Bellator 219
March 29, 2019
Temecula, CA from Pechanga Resort & Casino
Live on Paramount Network and DAZN (9 PM ET)
Undercard:
Dalton Rosta def. Cod Vidal via TKO (Injury) Round 1, 1:04 (Light-heavyweight)
Joey Davis def. Marcus Anthony via KO (Punches) Round 1, 4:21 (Welterweight)
Main Card
Joe Schilling def. Keith Berry via Unanimous Decision (Middleweight)
Andrei Koreshkov vs. Mike Jasper (Welterweight/170)
Round 1: Jasper is game early on, but he isn’t landing nearly as much as he is throwing. Koreshkov opens up with a spinning wheel kick but slips. Jasper tries to capitalize but can’t make much happen. Koreshkov secures an under hook and forces the fight against the fence. Jasper is just a bit slower to the punch in all of these exchanges, but he isn’t really being outclassed by the former World Champion. (10-9 Koreshkov)
Round 2: Koreshkov continues to be just one step ahead of Jasper. Jasper is attempting to pressure him but Koreshkov is starting to have some success with his jab. Lots of defense so far by Koreshkov, Jasper just can’t seem to land. Koreshkov isn’t as aggressive as you’d like to see. He’s mostly just reacting to combinations. Koreshkov connects with a jab to the body to back Jasper up a bit. Koreshkov connects with a right straight and Jasper is hurt! Koreshkov completes a takedown and Jasper is down. Jasper recovers a half guard as Koreshkov lands shots from above. (10-9 Koreshkov) This is the sort of fight where we are seeing Koreshkov do just enough to win. This is a high risk, low reward bout for him and it seems like he is mostly interested in making sure he leaves with a win regardless of the way that he achieves it.
Round 3: Koreshkov opens up with a kick to the midsection. Jasper is rushing in and out with hooks, but he isn’t landing and Koreshkov is making him pay with jabs and low kicks. Koreshkov secures an under hook and forces Jasper against the fence. He’s looking for a takedown with just under three minutes left in the round. Koreshkov completes the takedown and Jasper is down. Jasper is back on his feet but Koreshkov takes him right back down. Jasper is working to get back to his feet and he certainly will need a finish if he wants a win here. Koreshkov takes him down again with thirty seconds left in the fight. (10-9 Koreshkov) (30-27 Koreshkov)
Result: Andrey Koreshkov def. Mike Jasper via Unanimous Decision
Analysis: Koreshkov seemed to fight down to Jasper’s level at times but it was a well-rounded performance none the less. He was quicker and more technical and after a while Jasper just couldn’t keep up.
Daniel Straus vs. Shane Kruchten (Featherweight/145)
Round 1: This is the first fight for Straus since he was involved in a very serious motorcycle wreck over a year ago. Kruchten secures an under hook and briefly moves the fight against the fence. Straus counters with a trip takedown but both fighters are back on their feet. Straus lands a left hand and Kruchten is down! Straus takes the back with two hooks in and immediately secures a rear naked choke! This fight is over!
Result: Daniel Straus def. Shane Kruchten via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) Round 1, 3:53
Analysis: Straus seemed a bit tentative at first but the left hand that he stunned Kruchten with was money. Kruchten never recovered from the shot and once Straus took his back it was all over.
Brandon Girtz vs. Saad Awad (Lightweight/155)
Round 1: Girtz scores with a takedown right out of the gate. He moves right into side control but Awad pops right back up. Awad is throwing some hard shots but Girtz closes the distance and lands a nice right hook as he does so. Awad is bleeding near his left eye no doubt from one of those hooks landed by Girtz. Awad rushes forward and connects with a left hook. Girtz moves in with a hook to the body and then another to the head. He’s moving in, landing, and then bailing before Awad can react. Awad is having success when he throws front kicks right up the middle. He’s landed it two or three times and Girtz doesn’t seem to be making any adjustments. (10-9 Girtz)
Round 2: Girtz connects with a shot and Awad moves in for a takedown after eating it. He can’t complete it, but it kept Girtz from landing any follow up shots. Girtz connects with a big left hook! Awad seems like he might be slowing down a bit. Girtz is just constantly moving. Girtz connects with another nice right hook. Awad returns a straight right down the center and then a big knee! Awad throws up a high kick in the final seconds but slips and Girtz jumps on him, landing a few shots before the bell sounds. (10-9 Girtz)
Round 3: Girtz connects with a left hook to get things started. He connects again with a stiff shot to the body! Awad moves forward and eats a stiff kick to the midsection! Awad drops for a takedown but Girtz sprawls and he is landing some vicious shots from the top! Awad explodes out of the position but only briefly before Girtz regains control. Awad scrambles and gets back to his feet with just over a minute left in the round. They’re trading in the final seconds of the fight! Awad seems to be the much fresher man but Girtz is surviving. Awad connects with a straight but Girtz returns a counter right hand as the fight ends! (10-9 Girtz) (30-27 Girtz)
Result: Brandon Girtz def. Saad Awad via Unanimous Decision
Analysis: Good back and forth fight. Both of these guys are long time Bellator vets and with this win Girtz is now one step closer to getting his first crack at the championship.
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