Bellator 259 Results

Bellator 259 expected to have a main event in featherweight division for Bellator Champion status in a fight between Cris Cyborg and Leslie Smith. Cyborg, current champion, is set to defend her title for the second time. Her opponent will be Leslie Smith. These two previously met at UFC 198, in Cyborg's UFC debut. Fight was ended via TKO in round one.

Another rematch on this card is a co-main event fight bout between Darrion Caldwell and Leandro Higo. Former Bellator bantamweight champion, Darrion Caldwell is looking to try again get the belt in this really stacked division in Bellator after his failed attempt to get belt in featherweight division (lost by first round submission in World Grand Prix Semifinal bout against A.J. McKee). On the other side, Leandro Higo is looking, even though he missed weight second time in a row, to improve his win streak to 3 in a row. Also, these two previously met at Bellator 195 for Bellator Bantamweight Championship where Caldwell won by first round submission.

On the card, there are also few notable names, such as former UFC fighter Brett Johns, long time Bellator fighter Saad Awad, one of the most popular fighters from Bellator, Valerie Loureda and a great middleweight mathcup between top contenders, Austin Vanderford and Fabian Edwards.

In the first fight of the night, Bellator debutant, Shabliy really dominated his opponent, #9 ranked in Bellator LW division, Alfie Davis. Thorugh the whole three round Shabliy controlled the fight with excellent leg kicks and good movement and control of cage.

Both debutants for promotion, Brett Johns and Danny Sabatello fought for three rounds in bantamweight division. Sabatello convincingly won the fight by unanimous decision in a really good grappling fight between him and Johns.

Two top featherweight division contenders, Leah McCourt and Janay Harding put on a show. Harding was the one that controlled the fight but one mistake cost her defeat. She rocked McCourt and they ended up on the ground. McCourt was able to land upkick that wooble Harding and she fall into triangle choke attempt from McCourt. After solid set up, Harding was forced to tap and winner by second round submission was McCourt.

Davion Franklin made a quick work of Tyler King in round one and earned his 3rd professional win in his 3rd professional fight. Saad Awad, also made a quick work of Nate Andrews in round one.

Aviv Gozali continue to shine in Bellator. Last night submission win against Sean Felton was his 6th pro win (all 6 via submission) and we really need to see him face some of the top 10 competition in Bellator lightweight division.

Sumiko Inaba earned her 2nd pro career win, 2nd by knockout after two and a half rounds of really dominant perfomance. Hats off to Katsikis, she proved that she is really tough fighter.

In fight between two light heavyweight contenders, Grant Neal is still undefeated after first round submission win against Tyree Fortune. They we're both undefeated coming into this fight, with exact pro score, 5-0. Neal shoved with this win that he is really big threat in light heavyweight division, so we expect huge things from him in the future.

Moving on to main card, where first fight is flyweight bout between Valerie Loureda and Hannah Guy. In her promotional debut, Hannah Guy was able to defeat undefeated Valerie Loureda (3-0 coming into fight) after three very exciting rounds of action. In round one, Loureda scored a knockdown but Guy recovered very well, while second and third round was Hannah Guy's rounds. She had few very dangerous submission attempts, but didn't finish the fight. Still, very well deserved win for Hannah Guy and we will see who will be her next opponent. On the other side, it will be interesting to see how Loureda will bounce back from her first career loss.

In welterweight bout between Jaleel Willis and Maycon Mendonca we didn't saw so many action. Willis was the one who was going for takedowns and ground and clinch control that earned him victory. Mendonca had maybe slight adventage when fight occured on feet, he also had good moments in round three but that was too little too late for Mendonca. After three rounds, it was clear, unanimous decision win for Willis.

Fight between Austin Vanderford and Fabian Edwards was supposed to be a potential fight of the night. Instead, we got very non dramatic fight in which Vanderford had some ground control without any significant damage while Edwards couldn't get up from his back. When they we're fighting on the feet, Edwards was the one that had adventage. One very significant thing did happen at the end of the fight. Edwards landed elbow on Vanderford head and gave him a really nasty cut that was still open even during Vanderford post fight interview. Still, close fight that was decided by ground control and unanimous decision win for Vanderford.

In a co-main event, a rematch between Leandro Higo and Darrion Caldwell did offer a more action than rest of the main card fights before them. In round one, Caldwell had solid control, even landed elbow that made a cut on Higo's head. Third and final round was completely in favour of Leandro Higo and his control of fight. Indeed, Higo landed an illegal knee that wasn't, luckily for Higo, penalized by one point deduction from referee Todd Anderson. Now, most close round was round number two and you can make strong case for each of two fighters and you probably won't be wrong whoever you picked. Caldwell had top position on ground but more active in terms of landing punches was Higo, and that's why this round was so close. This round could go either way. After all, split decision win for Leandro Higo which improves his win streak to 3 in a row while Caldwell comeback to bantamweight division didn't go as planned.

In main event, Cris Cyborg dominated through the whole fight her challenger, Leslie Smith, before she ended fight via punches with 9 seconds left on the clock. Smith, even though she lost this fight, shoved that she is tough to finish. Cyborg, after she successfully defended her title for the second time, express her wish to fight against another former UFC fighter, Cat Zingano. We will see if Bellator president, Scot Cocker will make that match or he have someone else on his mind.

Overall, good night of fight for Bellator. To be honest, preliminary fights offered a lot more excitement and action than main card fight, but again, not so bad night in office for Bellator MMA promotion.

Bellator 259 Results:

Preliminary card

Alexander Shabliy def. Alfie Davis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Danny Sabatello def. Brett Johns via unanimous decisinon (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Leah McCourt def. Janay Harding via submission (triangle choke) in round 2 [c]

Davion Franklin def. Tyler King via TKO (punches) in round 1

Aviv Gozali def. Sean Felton via submission (heel hook) in round 1

Sumiko Inaba def. Kristina Katsikis via TKO (punches) in round 3

Grant Neal def. Tyree Fortune via submission (rear-naked choke) in round 1

Saad Awad def. Nate Andrews via KO (punches) in round 1

Main Card

Hannah Guy def. Valerie Loureda via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Jaleel Willis def. Maycon Mendonca via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Austin Vanderford def. Fabian Edwards via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Leandro Higo def. Darrion Caldwell via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Cris Cyborg def. Leslie Smith via TKO (punches) in round 5

[a] For Bellator Women's Featherweight Championship

[b] Leandro Higo missed weight by 1.5 pounds (137.5 lbs)

[c] Leah McCourt missed weight by 3.4 pounds (149.4 lbs)