Tag: Bellator 301

Jason Jackson thought of late friend Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson during Bellator 301 knockout sequence

At Bellator 301, Jason Jackson couldn’t help but channel the power of his late friend Anthony Johnson as he pounded his way to title gold.

CHICAGO – Almost one year to the day of [autotag]Anthony Johnson[/autotag]’s death, [autotag]Jason Jackson[/autotag] felt his friend “Rumble” was in the cage with him as he pounded his way to victory and Bellator welterweight gold.

A former UFC title challenger, Johnson died in November 2022 following a battle with a serious illness. Alongside Johnson, Jackson (17-4 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) manned the frequently rebranded Kill Cliff FC squad, dating back to its days as “The Blackzilians” camp.

As Jackson pounded out Yaroslav Amosov (27-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) at Bellator 301 to become the promotion’s 170-pound titleholder, “Rumble” entered his mind.

“‘Rumble’ is not just a captain. He’s an idol to me, Rumble,” Jackson told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “It just reminded me of when he knocked Glover Teixeira out with the uppercut. He’s just vicious and violent. That’s just what I thought when I was in the moment. I hit him with that first uppercut and I was like, get him with another one. Rest in peace, ‘Rumble.’ I love you.”

Jackson, 33, did not have a linear journey to his first major promotional title, but his road proved effective. After stops on Dana White’s Contender Series and “The Ultimate Fighter,” as well as regional appearances in LFA, Titan FC, Victory FC, and more, Jackson finally found consistency under the Bellator banner.

It’s been a long yet worthwhile journey for the Jamaica-born Floridian.

“It means everything to me and my family because now this great now this creates opportunity to make a better living for my family,” Jackson said. “It just makes all the non-believers into believers. I have a belt to show my country that yes, Jason Jackson can be champ anywhere he goes. It’s just a matter of time before he becomes the best welterweight on this planet.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 301.

Patchy Mix doesn’t know what’s next after Bellator 301, just that he’s the best in the world

After Bellator 301, Patchy Mix repeated his previous claims as the world’s best and shed light on what the future may hold for him.

CHICAGO – [autotag]Patchy Mix[/autotag] established himself as the undisputed Bellator bantamweight champion Friday and in doing so thinks he once again proved he’s the best in the world.

In the Bellator 301 co-main event at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Mix (19-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) submitted Sergio Pettis (23-6 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) by rear-naked choke in Round 2 to unify the promotion’s 135-pound titles.

The win over Pettis is one Mix holds in high regard.

“My opponent there, Sergio Pettis, they look at his (flyweight) run,” Mix told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “But this kid was young when he was in the UFC. He’s great. I mean, he just beat Patricio ‘Pitbull.’ He smoked the only man to beat me. Archuleta didn’t win a round against him. I think that Sergio is up there as one of the top three bantamweights in the world right now. I feel like he was so young in the UFC at 24 or 25 years old. He just turned 30 years old, him and I. I feel like we’re both entering our prime.

“They hold Sean O’Malley in such a high regard. Sean O’Malley never beat someone of the level of ‘Patricio Pitbull,’ like Sergio Pettis did. That’s why I respected him like I did. I took this fight very seriously. I feel like a lot of people underestimate him, and I overestimated him because I knew how good he was. The first shot busted my face up. That’s why I had to respect him.”

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Mix sits atop the Bellator throne, though the promotion’s future beyond Friday’s event is uncertain at this time. Bellator president Scott Coker did not speak to reporters after the event as rumors of a potential sale loom large.

Given this and having already fought many of the division’s top contenders, Mix passed on any callouts. He’s champion now and plans to let the promotion bring names to him.

“I’m just getting started,” Mix said. “I just turned 30 years old. I’m 19-1 now with 15 finishes. I’m just getting started. I’m cleaning the division out from the bottom up. … I’m not necessarily chasing anyone not that I’m the titleholder. Whoever they approach me with, I’m willing to do. I don’t mind. I can run it back with all three of them. If they want to do me and Sergio again, if they want to do me and (Raufeon) Stots again, or if they want to do me and Maga (Magomed Magomedov). I’ve fought all the top guys and I just want to fight who they believe is the best, who is on the best run.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 301.

Bellator 301 results: Jason Jackson shocks previously unbeaten Yaroslav Amosov with brutal KO to win title

Jason Jackson shocked the MMA world and became welterweight champ at Bellator 301 by handing Yaroslav Amosov his first loss in devastating fashion.

[autotag]Jason Jackson[/autotag] shocked the MMA world at Bellator 301 and became champion.

Considered by many as a hefty underdog, Jackson (17-4 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) knocked out previously unbeaten [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] (27-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) to top off a dominant striking performance in Friday’s main event at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The stoppage came via punches at 2:08  of Round 3.

From the opening bell, Jackson stuffed Amosov’s takedown attempts and established range. Jackson used leg kicks to keep Amosov at bay. His uppercuts and knees threatened Amosov each time he shot for a takedown.

As the fight wore on, Amosov wore down. Jackson remained calm and waited for his moment, which he found in a combination that ended in a hard right hand. Down went Amosov, who tried to survive. Amosov absorbed blows as he got to his feet. A sloppy takedown was once again countered by an uppercut – but this one put him out.

Jackson, who had not competed since July 2022, extended his winning streak to seven. Other notable wins include Douglas Lima, Paul Daley, Benson Henderson, and Neiman Gracie also.

Amosov loses for the first time as a professional. He won the title vs. Douglas Lima in June 2021 and defended it once successfully vs. Logan Storley in February after a split from MMA to serve in the Ukrainian military.

Up-to-the-minute Bellator 301 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 301.

Bellator 301 live and official results, video stream

Bellator 301 takes place Friday. Join us for a live prelims stream and official results from Chicago beginning at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT).

CHICAGO – Bellator 301 took place Friday, and you can catch the official results right here.

The event took place at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The main card aired on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Welterweight champion Yaroslav Amosov (27-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) took on challenger Jason Jackson (16-4 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) in the main event. In the co-feature, bantamweight champ Sergio Pettis (23-5 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) faced interim titleholder Patchy Mix (18-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) in a unification bout.

In addition, former lightweight champ Patricky Freire (25-11 MMA, 16-9 BMMA) fought Alexander Shabliy (23-3 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) in the semifinals of the lightweight grand prix; former featherweight champ A.J. McKee (20-1 MMA, 20-1 BMMA) took on Sidney Outlaw (17-5 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) at lightweight; and bitter rivals Danny Sabatello (14-3 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) and Raufeon Stots (19-2 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) met in a bantamweight rematch that could produce the next in line for the Pettis-Mix winner.

Check out full Bellator 301 results, fight information, highlights and more below.

Bellator 301 results: Patchy Mix surgically submits Sergio Pettis to claim undisputed bantamweight title

Patchy Mix did what he does best and is now the undisputed Bellator bantamweight champion after beating Sergio Pettis.

Well, well, well. What do yo know? The master of the back take took his opponent’s back and finished him to claim the undisputed Bellator bantamweight championship.

[autotag]Patchy Mix[/autotag] can lay clam to that title after he surgically submitted champ [autotag]Sergio Pettis[/autotag] on Friday night at Bellator 301. Mix used what else but a rear-naked choke to make Pettis tap out at the 1:51 mark in the co-main event at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

After a first round in which Mix (19-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) had all the control time, he went right back to it in the second round. Unlike the first when he struggled to mount any major threats, Mix closed distance on Pettis (23-6 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) and immediately spun behind him. Mix pushed off the cage to get the fight down to the mat and from there used clean technique to secure the finish, trapping Pettis’ right arm with his leg while working for the choke. With only one arm to defend, Pettis didn’t stand a chance and had no choice but to quit.

“I’m the best in the world,” Mix said after the win. “135, I’m the best in the world.”

Since failing to claim gold from then-champ Juan Archuleta in September 2020, Mix has won six in a row and entered Friday night as the interim champ at 135 pounds after winning the promotion’s Bellator grand prix.

For Pettis, it’s his first loss in Bellator. He was on a five-fight winning streak in the promotion since leaving the UFC in 2019.

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Up-to-the-minute Bellator 301 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 301.

Bellator 301 results: Raufeon Stots beats Danny Sabatello in thriller, rubs it in during post-fight interview

Raufeon Stots got under the skin of Danny Sabatello after a thrilling back-and-forth bout at Bellator 301.

[autotag]Raufeon Stots[/autotag] and [autotag]Danny Sabatello[/autotag] fought for the second time, Friday at Bellator 301. The winner was the same as in the first bout, but the fight itself was a vastly different affair.

The three-round bantamweight bout was part of the main card at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Stots (19-2 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) defeated Sabatello (14-3 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

Unlike the first meeting 11 months prior, Stots vs. Sabatello 2 provided thrilling scrambles, high-offensive output, and momentum swings. Sabatello let his hands and feet go – and even started the bout with a jumping knee.

Sabatello’s takedowns and sweeps also proved to be a major weapon, but Stots often reversed position. Both men found themselves in advantageous positions on the ground. In Round 3, Stots dropped Sabatello with a two-punch combination.

Much to the dismay of Sabatello and his home city crowd, Stots walked away the winner – again. During the in-cage interview with color commentator “Big” John McCarthy, Stots taunted Sabatello and asked him to come back in the cage to shake hands. Sabatello was visibly taken aback by Stots prodding, but was eventually ushered into the back by promotion and commission staff.

The long-standing rivalry extends even prior to their first fight, which took place at Bellator 289 in December 2022. The five-round bout was part of the Bellator bantamweight grand prix and turned out to be a lackluster, control-heavy affair that Stots won by split decision.

Up-to-the-minute Bellator 301 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 301.

Bellator 301 results: A.J. McKee bloodies Sidney Outlaw, overcomes control disadvantage for unanimous decision win

Sidney Outlaw might’ve had control time in his favor, but A.J. McKee did all the damage at Bellator 301.

[autotag]Sidney Outlaw[/autotag] might’ve had the control time in his favor, but [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] did all the damage at Bellator 301.

Despite spending much of their lightweight fight on his back, McKee still came away with a clean-sweep unanimous decision win over Outlaw on Friday night at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. All three judges scored it 30-27 for McKee, underscoring the idea that control time alone isn’t enough to win a fight.

The tone was set in Round 1 as Outlaw (17-6 MMA, 5-3 BMMA) caught a McKee body kick and took him down within the first 15 seconds. For the remainder of the round, Outlaw mostly just held down McKee (21-1 MMA, 21-1 BMMA), who was active with punches and escape attempts from the bottom.

In Round 2, McKee defended Outlaw’s first takedown attempt, but Outlaw caught another kick moments later and used it to take down McKee. Immediately this time, McKee threw elbows to the side of Outlaw’s head and cut him over his right eye. Again, Outlaw appeared content to just lay on McKee, who eventually swept his way into a mount. At that point, McKee landed lots of punches until Outlaw managed to reverse the position and lay on McKee for the second half of the round. But the damage was done as Outlaw was leaking blood from his eye.

Before Round 3, the doctor closely examined Outlaw’s cut and allowed the fight to continue. McKee opened up with a level change and got a takedown in the first 20 seconds and hit Outlaw with a steady barrage of left hands. Outlaw did manage to reverse position to close out the backend of the final round, but just like before, he simply didn’t throw enough from his top position.

Unofficially, Outlaw had 11 minutes of ground control to 2 minutes for McKee. But McKee had an overwhelming advantage in strikes, 71-28, which included 17-0 on elbows landed.

McKee, a former Bellator featherweight champion, is now 3-0 as a lightweight. This was his first fight after an 11-month layoff. Outlaw has no alternated wins and losses in past three bouts.

Up-to-the-minute Bellator 301 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 301.

Bellator 301 results: Alexander Shabliy pieces up Patricky Pitbull, advances to grand prix final

Methodical violence was created by Alexander Shabliy at Bellator 301, as he put forth a brilliant, bloody performance vs. Patricky Pitbull.

[autotag]Alexander Shabliy[/autotag] put on quite the clinic Friday at Bellator 301 when he defeated former lightweight champion [autotag]Patricky Freire[/autotag] in the semifinal of the promotion’s ongoing grand prix.

The bout served as the main card opener at Wintrust Arena in Chicago and saw Shabliy (24-3 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) win a lopsided (and bloody) unanimous decision over Freire (25-12 MMA, 16-10 BMMA). All three judges scored the fight a clean sweep, at 50-45.

Shabliy was a man on a mission from the opening bell. He landed punches with surgical precision and mixed up his strikes to keep Freire guessing.

Despite his success, Shabliy continued to seek the finish. In Round 3, he landed a barrage that tested Freire’s chin and will. “Pitbull” hung tough, as always, though.

As the fight continued, Freire’s face deteriorated. Blood streamed from below his left eye and from his left ear. Shabliy landed a hard sequence in Round 5, including a wheel kick to the head but Freire did enough to make it to the final bell.

Bellator’s future beyond Friday’s event is uncertain. Should new life be breathed into the promotion and the grand prix continue, the next match for Shabliy is a bit clouded.

With lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov recently testing positive for a prohibited substance, Bellator executive Mike Kogan recently hinted the titleholder will rematch Brent Primus.

Regardless of tournament status, Shabliy extends his winning streak to nine. Other notable wins include Tofiq Musayev and Brent Primus, both of whom Shabliy finished with strikes.

Freire moves to 2-4 in his most recent six outings.

Up-to-the-minute Bellator 301 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 301.

Bellator 301 video: Keri Melendez uses guillotine choke submission to remain undefeated

Keri Melendez likely broke Sabriye Sengul’s nose in the first round, then made her tap out in the second at Bellator 301.

[autotag]Keri Melendez[/autotag] is still undefeated.

Melendez had an easy time Friday night at Bellator 301 where she submitted [autotag]Sabriye Sengul[/autotag] with a guillotine choke in the second round of their women’s flyweight bout at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

In the first round, Melendez might’ve broken Sengul’s nose with a punch before she got the finish at the 2:06 mark of Round 2.

At 39, Melendez, the wife of former Strikeforce champion and UFC fighter Gilbert Melendez, continues to roll in her career as she’s now 6-0 with four finishes.

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Up-to-the-minute Bellator 301 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 301.

Bellator 301 video: Matheus Mattos climbs Richard Palencia to secure choke for submission win

Matheus Mattos overcame adversity at Bellator 301 and then utilized some slick BJJ skills to submit Richard Palencia.

[autotag]Matheus Mattos[/autotag]’ rally Friday at Bellator 301 was topped off by a slick standing submission.

Dropped and nearly finished moments prior, Mattos (14-2-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) survived, slowed the pace, and utilized slick Brazilian jiu-jitsu to submit [autotag]Richard Palencia[/autotag] (10-2 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) with a standing rear-naked choke. The tap came at 3:20 of Round 2.

With the win, Mattos is victorious in back-to-back outings, whereas Palencia has now lost two consecutive fights.

The up-to-the-minute Bellator 301 results include:

  • Matheus Mattos def. Richard Palencia via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:20
  • Ramazan Kuramagomedov def. Randall Wallace via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:49
  • Islam Mamedov def. Killys Mota via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Cody Law def. Jefferson Pontes via unanimous decision (30-27,30-27, 30-27)
  • Tim Wilde def. Mike Hamel via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 2:47
  • Yves Landu def. Isao Kobayashi via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 301.