Bellator 255 Results

After four and a half months, Bellator is back and now it's on Showtime. Also, Bellator anounced a new World Grand Prix, this time it will be in Light Heavyweight division.

Now, let's get back to this year first fight card for Bellator MMA organization. In first fight of the night, Jordan Newman dominated Branko Busick through the whole fight and with well controlled fight on ground he was able to materialise and get a finish using elbows.

Roman Faraldo knocked out Trevor Gudde in first round with very good pressure and precision. Gudde show heart, he was in knockdown twice, but still getting up and trying to fight but when Faraldo send him to floor for the third time, judge stepped in and stop the fight.

Excellent fight between Jose Augusto and Jonathan Wilson that was ended by arm-triangle choke win for Augusto. Wilson first attacked and got takedown but Augusto use omoplata as a escape. After that, Augusto now in ground control, he got crucifix position, Wilson surviving but eventually Augusto set up good arm-triangle choke and force Wilson to tap.

Chris Gonzalez dominantly defeated MMA veteran Roger Huerta via knockout in third round. In first two rounds Gonzalez was able to get takedown, control Huerta on ground, landing shots and winning rounds. In a third round, Huerta finally started to doing good work by keeping fight on feet but Gonzalez again got takedown, started landing shots and Huerta almost immediately tapped.

Khalid Murtazaliev well fought and after three rounds of fighting, he earned a unanimous decision victory over Fabio Aguiar. Murtazaliev struggled in first round but he was able to utilise his wrestling in second and third round.

Mandel Nallo really showed of what he is capable of in fight against Ricardo Seixas. Nallo moved very well, was really precise while punching and he finished fight with a very well placed superman punch.

Magomed Magomedov had a really good fight with Cee Jay Hamilton in round one, where both fighters showed some good skills. Magomedov with constant pressure and good ground control after he got takedown and Hamilton with very good takedown defence. But in a second round, Magomedov immediately goes for takedown, grind to finish and set up nice rear-naked choke that force Hamilton to tap.

Now, we move to main card and first fight was in women's flyweight division. Former title challenger Alejandra Lara is set to face a prospect from Japan, Kana Watanabe. In a three round fight we saw a very close battle between these two. All three rounds was very close and eventually Watanabe won the fight via split decision.

Usman Nurmagomedov had an very good perfomance against Mike Hamel and he earned well deserved unanimous decision win. First round was really without any signifant action from both fighters, while in second and third round Nurmagomedov was able to get adventage in stand up battle, with better combinations and cleaner punches.

Tyrell Fortune finished his fight against Jack May very fast with an immediate pressure and great groun and pound that was enough for a TKO finish.

Jason Jackson proved that he is going to the top of welterweight division after very good pefomance against former title challenger Neiman Gracie. In very interesting round one, Gracie was the one who had a chance to finish a fight via rear-naked choke but Jackson defended well. In second round, even though Gracie had a takedown and clinch pressure he didn't make any significant damage to Jackson while Jackson worked really good and earn himself a round. Third round was again a close round, but with slightly adventage for Jackson. After all three rounds of action, well deserved unanimous decision win for Jason Jackson.

In a main event of the evening, Bellator offered an Featherweight Grand Prix Semifinal bout between Patricio Freire and Emmanuel Sanchez. As Patricio is a current champion, this was also an title fight. Patricio did an excellent job and with a very good perfomance he was able to set up guillotine choke, jump guard and get fight to ground where he put Sanchez to sleep. Patricio defended his title once again, while he is now set to face against A.J. McKee in Grand Prix Final.

Results:

Preliminary card

• Jordan Newman def. Branko Busick via TKO (elbows) in round 2

• Roman Faraldo def. Trevor Gudde via TKO (punches) in round 1 [c]

• Jose Augusto def. Jonathan Wilson via Submission (arm-triangle choke) in round 1

• Chris Gonzalez def. Roger Huerta via TKO (submission to punches) in round 3

• Khalid Murtazaliev def. Fabio Aguiar by Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–27, 30–27) [b]

• Mandel Nallo def. Ricardo Seixas via KO (superman punch) in round 1

• Magomed Magomedov def. Cee Jay Hamilton via Submission (rear-naked choke) in round 2

Main card

• Kana Watanabe def. Alejandra Lara by Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28)

• Usman Nurmagomedov def. Mike Hamel by Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–27, 30–27)

• Tyrell Fortune def. Jack May via TKO (punches) in round 1

• Jason Jackson def. Neiman Gracie by Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)

• Patricio Freire def. Emmanuel Sanchez via Technical Submission (guillotine choke) in round 1 [a]

[a] Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix Semi-Final bout for the Bellator Featherweight World Championship

[b] Roman Faraldo missed weight

[c] Fabio Aguiar missed weight