Recap the best of the action from Bellator 245 as Phil Davis edged a split-decision verdict against light heavyweight rival Lyoto Machida.
The second meeting between [autotag]Phil Davis[/autotag] (22-5 MMA, 9-2 BMMA) and [autotag]Lyoto Machida[/autotag] (26-10 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) was every bit as competitive as the first, as the former Bellator light heavyweight champion squeezed past the former UFC 205-pound champ in the main event of Bellator 245.
The night also saw the promotional debut of former UFC women’s bantamweight title challenger [autotag]Cat Zingano[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 1-0 BMMA), who outpointed [autotag]Gabrielle Holloway[/autotag] (6-6 MMA, 1-3 BMMA) in their women’s featherweight matchup.
There was also an eye-catching debut from former Dana White’s Contender Series prospect [autotag]Taylor Johnson[/autotag] (6-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA), who submitted highly-rated welterweight prospect [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] (8-3 MMA, 8-3 BMMA) via first-round heel hook in their middleweight bout.
If that bout was eye-catching, the action was eye-watering in the opening main card fight of the night, as a pair of thumping low blows from [autotag]Raymond Daniels[/autotag] (2-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) left [autotag]Peter Stanonik[/autotag] (5-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) unable to continue, and the bout was ruled a no contest.
Bellator 245 took place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card aired on Paramount Network and DAZN after prelims on MMA Junkie.
Check out the official highlights of the night, courtesy of Bellator, via the video above.
Bellator debutant Taylor Johnson made his arrival known Friday, submitting Ed Ruth in 59 seconds.
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Taylor Johnson[/autotag] has arrived.
A former LFA standout and Dana White’s Contender Series competitor, Johnson (6-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) made his promotional debut in fine fashion at Bellator 245 on Friday night, submitting [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] in just 59 seconds.
After a brief exchange, Johnson grabbed hold of Ruth’s leg and gave it a crank. As Ruth (8-2 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) considered his options, Johnson closed his window to make any With a few adjustments, Johnson got what he was looking for – a tap.
Closing odds across major online sportsbooks had Johnson as a +267 underdog (per BestFightOdds).
With the victory, Johnson rebounds from his lone career loss. All six of his wins have come by finish with five knockouts and one submission.
Bellator 245 took place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena as part of the promotion’s double-header weekend. Bellator 246 takes place Saturday at the same venue. Both cards air on Paramount Network and stream on DAZN after prelims on MMA Junkie.
Check out Johnson’s submission of Ruth in the video below:
Bellator is back this week with back-to-back events in Connecticut, the first of which features a light heavyweight rematch.
Bellator 245 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.
In the main event, former Bellator light heavyweight champion [autotag]Phil Davis[/autotag] (21-5 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) takes on former UFC champ [autotag]Lyoto Machida[/autotag] (26-9 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) in a rematch. The two first met in the UFC, and Davis took a controversial decision in Brazil. Davis is a -350 favorite, and our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts have him with a big lead at 12-2.
In the co-main event, former UFC women’s bantamweight title challenger [autotag]Cat Zingano[/autotag] (10-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) makes her promotional debut at featherweight against [autotag]Gabrielle Holloway[/autotag] (6-5 MMA, 1-2 BMMA). Zingano is by far the biggest favorite on the card at 9-1, and she’s got a 13-1 picks lead.
Also on the main card, [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) is a 3-1 favorite at middleweight against [autotag]Taylor Johnson[/autotag] (5-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), and Ruth has a 13-1 picks lead.
And kickboxing standout [autotag]Raymond Daniels[/autotag] (2-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) is a -365 favorite against [autotag]Peter Stanonik[/autotag] (5-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), and only one picker is taking Stanonik in an upset.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Davis (56 percent), Zingano (88 percent), Ruth (86 percent), and Daniels (N/A) are the choices.
Ed Ruth had never been outwrestled in MMA before – and he’s making sure it doesn’t happen again on Friday.
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] has been focused solely on improvement since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, and he thinks that’ll pay dividends at Bellator 245 on Friday vs. Taylor Johnson.
When he took on Ukrainian standout Yaroslav Amosov in February, Ruth was controlled on the feet, on the ground, and even in the wrestling department. While losing wasn’t ideal, Ruth thinks the defeat was good for his long-term development as a fighter.
“I feel like I experienced some things that have been priceless (for) me growing and just getting better as a fighter,” Ruth told MMA Junkie on Wednesday.
Add in the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, and Ruth had even more time to focus on his skills. With no fight available, the only progress Ruth could make was in the gym.
“It definitely just gave me a lot of time to think,” Ruth said. “You go from one fight, you lose, then you go to the next (win), and you’re like, ‘I won.’ Then, you ignore the loss. I had more time to just sit there and turn my thoughts around in my head and really think about where are my holes in my defense, holes in my offense. I just feel like this has been a whole real good time for me.”
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Being outwrestled was a rude awakening, Ruth said. It was the first time it’s happened in MMA. However, it made him realize that as great of a collegiate wrestler as he was, it doesn’t mean he’s perfected MMA’s version of the craft.
“I was like, ‘Wow. You can’t just go in there and think you have the skills to be in the ring with somebody.’ I was like, ‘I’m a wrestler. I’m going in there with a wrestler.’ And I got outwrestled,” Ruth said. “I was like, ‘Whoa.’ I never thought that would ever happen in MMA, but it just taught me. I was like, ‘Wow. There’s more elite wrestling in MMA that’s more for MMA.'”
Bellator 245 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card simulcasts on Paramount Network and DAZN after prelims on MMA Junkie.
Check out MMA Junkie’s full Bellator 245 interview with Ed Ruth in the video above.
The first half of Bellator’s back-to-back Connecticut shows in September has had its lineup filled out.
Bellator 245 fills out, including Ed Ruth, Rafael Carvalho, Tyrell Fortune
The first half of Bellator’s back-to-back Connecticut shows in September has had its lineup filled out.
Bellator 245, which will be headlined by a light heavyweight rematch between Phil Davis and Lyoto Machida with Cat Zingano vs. Gabrielle Holloway in the co-main event, has five new bouts ticketed for the lineup, the promotion announced Friday.
Bellator 245 takes place Friday, Sept. 11, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie. The next night, the same venue hosts Bellator 246.
On the main card, [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Taylor Johnson[/autotag] (5-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) at middleweight, and [autotag]Raymond Daniels[/autotag] (2-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) meets [autotag]Peter Stanonik[/autotag] (5-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) in a welterweight bout.
Additionally, the preliminary card gets a light heavyweight bout between former middleweight champion [autotag]Rafael Carvalho[/autotag] (16-4 MMA, 7-3 BMMA) and LFA light heavyweight champ [autotag]Alex Polizzi[/autotag] (6-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), [autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) vs. [autotag]Jack May[/autotag] (11-6 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) at heavyweight, and [autotag]Keith Lee[/autotag] (6-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) vs. [autotag]Dominic Mazzotta[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) in a 140-pound contract-weight fight.
Ruth will be looking to rebound from a decision loss to Yaroslav Amosov in February, which snapped a two-fight winning streak. Johnson suffered the first loss of his pro career a little more than a year ago in a Dana White’s Contender Series fight against Andre Muniz. Prior to that, he had four straight first-round knockout wins under the LFA banner.
Kickboxing standout Daniels returned to MMA in 2019 after a lengthy layoff from the sport. He took out Wilker Barros in the first round in his Bellator MMA debut after years on the Bellator Kickboxing circuit. Then earlier this year, he stopped Jason King in the first round with a TKO. Stanonik has a kickboxing and muay Thai background, as well, but his most recent MMA fight was a June 2018 loss to Jake Heffernan at LFA 43.
With the additions, the Bellator 245 lineup now includes:
MAIN CARD (Paramount, DAZN, 10 p.m. ET)
Phil Davis vs. Lyoto Machida
Gabrielle Holloway vs. Cat Zingano
Taylor Johnson vs. Ed Ruth
Raymond Daniels vs. Peter Stanonik
PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie)
Rafael Carvalho vs. Alex Polizzi
Tyrell Fortune vs. Jack May
Keith Lee vs. Dominic Mazzotta – 140-pound contract weight
MMA Junkie’s Simon Head picks out six big statements made by Bellator fighters during the promotion’s curtailed 2020 event schedule.
With big-name signings, an ongoing $1 million tournament and growing excitement around the future of the promotion, 2020 looked set to be a big year for Bellator MMA. But the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic placed the sporting world – including Bellator – on an enforced hiatus as social distancing and quarantine measures were introduced in nations across the world.
It meant that Bellator’s event schedule hit the brakes after just three shows in 2020. But in those three events, we witnessed six fighters deliver contrasting, yet decisive, statements as they looked to further their respective careers inside the Bellator cage.
We take a look back at six big statements made inside the Bellator cage so far in 2020…
****
Cris Cyborg ascends the throne
Bellator 238, Jan. 25, The Forum, Inglewood
Reports of [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag]’s demise following her UFC title defeat to Amanda Nunes were grossly exaggerated, and the Brazilian women’s MMA icon emphatically proved that fact on her Bellator debut as she overpowered long-reigning champion Julia Budd to capture the promotion’s women’s featherweight title at Bellator 238.
Cyborg (22-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) put the pedal to the metal from the first round and kept her foot flat on the floor as she pushed a relentless pace on the Canadian before eventually breaking down the champion in the championship rounds for a fourth-round TKO finish.
The victory put Cyborg’s name into the history books as the first fighter to win titles in four major MMA organizations, having captured titles in Strikeforce, Invicta FC, UFC, and now Bellator.
Now, with the Brazilian back on top, but with a much deeper pool of 145-pound contenders to defend against, the challenges should come thick and fast once Bellator restarts its event schedule.
Next up: Bellator’s “super prospect” bounces back with big KO
Ukrainian welterweight contender Yaroslav Amosov showcased his Bellator title credentials with a decision win over fellow contender Ed Ruth.
Unbeaten Ukrainain welterweight contender [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag]’s most recent appearance inside the Bellator cage saw him produce an impressive performance, and a statement victory, over fellow contender [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] at Bellator 239.
The two rising welterweight contenders went head to head at the WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Okl. as seasoned grappler Amosov (23-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) took on former collegiate wrestling standout Ruth (8-2 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) in a fascinating contest.
Ruth started the better of the pair in Round 1 as he bounced back from an Amasov throw to take the Ukrainian to the mat with a double-leg takedown. But the grappling skills of both men tended to even out the exchanges as the bout returned to the feet, with Ruth looking marginally the more comfortable in the early going.
Round 2 saw Amosov up the intensity and turn the fight in his favor as he worked his striking and connected with a string of left hands, while looking sharper in the grappling exchanges. With the fight back on track and with Amosov seemingly in his groove, the unbeaten contender maintained the upper hand for the remainder of the matchup as the bout went all the way to the scorecards.
All three judges saw it the same, as they gave Amosov two rounds to Ruth’s one for 29-28 scores on all three cards as the 26-year-old from Kiev extended his perfect professional record and pushed his claims for a shot at Douglas Lima’s welterweight title.
Check out all the facts and figures from Bellator 239, which took place Friday in Thackerville, Okla.
Bellator hosted its second event of the year on Friday with Bellator 239, which took place at WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Okla., with a main card that aired on Paramount following prelims on MMA Junkie.
In the main event, [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] (23-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) continued the longest MMA winning streak among Bellator fighters when he edged [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) by unanimous decision in the matchup of welterweight contenders.
For more on the numbers behind the card, check below for 25 post-event facts to come out of Bellator 239.
* * * *
General
Betting favorites went 3-1 on the main card.
Betting favorites improved to 2-0 in Bellator main events this year.
Total fight time for the four-bout main card was 47:35.
Main card
Amosov’s 23-fight winning streak in MMA competition is the longest among active Bellator fighters.
Amosov has earned three of his four Bellator victories by decision.
Ruth fell to 2-2 in his past four fights after starting his career 6-0.
Ruth fell to 3-2 since he dropped to the Bellator welterweight division in June 2018.
Ruth suffered the first decision loss of his career.
Myles Jury. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)
[autotag]Myles Jury[/autotag] (18-5 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) snapped his three-fight losing skid for his first victory since December 2017.
Jury improved to 1-1 since he returned to the lightweight division in September.
[autotag]Brandon Girtz[/autotag] (16-9 MMA, 8-7 BMMA) fell to 2-5 in his past seven Bellator appearances dating back to November 2016.
Girtz has suffered four of his seven Bellator losses by decision.
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[autotag]Timothy Johnson[/autotag] (13-6 MMA, 1-2 BMMA) has earned 10 of his 13 career victories by stoppage.
[autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMA) had his eight-fight winning streak snapped for the first defeat of his career.
[autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag]’s (9-1 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) four-fight Bellator winning streak at heavyweight is the second longest active streak in the division behind Tyrell Fortune (eight).
Moldavsky has earned three of his four Bellator victories by decision.
[autotag]Javy Ayala[/autotag] (11-8 MMA, 6-5 BMMA) fell to 3-5 in his past eight fights dating back to June 2015.
Preliminary card
[autotag]J.W. Kiser[/autotag] (5-3 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) suffered the first decision loss of his career.
[autotag]Gaston Bolanos[/autotag] (5-3 MMA, 5-3 BMMA) suffered the first decision loss of his career.
[autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag]’s (5-2 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) five victories in Bellator women’s flyweight competition are tied with Juliana Velasquez for second most in divisional history behind Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (10).
Kielholtz’s three-fight Bellator winning streak at women’s flyweight is the third longest active streak in the division behind Macfarlane (10) and Velasquez (five).
Kielholtz’s four stoppage victories in Bellator women’s flyweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Macfarlane (seven).
Kielholtz’s three submission victories in Bellator women’s flyweight competition are tied with Emily Ducote for second most in divisional history behind Macfarlane (six).
[autotag]Kristina Williams[/autotag] (3-3 MMA, 3-3 BMMA) suffered the first submission loss of her career.
[autotag]Shawn Bunch[/autotag] (9-5 MMA, 6-4 BMMA) fell to 2-2 since he returned to Bellator for a second stint in November 2018.
Yaroslav Amosov remained unbeaten and made a statement in the Bellator welterweight division.
THACKERVILLE, Okla. – In a battle of world-class sambo vs. world-class wrestling, sambo emerged victorious.
[autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] made a statement in Bellator’s deep welterweight division on Friday night by nothing one of his biggest career victories, as he won a battle of attrition over [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] in the main event of Bellator 239.
The judges’ scores were 29-28 across the board in favor of Amosov (23-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA).
A competitive first round was Ruth’s best. Amosov threw Ruth in the clinch, but Ruth (8-2 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) got back to his feet and took Amosov down with a double. The rest of the way Ruth got the better of things in a round mostly contested in the clinch.
Amosov dug down in round two, though, and turned the fight in his favor. He widely outstruck his opponent the rest of the way, finding a home in particular with crisp left hands, and got the better of the grappling game to boot, giving him the advantage everywhere the fight went. It was a rinse-and-repeat performance over the fight’s final 10 minutes as Amosov cemented the victory.
With his fifth career decision win, the Ukrainian Amosov improved to 5-0 in Bellator. Ruth, the former NCAA champion at Penn State, had a two-fight win streak snapped for his first career decision loss.
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The welterweight bout was the Bellator 239 main event at WinStar World Casino. The main card aired on Paramount and streamed on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.
Up-to-the-minute Bellator 239 results include:
Yaroslav Amosov def. Ed Ruth via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
