Bellator 214
January 26, 2019
Los Angeles, CA from The Forum
Live on Paramount Network and DAZN (9 PM ET)
Undercard Quick Results
Thor Skancke def. Jesse Merrit via submission (north-south choke) – Round 1, 4:26
Jesse Roberts def. A.J. Agazarm via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Weber Almeida def. Odan Chinchilla via TKO (punch) – Round 1, 3:04
Art Rivas def. Sean Johnson via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 4:30
Jay Jay Wilson def. Tyler Beneke via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:31
Ryan Lilley def. James Barnes via knockout (head kick) – Round 1, 1:30
Craig Plaskett def. Ian Butler via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Desmond Torres def. Steve Ramirez via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 1, 4:21
Bellator 214 Main Card
Brandon McMahan vs. Adel Altamimi (Featherweight/145)
Round 1: Altamimi connects early with a high kick but McMahan takes it in order to secure a body lock. McMahan is looking for a takedown and gets it. Altamimi has the arm though and McMahan is in trouble here! McMahan taps and its over! Altamimi initially had a kimura but as McMahan attempted to escape, he rolled right into the armbar. Great stuff by Adel Altamimi
Result: Adel Altamimi def. Brandon McMahan via Submission (Armbar) Round 1, 1:16
Analysis: If you don’t know Adel Altamimi’s story I suggest you check it out. He was working in Iraq as a contractor for the U.S. when he was captured by Al-Qaeda. He was saved by U.S. Marines just seconds before his execution and just moments after he witnessed the execution of his brother and friend. After all of that he can now call himself a successful MMA fighter as well. He called Chris Pratt into the cage for his post-fight speech. Bellator is starting to remind me of WCW with the celebrity appearances.
Juan Archuleta vs. Ricky Bandejas (Bantamweight/135)
Round 1: Archuleta catches a kick early and takes Bandejas down to the mat. Bandejas is up but Archuleta is staying on him. Bandejas scores with a kick to the body. Both guys are using lots of movement. Archuleta is pressuring Bandejas against the fence. Bandejas connects with a high kick and Archuleta certainly felt it. Archuleta moves in for a takedown but Bandejas avoids it. Archuleta moves in for another takedown and completes it. Bandejas connected with a knee but it was enough to stop the takedown. (10-9 Archuleta)
Round 2: Archuleta connects with a right hook to the body and just misses with the follow up left hook. Bandejas is using his kicks well and they’re giving Archuleta reason to pause. Archuleta secures a body lock and he’s looking to take this fight down but Bandejas is keeping up with some help from the fence. Archuleta is starting to have a harder time closing the distance. Bandejas is making him work for everything. Bandejas is cutting Archuleta off but he isn’t landing anything. Lots of movement in this fight but the strikes have been minimal. Archuleta secures a body lock and he’s looking for a takedown. We see some nice defense by Bandejas though and he will get to the bell. Tough round to score. (10-9 Bandejas)
Round 3: Archuleta opens up with a 1,2 Headkick but Bandejas avoids the brunt of it. Archuleta closes the distance and forces the fight against the cage. He’s having a hard time making anything happen from there though. Bandejas separates and cracks Archuleta with a hard knee! Archuleta moves in an scores with a nice takedown! Bandejas is back on his feet but Archuleta is staying on him and he still has a body lock. Again, though Bandejas separates from the clinch. He’s shown some very good grappling defense tonight. (10-9 Archuleta) (29-28 Archuleta)
Result: Juan Archuleta def. Ricky Bandejas via Unanimous Decision
Analysis: It was a bit of a hectic fight, but it was still fun. Juan Archuleta was obviously having a rough time dealing with the size advantage that Ricky Bandejas had but he still managed to get inside enough to win a close fight. Neither guy really seemed to ever get out of second gear, but it could have been that they were just cancelling each other out. As for Bandejas he has proven that he isn’t just a one hit wonder after his KO win over James Gallagher. Despite a loss here tonight he gave a tough fight to one of the top contenders in the bantamweight division.
Jake Hager vs. J.W. Kiser (Heavyweight/265)
Round 1: Jake Hager is perhaps better known as Jack Swagger of WWE fame. He does have a collegiate wrestling background though, so he does have some skills. Kiser lands a right hand early, but Hager takes it and scores with a takedown. Hager is now working from the top position. Kiser has a half guard but he’s not doing anything to get up. Hager is threatening with a kimura, but Kiser doesn’t appear to be in much danger. Hager is starting to soften Kiser up with elbows and he’s looking to set up an arm-triangle! Kiser taps and its over! Nice debut for Jake Hager!
Result: Jake Hager def. J.W. Kiser via Submission (Arm-Triangle) Round 1, 2:09
Analysis: Jake Hager looked pretty good for a guy making his MMA debut. He moved in and ate a big right hand early in the fight but from there it was all him. He took Kiser down and showed some good grappling ability as well as some good ground and pound. He is certainly an interesting prospect and his next fight will probably be even more anticipated than this one.
Aaron Pico vs. Henry Corrales (Featherweight/145)
Round 1: They’re exchanging early. Pico connects with a left hook but misses with the follow up! Pico stuns Corrales with an uppercut and he’s down! Corrales scores to the body! They’re clinching and trading shots to the body! Corrales lands with a right hook and Aaron Pico is out cold! Corrales lands two more shots on the ground but Pico was out on his feet! Wow!
Result: Henry Corrales def. Aaron Pico via KO (Punch) Round 1, 1:09
Analysis: Aaron Pico might have a problem…His chin has cost him two of his first six fights if you want to keep things simple. If you want to go deeper, you could argue that Pico’s aggression is what is really costing him in these losses, but I guess these are just growing pains for a young fighter. As for Henry Corrales I would say this is the biggest win of his career and he looked great in earning it.
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Ryan Bader for Bellator Heavyweight Championship and Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix Championship
*Ryan Bader is currently the Bellator Light-heavyweight Championship and will be looking to become the first simultaneous two division champion in company history.
Round 1: Bader connects with a big left hook and Fedor is down! Bader lands a right hand on the mat and a couple of hammer fists and this fight is over! Wow! That was a huge leading left hook and Fedor just never saw it coming! He was out once he hit the mat, but Bader still landed a few finishing strikes before the ref could step in.
Result: Ryan Bader def. Fedor Emelianenko via KO (Punches) Round 1, 0:35
Analysis: Once Bader connected it was pretty much over. It’s a shame to see Fedor lose like that but it’s the way the sport goes. Post-fight, Bader stated that he would discuss his future with Bellator but hoped to defend both belts going forward. Obviously, the topic of conversation going forward will probably be what the future holds for Fedor. That’s something that we will likely discuss this week on MMATorch, so I encourage you to check the site through out the week for the fallout from Bellator 214. Thanks for joining MMATorch for coverage of this event and we will be back in February with UFC Fight Night: Morales vs. Assuncao II
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