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Bellator's first offering of 2019 is in the books, and it was epic from start to finish. Former WWE Superstar, Jack Swagger's MMA debut, the explosive Heavyweight Grand Prix final, and a host of upsets were the biggest highlights of the Bellator 214 card.
Lets not waste any more time and jump right into the results:
Bellator 214 prelims quick results
* Thor Skancke def. Jesse Merritt via submission (North-South Choke) (4:26, Round 1)
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* Jesse Roberts def. A.J. Agazarm via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
* Weber Almeida def. Odan Chinchilla via TKO (punch) (3:04, Round 1)
* Art Rivas def. Sean Johnson via TKO (Strikers) (4:30, Round 1)
* Jay Jay Wilson def. Tyler Beneke via submission (Rear-Naked Choke) (1:31, Round 1)
* Ryan Lilley def. James Barnes via knockout (Head Kick) (1:30, Round 1)
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* Craig Plaskett def. Ian Butler via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
* Desmond Torres def. Steve Ramirez via submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) (4:21, Round 1)
Unaired Fights: Osman Diaz vs. Christopher Reyes (190-pound catchweight), Jorge Juarez vs David Pacheco
#1 Brandon McMahan vs Adel Altamimi
Iraqi-born American Altamimi came out flanked by Chris Pratt and looked to extend his record of 7-5. McMahan was coming off two wins in his last three fights.
Round 1: The customary glove tap began the Bantamweight encounter. Altamimi caught McMahan with a left head kick to begin, as he looked to impose his size advantage early on in the fight.
McMahan clinched and pushed Altamimi into the cage. He attempted a take-down but broke free with heel kicks to the thigh.
Altamimi showed off his brilliant grip in the moments that followed as he swept McMahan and rolled him up into a Kimura. McMahan tried his best to wriggle out, but Altamimi held onto it like his life was dependent on it.
Referee Milan Ayers stepped in to stop the fight as soon as McMahan tapped out.
Adel Altamimi def. Brandon McMahan via Submission (Armbar) (1:16, Round 1)
Altamimi notched up his eighth first-round victory and was congratulated by good friend Chris Pratt of Guardians of Galaxy fame.
Nicknamed 'Kyokushin', Altamimi cut a John Cena like promo about not giving up in his post-fight interview, as he beamed with pride after pulling off a quick win in his Bellator debut. Having Star-Lord as a good-luck charm was just icing on the cake!
Certainly, a night to remember for Altamimi.
#2 Juan Archuleta vs Ricky Bandejas (Bantamweight)
The second fight on the main card pitted two exciting Bantamweight prospects looking to make headway in the 135 lbs division.
Archuleta came into the fight with an impressive record of 21 wins and one loss, boasting of a 16-fight win streak. As for Bandejas (11-1), this was his second Bellator fight since ending the undefeated streak of Jack Gallagher.
Round 1: Archuleta looked to get Bandejas on the ground as he held him from the back and tried to yank him down near the cage.
They broke up and Archuleta continued to push forward with a host of feints and combinations. Bandejas maintained his distance and assessed his range as he connected with one straight kick to the body, and later on - a sideways right.
Archuleta connected with a left hook to the body, Bandejas answered with a sweet kick that landed on the jaw. Archuleta shot for the takedown but was unsuccessful as both men's legs clashed.
Archuleta ended the round on a high by landing a takedown.
10-9 for Archuleta
Round 2: Bandejas was more creative with his striking as he began with an attempted spinning heel kick.
Archuleta stuck to his game plan and shot for a takedown but was defended well before getting caught in the chin with another kick from Bandejas.
Both men missed a host of strikes and kicks. Bandejas connected with a right hook and a kick to Archuleta's shoulder. Archuleta missed with an uppercut but got a right hook in.
Archuleta then missed both a right and a superman punch. Archuleta realized he missed way too many strikes and shot for another takedown. He wrapped his arms around Bandejas and stomped on his foot.
Archuleta failed a foot trip and finished the round off with an attempted right. Close round but Bandejas may have scored better with some good wrestling defense, and seemed to have edged Archuleta with more strikes landed.
10-9 for Bandejas
Round 3: Archuleta came out in the final round looking for that killer shot to end the fight. Bandejas struck with a knee and a right hook.
A visibly hurt Archuleta took Bandejas down but both men got right back up on their feet. Archuleta controlled the pace for another two minutes as Bandejas looked to break free.
Archuleta got a single leg takedown but retreated as he was getting tagged by Bandejas' elbows. Bandejas continued to chip in with a right and a body kick.
Archuleta ate a kick to end as the Bantamweight fight went the distance.
Result: Juan Archuleta def. Ricky Bandejas via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
With his 17th straight victory, Archuleta extended his record to 21-1 and has solidified himself as a proper title contender, as he is undefeated inside the Bellator cage with 4 wins on the trot.
#3 Jake Hager vs J.W. Kiser (Heavyweight)
It was finally time for one of the two anticipated heavyweight fights to get underway, as former WWE Superstar Jack Swagger's MMA excursion began against J.W. Kiser.
Hager's opponent, the 41-year-old Kiser came into the fight with a 1-1 record on his resume. WWE veteran R-Truth accompanied Hager by spitting a verse over Swagger's entrance song, before the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion made his way down the ramp.
Round 1: The premise of the fight looked simple from the onset as Kiser looked to set up the knockout punch while Hager wanted to take the fight to the ground, and it didn't take much time for the latter to happen.
Hager put Kiser on his back with ease and wrestled for position. The former WWE star tried to set up a kimura from half guard, but failed, and unleashed vicious elbows from the top that surely caught Kiser's attention.
Hager put his elbows to effective use, locked in the arm-triangle choke, and picked up a big win in his pro MMA debut.
Result: Jake Hager def. J.W. Kiser via submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) (2:09, Round 1)
Swagger spoke about Vince McMahon's pre fight advice, and also sent a cheeky little message to his former boss.
#4 Henry Corrales vs Aaron Pico (Featherweight)
The seventh-generation Californian, Aaron Pico, was riding on a 4-fight win streak with an overall record of 4-1. Henry Corrales too was unbeaten in his last four fights with a combined record of 16-3.
Round 1: Corrales came in hot with a leg kick followed by a left hand. Pico was undeterred and rocked Corrales with an uppercut. The pace escalated quickly as both men threw bombs at each other.
Corrales got the better of the exchange as he stunned Pico with a heavy right shot. Pico fell straight to the mat as Corrales jumped in to apply the finishing touches.
The replays revealed that Corrales landed two right hand shots to knock Pico out cold. An incredible upset as Corrales beat the odds to shut the hype train down. The win should get 'OK' a title shot pretty soon.
Result: Henry Corrales def. Aaron Pico via KO (1:07, Round 1)
#5 Fedor Emelianenko vs Ryan Bader (Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix Final, for the Bellator Heavyweight Championship)
It was finally time for the main event as the first ever Bellator Heavyweight Champion was set to be crowned by the end of the night. A win for the iconic Fedor Emelianenko (35-5-1) would undoubtedly make him the greatest heavyweight in MMA history.
As for Bader, the current Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion would become the first ever double champion in Bellator history if he won the Heavyweight Grand Prix final.
Round 1: It got over even before it truly began! Fedor looked cautious in his approach as Bader shot a few loose hooks to check his range.
He then stepped in and landed a picture-perfect left hook right on the chin! The Last Emperor collapsed to the ground as Bader rushed in to connect with two more unwanted punches on Fedor. Mike Beltran stepped in, and we got the first ever simultaneous dual-weight champion in Bellator history. Take a bow, Ryan Bader.
Result: Ryan Bader def. Fedor Emelianenko via KO (0:34, Round 1)
What a night!
Bader is the first man in Bellator history to hold titles in two separate weight classes. Leaving UFC was the best career decision Bader has made, and he is now one of the best fighters in the world. Amazing!
As for Fedor, have we seen the last of the Last Emperor? Only time will tell.
Which were your favorite moments from the card? Let us know in the comments section below.
