The Bellator
MMA lightweight championship was on the line in the main event
of
Bellator San Diego.
Usman
Nurmagomedov put his undefeated record and title on the line
against No. 1 contender Alexandr
Shabliy. „Peresvet“ proved tricky at first as Shabliy (24-4)
was able to find a home for his quick right hand. However,
Nurmagomedov (18-0, 1 NC) was the more active fighter and would
sprinkle in the occasional takedown attempt to pull clearly ahead
in the fight in the second and third rounds. The championship
rounds would see Nurmagomedov continue controlling the fight, even
hurting the challenger with a head kick in Round 4.
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After five rounds of action, Nurmagomedov’s hand was raised after
scores of 50-45, 49-46 and 49-46 were read.
Larkin Smashes Chokheli
The co-main event saw the 38-year-old Lorenz
Larkin take on Levan
Chokheli, who was 11 years his junior. „The Monsoon“ lived up to his nickname and showed that age is only
a number by scoring a quick knockout. Larkin (27-8, 2 NC) became
the number one contender at welterweight by hurting the Georgian
fighter with a right hand. Larkin kept up the pressure and put
Chokheli (13-3, 1 NC)
out cold with follow-up punches.
The stoppage officially came just 1:53 into the first round.
Jeffery’s Takedowns Stifle Lima
Former welterweight champion Douglas
Lima looked to earn a middleweight title fight by dispatching
Aaron
Jeffery.
However, it was Jeffery (15-5) who came out aggressive and
immediately took Lima (33-12) to the ground and easily won the
opening round. „The Phenom“ would scare the Canadian early in the
second fame, though, landing some solid punches before the two went
into a stalemate in the clinch. It all came down to the final five
minutes, which saw Jeffery get a takedown and dominate with
unanswered punches.
After 15 minutes of action, Jeffery earned three 29-28 scorecards
giving him a unanimous decision win.
Inaba Outworks Stiller
Women’s flyweight contender Sumiko
Inaba impressed against the formerly undefeated Mackenzie
Stiller.
The opening frame showed that Inaba (8-1) was much more confident
on the feet. Stiller (3-1) didn’t take well to getting hit in the
face, which led to „Lady Samurai“ upping the pressure. After
surviving a brief armbar attempt by Stiller, Inaba was able to
pick up a TKO win with an onslaught of punches.
The TKO stoppage officially came at 4:25 of Round 2.
Ayvazyan Outgrapples Medeiros
The Bellator San Diego main card kicked off with a lightweight bout
between fan-favorite Yancy
Medeiros and promising prospect Zhora
Ayvazyan.
Ayvazyan proved that he had a grappling advantage early on and
managed to largely control Medeiros (16-9, 2 NC) on the ground to
secure the first round. While the 37-year-old „The Kid“ was game
throughout, the Armenian fighter was dominant on the ground and on
the feet over the final 10 minutes. This led to Ayvazyan taking a
unanimous decision victory with a trio of 30-27 scorecards in his
favor
Ayvazyan now holds an impressive 15-1 record as a professional at
just 29.
Bellator San Diego Prelim Results:
In preliminary action, middleweight prospect Jordan
Newman (7-0) put the first blemish on the record of Imamshafi
Aliev (9-1) by winning a unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27,
30-27); Masayuki
Kikuiri (10-2-1) put away fellow welterweight Herman
Terrado (15-7-1) with
a brutal body kick at the 2:54 mark of the third round;
Bryce
Meredith (7-0) stayed an undefeated bantamweight prospect by
putting Jonathan
Macalolooy (4-2)
to sleep with a rear-naked choke at 3:15 of Round 1; Josh Hokit
(2-0)
used an armbar to submit heavyweight opponent Sean Rose
(2-3) with just two seconds left in the first round; and Ashley
Thiner (1-0) picked up the first win of her career at
strawweight by finishing Aysia
Cortez (0-1) with
a barrage of punches at 3:11 of Round 2.