BELLATOR 137: Halsey vs Grove - Review and Results

Bellator 137

Bellator 137 featured Brandon Halsey and Kendall Grove as the main event in their return to Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California. The bout which was supposed to be for Halsey's middleweight title, but he was stripped of the belt for missing weight. If Grove had won he would have won the belt in the process but that’s not what happened, Halsey won yet lost the belt. In the co-main event, former bantamweight champion Eduardo Dantas Defeated Knockout artist Mike Richman, who also missed weight. The fight was first scraped from the card then was announced to go as scheduled after negotiations between both the fighters & their camps.

The full Bellator 137 Review and Results are as follows:-

Main CARD (Spike TV):

Halsey beat Grove

Brandon Halsey def. Kendall Grove by TKO (strikes), 2:25 of round 4

In the main event of the evening Halsey, who missed weight for his first title defense imposed his wrestling against the UFC veteran in the first round, almost finishing the fight with an arm-triangle choke in the first minute. Halsey started to fade after the first round, but still utterly dominated Grove with takedowns and ground and pound throughout the fight. In Second and third round Halsey again control Grove with his wrestling. Halsey pushed the pace in the fourth round, rocked Grove with two hard shots before getting the takedown and started pouring heavy ground and pound until the bout was mercifully stopped. Halsey won the fight but lost his title for missing the weight.

Dantas beat Richman

Eduardo Dantas def. Mike Richman by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

In the co-main event, former bantamweight champion Eduardo Dantas battled powerful American striker Mike Richman, who missed weight & fight was off initially then back on after negotiations between the fighters. Dantas started strong and worked a takedown game for most of the first round. He clearly won the opening round with three takedowns, but Richman controlled the action in the second, tying the score after stopping Dantas single leg takedown attempts. A cut was opened over Dantas eye, and that got a lot bigger by the third. The third round was the closest of the three, but Dantas was finally able to secure a takedown after landing a spinning back fist, Dantas controlled Richman on the mat long enough to take the round and the fight via unanimous decision.

Gonzalez emerged victorious against Millender

Fernando Gonzalez def. Curtis Millender by submission (guillotine choke), 1:00 of round 3

Fernando Gonzalez continued his impressive run, by stopping a much bigger opponent in Curtis Millender in the third round. Millender tried to control the distance by using a jab and oblique kick, but was getting caught with winging left hooks of Gonzalez. The first round was close, with Millender probably winning the second. The former Strikeforce and WEC fighter, who defeated MMA veterans Karl Amoussou, Karo Parisyan and Marius Zaromskis in his first three Bellator bouts, after initially giving up on it, finally choked out Millender with a guillotine in the third & made him his fourth victim.

Darrion Caldwell

Darrion Caldwell def. Rafael Silva by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

In the main card’s opener, former NCAA champion Darrion Caldwell took a page from Joe warren to defeated longtime Brazilian veteran Rafael Silva. As predicted this fight ended up being a wrestling fest. Caldwell controlled the distance well and didn't let Silva engage on the feet. Caldwell reversed an ankle lock attempt in the first round to stay on top and work on the ground and pound. Silva came back strong in the second round, Silva had a few chances with heel hooks but Caldwell never looked in danger. Caldwell used his wrestling & top control in the third and win a unanimous decision.

PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike.com)

• Virgil Zwicker def. Razak Al-Hassan by KO (punch), 3:51 of round 1
• Joe Taimanglo def. Antonio Duarte by KO (punch) 1:00 of round 3
• Jordan Parsons def. Julio Cesar Neves Jr. by Submission (arm-triangle choke), 4:09 of round 3
• Ricky Rainey def. Jesse Juarez by KO (knee), 1:13 of round 2