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Bellator 290 ‘Bader vs. Fedor 2’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Sherdog's live Bellator 290 coverage will begin Saturday at 6 p.m. ET.

Darrion Caldwell (135.8) vs. Nikita Mikhailov (135.4)

Round 1

Bellator is back after a two-month break, and it is bringing out the big guns and plopping them down on CBS for the first time. An overstuffed preliminary portion, with 11 fights set to go down in the span of three hours, will begin the proceedings at The Forum in Inglewood, California. The promotion is bring a name right out of the gate to start off the night, as former champ Caldwell (15-6, 12-5 BMMA) will look to get things back on track against Russian youngster and FedorTeam stablemate Mikhailov (8-2, 2-1 BMMA). The first assignment of the night goes to referee Raphael Davis, and the bantamweights touch em’ up to start the evening’s festivities. Mikhailov strikes first with a loud low kick, and Caldwell tries to give him it back but it is swatted away. Mikhailov crashes forward to throw hands, and his momentum makes him topple over. An awkward scramble leads to Caldwell hitting his back momentarily, but they spring back up and tie up in the clinch. Mikhailov catches a kick up close to attempt to take the fight down, and he follows it with a sweep. As Caldwell goes down, he keeps moving and slides around to take the back. In an instant, Mikhailov is in big trouble, as “The Wolf” has started hunting for a rear-naked choke while both of his hooks are in. When Mikhailov attempts to escape out the side, Caldwell looses his right hook to keep the fight in his wheelhouse, and he continues his effort for a choke. Mikhailov scrambles wildly, and Caldwell winds up on top in the guard to land a few strikes. The Russian sits up, but he elects to close his guard to slow down any oncoming fire from the ex-champ. Mikhailov ties his man up, shutting down most of the offense that would be targeted at him, but he cannot get Caldwell off of him by doing so. When Mikhailov attempts to wriggle out of the bottom position, Caldwell smacks him with a few hammerfists and shuts down a sweep attempt. Caldwell stacks his foe up in the closed guard while grinding his fist on Mikhailov’s face, and he tosses an armbar setup aside to ride out the remainder of the round.

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Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Caldwell
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Caldwell
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Caldwell

Round 2

The bantamweights touch gloves to initiate the second round, and Mikhailov is the initial aggressor once more. His attack is thwarted when Caldwell responds with a right hand that shocks the Russian, and sets him on his seat. Caldwell leaps down to engage in grappling, and he takes the back in a hurry and sneaks both hooks in while setting up the rear-naked choke again. Mikhailov defends well with two-on-one wrist control, fighting off the choke arm and keeping his neck from being strangled. From behind his own head, Mikhailov smacks Caldwell with several surprisingly effective right hands, and Caldwell takes them all flush while still looking for a choke grip. When the choke is not there for the American, he spins around and moves into the guard to get off some ground-and-pound. Mikhailov continues to strike off his back, using hammerfists and occasional elbows while bucking to fluster Caldwell. Even with Caldwell on top, Mikhailov is the one putting numbers together, even if their individual impact is negligible. Caldwell drills the Russian with a single elbow, and this forces Mikhailov to work his way to the fencing and attack with more elbows of his own. With Caldwell doing little but holding on, Davis stands them up with a minute left in the round. They trade low kicks, and Mikhailov leaps into a flying knee. Caldwell catches him in the air and shoves him down to the mat, where he lands in side control. Mikhailov scrambles like a madman to not succumb to a submission, and he recovers his guard and flails with elbows from below. Caldwell hangs on with little else coming offensively, and the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mikhailov
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Caldwell
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Caldwell

Round 3

The final frame opens with a front kick from Caldwell, and Mikhailov fires one right back at him. Caldwell goes up high with the ball of his foot, slapping Mikhailov in the face. Mikhailov loads up on a huge overhand right that buzzes past his foe’s hair, and he gathers himself to swing a low kick and fire off two looping hooks. Caldwell misses with a jab and a leg kick, but he does keep Mikhailov away from him briefly. Mikhailov continues stalking his adversary down, swinging and missing with high-arc strikes that Caldwell sees coming. Caldwell goes up high again with a kick, and Mikhailov blocks it in the nick of time and continues chasing. Most of Mikhailov’s strikes are heavy but they also miss the mark, while Caldwell remains composed and chips away with the occasional jab or leg kick. The fighters go tit-for-tat with blows until Mikhailov steps in with a hard right hand, shaking Caldwell up and allowing Mikhailov to change levels in pursuit of his own takedown. Caldwell falls to his knees, and Mikhailov moves to drag him to the ground from behind. Mikhailov moves Caldwell to the wall and drops down a few high-amplitude knees to the thigh, until Caldwell explodes to escape. They stay tied up when standing, and Mikhailov just misses with a slick foot sweep to take his man down. The two stay clinched up as if they were 135-pound sumo wrestlers shoving one another around, until Caldwell escapes and scores a left hook. Mikhailov is on him shortly after the blow to re-engage, and he goes after another trip and is kneed in the chest. Caldwell looks for a trip, but Mikhailov has the proper leverage and dumps the former champ to the canvas with 20 seconds to spare. Caldwell nearly returns to his feet, only to get tripped back down by the Russian. Caldwell once more stands back up, and Mikhailov hangs on to his back until the horn sounds. This could be a tough one to score for the judges, depending on what is valued most.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mikhailov (29-28 Mikhailov)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Mikhailov (29-28 Caldwell)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Mikhailov (29-28 Caldwell)

The Official Result

Nikita Mikhailov def. Darrion Caldwell via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Diana Avsaragova (128.8: Missed Weight) vs. Alejandra Lara (125.8)

Round 1

Moving right along – the company has a real pace to keep if it hopes to get another 10 fights out in the span of 2 hours and 34 minutes – the lone women’s match of the billing takes center stage. At flyweight, unbeaten Avsaragova (5-0, 3-0 BMMA), who represents Akhmat Fight Club, plies her trade against former title challenger Lara (9-6, 3-5 BMMA). When the ladies are ready to compete, the third judge is not in position, so they have to wait. After a delay of over minute, they finally can begin. This classic Russia vs. Colombia matchup will draw officiating from referee Jonathan Romero, and there is a sporting touch of gloves to get things started. The two flyweights immediately start trading leather, blasting one another with speedy combinations right out of the gate. Lara strikes, only to get countered and knocked back. Avsaragova walks forward with two punches and a head kick, and Lara wades back and misses with a counter. When Avsaragova overthrows, Lara crashes forward to take her from the side in pursuit of a throw. The leverage is not enough to throw her to the mat, so Lara lets it go and resets. The pace slows down, and Lara gathers her thoughts and loads up on a left hand. Avsaragova responds with an overhand right, and seeing it found its home, she fires off three more in three separate exchanges to knock Lara’s hair around. Lara attacks with a naked leg kick, and Avsaragova counters her over the top. The power strikes from the Russian have busted up the nose of her opponent, and she continues to load up on it as it has great effect. Lara kicks up high and throws hands, and Avsaragova measures her and blasts her in the face with a right hand on the beak to knock her back. Avsaragova’s accuracy is shutting down Lara’s attempts to throw caution to the wind, as she cannot get long combos together before Avsaragova pops her with that right. The Russian sticks out a jab and meets Lara’s two hooks with two of her own, and she snipes Lara with a jab to totally disrupt Lara’s blitz. Lara gathers her thoughts and starts to get off a few jabs on her own side, and the two trade these single strikes until Avsaragova follows one with a straight right hand down the pipe. Lara changes stances back and forth and bobs her head when she moves in a similar vein to Clay Guida, and Avsaragova catches her with that nasty right hand time and again. Lara charges to initiate some final offense to end the round, but time expires before can do anything with it.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Avsaragova
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Avsaragova
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Avsaragova

Round 2

The ladies bump fists to begin the second frame, and Lara reintroduces herself by winging a capoeira kick that misses the mark by a wide margin. Avsaragova allows her to reset and absorbs a body kick when walking her down, and Lara changes her target to kick the lead leg. Avsaragova chambers her right hand and steps in through a kick to ding Lara on the jaw, and Lara thinks twice about throwing another head kick. Lara strides forward with a few punches, only for Avsaragova to swat them away and drill the Colombian in the face with her own short salvo. A single low kick from Lara is met with two punches over the top, and Lara leans forward and gets her head knocked back by a right hand. Lara loads up on punches and manages to mark up Avsaragova’s left eye, but she pays it no mind and continues her pursuit of the jab and follow-up right. Lara pushes out her own jab as she stance switches repeatedly, and she gets beaten to the punch with a straight strike when she swings with a big hook. Lara kick the thigh to draw a welt on the lead leg, and she charges with a barrage of punches that Avsaragova largely slips out of the way from to counter. Lara slams her fists on the raised guard of her opponent, and a few get through and draw a reaction out of the Russian. When she looks for a kick, Avsaragova catches her with a right to start the blood flow from the nose again. Lara does not mind as her face looks like she was eating strawberries, as she swings with bad intentions and busts Avsaragova up. Lara continues to throw nothing but winging strikes, and Avsaragova reels and her movement and evasiveness is not all there. “Azul” continues throwing hands right to the end of the round, and she might have done enough to sway it in her favor.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Lara
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Lara
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Lara

Round 3

After 10 minutes are in the books, the last round opens as the two ladies double-touch their glove touch. Lara strikes first once more, with a front kick up the middle to keep Avsaragova on her toes. Avsaragova comes up short with her right hand, and Lara lances a left hand out that skims the top of the forehead. Lara steps through a jab to score a big left hook, and her punches are having more of an impact as the fight progresses. Avsaragova gets her head snapped back after tossing a low kick, and Lara does not let her off the hook and tags her with a few more strikes. Avsaragova wears them well and returns to her composed stance of a jab with right to follow. Lara ignores it and brings up a body kick, and she laughs and wipes the blood off her nose when she gets popped. The Colombian measures her opponent with a solid left hand, and she surprises Avsaragova with a head kick. When Avsaragova tries to play the mirror game of throwing the exact same strike back, Lara is well out of harm’s way. Lara turns with a side kick and is countered when landing, but she shrugs it off to throw hands. As Lara moves forward, she walks into a punch and they appear to clash heads. She pays it no mind as she resets and strings several punches together. Avsaragova’s offense has dwindled and largely relegated to one or two strikes in a salvo, and Lara tosses her defense in the outside garbage and throws haymakers. Avsaragova looks for a level change, but Lara stops her in her tracks and cracks her. Lara unloads with punches and stings the Russian again and again, forcing Avsaragova to change levels once more. Lara tosses that aside as she has only one plan in mind: punch. She does just that, right to the final bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Lara (29-28 Lara)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Lara (29-28 Lara)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Lara (29-28 Lara)

The Official Result

Diana Avsaragova def. Alejandra Lara via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Karl Albrektsson (205.2) vs. Grant Neal (205.2)

Round 1

Light heavyweights take center stage now in a clash between two of the top 10 under the Bellator banner. Officially billed at six feet even on the Bellator website and 5-foot-11 on the broadcast, “The Truth” Neal (7-1, 6-1 BMMA) may need to tell the truth about his height as he appears considerably shorter than 6-foot-2 Swede Albrektsson (13-4, 2-2 BMMA). The victor could place himself in prime contendership opportunity, and referee Blake Grice is here for it wherever it plays out. The two want to get things started early, and they do not touch gloves before pursuing one another. Albrektsson takes the center of the cage and walks Neal down, and he starts to work a jab and use his range. Neal circles and winds up with a big right hand, and charges in for a single-leg takedown when that connects. Albrektsson backs up to the fencing to sprawl, and he takes some time to stop the takedown before pushing his man away. Albrektsson sticks Neal with a jab and winds up on a powerful leg kick, one that draws a slight reaction from Neal. When Albrektsson comes in to strike, Neal pushes out a solid jab and checks a kick. Albrektsson does not give up on the chopping leg kicks, even as Neal checks some of them, and Neal fires one right back. They collide with looping hooks, bumping chest into chest, and Neal changes things up for a double-leg takedown that is defended…until it isn’t. Albrektsson hits his seat with his back to the cage wall, and he smacks “The Truth” on the side of the head while also fighting for a post arm to push off and stand. Neal uses this exchange to score some unblocked right hands on the jaw, and he keeps Albrektsson’s legs trapped beneath his own to trap him. Albrektsson slithers his legs out and returns to his knee, and Neal slams his knee into the posterior. Albrektsson hand-fights to stand all the way up, and Neal holds him pressed to the wall until the bell rings.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Neal
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Neal
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Neal

Round 2

To begin the second stanza, Albrektsson claims the center of the Bellator cage and walks Neal down. Neal lunges with strikes and manages to get Albrektsson’s attention with a check left hook, only to be pushed back by a low kick and a right hand over the top. Neal ducks down to loop a left around the guard, and he gets knocked back by two punches and a body kick. Albrektsson pins him down with a one-two and a left hook, and Neal shakes it off and rushes out with a straight left that ends with their shoulders colliding. Albrektsson sticks and counters with a right, and he jabs to the body for good effect. Albrektsson chops the tree down with a kick and rings Neal’s bell with a right hook, doing enough to shut down a combination Neal was setting up. Albrektsson strikes and spins with a back fist, and that comes up short. Neal walks through a jab to snatch up a double, and he takes the Swede off his feet and cinches his foe’s legs up in his own. Neal sits up to bop Albrektsson in the face with a single blow, and Albrektsson tries with all his might to work his way to one knee. Neal lifts up a pair of big knees to the backside before Albrektsson stands, and “King Karl” breaks off to reset. Neal kicks low and gets jabbed in return strike, but he does not mind so that he can string together two solid shots up top. Albrektsson drives his fists into the body in response, and he nails the calf at the right time to give Neal pause. Neal throws one of his own, but it has far less arc on it. Albrektsson kicks low and punches high, and Neal’s reckless swinging misses a few times. Albrektsson snaps the head back with an uppercut, catching a charging Neal on the way forward. The round ends with Albrektsson jabbing and keeping his distance.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Albrektsson
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Albrektsson
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Albrektsson

Round 3

The two are amped up to get after it when the last round clocks in, as Grice has to keep them backed off before they rush at one another. When it begins, they do charge towards one another, and Albrektsson lands from a safer distance before Neal can unload. Albrektsson swipes with left hooks and jabs with the same hand to give Neal fits, and he strikes the body and flusters Neal by shutting down a Neal takedown entry. “King Karl” sits down on a body kick that slams into the guard, and he shrugs off a low kick to continue attacking the midsection. Neal intercepts a jab with his own low kick, and he scores a right hand as he reaches forward. Albrektsson splits the guard with a right hand, and the two are taking turns to throw hands. Neal gets off a solid left to the ribcage and changes levels in pursuit of a single in the open cage, and Albrektsson hops back to the wall and sets his leg down. Neal abandons it to get a Thai clinch and rip uppercuts to the chin, and Albrektsson pushes off after taking a few flush. Albrektsson tosses out a low kick that appears to graze the cup, and Neal waves Grice off instead of pausing to recover. Albrektsson pushes out a front kick that lands on the body, and he gets a one-two over the top before Neal can try to strike back. Albrektsson continues his high activity of striking all targets, low body or high, and Neal rushes in for a shot that gets staved off with ease. Albrektsson puts a right hand on the dome, and Neal shakes it off but does not throw back this time around. Neal’s offense has diminished significantly, largely relegated to single power strikes or an occasional double jab, and Albrektsson pecks and pokes at him with distance strikes. Albrektsson gets in a solid jab, and Neal responds in kind. Albrektsson steps in to land a kick on the breadbasket, and he walks Neal down and swings heavily. Neal dives low for a single with 10 seconds to spare, and Albrektsson moves to the fence and is scooped up and thrown to the ground at the bell. When he stands, he looks to Neal and there is a bit of confusion if there is hostility or joy after the fight being over. They figure it out, and realize they had fun over the last 15 minutes, and hug it out.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Albrektsson (29-28 Albrektsson)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Albrektsson (29-28 Albrektsson)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Albrektsson (29-28 Albrektsson)

The Official Result

Grant Neal def. Karl Albrektsson via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Christopher Gonzalez (155.6) vs. Max Rohskopf (155.6)

Round 1

Switching gears to the lightweights, Gonzalez (7-2, 6-2 BMMA), who last fought against the future champ Usman Nurmagomedov, looks to get back to his winning ways at the expense of the debuting Rohskopf (7-1, 0-0 BMMA). The fists are bumped as impressively mustached referee Frank Trigg watches on, and they measure one another and circle until Rohskopf prods out a front kick. Gonzalez swats it away and kicks the upper calf in response, and Rohskopf whips a low kick to reply. Gonzalez keeps working the calf until Rohskopf breaks it up with a few punches, and Gonzalez loads up on power shots to knock the Bellator neophyte back. Rohskopf scores a low kick as the pace slows, and Gonzalez rushes out with a head kick that brushes off the guard. Rohskopf advances, swinging wide with his strikes, and Gonzalez is more composed and lands cleaner when countering. Rohskopf looses a kick and gets countered with a heavy right hand, and he shakes his head as he backpedals. “The Lion” sprints forward to strike, and Rohskopf tosses him aside and throws back. Whether for a slip or failed takedown entry, Gonzalez falls to his face and Rohskopf snatches up a front choke. The two roll all the way through it, and Gonzalez springs back to his feet and lets out a laugh. Grinning even as Rohskopf walks him down, both Gonzalez and Rohskopf land strikes with bad intentions behind them. Rohskopf plants the ball of his foot on the chest, walking Gonzalez back to the fence in hopes of trapping him and smacking him upside the head with the instep of his foot. Gonzalez rushes out of the way and absorbs a low kick on the way out, and he walks into a counter right when blitzing in. Gonzalez wings a big overhand right, and Rohskopf times a perfect takedown entry to take some of the sting out of it. The takedown is pushed away, and Rohskopf loads up on a right that collides with the guard and makes Gonzalez bounce off the fencing. The extremely close round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rohskopf
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Rohskopf
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rohskopf

Round 2

Both lightweights saunter towards one another on hopes of another fun five-minute period, and they proceed to throw heavy hands at each other. They both connect with emphasis, and they collide, leading to them toppling to the mat. Rohskopf manages to take Gonzalez from behind and subsequently rolls to mount, and he sits up to snatch up a choke. Gonzalez jumps right through it and returns to his feet, and is now on a mission. They both throw hands, and Gonzalez lands first with a right hand that bounces off the top of the head. Rohskopf takes a second to recover and suddenly realizes his legs are not totally beneath him. “The Lion” sees this and pounces, smashing Rohskopf with a lethal right hand and putting the Bellator debutant down for the count. Rohskopf, on his seat clinging to consciousness, reaches out feebly for an ankle or some kind of auto-pilot takedown, and Gonzalez pounds on him until Trigg has no choice but to step in. Rohskopf may have gone out in the exchange, but he comes to after the fight ends, and Gonzalez is now the victor. This is the first finish of the night, and a much-needed one for the preliminary pace that Bellator was keeping.

The Official Result

Christopher Gonzalez def. Max Rohskopf R2 1:22 via TKO (Punches)

Ali Isaev (261.8) vs. Steve Mowry (253.4)

Round 1

The heaviest fight of the card goes down next, as “Tall Steve” Mowry (10-0, 1 NC; 6-0, 1 NC BMMA) welcomes 2019 PFL champ Isaev (9-0, 0-0 BMMA) to the promotion. The two combining for about 516 pounds of meat and 14 finishes across their 19 wins, it is likely that referee Herb Dean may be needed at a moment’s notice. The big men bump fists before trading them, and Mowry claims the middle of the cage and paws out left hands. Isaev wades back as jabs come towards him, but he cannot get out of the way from a low kick. Instead, he fires back, and Mowry takes a funny step when absorbing it. They reach at one another with jabs, and the Russian strikes with two successive calf kicks. Mowry crashes the pocket and brings up a few knees on the inside before Isaev pushes him back, and they return to striking range. As Mowry is about to load up, Isaev charges and tackles him down to the mat, where he lands immediately in side control and begins working Mowry over with elbows. Mowry recovers back to guard and slows down the attack of Isaev, and he looks to start isolating Isaev’s left arm possibly for a kimura or keylock setup. Isaev wriggles his arm out and strikes with short strikes, and Mowry responds with a slicing elbow off his back. Mowry again lashes out with an elbow, forcing Isaev to strike back with a heavy left from above. Mowry throws his legs up to set up a triangle, and when Isaev fights out of it, Mowry looks to kick off the hips and stand. Isaev does not fall for this escape and leaps back on top, and he moves right back into elbow range from “Tall Steve.” Isaev lands a few shots to little effect, and Mowry tries to set up rubber guard in pursuit of a triangle again. Isaev stops this even sooner and smacks Mowry in the head a few times as if to signal for him to knock it off. Isaev sits comfortably in guard, trading punches while Mowry hits with elbows. With seconds left in the round, Mowry hunts for a kimura, and the round ends in this position.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mowry
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Isaev
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Mowry

Round 2

The heavyweights touch gloves to start off Round 2, and they trade kicks early. When Mowry goes for a high kick, Isaev spins with a wheel kick that glances off the shoulder. Mowry shuts down a sudden Isaev level change and throws the Russian down to the mat, and he winds up taking the back as Isaev moves. Isaev gets flattened out, and Mowry unloads with punches to both sides of the head. Isaev tries to hang on to one arm to stop the onslaught, and Dean tells him to fight back or he will stop it. Mowry moves over to mount, and he snatches up an arm-triangle choke. Isaev considers tapping, but opts out of it to shift back to mount and work Isaev over with punches and short elbows. Mowry slows himself down, possibly to conserve energy or because he gassed himself out looking for the finish, and he postures back up and hammers Isaev with an elbow. “Tall Steve” gets off a few more elbows until Isaev turns to the side, and Isaev kicks and bucks but Mowry is going nowhere and keeps beating on him. The punches and elbows rip open a cut on the side of Isaev’s right eye, and Mowry jumps over to the side for another arm-triangle choke. When that does not elicit a tap, Mowry gets back to mount once more and proceeds to slug it out with the Russian. Posturing up and hammering him with punches, he slowly and methodically works from on top. Isaev survives with enough head movement and protecting his face with his gloves, and Mowry grinds his elbow on the face to make the Russian’s life miserable. Mowry considers a wrist lock to a keylock, but Isaev pulls his arm free and puts his guard up when Mowry sits up to pummel him. Mowry appears spent, but he sits on top of a likely equally exhausted Isaev until the bell sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Mowry
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-8 Mowry
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Mowry

Round 3

Having made it to the 10-minute mark surprisingly, the two heavyweights touch their gloves, and Isaev takes a step back to aim a head kick at the advancing Mowry. Mowry walks through it to back Isaev to the wall, where he unloads a short salvo of knees to the chin. Isaev appears totally spent as he leans his back to the cage, and Mowry holds him there and lands sporadic knees. Isaev winds up with an uppercut to force a break, and he charges with every bit of his remaining energy reserves and knocks Mowry off his feet with a resounding double. Isaev gets to the guard and begins to do work with his left hand and arm, punching and elbowing Mowry in hopes of getting the round back and then some. The American tries to lock down Isaev’s left arm again, but there is nothing to it as Isaev uses his full body weight to keep Mowry down and not able to sweep or shift his hips. The punches from Isaev bloody up Mowry’s nose, and he uses his right hand to pepper the body with short but frustrating blows. Mowry scoots himself back to the fence, and he finds himself on the tough position of the corner of the cage and the floor. This allows Isaev to open up with some heavy left hands, until he pulls “Tall Steve” away from the wall. Mowry kicks off the fence to turn or gain some leverage, but the heavy Russian smothers him and pounds on him. A punch and a possible headbutt to the chest come from Isaev, but the latter could be from the movement as he was striking. Mowry goes to the body and head indiscriminately with his right hand, and he grinds out the remainder of the fight. Depending on how the first round is scored, a draw could be on the table here.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Isaev (29-27 Mowry)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Isaev (28-28)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Isaev (28-28)

The Official Result

Steve Mowry vs. Ali Isaev is Scored a Unanimous Draw (28-28, 28-28, 28-28)

Henry Corrales (145.6) vs. Akhmed Magomedov (145.2)

Round 1

In the featherweight division, Corrales (20-6, 8-6 BMMA) will look to take the shiny zero from Magomedov’s (9-0, 1 NC; 1-0 BMMA) flawless record. The two will be joined in the cage by referee Jonathan Romero, who clocks them in as the fighters opt not to touch gloves. Magomedov sweeps out with a low kick from too far away, and Corrales is equally distant with jabs. When Magomedov steps in, Corrales catches him with a low kick. The Russian pins a front kick to the chest, and Corrales swipes out a low kick in response. When Magomedov strikes the calf, Corrales is coiled and ready with an overhand right. Magomedov shoots in from afar to get his hands clasped around the waist, and Corrales sprawls effectively against the cage wall to stop the first entry. Magomedov is not to be denied, as his second adjustment bears fruit as he drags Corrales to the mat. Corrales stands right back up, only to be thrown to the canvas for his effort. “OK” shows that he is OK by popping up right back to his feet, and he slips an uppercut when Magomedov breaks away to change it up. Corrales sways, and Magomedov ducks in for a takedown that scores for about a second before Corrales springs up. Magomedov squeezes Corrales against the wall but cannot keep him there, as Corrales explodes out and throws hands. Magomedov gets drawn into a brief brawl, and he gets knocked back by an overhand right but grits his teeth and moves back into action. Corrales slams a kick to the calf, and he ducks right into a standing elbow as Magomedov barrels towards him. Magomedov cracks his man with an uppercut, and Corrales blinks it out and digs punches to the midsection. Corrales does work on the low calf of his opponent, and they proceed to slug it out. Magomedov gets off a solid right hand, while two calf kicks from Corrales punctuate the energetic frame.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov

Round 2

Picking up almost exactly where they left off, the two featherweights immediately engage to start off the second period. Magomedov headhunts his target while the American is comfortable to slam his shin and foot into Magomedov’s calf relentlessly. Magomedov forces Corrales to ricochet off the wall after an exchange, and Corrales fights his way off of it with fists of his own. Corrales welcomes a slugfest, and Magomedov drills him upside the head and makes some marks form on Corrales’ right temple. The two trade hands, and Corrales sits down on two nasty leg kicks, the latter of which makes Magomedov take a moment to assess his balance and the weight he can put on his lead wheel. Magomedov strides forward unconcerned, and Corrales greets him with another chop to the calf and a jab that splits the guard. Magomedov pierces his foe’s guard as well with quick, straight strikes, and they trade one after the other in succession. Magomedov attempts to counter a low kick with a huge overhand right, but the punch slides off the shoulder as Corrales comfortably rolls it. Magomedov counters a jab with a right hand that wraps around the guard, and they both tag one another on the chin with impunity. Simultaneous left hooks land on the targets, and Corrales mixes the strikes up with some body shots while Magomedov is primarily focused on the dome. Corrales strings kicks and punches together, and he rings Magomedov’s bell with a right hand immediately before the horn. As the round ends, Magomedov rushes forward for a takedown, and Romero is there to stop it as time expires.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Corrales
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Corrales
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Corrales

Round 3

The last round begins as Corrales strikes the body to lead off, and Magomedov walks forward right into a body kick. As Corrales sets his leg down, Magomedov is on him in pursuit of a takedown. Unlike the first round, a sweaty Corrales slides out of the grip and resets in the middle of the cage on his feet. When he takes the center of the cage again, he kicks low and punches high, with a low kick into an overhand right. Magomedov reels and wobbles when absorbing the kicks, but he is still there for the fight. Magomedov just gets out of the way from a body shot, and he punches his way into a double. Corrales pushes off the fence to turn while Magomedov holds him in the air, and this allows him to escape when he hits the ground. Corrales jumps back up and gets out, where he moves directly to the middle of the Bellator fighting circle. Magomedov tests the waters with a low kick, and Corrales laughs it off and smashes him with his own that is much harder. This draws a limp out of the Russian, who hops away and shakes his leg out to try to get some feeling back in it. Corrales lets him do this a few times while measuring him with jabs, aware that Magomedov will not be striking him while adjusting his own balance. When he seems to have his feet beneath him, he scores a solid left hook, a one-two, and charges for a takedown. Corrales jumps out of the way and nails him with a low kick to further force the limp, and he follows it with a double jab. Magomedov stalks a retreating Corrales around the cage, as Corrales circles and keeps a safe distance to watch for takedowns. One such takedown from afar allows him to sprawl, and he gets off a few punches to disrupt Magomedov. Corrales lets him have it with one final barrage of fists and feet, and the fight comes to a close.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Corrales (29-28 Corrales)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Corrales (29-28 Corrales)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Corrales (29-28 Corrales)

The Official Result

Henry Corrales def. Akhmed Magomedov via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Mukhamed Berkhamov (171) vs. Lorenz Larkin (171)

Round 1

In July 2022, Larkin (24-7, 2 NC; 6-2, 1 NC BMMA) and Berkhamov (14-0, 1 NC; 1-0, 1 NC BMMA) met in what was an important welterweight fight between two surging fighters, as Larkin had strung together six straight wins in Bellator while Berkhamov had never been defeated. In an exchange against the cage, Larkin struck Berkhamov with an elbow to the back of the head, and the fight was called off and ruled a no contest. A smidge over six months have passed, and the two are slated to run it back with a place in the top 10 possibly at stake. The 170-pounders will be joined by ref Raphael Davis, who hopes they keep things above board this time around. There is not a touch of gloves to start off the rematch, and instead, Berkhamov comes out with his right hand outstretched. Larkin backs away with a kick to the body, and he gets backed into the cage and ducks a two-hook salvo that flies at him. Larkin kicks the leg as Berkhamov advances, and he chops the outside. Berkhamov does the same, and both men wobble from the hard kicks. Larkin punches his way off the cage, only to get backed up again by the Russian. Berkhamov loads up on his left hand, sneaking one around the guard, and drilling Larkin with a forearm strike. “The Monsoon” appears angered by the blow, and he gets away to reset. They clinch up again in the middle of the cage, and Larkin winds up with a fiery elbow that has flames licking off of it as it collides square into the temple. Berkhamov’s legs flop back as he falls lifelessly to the ground, face-first and dreaming of better things. Larkin knows his work here is done and strides away before Davis can reach them. Just like that, Berkhamov’s undefeated record comes to a crushing end, and Larkin has scored an early “Knockout of the Year” candidate right there. What an incredible elbow, and what a way to get the crowd lathered up before the main card starts.

The Official Result

Lorenz Larkin def. Mukhamed Berkhamov R1 1:41 via KO (Elbow)

Sabah Homasi (170.8) vs. Brennan Ward (170.8)

Round 1

If Bellator wanted to introduce itself to the masses on CBS with an all-action banger, the matchmaking for this welterweight main card opener could not be more on point. In 49 pro fights combined, Homasi (17-10, 6-4 BMMA) and Ward (16-6, 11-6 BMMA) have only needed to involve the judges six times at fight’s end. Both men sport exactly 11 knockouts apiece, so referee Blake Grice needs to be ready here. The violence begins without a touch of fists from the amped up sportsmen, and they rush right towards one another ready to throw bombs. Ward walks straight into a jump knee, and he surprises Homasi with a takedown attempt. Homasi gets out of harm’s way and sweeps the leg with a low kick and busts Ward in to the face with a few punches. Ward swings back, and he gets his cheek cut up from a blow from “The Sleek Sheik.” Ward continues to march forward, walking through a front kick that pops him on the chin, and advancing to throw heavy leather. Before he gets there, Homasi kicks out his lead leg. Ward springs back up and advances to throw haymakers, and he eats a few and suddenly lifts Homasi and throws him down to the ground. Ward takes his back in a hurry, getting both hooks in and fishing for a forearm beneath the chin. Homasi sits up to put Ward leaned back against the wire, and keeping Ward from getting the proper leverage to pull off the choke. Homasi explodes out of the bad position and gets to his feet, but not before Ward nails him with a vicious elbow. Homasi wobbles back and kicks at Ward’s leg, and Ward takes a flying knee right on the button and shakes his head mockingly. Ward sees another jump knee coming at him, backs off to let Homasi fall to the ground, and he leaps down to the floor to take Homasi’s back again. Homasi wriggles and powers back upright, and considers his own takedown before bailing on it to just stand. Homasi fires off a head kick, and Ward taps the back of his own head before racing forward to let loose hammers. The two end the frenetic round squeezed against the cage.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Homasi
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Homasi
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Homasi

Round 2

Ward motions to his opponent that he has his eyes on him before the round starts, and he marches out confidently and backs Homasi to the wire. Homasi intercepts him with a chopping kick, but Ward still corners him and lays into him with several heavy blows. Homasi grits his teeth and unleashes a huge right hand, and he rocks Ward and sends him staggering back. Ward initiates a brawl when he gathers his thoughts, and Homasi gets stung with a jab and falls to the ground. Ward grabs hold of a guillotine choke when standing, but when this is not there, he releases the grip and pounds on Homasi. Homasi barely survives against the cage wall, with Grice keeping a close eye on it but letting it play out, and Ward is not letting him off the hook. Homasi turns his back and looks for a standing back fist, and Ward meets him with a shin to the chin. “The Sleek Sheik” crumples to the mat, clearly defeated, and Ward works him over with relentless punches. Blood sprays from Homasi’s head, turning his blonde hair a brilliant shade of dark pink, and Ward’s punches finally get Grice to step in and call a halt to the fight. Bellator promised violence with this matchup, and violence is exactly what was delivered.

The Official Result

Brennan Ward def. Sabah Homasi R2 1:34 via TKO (Head Kick and Punches)

Bellator Middleweight Title Fight:
Johnny Eblen (184) vs. Anatoly Tokov (184.8)

Round 1

The two ledgers for this middleweight championship collision are immaculate, as champ Eblen (12-0, 8-0 BMMA) remains undefeated as a pro with eight wins under Bellator, while FedorTeam staple Tokov (31-2, 7-0 BMMA) has emerged victorious in all seven of his Bellator matches as well. Something’s got to give for this evenly matched title fight, one that will be watched closely by referee Frank Trigg. Intensity is high between these two combatants, who decide not to touch gloves and do break their gaze ahead of their scheduled 25-minute melee. Right after the bell rings, however, Tokov reaches out a fist and Eblen bumps it. The two fighters test the waters with half-hearted jabs, likely to find their range, and Tokov strikes first with a three-punch combination. Eblen wears it well and keeps his approach of jab first. Tokov slips one and wins a left over the top, and Eblen rolls with it well and prods his man with a jab and a calf kick. The Russian loads up on a right hand, and he sneaks a left hand in on the inside to catch Eblen off-guard. Eblen advances fearlessly, tagging Tokov and forcing him to stumble and check his feet after slipping. Tokov attacks the body while Eblen’s single and double jab is his most used weapon thus far. When Eblen lands a kick, Tokov follows it with a crisp right hand over the top and he rushes forward to grab hold of the champ. Tokov cannot ground him, so he releases the grip and fires off a high kick that gets blocked. Eblen recovers and kicks low, and they both sling hooks at one another. Eblen ties the Russian up and knees him in the chest, and Tokov replies in kind. Eblen absorbs a knee and takes an elbow flush before breaking, and his strike on the break misses by a matter of inches. As Tokov reaches a left to the body, Eblen prepares a check left hook, and he comes up short and also misses the mark with a head kick. Eblen looks to change levels, and Tokov stands him up and gets shoved back to the wall. They trade knees against the clinch, and Eblen rips an elbow over the top before squeezing Tokov back to the fence. Eblen breaks off and scores a strike on the way out, and the two get off knees on the inside before the close round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tokov
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Eblen
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Eblen

Round 2

There is a slight tap of gloves to start off the second round, and the first attack comes from the champ. Kicking low, Eblen scores and moves away, but Tokov catches him with two punches that make Eblen stick his tongue out. The two men start trading fiercely, and two jabs lead into a powerful right hand from Tokov that stuns Eblen momentarily. Eblen advances, only to get caught with a right hook, and his jab is starting to mark Eblen’s face up. Eblen grins and plods forward, winging up on a one-two and looking for a clinch before Tokov pushes away. Tokov keeps the advancing Eblen at bay with jabs, and he mixes up a leg kick. Eblen marches forward to swing a huge right hand, and Tokov shakes it off and swings back with bad intentions. Eblen catches a kick, and he lets it down and they trade kicks on the sternum. They both kick the midsection again, taking turns to kick the body one after the other. Jabs keep doing damage on the face, and Eblen walks through them to scores a pair of thudding right hands on the cheek. Tokov sneaks in one-two and ducks out of the way before Eblen tags him, and he counters a low kick with an emphatic overhand right. Tokov kicks the sternum and dings him with a left, and Eblen dives in for a takedown. Eblen gets stuffed, and Tokov makes him pay with a few punches and a right hand that staggers the champ by landing on the top of the head. Tokov eats a one-two, and he absorbs a fierce elbow on the jaw that floors him. Tokov climbs back to his feet, and Eblen is right there to take him to the mat. Tokov moves back upright against the cage wall, and Eblen holds him there to the bell. Another close round is in the books.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tokov
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Eblen
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Eblen

Round 3

The sportsmen tap hands to start off Round 3, and Eblen lands the first strike again with a calf kick. Eblen comes out swinging, and Tokov slips them all and fires back. As soon as Tokov lands a kick to the body, Eblen imitates him. The champ rushes forward in pursuit of a takedown, and he takes the Russian clean off his feet and sets him down to the mat. Tokov climbs back up briefly, but the mat return from Eblen trips him out once more. Eblen frustrates the challenger by setting him down and getting off some solid ground strikes, and Tokov manages to climb up but cannot get Eblen off of him. Mat return after mat return land for Eblen, who is wearing Tokov down and forcing him to spend all his energy fighting off takedown attempts and getting back upright. Eblen lets him go and spins with an elbow, and Tokov dodges it but does not avoid the overhand right that soars at his face. Tokov’s offense falls significantly when back at striking range, with single shots coming while Eblen is still throwing fire. Tokov sprawls a takedown entry in the middle of the cage, and he ducks down when expecting an elbow that inevitably comes on the break. Tokov pushes out a one-two that does not have much heat on it, and he dodges and weaves from Eblen jabs and stops a takedown from coming together as well. Eblen finds the home with a right hand, but a one-two wobbles his legs. Tokov throws back with a vengeance, but Eblen is hitting harder at this point as Tokov appears to be fading. Tokov does work two hooks around the guard, and he reaches a right hand over the top before the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Eblen
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Eblen
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Eblen

Round 4

The middleweights have reached the championship rounds, and referee Trigg wipes sweat from his brow. The fighters are also sweaty and wiped out, and they go right to battle. A kick from Eblen makes him fall over, and Tokov leaps on top of him as they slide around on the floor. Tokov gets back up first, gets off a punch or two, and has to defend a takedown effort from the champion. Eblen succeeds in dragging Tokov to his knees, and he ropes his left arm beneath the chin threateningly. Putting his forearm over the mouth to disrupt breathing when there is no choke to be found, Eblen frustrates his flagging foe with his body weight and pressure. The Russian climbs back upright even with Eblen leaning on him, and Eblen dumps him back to the ground. Not yet defeated, Tokov is only down for a second or three before he stands, and Eblen welcomes him back up so that he can plant him back on the floor. Slower than before, Tokov manages to work his way up, walking up the wall, and Eblen’s hands are still locked around him. Eblen lets them go to release a short elbow, and he ducks a punch to grab hold of Tokov and take him for a ride. Tokov holds onto the neck in a nonexistent guillotine choke, and Eblen easily lifts his head out and climbs into the guard. Tokov closes it up, not able to get up this time, and Eblen settles on top to get to work with strikes. Eblen postures up and drops down fists, and Tokov scores a trio of effective hammerfists off his back before spinning around to get to one knee. Eblen presses heavily on his adversary, clinging to him even as Tokov knees him a few times. As time expires, Eblen goes after one single, and he cannot land it before the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Eblen
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Eblen
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Eblen

Round 5

Five minutes are left, and Tokov may need a finish to win the title. They bump fists one last time, and Tokov moves to the center of the cage. Tokov lunges forward with a jab, and Eblen replies with a right hand over the top. Tokov gets in a left hand, but it is one-and-done as Eblen is out of the way and Tokov does not throw a second strike. Eblen loops a left to land on the ear, and Tokov blinks it out and looks for an angle to return fire. The Russian steps in with a clean left hand, one that lands on the chin and makes Eblen nod at him. Eblen engages him with a brief brawl, and he connects with a few as Tokov does as well. After the exchange, Eblen imposes his wrestling, lifting Tokov off the floor and slamming him down for an exclamation point. Tokov muscles his way up, but it is a hollow victory, as Eblen rips him right back down in morale-crushing fashion. Eblen continues to throw Tokov around, tossing him down every time Tokov stands. Tokov moves to one knee as Eblen pounds on his thigh with his own knees, and he is seemingly out of options. Grabbing the fence and getting away with it despite Trigg looking right at him, Tokov stands up and is tossed back down like a sack of potatoes. Tokov shows heart by standing once more without absorbing much in the way of strikes, but Eblen is clinging to him like a cheap suit. To make a statement, Eblen hits a belly-to-back suplex with 30 seconds to go, and this angers Tokov, who stands up and throws hands. Eblen crashes forward for one last takedown to seal the fight, and Tokov latches on to a guillotine choke and squeezes it with all of his remaining energy. Right as the last second ticks off the clock, Eblen slips his neck out, and it is all over. Barring something bizarre, Eblen will move to 13-0 as a professional by notching his first championship defense. Other than the first two close rounds that could have gone either way, Eblen showed his championship mettle to firmly take over in Round 3 and beyond.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Eblen (48-47 Eblen)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Eblen (50-45 Eblen)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Eblen (50-45 Eblen)

The Official Result

Johnny Eblen def. Anatoly Tokov via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)

Bellator Heavyweight Title Fight:
Ryan Bader (234.4) vs. Fedor Emelianenko (236.2)

Round 1

The fight everyone has been waiting for has arrived. Five rounds of heavyweight action, if needed, will determine the next Bellator champ. The titleholder Bader (30-7, 1 NC; 8-2, 1 NC BMMA) comes in undefeated as a heavyweight with a win over his opponent in 2019, while Emelianenko (40-6, 1 NC; 4-2 BMMA) has the luxury of not planning another fight camp again. Most do not expect this one will last long, so referee Herb Dean is making sure his shoelaces are nice and tight to keep up with these heavy hitters. Emotions and tensions are high in the building, but the two sportsmen are cool as cucumbers and calmly double-bump fists before looking to lop the other’s head off. Bader moves to the center of the cage, and he is quick out of the way when Emelianenko lunges with a looping right hand. Bader pops him with a jab, and he reaches out with a left as Emelianenko darts away. After a level change, Bader pushes out a jab to get his attention, and he scores a clean left hook. Emelianenko’s nose is damaged already, and they come together and swing fists. Bader unloads with a vicious right hand and knocks the legend clean off his feet, and he leaps down to finish the job. Bader smashes down with elbows and punches, and he staves off a potential armbar setup to pass to half guard. The damage on Emelianenko’s nose continues to grow as blood leaks into his eyes, and Bader pounds on him with nasty hammerfists. Emelianenko turns to his side, in big trouble, and Dean is closing in on the two. Bader slugs away with a number of unanswered fists, and he continues to beat down on Emelianenko and crush him with relentless ground strikes. There is no way out for the Russian, and Bader is not about to slow down or stop battering him. As Bader continues clobbering Emelianenko, Dean steps in to halt the fight, with Emelianenko’s right eye a mess as well. Emelianenko does not seem too disappointed by the defeat, and he actually smiles when a few MMA icons like Mark Coleman enter the cage to embrace him. In the post-fight interview, Bader explains how tough it was to beat up someone he idolized again. Thanking everyone for their support for all these years, “The Last Emperor” takes his gloves off and sets them in the center of the cage. Whether this retirement sticks or not, we will see; if this really is it, it spells the end of an incredible career. Little more needs to be said, so we will just say that it was an honor to watch and call his fights for all these years. The sport will never slow down, though, and next week there is a matchup between two of the top five pound-for-pound fighters at UFC 284. We will be here for it, and we hope you are too.

The Official Result

Ryan Bader def. Fedor Emelianenko R1 2:30 via TKO (Punches)
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