Bellator 275 Report: Gegard Mousasi stops Austin Vanderford in the first round
By: Eric Marcotte
Bellator 275 took place on Friday Afternoon, from the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. The card was headlined by Bellator’s Middleweight Champion, Gegard Mousasi, looking to defend his title against the undefeated Austin Vanderford. Mousasi has found a great deal of success in Bellator MMA, compiling a promotional record of 6-1 since joining the organization in 2017. Throughout those seven fights, he has competed in five title bouts, and a win over Vanderford would make the second successful title defense of Mousasi’s current reign. Mousasi was understandably the betting favorite going into this card, but Vanderford has impressed since joining Bellator as well, winning all five of his bouts in the promotion, last defeating Fabian Edwards to earn this title shot. Commentary for this card was provided by the team of Dave Farrar and John McCarthy, and the analytical team consisted of Josh Thomson and Aidan Power.
QUICK RESULTS
PRELIMINARY CARD:
*Lee Hammond def. Jamie Hay by TKO at 3:32 of Round 1
*Nathan Kelly def. Scott Pedersen by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
*Gokhan Saricam def. Kirill Sidelnikov by unanimous decision (30-27 all)
*Vladimir Tokov def. Daniele Scatizzi by unanimous decision (29-28 all)
*Darragh Kelly def. Junior Morgan by guillotine choke at 1:47 of Round 1
*Stephanie Ielo Page def. Danni McCormack by TKO at 1:46 of Round 1
*Davy Gallon def. Charlie Leary by TKO at 3:01 of Round 2
*Brett Johns def. Kurshed Kakhorov by TKO at 3:00 of Round 3
MAIN CARD:
*Jornel Lugo def. Brian Moore by unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, 29–28)
*Khasan Magomedsharipov def. Jose Sanchez by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
*Ciaran Clarke def. Abou Tounkara by TKO at 5:00 of Round 1
*Sinead Kavanagh def. Leah McCourt by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
*Gegard Mousasi def. Austin Vanderford by TKO at 1:25 of Round 1 to retain the Bellator Middleweight Championship
BRIAN MOORE (14-8, 135.4) VS JORNEL LUGO (7-0, 135.2) – BANTAMWEIGHT
Moore worked his jab throughout the first round, as Lugo looked to counter with wide hooks. Lugo ate an uppercut, and he started to look for a takedown in response. Moore defended the attempt but found himself pressed against the cage for a considerable amount of time. With two minutes to go in the round, the fighters separated from the clinch, and the striking battle resumed. A kick from Lugo landed low, leading to a short pause in the action while Moore recovered. Moore connected with a hard kick to the body at the end of the round. 10-9 Lugo.
Moore continued to defend Lugo’s attempts to take the fight to the ground, and the entirety of this second round took place on the feet. Neither fighter was overly aggressive, but when Moore pushed forward, he found success with some powerful right hands. Lugo caught Moore in the eye with a finger, and the fight was paused yet again as Moore was given time to recover. Lugo did some good work on the feet for the remainder of this second round, but I thought that Moore landed the bigger shots, and I scored this round in his favor. 19-19.
Lugo landed a right hand that knocked Moore down in the opening exchange of the final round, but Moore was able to recover instantaneously. Moore attempted to make up some ground by throwing heavy combinations to the head and body, but Lugo was able to avoid Moore’s biggest shots throughout the round. It was a very close round, but I thought Lugo did just enough to take it on the scorecards, and I saw the fight 29-28 in his favor.
WINNER: Jornel Lugo by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
This was a very close fight, and I was almost surprised to see the judges all score it in Lugo’s favor. I wouldn’t say this was the most action-packed bout, but it had its moments, and the crowd was very hot throughout it, largely in support of Moore. I thought that the difference-maker was Lugo’s ability to avoid Moore’s biggest shots, and the brief knockdown at the start of round three did a great deal to put him ahead in what was otherwise a razor-close round, but a scorecard in favor of Moore would have been completely fair as well. With this win, Lugo improved to 4-0 in the promotion.
KHASAN MAGOMEDSHARIPOV (6-0, 145.6) VS JOSE SANCHEZ (10-1, 145.4) – FEATHERWEIGHT
Sanchez shot for a takedown just seconds into the fight but was unable to get Magomedsharipov down. Sanchez was not deterred and continued to hunt for takedowns throughout the round, to no success. It was in fact, Magomedsharipov who eventually succeeded in taking the fight to the ground, where he began to work from half guard. Magomedsharipov maintained the position for the remainder of round one. 10-9 Magomedsharipov.
Magomedsharipov attacked the body with knees in the clinch to begin round two, before dragging Sanchez back to the ground. Magomedsharipov took the back of Sanchez, where he started to hunt for a rear-naked choke. Sanchez successfully defended Magomedsharipov’s attempt to finish the fight but was unable to shake his opponent off of his back. 20-18 Magomedsharipov.
An accidental clash of heads in the previous round had cut Sanchez open on the right side of his head. Things continued to go wrong for Sanchez in the third round, where Magomedsharipov wasted little time in taking him back down. Magomedsharipov was able to control Sanchez on the ground from half guard for the near entirety of this final round, and the fight went the distance. 30-27 Magomedsharipov.
WINNER: Khasan Magomedsharipov by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Magomedsharipov largely dominated this fight. Sanchez’s game plan was clearly to take Magomedsharipov down and avoid striking with him, but Magomedsharipov proved to be the stronger grappler, and as the fight progressed, the fight became less and less competitive. Magomedsharipov looked very impressive in his Bellator MMA debut, and this was a strong second outing for the 21-year-old. Magomedsharipov is now 7-0 professionally.
CIARAN CLARKE (4-0, 144.8) VS ABOU TOUNKARA (7-2, 145.8) – FEATHERWEIGHT
Clarke immediately started to hunt for a takedown but was unable to get Tounkara to the ground. Tounkara jumped for a guillotine as Clarke shot for a double leg, and while he was unable to finish the submission, he was able to take Clarke’s back momentarily. Tounkara began to hunt for a kimura, but he didn’t have the positioning, and Clarke took top position. Clarke threw down ground and pound strikes as time expired in the round.
Tounkara did not get off of his stool to begin the second round, seemingly due to a shoulder injury, and the fight was stopped.
WINNER: Ciaran Clarke by TKO at 5:00 of Round 1
They replayed the shoulder injury which occurred at the end of the first round, and it looked like a nasty dislocation. It was an unfortunate ending to this fight, especially when Tounkara likely won the round, but Clarke finished strongly, and this will go down as a win on his record. The Irish crowd loved him, and he came off well in his post-fight interview. Clarke is now 5-0 in Bellator MMA.
LEAH MCCOURT (6-1, 145.8) VS SINEAD KAVANAGH (7-5, 145.6) – FEATHERWEIGHT
McCourt was able to take Kavanagh down about forty seconds into the first round. She threw down hammerfists, but Kavanagh began to hunt for a kimura off of her back, which allowed her to transition into top position. Kavanagh did not let go of the arm, and continued to crack the arm in search of the finish, as McCourt did her best to move into a safer position. McCourt was ultimately successful in escaping the kimura, and returned to her feet before time expired in the round. 10-9 Kavanagh.
McCourt looked to take Kavanagh back to the ground early in the second round, but Kavanagh was able to defend the initial attempt, and she began to work for a takedown of her own. Eventually, it was Kavanagh who was successful in securing the takedown, but McCourt kept Kavanagh from advancing to any dangerous positions. Kavanagh postured up and began to throw down hard ground and pound, but it quickly became clear that something was wrong with Kavanagh’s left leg, and after putting too much weight on it following a push from McCourt, Kavanagh fell on her back, allowing McCourt to end the round in top position. 20-18 Kavanagh.
Kavanagh could barely walk on her injured leg by this third round, and McCourt targeted it with leg kicks in an attempt to finish the fight. Kavanagh fired back with some heavy punches, which relieved the pressure from McCourt for the time being. McCourt took Kavanagh to the ground, where she began to work from half guard with roughly three minutes remaining in the bout. McCourt went for a kneebar on the injured knee of Kavanagh, but Kavanagh postured up, and threw down ground and pound strikes as time expired in the final round. 29-29 Kavanagh.
WINNER: Sinead Kavanagh by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Kavanagh’s knee injury was the story of this fight, as she could hardly put any weight on it throughout the second half of this fight. Despite the injury, however, she was able to win the second round, and grit through the third, even after McCourt realized the severity of Kavanagh’s injury. Honestly, McCourt’s decision to take Kavanagh down in the third round was a serious mistake in strategy, taking into consideration Kavanagh’s injury, as keeping the fight on the feet (while attacking Kavanagh with low kicks) may have very well resulted in a finish. Regardless, this was a very remarkable performance from Kavanagh, and after the bout, the broadcast confirmed that Kavanagh will rematch Cris Cyborg in her next bout. Cyborg will be a massive favorite heading into that fight, and many are questioning the logic behind booking the rematch so soon after their first bout, but it will be a huge opportunity for Kavanagh, who is now 5-5 in Bellator MMA.
GEGARD MOUSASI (48-7, 184.6) VS AUSTIN VANDERFORD (11-0, 183.7) – BELLATOR MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Vanderford landed a right hand to start the fight, which prompted Mousasi to respond with a number of his own. Vanderford was fighting wildly, swinging for the fences, and Mousasi countered him with hard short hooks repeatedly. One of those counters hurt Vanderford, which prompted the challenger to shoot for a takedown. Mousasi sprawled and threw down ground and pound until the fight was stopped.
WINNER: Gegard Mousasi by TKO at 1:25 of Round 1 to retain the Bellator Middleweight Championship
This was unquestionably the biggest fight of Vanderford’s career to this point, and he came out of the gates swinging. It was an unexpected choice from the wrestler, and Mousasi was easily able to counter his wild swings, finishing the fight quickly. This marked Vanderford’s first professional loss, and will surely be a valuable experience for him going forward. For Mousasi, this marked yet another impressive win, and he is on a remarkable streak of 12-1 throughout his last thirteen bouts. He is certainly one of the top fighters in Bellator at the moment, and it’s tough to imagine him being unseated from his middleweight throne. The undefeated Johnny Eblen will likely be next for Mousasi, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see Mousasi challenge for the promotions Light Heavyweight Championship in the near future either.
