Some undefeated records were snapped and some surprises were to be in store for us last night at Bellator 102 in California.
It was a lackluster debut for former UFC fighter Lavar Johnson in his quest to the the heavyweight tournament finale. He was touted as the dominant striker going into this fight but it was his opponent, Vinicius Queiroz, that struck first. Queiroz dropped Johnson with a big right hand and followed it up with some lefts that had the referee calling the fight off. Johnson protested but he was on queer street before being woke up with the final few shots.
Cheick Kongo also advanced to the heavyweight finals and will meet Queiroz. Kongo scored a second round TKO.
Brennan Ward was able to put away late minute replacement fighter Joe Pacheco. Pacheco was undefeated but succumbed to a second round rear naked choke.
It wasn’t meant to be for undefeated Jason Butcher last night as he looked to climb into the Bellator Season 9 middleweight tournament finals. He was never able to put things together as Danish striker Mikkel Parlo took it to him enroute to a unanimous decision victory. Butcher suffered the first loss of his professional career and now sits at 7-1.
- Cheick Kongo def. Mark Godbeer via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 2:04
- Vinicius Queiroz def. Lavar Johnson via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 0:23
- Anthony Leone vs. Rafael “Morcego” Silva unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – Summer Series bantamweight tournament final
- Mikkel Parlo def. Jason Butcher via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Brennan Ward def. Joe Pacheco via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 2:41
- Scott Cleve def. Isaac DeJesus via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:14
- Javy Ayala def. Thiago “Big Monster” Santos via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 5:00
- Brandon Girtz def. Poppies Martinez via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 1:20
- Stephen Martinez def. Bryan Travers via technical submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 0:56
- Cain Carrizosa def. Juan Quesada via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2, 4:51
- Brandon Cash def. William Richey via TKO (exhaustion) – Round 2, 5:00