Bellator 232 saw the conclusion of the promotion’s Welterweight Grand Prix and the crowning of a new but familiar champion in Douglas Lima.
The Brazilian became a three-time Bellator welterweight champion while avenging his January 2018 loss to Rory MacDonald while also securing the $1 million prize by winning the Grand Prix.
In the rematch, Lima was able to shut down MacDonald’s takedowns and proved a major factor in the fight. MacDonald failed to take Lima down in the first round but applied pressure and was aggressive with his underhooks to keep Lima against the fence. It was the only round you could argue went to the Canadian.
Lima was looser with his striking game in the second round with leg kicks and a combination that resulted in a big right hand connecting to even the rounds after two.
Lima kept his attention on the legs of MacDonald, which was a major factor in the first fight. Lima edged out the third round with a leg kick late in the round and offsetting MacDonald’s jabs.
In the fourth round, Lima won it convincingly knocking MacDonald off balance with a leg kick and made MacDonald pay when he would shoot in by landing a brilliant right hand.
The fifth continued the pattern of Lima as the aggressor. Lima reversed MacDonald and worked on top. MacDonald tried to work for submissions off his back but was stopped at each attempt.
The judges awarded the fight to Lima on scores of 50-45 twice and 49-46 ending MacDonald’s reign as champion.
The fight was not at the level of their first but there was no doubt in the moments leading up to the judges’ cards being read.
Earlier in the night, Paul Daley stopped short-notice replacement Saad Awad in their 175-pound catchweight fight. Daley displayed patience in the opening round and was measured in his attack. In the second, Daley was throwing with intent as a body shot was the prelude to the end. Daley followed with a leg kick that set up the left hand that dropped Awad and was stopped with hammer fists.
It was Daley’s second straight win and 42nd of his career. The British star stated he wanted to fight in London for his next fight.
In a bantamweight affair, prospect Patrick Mix remained undefeated with a dominant performance against Isaiah Chapman. Mix immediately took down Chapman and moved to side control before securing the back. Mix controlled Chapman the entire fight with a body triangle applied while providing steady strikes. Mix caught the leg and applied a Suloev stretch for the submission.
This was a great outing for Mix, who improves to 12-0 and is a bantamweight to pay attention to.
Manny Muro earned a split decision victory over home-state favorite Nick Newell.
Newell won the first round threatening with a guillotine choke he couldn’t complete and then mounting the back of Muro for the duration of the round.
The second round was a close one where Newell got Muro’s back and utilized his wrestling until the final minute when Muro started landing punches and controlled the final minute. Newell was winning the round until the final minute but it appeared Muro stole it with his striking.
The third round was all Muro from start-to-finish as he used his wrestling and took Newell down and stayed there. Newell had nothing in the final round.
The cards went in favor of Muro with scores of 29-28, 27-29, and 29-28. So, that means one judge must have given Newell a 10-8 round in the first but I feel that would also have to warrant a 10-8 round for Muro in the third round.
Muro had fought for Bellator once prior in October 2017 and won, left the promotion and went 1-3 before returning to defeat Newell.
In the main card opener, Kevin Ferguson Jr. a.k.a. ‘Baby Slice’ stopped Craig Campbell in thirty-eight seconds.
Campbell absorbed a leg kick, shot for the takedown and was hit with elbows to the head and stopped him. The second elbow hit the back of the head but the others appeared clean in the replay.
Ferguson Jr. had not fought since October 2018 and was coming off a stoppage at the hands of Corey Browning in that fight.
RESULTS
*Kevin Ferguson Jr. def. Craig Campbell by KO at 0:38 of Round 1
*Manny Muro def. Nick Newell by split decision (29-28, 27-29, 29-28)
*Patrick Mix def. Isaiah Chapman by kneebar at 3:49 of Round 1
*Paul Daley def. Saad Awad by TKO at 1:30 of Round 2
*Douglas Lima def. Rory MacDonald by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46) to win the Bellator welterweight title and win the Welterweight Grand Prix
