The Bellator 262 co-main event result was overshadowed by controversy when an inadvertent clash of heads changed the complexion of the fight between [autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag] and [autotag]Matt Mitrione[/autotag].
Fortune (11-1 MA, 11-1 BMMA) ultimately got his hand raised, battering Mitrione (13-9 MMA, 4-4 BMMA) with punches to force a submission to strikes at the 1:45 mark of Round 1.
The bout co-headlined the Bellator 262 lineup from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card aired on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.
After a brief feeling-out process on the feet, Fortune charged at Mitrione and tackled him to the ground. Mitrione immediately covered up and complained about a head butt. He was very upset about it, but the referee let the action continue.
Fortune kept top position and unleashed a big swarm of punches. Mitrione couldn’t take it, and he tapped the canvas to end the fight. He was furious about it after the fact and made a big scene, yelling at referee Dan Miragliotta for what he felt was a blunder.
The takedown from @FortuneOverFam which led to the W!
Tune in LIVE with @SHOSports 👇https://t.co/TbKTQ7lKsu pic.twitter.com/TIf7AVJBrR
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) July 17, 2021
The replay showed Mitrione ducked into an incoming Fortune, however, and he left the cage with his winless skid extended to five fights.
For Fortune, he gets his eighth stoppage in Bellator heavyweight competition, and his seventh by knockout. All of those are divisional records, and now he wants to avenge his only career loss.
“Tim Johnson, get your ass over here,” Fortune said in his post-fight interview with John McCarthy. “That’s my only loss.”
Up-to-the-minute Bellator 262 results include:
- Tyrell Fortune def. Matt Mitrione via submission (strikes) – Round 1, 1:45
- Matheus Mattos def. Cee Jay Hamilton via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:33
- Arlene Blencowe def. Dayana Silva via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:00
- Johnny Eblen def. Travis Davis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
- Said Sowma def. Ronny Markes via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:09
- Cody Law def. Theodore Macuka via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:54
- Diana Avsaragova def. Gabriella Gulfin via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Adil Benjilany def. Johnny Soto via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Charlie Campbell def. Nicholas Giulietti via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:30
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