Bellator 251 was highlighted by the promotional debut of Corey Anderson, who made an immediate impact in the light heavyweight division.
After leaving the UFC and signing with Bellator earlier this year, the 31-year old Anderson stepped into the Bellator cage with Melvin Manhoef.
Manhoef, 44, was competing for the 50th time in his professional MMA career to go along with a lengthy kickboxing resume throughout his near 25-year combat sports career.
Anderson attacked from the onset and secured in the first round in emphatic fashion, nearly ending the fight with his aggressive striking. In the second round, Anderson continued what he started placing Manhoef on the mat and finished the veteran with strikes at the 2:34 mark.
HELLBOWS!@CoreyA_MMA gets the finish in his #Bellator debut! #Bellator251 #MMA pic.twitter.com/CnEeJxUJDp
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) November 6, 2020
Anderson improved his record to 14-5 and will be an immediate threat inside Bellator’s light heavyweight division where the championship is held by Vadim Nemkov.
Anderson rebounded from a knockout loss to current UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz from this past February and has been victorious in five of his past six fights.
Manhoef had not fought since October 2019 and had been fighting at middleweight for the last six years. Since joining Bellator in September 2014, he has gone 4-4 with 1 no contest.
Here are the complete results from Bellator 251:
*Corey Anderson def. Melvin Manhoef by TKO at 2:34 of Round 2
*Tyrell Fortune def. Said Sowma by unanimous decision (29-28 all)
*Austin Vanderford def. Vinicius de Jesus by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
*Derek Anderson def. Killys Mota by KO at 4:27 of Round 2
*Georgi Karakhanyan def. Bryce Logan by split decision (29-28 all)
*Julius Anglickas def. Alex Polizzi by unanimous decision (30-27 all)
*Janay Harding def. Jessy Miele by unanimous decision (30-27 all)
*Ali Zebian def. Piankhi Zimmerman by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
*Jaylon Bates def. Joe Supino by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-27, 30-27)
*Sumiko Inaba def. Jessica Ruiz by TKO at 4:59 of Round 1
