BELLATOR 187 REPORT
NOVEMBER 10, 2017
DUBLIN, IRELAND AT 3ARENA
ON SPIKE TV
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Bellator MMA traveled overseas to 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland for Bellator 187. The main event featured a featherweight bout between undefeated AJ McKee and Brian Moore. The co-main event featured Kevin “Baby Slice” Ferguson in a catchweight fight against Fred Freeman. This was Freeman’s second professional fight and promotional debut.
The main card included a women’s featherweight match-up between Sinead Kavanagh and Maria Casanova and Sergio de Jesus Santos vs. Paul Redmond.
Main Card
(1) John Remond (7-12) vs. Charlie Ward (3-3) – Middleweight 185 lbs.
ROUND ONE: Redmond pushes Ward to the cage but Ward is able to get the takedown with just over four minutes to go. Ward works to better his position and he postures and lands a few clean strikes. With just three minutes left Redmond gets back to his feet. They clinch against the cage again and both land knees in the clinch. They continue to trade elbows, punches and knees on the fence. Redmond lands a nice knee with ten seconds to go, but Ward comes back and lands a huge left hook that knocks Redmond out and Goddard steps in and stops it just before the end of the round.
Afterwards Conor McGregor jumped in to the cage to celebrate Ward’s win and ends up getting into an altercation with referee Goddard. You can read more on this here.
Result: Charlie Ward over John Redmond by Knockout (4:59 of Round 1)
Grocke’s Point of View: I have a lot to say about the ridiculousness that is Conor McGregor in another post. Nonetheless, a nice win for Charlie Ward.
(2) Kevin Ferguson Jr. (1-1) vs. Fred Freeman (1-0) – Catchweight 170 lbs.
ROUND ONE: Ferguson takes center cage. Both fighters come out and trade kicks. Ferguson closes the distance and gets Freeman down. Ferguson works from on top and landed a left hand. As Freeman tries to get to his he turned his back, gave up his neck and Ferguson locked in a rear naked choke. Freeman tapped quickly.
Result: Kevin Ferguson over Fred Freeman by Submission – Rear Naked Choke (1:47 of Round 1)
Grocke’s Point of View: Ferguson looked really good. He has now won his last two after losing his debut. He is getting better with each fight.
(3) Sinead Kavanagh (4-2) vs. Maria Casanova (2-5-1) – Featherweight 145 lbs.
ROUND ONE: Kavanagh takes center and lands a stiff jab to start the fight. Casanova circles right and gets knocked down by a big right hand. Kavanagh pounces and got full mount. After some heavy ground and pound ref Goddard steps in and stops it.
Result: Sinead Kavanagh over Maria Casanova by TKO (o:34 of Round 1)
Grocke’s Point of View: The size and weight difference was noticeable. A big right hand followed by heavy shots from full mount was too much for Casanova. Too bad Kavanagh didn’t make weight.
(4) AJ McKee (9-0) vs. Brian Moore (10-5) – Featherweight 145 lbs.
ROUND ONE: McKee lands two quick jabs to start. I left hook drops Moore but he recovers quickly and is back to his feet with 4:18 to go. A nice right to the body followed by a left lands flush for Moore. McKee comes back with a left hand of his own. At 2:50 Moore works in the clinch with knees and punches. McKee gets a standing guillotine locked in but Moore slips out. Back at center with 1:45 left. Two big right hands landed flush for Moore and McKee shoots but Moore sprawls nicely. With just under a minute to go McKee is opened up and he pushes Moore against the cage and that’s how the round ended.
ROUND TWO: Moore takes center. McKee just misses with a head kick seconds into the round. Moore lands a nice right hand. Moore is doing a nice job cutting off the cage and staying in McKee’s face. McKee’s pace has definitely slowed halfway through the round. McKee shoots but is stuffed. He just misses with a spinning back fist. They trade punches with 2:20 to go. Moore has McKee up against the cage but McKee lands on top. McKee lands some big shots as Moore works back to his feet. Moore is keeping the pressure on McKee, but McKee’s speed is helping him stay out of trouble. They trade punches with Moore getting the better of the exchange as the round ended.
ROUND THREE: Moore comes out and takes center and keeps the pressure on. McKee catches him with stifff combination that drops Moore ten seconds in. McKee moves around the legs of Moore and takes the back. He has one hook in and has a rear naked choke. Moore goes out and this is over.
Result: AJ McKee over Brian Moore by Submission – Rear Naked Choke (0:42 of Round 3)
Grocke’s Point of View: McKee was challenged and pushed in the fight. He was cut open pretty good but persevered. He should get the winner Weichel -Pitbull.
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