By: Frank Hyden, MMATorch Senior Columnist
Bellator 259 and UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt were this weekend. Let’s get right to the rundown.
Bellator 259
GOOD- Jaleel Willis vs. Maycon Mendonca
Willis got three takedowns in the first round. Mendonca landed some big shots in the second round but Willis won the round with two late takedowns. They traded strikes in a close third round, but Willis won the decision. Good win for Willis.
GOOD- Hannah Guy vs. Valerie Loureda
Guy dropped Loureda in the first round but it was a close round. The fight went to the ground in the second round and Guy pummeled Loureda with some good ground-and-pound. Guy kept going after submissions and took the round. The third round was also very close, but Guy got the nod from the judges and won the decision. Good win for Guy.
GOOD- Austin Vanderford vs. Fabian Edwards
Vanderford got a couple takedowns in the first round. Vanderford got a few more takedowns in the second and third rounds and worked his wrestling effectively. Edwards didn’t have much of a shot in this fight. Vanderford won the decision, good win for him.
GOOD- Darrion Caldwell vs. Leandro Higo
Caldwell got a takedown in the first round and cut Higo. He maintained control and also dropped some good hammerfists to Higo. The second round slowed way down, with not a lot of action. Caldwell was blown up and Higo was able to take advantage. It wasn’t exactly a great fight but Higo did more, and got the decision victory for it. Good win for Higo.
GOOD- Cris Cyborg stops Leslie Smith
This was for Cyborg’s Bellator Featherweight Title. Cyborg came out on fire and pummeled Smith, who took the punishment and kept coming. Cyborg kept beating her up but Smith showed great toughness and tenacity. Cyborg could have gone into cruise control in the fifth round as she had clearly won the previous four rounds and had done a lot of damage to Smith. However, Cyborg poured it on and finally finished her with less than ten seconds left in the fifth round. Great stuff by Cyborg and amazing toughness from Smith. Good win for Cyborg, who called out Cat Zingano for her next fight.
UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt
GOOD- Jack Hermansson vs. Edmen Shahbazyan
Lots of jabs in this one, though they were plenty of other strikes as well. They both did some good damage to the other, but Hermansson got the decision victory from the judges. Good win for him.
GOOD- Ricardo Ramos vs. Bill Algeo
This was a really close fight that likely came down to a takedown here or a flurry there. Ramos won the decision, though as I watched it I kind of thought Algeo would win. Regardless, good win for Ramos.
GOOD- Felicia Spencer vs. Norma Dumont
This was another close fight between two closely matched fighters, so I’m trying to not be too casual but all these decisions are making me a little restless. Dumont won by split decision, good win for her.
GOOD- Justin Tafa vs. Jared Vanderaa
Yet another decision and I’m really trying here. To be fair, Tafa did get cut open in the second round and was bleeding like a stuck pig so that was kind of an attention-getter. They traded lots of strikes, with Vandereaa getting the decision victory. Good win for him.
GOOD- Carla Esparza stops Yan Xiaonon
Esparza got an early takedown in the first round and unloaded on Yan, busting her open. Esparza went back to work in the second round and got Yan in a crucifix and battered her with punches until the referee jumped in. Good win for Esparza.
GOOD- Rob Font vs. Cody Garbrandt
Back to the decisions. Though again, I’ll say that there was some good action in this fight. Font peppered Garbrandt all throughout the fight, though Garbrandt was too tough to be stopped. Font fired away with heavy shots but Garbrandt took them and kept coming. Font won the decision, good win for him.
Comments and suggestions can be emailed to me at hydenfrank@gmail.com and you can follow me on Twitter at @hydenfrank
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