Former Pancrase titleholder [autotag]Masayuki Kikuiri[/autotag] made a powerful promotional debut Saturday at Bellator 295 when he starched [autotag]Alexey Shurkevich[/autotag] with a second-round knockout punch.
The bout took place as part of the event’s prelims at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu. The stoppage came at 4:33 of Round 2.
Kikuiri (9-2-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) found success with his striking throughout the bout and was always a step ahead of Shurkevich (13-6 MMA, 1-1 BMMA).
At impeccable distance, Kikuiri found a home for the right cross, which he blasted Shurkevich with late in Round 2. Upon impact, Shurkevich flew backward to the canvas. When he hit the ground, Shurkevich’s eyes were eerily open as he stared in the opposite direction of the charging Kikuiri. A la Dan Henderson, Kikuiri put the nail in the coffin with a follow-up blow that seemed to knock consciousness back into Shurkevich.
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— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) April 23, 2023
Kikuiri, 27, was the Pancrase interim welterweight champion when he signed with Bellator in September 2022. The win Saturday was his third in as many consecutive outings. Shurkevich, 30, loses for the first time in the Bellator cage and falls into a two-fight skid.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 295.