One week after their big Dynamite show, Bellator MMA held a much smaller — I guess “regular” — event at the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas. In the main event was recently dethroned bantamweight champion Joe Warren against the resurgent LC Davis, who has found considerable success at 135 lbs after failing to make the jump to the UFC after the WEC merger. Here are the results and highlights from the card.
Joe Warren def. LC Davis via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
I won’t lie, I spent a good chunk of the fight simultaneously live-tweeting the UFC Fight Night Japan weigh-ins, so my memory may be a bit fuzzy, but the fight was terrible to me. Davis had virtually no meaningful answers to Warren’s strong wrestling skills, and the closest we got to an almost finish was Warren setting up an arm-triangle in the 2nd round. Otherwise, meh. Warren dominated and has likely earned another title shot, while Davis loses only his 2nd fight in 9 bantamweight bouts.
Kendall Grove def. Joey Beltran via TKO (punches) at 2:27 of round 3
This fight was bad, but then Kendall Grove uncorked a walloping right hand that put Beltran on all fours. Then another right hand on the ear made him go limp. Beltran protested the stoppage, but fighters who don’t remember they’ve been KO’d tend to do that. Grove later called out “juice monkey” Brandon Halsey, who fights Rafael Carvalho for the vacant middleweight title next month. Beltran has been (T)KO’d 3 times since signing with Bellator.
Emmanuel Sanchez def. Henry Corrales via split decision (27-30, 30-27, 29-28)
A back-and-forth fight saw Sanchez crowned the victor, although the 30-27 Corrales scorecard was somewhat questionable. It was a competitive scrap unfortunately marred by a nasty headbutt in round 2, which led to a cut on Sanchez’s forehead. Oh, and the ten-second clapper came a minute early, because Texas events are just the weirdest.
Vinicius Queiroz def. Ewerton Teixeira via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 4:40 of round 2
I swear this is real. Queiroz submitted Brazilian kickboxer and Bellator MMA newcomer Ewerton Teixeira with an arm-triangle choke from half guard. Teixeira drops to 3-1 in his relatively new MMA career, while Queiroz improves to an entirely coincidental 3-1 in Bellator.
There were two great highlights on the prelims. Bantamweight prospect Derrion Caldwell beat Shawn Bunch by rear-naked choke, but he did a backflip that claimed the life (not literally) of a cameraperson. (Via ZombieProphet)
Meanwhile, heavyweight Dan Charles absolutely blasted former UFC heavyweight Chase Gormley. (Also via ZombieProphet)
Complete results
Main Card
Joe Warren def. LC Davis via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Kendall Grove def. Joey Beltran via TKO (punches) at 2:27 of round 3
Emmanuel Sanchez def. Henry Corrales via split decision (27-30, 30-27, 29-28)
Vinicius Queiroz def. Ewerton Teixeira via submission (head and arm triangle) at 4:00 of round 2
Preliminary Card
Dan Charles def. Chase Gormley via KO (punches) at 4:35 in round 2
Darrion Caldwell def. Shawn Bunch via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:35 of round 2
John Teixeira def. Gleristone Santos via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Abdul Razak Alhassan def. Bryce Mejia via KO (punches) at 1:26 of round 1
Amador Ramirez def. Saul Elizondo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Steve Garcia def. Eduardo Bustillos via TKO (punches) at 4:59 of round 1
About the author
