the pocket trading shots with Gonzalez exhibiting the edge in accuracy. Gonzalez finally takes a pause from his methodical but nonstop flurrying at the halfway mark. Zaromskis grazes with a short up-knee from the single collar tie and then loses his balance on a high kick.
Gonzalez continues to pitter-patter his way through the defense of Zaromskis with piston-like efficiency and work rate. With almost a comical level of output, Gonzalez relentlessly flicks quick punches, and a great deal penetrate Zaromskis’ guard.10-9 Gonzalez.
R2: Gonazalez walks Zaromskis into a corner and starts working his hands, then sprinkles in a nice body kick to match his busy handiwork. Zaromskis stays active, countering with punches and a few knees and kicks, but Gonzalez deflects the lion’s share. The round shapes out to be closer than the first as Gonzalez’s assault has slightly wavered and Zaromskis is landing and throwing more.
Spinning back-fist lands clean for Zaromskis though there wasn’t a ton on it. “The Whitemare” gets a little more creative with an up-elbow attempt and continues to intensify his offense. Gonzalez lobs a low hook into the gut of Zaromskis. They clinch up and Gonzalez closes the frame with a knee to the body. 10-9 Gonzalez.
R3: Gonzalez steers Zaromskis back and the phone-booth fight continues. Zaromskis wheels out a high kick in response to a landed low kick and Gonzalez blocks it but the impact sends him back a few steps. Zaromskis presses the attack briefly but more stiff shots from Gonzalez slow his momentum. Gonzalez catches a Zaromskis high kick and converts it to a takedown. Zaromskis prevents him from taking his back and returns to his feet shortly after.
The pace finally slows a bit. Zaromskis continues to let Gonzalez wade into range and pick him apart with short, busy combos. Zaromskis is able to find the mark more often but it’s too little, too late. Zaromskis flashes another high kick and follows it up with a single leg takedown. 10-9 Gonzalez. I have it 30-27 his way.
- Fernando Gonzalez defeats Marius Zaromskis by unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)
Preliminary Card Results
- John Salter defeats Dustin Jacoby by submission (rear-naked choke) R2
- Everett Cummings defeats Jason Glaza by technical submission (rear-naked choke) R2
- Steve Kozola defeats Jonathan Rivera by KO (punches) R2
- Derek Anderson defeats Danny Navarro by TKO (punches) R3
- Albert Morales defeats Fabian Gonzalez by submission (rear-naked choke) R2
- Chris Herrera defeats Luc Bondole by KO (punch) R2
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