BELLATOR 182 LIVE REPORT
AUGUST 25, 2017
VERONA, NEW YORK AT THE TURNING STONE CASINO AND RESORT
ON BELLATOR.COM AND SPIKE TV
Bellator is back after an extended break with Bellator 182. The event takes place at the Turning Stone Casino and Resort in Verona, New York. The main event features the return of Andrey Koreshkov. The Russian steps back into the Bellator cage for the first time since losing his welterweight title to Jose Lima. He’ll take on Chidi Njokuani with the winner of the fight possibly getting the next fight against Lima.
The co-main event should be a good when Brennan Ward faces off with Fernando Gonzalez. The four-fight main card rounds out with AJ McKee taking on Blair Tugman and Veta Arteaga vs. Bruna Ellen.
Check out my preview and predictions here.
Prelims
Justin Roswell (1-1) vs. Joey Davis (1-0) – Welterweight 170 lbs.
Result: Joey Davis over Justin Roswell by TKO ( of Round 1)
Arlene Blencowe (9-6) vs. Sinead Kavanagh (4-1) – Featherweight 145 lbs.
Result: Arlene Blencowe over Sinead Kavanagh by Split Decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
Chris Honeycutt (9-1) vs. Kevin Casey (9-5-2) – Middleweight 185 lbs.
Result: Chris Honeycutt over Kevin Casey by TKO (2:06 of Round 2)
Colleen Schneider (11-7) vs. Kate Jackson (8-2-1) – Flyweight 125 lbs.
Result: Kate Jackson over Colleen Schneider by TKO – Doctor’s Stoppage (5:00 of Round 1)
Georgi Karakhanyan (26-7-1) vs. Daniel Pineda (22-12) – Featherweight 145 lbs.
Result: Georgi Karakhanyan over Daniel Pineda by TKO – Doctor’s Stoppage (4:05 of Round 2)
Noad Lahat (11-2) vs. Henry Corrales (13-3) – Bantamweight 145 lbs.
Result: Henry Corrales over Noad Lahat by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Vadim Nemkov (7-2) vs. Philipe Lins (10-2) – Light Heavyweight 205 lbs.
Result: Vadim Nemko over Philipe Lins by Knockout (3:03 of Round 1)
Amanda Bell (5-4) vs. Talita Nogueira (6-0) – Featherweight 145 lbs.
Result: Talita Nogueira over Amanda Bell by Submission – Rear Naked Choke (3:44 of Round 1)
Marc Stevens (21-9) vs. Ricky Rainey (12-4) – Welterweight 170 lbs.
Result: Ricky Rainey over Marc Stevens by Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
Main Card
AJ McKee (8-0) vs. Blair Tugman (9-6) – Featherweight 145 lbs.
ROUND ONE: McKee comes out switching stances early and lands a heavy leg kick early. At 3:45 Tugman shoots in and is stuffed by McKee. McKee has a front headlock but at 2:40 Tugman fights his way out and they stand att center cage with 2:40 to go. The fight remains on the feet for the next minute until McKee lands a take down with 1:30 to go. McKee works from on top, but Tugman gets back to his feet with just under a minute left in the round. They fought from center cage for the remainder of the round with neither fighter landing anything of significance.
10-9 McKee
ROUND TWO: Nice spinning kick to the body from McKee 15 seconds in. McKee looks to be getting Tugman’s timing down as he starts to land more kicks. At 3:30 they stand at center cage. Both fighters look to land with punches but Tugman can’t seem to get his range. McKee is using his kicks very well to maintain range. At the two minute mark Tugman continues to have difficulty getting his offense going. With a minute to go Tugman runs McKee to the fence and just holds him there while trying to look active. The round ends with McKee fending off Tugman’s punnches.
10-9 McKee
ROUND THREE: They touch gloves to start the last round. McKee comes out and continues to throw plenty of kicks. Tugman has struggled all fight to get inside. McKee pushes Tugman to the fence with 3:45 to go. Tugman reverses position with 3:14 left and McKee spins out. McKee goes for a take down but Tugman sprawls nicely. Tugman goes for a guillotine with two minutes left as bleeds all over the mat. McKee slips out with 1:22 to go and now works from top position. Heavy ground and pound from McKee as he slips past the guard. Tugman attempts a last second arm bar but McKee peppers Tugman’s face with right hands. The round ends with Tugman absorbing more punishment.
10-9 McKee
Result: AJ McKee over Blair Tugman by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
Grocke’s Viewpoint: McKee thinks he broke his left hand during the fight. He calls out James Gallagher and says America runs the octagon. He tells Floyd to, “Get that baby!” McKee vs. Gallagher would be a huge fight and a fight I don’t know who would win. In any case, it’s a fight I would love to see.
Veta Arteaga (3-1) vs. Bruna Ellen (3-1) – Flyweight 125 lbs.
ROUND ONE: Arteaga comes out and presses Ellen to start. Ellen tries to counter. Arteaga is following Ellen around the cage looking to engage. Ellen tries to counter while back pedaling. At 3:20 they trade at center cage. Neither fighter landing much on the feet. With two minutes to go Ellen pushes Arteaga to the fence but Arteaga pushes her off. Ellen clinches again with 1:15 left in the round but Arteaga lands with knnes. Back to center with 30 seconds left and Ellen scores with a take down. The round ends with Bruna Ellen on top.
10-9 Ellen
ROUND TWO: Arteaga starts the second the same as the first. She pressures Ellen to start but Ellen pushes Arteaga to the fence and holds her there while trying to land punches. They continue in the clinch until the 3:00 minute and finally Arteaga escapes. Ellen lands a take down. Arteaga reverses position with 2:03 left in the round. Arteaga looks to land ground and pound from on top, but Ellen is defending well. With under a minute to go Arteaga lands ground and pound. The round ends successfully for Arteaga as she finishes the round on top.
10-9 Arteaga
ROUND THREE: Arteaga comes out and applies the pressure. She catches Ellen with a punch that looks to stun Ellen. Arteaga runs Ellen to the fence but Ellen seems too have her wits about her and reverses Arteaga against the fence. They separate and stand at center cage. Arteaga continues to stalk Ellen down, but Ellen lands a big take down with 1:40 to go in the fight. Ellen works from top position with a minute to go in the fight. Ellen stands up and lets Arteaga up with 30 seconds to go. Ellen lands two nice knees with 15 seconds to go. Both fighters continue throwing punches at each other until the final bell.
10-9 Ellen
Result: Bruna Ellen over Veta Arteaga by Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Fernando Gonzalez (26-14) vs. Brennan Ward (15-5) – Catchweight 178 lbs.
ROUND ONE: Gonzalez comes out in the Southpaw stance. Ward lands a take down forty seconds into the fight. Ward works from top position, but Gonzalez is able to get back to his feet. They stand at center with under four minutes to go. Ward stalks Gonzalez around the cage. Ward lands another take down at the two minute mark, but again Gonzalez is up quickly. They fight from center with neither fighter getting the upper hand. Ward lands a heavy jab as Gonzalez goes to the body with a kick. With under a minute left they circle each other. This continues for the remainder of the round with neither guy doing any damage.
10-9 Ward
ROUND TWO: Ward comes out and pressures Gonzalez early and lands a nice elbow over the top. A minute in Ward lands a take down. Gonzalez scrambles back to his feet without suffering any damage. They fight on the feet at center cage with just under three minutes left. Ward peppers Gonzalez with jabs and seems to be getting his offense going. Gonzalez throws a combination but Ward brushes it off. With a minute to go Ward is the more active fighter and lands another take down. Gonzalez is able to get back to his feet just as the round ends. Ward blows an opportunity to inflict damage. Ward keeps getting take downs, but he can’t keep Gonzalez down.
10-9 Ward
ROUND THREE: This is the first time Brennan Ward has been to the third round in a Bellator cage. Gonzalez looks to pick up the pace in the third. Ward lands another take down but lands in Gonzalez’s guillotine. Ward is in trouble here and he taps.
Result: Fernando Gonzalez over Brennan Ward by Submission – Guillotine Choke (1:02 of Round 3)
Grocke’s Viewpoint: Ward kept getting the take down but each time Gonzalez was close to catching him in a guillotine. He finally got it on that last take down. Ward was up two rounds to none and can’t be happy with this. He had the fight won. Gonzalez needed the finish to win and he got it. Kudos to him. Ward will never fight for a championship due to poor fighter IQ.
Chidi Njokuani (17-4) vs. Andrey Koreshkov (19-2) – Welterweight 170 lbs.
ROUND ONE: Koreshkov lands a heavy leg to open the fight. Koreshkov the aggressor and runs Chidi to the fence. He takes Chidi down at the 3:43 mark but Njokuani is up quickly. They go back to the cinch and KKoreshkov lands a big spinning back fist that staggers Njokuani. Koreshkov tries to follow with a head kick but misses. With 2:236 to go Chidi looks to have his senses and they square off at center cage. Koreshkov lands a flying knee at the 2:23 mark and follows with a take down. With two minutes left in the round Koreshkov lands heavy ground and pound from top position. Njokuani is able to kick Koreshkov off and get back to his feet with 1:48 left. Koreshkov keeps Chidi pinned to the fence and takes him down. Big ground and pound from from Koreshkov and Njokuani covers and isn’t fighting back. ore ground and pound and Big John is forced to stop the fight. Njokuani just covered up forcing Big John to end it.
Result: Andrey Koreshkov over Chidi Njokuani by TKO (4:08 of Round 1)
Grocke’s Viewpoint: Wow, that was an impressive performance from Andrey Koreshkov. Chidi Njokuani was an up and coming contender and Koreshkov just had his way with him. Call me crazy but I still think Koreshkov is the best welterweight in Bellator. This win should set up for a third fight between Koreshkov and Lima.
That will do it for me, thanks for following along. Follow me on Twitter @FightChampBlog and catch my columns here at mmatorch.com. If you’re the type that likes to wager on MMA, follow my work at thefightingchampion.com
Leave a Reply