This article is the play-by-play to accompany the live coverage happening on the site. Live coverage for Bellator 243 can be found here.
Quick Results:
Preliminary Card (7:15PM EDT) (Youtube)
Bout 1: Dalton Rosta def. Mark Gardner via TKO, Doctor Stoppage (RD 1, 5:00)
Bout 2: Charlie Campbell def. Nainoa Dung via TKO, Leg Kicks (RD 2, 1:42)
Bout 3: Grant Neal def. Hamza Salim via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 4: Valerie Loureda def. Tara Graff via TKO, Strikes (RD 2, 5:00)
Bout 5: Cris Lencioni def. AJ Agazarm via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 6: Adam Borics def. Mike Hamel via Decision, Split
Main Card (10:00PM EDT) (Paramount Network / DAZN)
Bout 7: Sabah Homasi def. Curtis Millender via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 8: Myles Jury def. Georgi Karakhanyan via Decision, Split
Bout 9: Timothy Johnson def. Matt Mitrione via TKO, Punches (RD 1, 3:14)
Bout 10: Michael Chandler def. Benson Henderson via TKO, Punches (RD 1, 2:09)
Play-by-Play:
Bout 1: Dalton Rosta (2-0) vs. Mark Gardner (1-1) (Middleweight)
Rosta was landing with punches early. Rosta got a takedown in the first minute from a clinch after catching Gardner with a series of punches. Gardner tried for an armbar from the bottom. Rosta threw hammerfist punches to the head of Gardner while Gardner continued to try for an armbar. Rosta escaped the hold eventually, staying in full guard. Rosta threw more punches, hitting the body of Gardner. Rosta got up halfway through the round, with the referee forcing Gardner to get up as well. Rosta connected with more punches that hurt and dropped Gardner. They went to the ground after Gardner got wobbled by punches again. While Gardner had ahold of one of Rosta’s legs, Rosta threw hammerfist punches. They returned to the feet, where Gardner tried for a single leg takedown. Rosta was able to reverse the position on the way down, getting into side control on top. Rosta moved positions around many times in the final minute. Rosta landed hammerfist punches to Gardner until the round ended. Before the second round started, a doctor checked at Gardner and deemed him unable to compete, ending the fight.
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Rosta | 10 | |||
| Gardner | 8 |
Bout 2: Nainoa Dung (3-1) vs. Charlie Campbell (1-1) (Lightweight)
A pause came in the second minute of competition as a knee in the clinch struck the groin of Dung. After they resumed there was an extended clinch battle. Dung got a takedown for a moment from the clinch, although Campbell got up quickly after. Campbell was able to get a takedown of his own from the clinch, staying on top. Campbell threw punches from on top for a few moments. Dung tried to escape the position, although Campbell was able to keep him down. In the final 20 seconds of the round, Campbell moved into a north-south position.
Campbell hurt Dung with a series of leg kicks early in the second round. Dung was dropped by leg kicks, and after having trouble getting back up, the fight was concluded.
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Dung | 9 | |||
| Campbell | 10 |
Bout 3: Grant Neal (3-0) vs. Hamza Salim (5-2) (Light Heavyweight)
Neal got a takedown in the open seconds of the fight, staying pressed on Salim as they got back to the feet. They separated a minute into the round and returned to striking. Neal landed a kick to the head, and at the same time that Neal connected with a punch to the head. Salim scored with a kick, although Neal held onto it and scored a takedown off of it. Neal tried for a guillotine choke in the fourth minute for a minute while in control on the ground. With a minute left in the fight, Neal got on the back of Salim on the feet and threw knees to the left thigh. They went back down, where Neal finished the round with some strikes.
Neal got a double leg takedown in the first minute of the second round, although Salim was quick to get back to the feet. Neal landing an elbow to Salim against the cage which helped take Salim back to the ground. While on his knees, Neal tried for a guillotine choke for a minute. Salim went down to his back eventually, where Neal was on top in half guard. Neal stayed in control until the round ran out of time.
Neal got a takedown in the second minute of the final round. Neal got into half guard and then threw a few hammerfist punches. Salim started to bleed from this position. Salim got to his feet with a minute to go, although Neal kept him against the fence, getting a takedown moments after. Neal stayed in half guard until the fight ended. Going to the judges, all three gave it to Neal (30-26, 30-27 & 30-24).
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Neal | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
| Salim | 9 | 8 | 8 | 25 |
Bout 4: Valerie Loureda (2-0) vs. Tara Graff (1-1) (Flyweight)
Graff was charging down at Loureda early on. Graff clinched in the second minute, although Loureda was quick to throw her off. Loureda did a good job at avoiding strikes on her backfoot. Graff continued to rush in and try for clinches.
Just like the round before, Graff was the fighter who was coming forward, although Loureda was able to stay active on her backfoot and counter-punch. In the final 10 seconds of the round, Loureda landed a right hook that dropped Graff. Just before the bell rang, ground and pound from Loureda stopped the fight.
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Loureda | 10 | |||
| Graff | 9 |
Bout 5: AJ Agazarm (3-1) vs. Cris Lencioni (6-2) (Featherweight)
Agarzarm shot for a takedown early, getting on the back of Lencioni after. Lencioni landed a punch early in the first minute that dropped Agazarm. Lencioni let Agazarm stand back up and continue striking. Agazarm shot for a takedown, although Lencioni was able to go down on top in full mount. He left the position, going back down on top. Agazarm got ahold of a leg from the bottom. They got back to their feet, where Agazarm threw down Lencioni, getting on his back in the process. Agazarm flipped over, moving into full mount with two minutes to go. There was a warning from the referee after Agazarm seemingly headbutted Lencioni, although it wasn’t clear whether it connected or not. Agazarm stayed on top until the round ended.
After throwing a few strikes Agazarm shot for a takedown early in the second round. Lencioni was able to reverse the position, putting Agazarm on his back on the ground. Agazarm was stood up after Lencioni got up. Agazarm got on the back of Lencioni for a couple of minutes. Lencioni escaped the position in the fourth minute, getting full guard on top. Agazarm was cut open, bleeding somewhat from strikes that Lencioni threw. Agazarm stayed on top after the round ended, not getting out of the way until the referee stressed it greatly.
The fighters were warned to keep the fight clean before the final round started. The fighters traded strikes to start the third round. Agazarm went to his knees a few times in the round, although it looked like momentum and fatigues was sending him down. Agazarm tried for a single leg takedown in the second minute of the round, although Lencionic was able to stop it. Agazarm got a takedown halfway through the round, although Lencioni was able to escape quickly and return to the feet. Agazarm tried for a takedown, although Lencioni was able to reverse the position and take control on top. While not doing a lot, Lencioni stayed in control until the fight ended. Needing scorecards to find a winner, Lencioni got a unanimous decision win (30-26, 30-27 & 29-28).
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Agazarm | 10 | 9 | 9 | 28 |
| Lencioni | 9 | 10 | 10 | 29 |
Bout 6: Adam Borics (14-1) vs. Mike Hamel (7-3) (Catchweight 150 lbs)
Hamel got a takedown a minute into the fight. Borics got to his feet in a clinch with two minutes left in the round. They separated shortly after, although Hamel got another takedown with a minute left in the round. They got up with 15 seconds left in the round, staying in the clinch until the round ended.
A pause came early in the second round after Hamel was kicked in the groin. Hamel put Borics against the cage in a clinch in the second minute. They separated and stayed on the feet trading strikes for a few minutes. Borics landed a hard hook in the fourth minute of the fight.
Hamel tried for a takedown in the first minute of the final round, although Borics was able to stop the attempt and take control in the clinch. Borics landed knees in another clinch later in the round. Hamel threw a flying knee in the fourth minute that, while it didn’t connect, threw Borics off balance and took him to the ground. Hamel went into side control on the ground. In the final minute of the round, Hamel got on the back of Borics. They went to the feet while Hamel was still on the back of Borics. Borics was able to flip around and go into a clinch with 30 seconds to go. They traded punches as the round ran out of time. In a split decision, Borics got the win (29-28 Borics, 29-28 Hamel & 29-28 Borics).
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Borics | 9 | 10 | 10 | 29 |
| Hamel | 10 | 9 | 9 | 28 |
Bout 7: Curtis Millender (18-5) vs. Sabah Homasi (13-8) (Catchweight 175 lbs)
Both fighters stayed on the feet for the first few minutes of the fight, both throwing strikes but not connecting a ton. Homasi got a takedown with two minutes left in the round. Homasi stayed on top in full guard until the round ran out of time.
Homasi landed a clean right hand in the first minute, trying for a takedown from a body lock after. He got a takedown a minute later, getting full guard on top. He got on the back of Millender in the fourth minute, although Millender eventually was able to lave the position and take top position in half guard. Millender tried for a choke, although slipped out of it. They went to the feet, where Homasi got a takedown with 20 seconds to go. He stayed on top until the round ended.
Millender clinched with Homasi early in the first round, separating moments after. Homasi got a single leg takedown in the second minute of the fight. Millender tried for a choke and attempted to use that choke to move on top. Homasi was able to escape the choke and stay on top, being in half guard after. They stood up with half of the round to go. They clinched for a little, with Homasi getting a takedown from the clinch shortly after. Homasi tried to move into full mount, but took the back instead as Millender flipped over. Homasi slipped off the back of Millender in the final 30 seconds. Millender threw punches from full guard until the round ran out of time. Homasi got the win via decision when checking the scorecards (29-28, 29-28 & 29-28).
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Millender | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 |
| Homasi | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
Bout 8: Myles Jury (18-5) vs. Georgi Karakhanyan (29-10-1) (Lightweight)
Karakhanyan put Jury against the fence halfway through the round, although they separated shortly after. They traded turns putting each other up against the fence.
Karakhanyan did a good job in the second round with mixing up striking and clinch work. Karakhanyan kept Jury against the cage in a body lock for a minute late in the round. He got a takedown in the final minute, although Jury was able to get back to his feet.
The fight slowed down significantly in the third round as fatigue set in. The fighters traded hard punches in the pocked halfway through the round, with Jury landing elbows to the head. Jury got a takedown in the third minute, with Karakhanyan trying for a guillotine choke from the bottom. Jury popped out eventually, getting on the back of Karakhanyan in the fourth minute. Moving into full guard, Jury threw some strikes from above. They went into a clinch on the feet before the match ran out of time. Needing judges to find a winner, scorecards favoured Jury via split decision (30-27 Karakhanyan, 30-27 Jury & 29-28 Jury).
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Jury | 9 | 9 | 10 | 28 |
| Karakhanyan | 10 | 10 | 9 | 29 |
Bout 9: Matt Mitrione (13-7) vs. Timothy Johnson (13-6) (Heavyweight)
Mitrione went down early, although it wasn’t clear whether he went down from a shove of head collision. Johnson took side control on the ground, throwing punches to the head from the position. Johnson sped up the pace of punches eventually, throwing enough unanswered strikes eventually for the referee to step in and end the fight.
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Mitrione | ||||
| Johnson |
Bout 10: Michael Chandler (20-5) vs. Benson Henderson (28-8) (Lightweight)
The fight started with close striking from both fighters as they both had their moments with singular strikes. Partway through the round, a left cross from Chandler dropped Henderson. Chandler landed shots on the ground that put Henderson out, ending the fight.
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Chandler | ||||
| Henderson |
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