Tag: Bellator Champions Series: San Diego

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, Sept. 10: Usman Nurmagomedov climbs at lightweight

Check out the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings following UFC Fight Night 242 and Bellator Champions Series: San Diego.

Following Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 242 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and Bellator Champions Series: San Diego at Pechanga Arena, the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings required updating.

Headlining UFC Fight Night 242 was a welterweight showdown between [autotag]Sean Brady[/autotag] and former title challenger Gilbert Burns. Over five rounds, Brady dominated Burns in all aspects of the game to pick up one of the biggest wins of his career.

Entering the week at No. 9, Brady takes Burns’ former spot at No. 7.

At Bellator Champions Series: San Diego, [autotag]Usman Nurmagomedov[/autotag] defended his lightweight title against Alexander Shabliy. Coming into the week at No. 7 in the 155-pound rankings, the victory moves Nurmagomedov up to the No. 6 spot, bumping Beneil Dariush down.

Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings above.

Video: Where does Bellator’s Usman Nurmagomedov rank among the best lightweights?

How good is Usman Nurmagomedov, and where does he rank among the best at 155? We discuss on “Spinning Back Clique.”

[autotag]Usman Nurmagomedov[/autotag] is good, but how good is he?

The lightweight champion kept his undefeated record and belt Saturday when he successfully defended the title against Alexandr Shabliy in the main event of Bellator Champions Series: San Diego. Nurmagomedov (18-0) had a dominant showing, defeating Shabliy (24-4) 50-45, 49-46 and 49-46 on the scorecards.

This result leaves the question: Where does Bellator’s Usman Nurmagomedov rank among the best lightweights in MMA?

MMA Junkie’s Brian “Goze” Garcia, Nolan King, Danny Segura and host “Gorgeous” George Garcia discuss Nurmagomedov’s latest title defense, his standing in the sport, along with other results like [autotag]Lorenz Larkin[/autotag]’s vicious KO win over Levan Chokheli.

Watch their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below on YouTube.

https://youtube.com/live/suYDv4qZZAk

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Usman Nurmagomedov vows to live up to Khabib’s GOAT claims after Bellator San Diego: ‘I am the future’

Usman Nurmagomedov boldly he’s “the future” of MMA after moving to 18-0 with his lightweight title defense at Bellator San Diego.

[autotag]Usman Nurmagomedov[/autotag] accomplished his goal of proving he’s a more complete fighting than Alexander Shabliy in the Bellator Champions Series: San Diego main event – even if he didn’t get the stoppage.

Nurmagomedov (18-0) added to his unblemished record Saturday with a unanimous decision win over Shabliy (24-4) at Pechanga Arena to defend his Bellator lightweight strap. It was a highly tactical affair, albeit slow at times outside of a fourth-round burst where the champion had his challenge on the ropes from a head kick.

Nevertheless, it was a clear victory for Nurmagomedov, who said he was pleased to silence Shabliy’s criticism of his path toward the belt by beating him with the gold on the line.

“My game plan was to fight him,” Nurmagomedov told reporters at the post-fight press conference. “I know everything. I can strike, I can kick, wrestling, grappling – I am MMA fighter. That’s why I’m here. It was my plan to show to the world who I am, show to the world my heart. I think I did this.

“When Alexander Shabliy said, ‘Usman don’t fight with nobody, but he go to the title shot very soon’: I am only 26, but when Alexander Shabliy was 26, nobody knows where he’s fighting even. Now in his prime and in my condition best for right now, I won the fight now. This is going to make more proof for myself.”

Nurmagomedov, 26, said he couldn’t have conquered Shabliy without the support of his team. His cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov was in his corner for the first time since becoming champion, and his pre-fight request of having “The Eagle” wrap the belt around his waist became reality in the aftermath of the performance.

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Nurmagomedov’s team also consists of American Kickboxing Coach Javier Mendez, his cousin Usman, UFC lightweight champ Islam Makhachev and many others. Without them, Nurmagomedov said he wouldn’t have been able to thrive in the way he did.

“I love these guys so much,” Nurmagomedov said. “They help my growth, not as just an MMA fighter – as a human, I grow more than as an MMA fighter or something. I just want to say thank you for all of these guys.”

Khabib said in the post-fight interview that his cousin is an extreme talent, and if he meets his potential to go down as the great of all time in MMA.

“I will prove (him right),” Nurmagomedov said. “This is the future. I am the future.”

The victory marked a significant moment for Nurmagomedov, who was away from competition for 11 months after a failed drug test and suspension. Nurmagomedov has been steadfast in his denial of taking any performance-enhancing substances, and can now put that chapter in his past.

After losing nearly a year of his career dealing with the situation, though, Nurmagomedov is keen to make up for lost time and keep building his profile in the sport.

“I want to fight in Dubai because in Dubai I think they have an event in January,” Nurmagomedov said. “I don’t know exactly. For me this is very good date. I want to stay active. I want to fight every three or four months because I am only 26. I want to fight. I am hungry.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event page for Bellator Champions Series: San Diego.

Usman Nurmagomedov def. Alexander Shabliy at Bellator Champions Series: San Diego: Best photos

Check out these photos of Usman Nurmagomedov’s victory over Alexander Shabliy at Bellator Champions Series: San Diego.

Check out these photos from [autotag]Usman Nurmagomedov[/autotag]’s lightweight title defense against Alexander Shabliy at Bellator Champions Series: San Diego, which took place at Pechanga Arena in San Diego. (Photos by Cooper Neill, Bellator MMA)

Lorenz Larkin def. Levan Chokheli at Bellator Champions Series: San Diego: Best photos

Check out these photos from Lorenz Larkin’s victory over Levan Chokheli at Bellator Champions Series: San Diego.

Check out these photos from [autotag]Lorenz Larkin[/autotag]’s TKO victory over Levan Chokheli at Bellator Champion Series: San Diego, which took place at Pechanga Arena. (Photos by Cooper Neill, Bellator MMA)

Bellator Champions Series results: Usman Nurmagomedov defends title in calculated battle vs. Alexander Shabliy

Usman Nurmagomedov defended his lightweight title against Alexander Shabliy in a chess match of a title fight at Bellator Champions Series.

[autotag]Usman Nurmagomedov[/autotag] is still undefeated and the Bellator lightweight champion after going the distance with Alexander Shabliy.

The lightweight title bout headlined Bellator Champions Series: San Diego, which took place at Pechanga Arena. It was a chess match of a title fight, but after 25 minutes, Nurmagomedov (18-0) was declared the winner over Shabliy (24-4) with scores of 50-45, 49-46 and 49-46.

Shabliy found success early with the right hand, scoring with quick counters as Nurmagomedov pressed forward with strikes. Nurmagomeodv nearly got full control of Shabliy’s back, but rode up too high, and the remainder of the close opening round played out on the feet.

Nurmagomedov was the more active fighter offensively in Round 2, leading with strikes throughout the frame. Shabliy defended a few takedown attempts and landed a solid punch that was immediately answered.

The calculated approach continued in Round 3, with neither fighter really committing to more than one or two strikes at a time. Nurmagomedov focused on kicks to the legs and body. Shabliy got a takedown right at the bell.

Early in Round 4, Shabliy connected with a solid combination of punches. Just when he was building momentum, he eye-poked Nurmagomedov, causing a break in the action. After a short pause, the fight resumed and Nurmagomedov got back to hunting for openings.

With just over 90 seconds to go, he found it with a left head kick that hurt Shabliy.

https://twitter.com/BellatorMMA/status/1832638595112341558

Nurmagomedov swarmed with strikes, leading to a choke threat on the mat. The submission wasn’t there, but the champ picked up some top control time before the round ended in the clinch on the feet.

Shabliy failed to create any significant offense in Round 5, as the final five minutes ticked away with a few restless boos pouring in from the crowd.

Nurmagomedov was announced as the winner and began celebrating with his corner Khabib Nurmagomedov, Javier Mendez and Umar Nurmagomedov. During his post-fight interview, he expressed his desire for his next title fight to take place in Dubai.

With the win, Nurmagomedov picks up his second title defense. He became champion by defeating Patricky Freire at Bellator 288 in November 2022. In his first defense, Nurmagomedov submitted Benson Henderson in the first round. He then picked up a unanimous decision win over Brent Primus, but that victory was later overturned to a no contest dut to a failed drug test.

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Full Bellator Champions Series: San Diego results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event page for Bellator Champions Series: San Diego.

Bellator Champions Series video: Lorenz Larkin floors Levan Chokheli, swarms for Round 1 finish

Lorenz Larkin didn’t need much time to finish Levan Chokheli with punches in the first round at Bellator Champions Series: San Diego.

Lorenz Larkin lived up to his nickname “Da Monsoon” by raining down a furious barrage of punches to pick up another highlight finish.

In the co-main event of Bellator Champions Series: San Diego, Larkin (27-8) faced Levan Chokheli in a bout for welterweight No. 1 contender status. Larkin needed only 1:53 to close the show by TKO in the opening round.

It all started with a glancing right hand that at first, didn’t appear to connect. However, the shot took Chokheli’s balance, and he fell to the canvas. Larkin quickly capitalized and swarmed with punches until referee Jason Herzog saw enough to call it.

Check out video of the finish below (via X):

With the win, Larkin notches his second win of 2024, entering on the heels of another first-round finish of Alan Dominguez at 2024 PFL 6 in June. It’s been quite a run for Larkin, who has gone 9-1 in his last 10 fights.

Now, Larkin is the Bellator No. 1 contender, and has a shot at Ramazan Kuramagomedov’s welterweight title his his future.

On the other side, Chokheli suffers his first defeat since April 2022. He built a nice run of three consecutive victories, including a first-round stoppage of Sabah Homasi at Bellator 299, but couldn’t make it out of the opening round against Larkin here.

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Up-to-the-minute Bellator Champions Series: San Diego results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event page for Bellator Champions Series: San Diego.

Bellator Champions Series: Best photos from San Diego

Check out these photos from the fights at Bellator Champions Series: San Diego in California.

Check out these photos from the fights at Bellator Champions Series: San Diego, which took place at Pechanga Arena in San Diego. (Photos by Cooper Neill, Bellator MMA)

(Gallery will be updated throughout the event.)

Bellator Champions Series video: Bryce Meredith puts opponent to sleep with slick choke

Bryce Meredith gave his opponent a nap with a tight choke on the prelims of Bellator Champions Series: San Diego.

[autotag]Bryce Meredith[/autotag] kept his professional record unblemished with an incredible finish on the prelims of Bellator Champions Series: San Diego.

Meredith (7-0) stepped into the cage as an undefeated fighter and left just the same after locking John MaCalolooy in what has become his signature finish. At 3:18 of Round 1, Meredith put the squeeze on MaCalolooy (4-2) with a rear-naked choke, putting him completely to sleep.

Check out video of the finish below (via X):

During his post-fight interview, Meredith spoke about wanting to be more patient in this fight, but MaCalolooy came out aggressively, which prompted him to respond with his grappling attacks.

“I got kicked, and then I was like, I’m going to choke your ass out,” Meredith said.

The victory is Meredith’s second of the year, following a unanimous decision win over Ty Johnson at 2024 PFL 1 in April.

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Up-to-the-minute Bellator Champions Series: San Diego results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event page for Bellator Champions Series: San Diego.

Bellator Champions Series predictions: Is anyone picking a lightweight title upset in San Diego?

Check out our staff members’ picks and analysis for Bellator Champions Series: San Diego.

Bellator is in Southern California with the lightweight title on the line at the top of the card.

Bellator Champions Series: San Diego (Max) takes place Saturday at Pechanga Arena in San Diego.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

Get pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.