Undefeated fighter Yaroslav Amosov will get the biggest fight of his career on Friday night, challenging Bellator Welterweight Champion Douglas Lima in the main event of Bellator 260. The fight headlines a 10-fight card that is set to take place from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, USA.
Follow along throughout the evening for live updates on the event.
A full preview of the card can be read here.
Quick Results:
Preliminary Card (6:00PM EDT) (Youtube)
Bout 1: Alex Polizzi def. Gustavo Trujillo via Submission, Straight Armbar (RD 1, 4:22)
Bout 2: Marina Mokhnatkina def. Amanda Bell via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 3: Lucas Brennan def. Matthew Skibicki via Submission, Anaconda Choke (RD 1, 1:54)
Bout 4: Bobby King def. Nick Newell via Decision, Split
Bout 5: Justin Gonzales def. Tywan Claxton via Decision, Split
Bout 6: Kyle Crutchmer def. Levan Chokheli via Decision, Unanimous
Main Card (9:00PM EDT) (Showtime)
Bout 7: Mark Lemminger def. Demarques Jackson via TKO, Strikes (RD 2, 3:30)
Bout 8: Aaron Pico def. Aiden Lee via Submission, Anaconda Choke (RD 3, 1:33)
Bout 9: Jason Jackson def. Paul Daley via Decision, Unanimous
Live Coverage:
Bout 10: Douglas Lima (32-8) vs. Yaroslav Amosov (25-0) (Bellator Welterweight Championship)
Undefeated Amosov Dethrones Lima To Become Bellator Welterweight Champion
Yaroslav Amosov was crowned the new Bellator Welterweight Champion on Friday night, using takedowns along with ground and pound to control Douglas Lima through a five-round fight (50-45, 49-46 & 49-46).
Nearly every round was the same for Amosov – the undefeated welterweight scored a takedown early in the round, then kept Lima on his back for as long as possible.
The fight was Amosov’s 26th win since turning pro in 2012. Among that long run of wins is seven since he joined the Bellator roster in 2018.
Lima was looking to defend his belt for the first time since earning it off Rory MacDonald in 2019.
His most recent fight before Friday was a loss, as he moved up to middleweight and lost to 185-pound champ Gegard Mousasi. The fight on Friday called an end to Lima’s third reign as champion in Bellator.
Bout 9: Paul Daley (43-17-2) vs. Jason Jackson (14-4) (Catchweight 175 lbs)
Jackson Adds Daley To Quickly Growing Win Streak
Jason Jackson’s recent momentum in Bellator continued in Friday’s co-main event, as he took a unanimous decision win over Paul Daley (30-27, 30-27 & 30-27).
Jackson was able to succeed in the fight with his wrestling skills, taking Daley down often and keeping him on his back. Bellator statistics had recorded over seven minutes of control time by the end of the bout.
The wrestling-heavy style of the fight was one that the live crowd was displeased with, booing during the fight and afterward.
“It’s not easy to come out here and do what me and Paul Daley did,” said Jackson, addressing a crowd that responded with a mixed reaction. The event on Friday was the promotion’s first with a live crowd in the U.S. since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jackson now has five consecutive wins in Bellator. The win streak includes recent decisions over names like Neiman Gracie and Benson Henderson.
Daley had a three-fight streak of victories snapped in the fight. His most recent victory was just two months back, where he stopped Sabah Homasi in a back-and-forth exchange on the feet.
Bout 8: Aaron Pico (7-3) vs. Aiden Lee (9-4) (Featherweight)
Pico Heads To Third Round For First Time, Stops Lee With Anaconda Choke
Aaron Pico put together a dominant performance on Friday, stopping Aiden Lee in the third round with an anaconda choke. The win came after a three-round fight that saw both fighters work a fast pace.
Pico scored numerous takedowns throughout the fight, using the positions to attempt submissions and land damaging strikes. Pico’s anaconda choke submission, which he had applied numerous times earlier in the fight, finished the bout after he hurt Lee with knees to the body.
The fight was the first time in Pico’s pro career that he had gone into the third round. His 10 previous pro bouts were finished within two rounds.
Pico is now on a four-fight win streak in Bellator. He scored a knockout in his previous fight, stopping John de Jesus with an overhand right in November.
Lee was making his U.S. debut in the performance. His three previous Bellator fights took place on their European events. He had a two-fight streak of finish wins leading up to Friday.
Bout 7: Demarques Jackson (11-5) vs. Mark Lemminger (11-3) (Welterweight)
Lemminger Picks Up Stoppage Win Over Jackson
Mark Lemminger returned to his winning ways to open the main card, stopping Demarques Jackson in the second round with strikes from the back. Lemminger’s fast pace of strikes was hardly defended from the dominant position, causing the referee to eventually end the bout.
The fight was a battle of wrestlers earlier on, as both welterweights searched for and attained takedowns. Lemminger was also able to hurt Jackson with punches, connecting with hard shots in the second round during their stand-up exchanges.
“He was slowing down but still felt pretty strong,” said Lemminger about Jackson in his post-fight interview.
Lemminger entered the fight after losing his two previous appearances in the Bellator cage, dropping bouts to Yaroslav Amosov and Jaleel Willis last year. Before then, he won his promotional debut against Jake Smith.
Jackson was attempting to get a win after losing on scorecards to Grachik Bozinyan two months back.
Bout 6: Kyle Crutchmer (6-1) vs. Levan Chokheli (9-0) (Welterweight)
Crutchmer Uses Wrestling In Return To Win Column
Kyle Crutchmer handed Levan Chokheli his first pro loss in the final preliminary bout of the card, defeating him via unanimous decision after three rounds (30-27, 30-27 & 30-27).
Crutchmer was able to keep Chokheli on his back for the majority of the fight with his wrestling skills. He scored a takedown in every frame and was able to keep him down for numerous minutes every time.
Crutchmer is now back into the win column after taking his first pro loss last year to now-“The Ultimate Fighter” participant Kemran Lachinov.
Chokheli entered Bellator with an undefeated record of nine wins and no losses, with the majority of his fights finishing within a round.
Bout 5: Tywan Claxton (6-2) vs. Justin Gonzales (11-0) (Featherweight)
Former LFA Champ Gonzales Wins Bellator Debut Over Claxton
Former LFA Featherweight Champion Justin Gonzales won his Bellator debut on the prelims, defeating Tywan Claxton in a close split decision ruling (29-28 Gonzales, 29-28 Claxton & 29-28 Gonzales).
The fight was a back-and-forth battle, as both fighters showcased their ability to land takedowns and score with strikes. Gonzales pressed forward early in the fight with strikes, scoring with a high volume.
Claxton’s wrestling was his greatest skill in the fight, being able to take Gonzales down many times.
Gonzales kept his undefeated record with the fight, improving it to 12 consecutive wins. He won an LFA belt in his previous showing, defeating Jake Childers last year.
Claxton has now lost his past two bouts, as he dropped a split decision to Jay Jay Wilson.
Bout 4: Nick Newell (16-3) vs. Bobby King (9-3) (Lightweight)
King Gets Scorecard Nod Over Returning Newell
Bobby King won his Bellator debut on the prelims, defeating returning lightweight Nick Newell via split decision (30-27 King, 29-28 Newell & 30-27 King).
King was able to out-land Newell on the feet – where most of the fight took place. His solid striking came with his ability to avoid takedown attempts and submissions that Newell attempted.
Newell also had his own moments with strikes, scoring with his lead jab and leg kicks.
Newell scored a few takedowns in the fight, although King was able to scramble out of many positions and return to his feet quickly.
Newell was making his first appearance since 2019. He was set to face Zach Zane last year, but that fight was cancelled due to COVID-19 circumstances in two instances.
King is now on a four-fight win streak that includes three wins in the regional scene. The fight on Friday was his first appearance within the Bellator cage.
Bout 3: Lucas Brennan (4-0) vs. Matthew Skibicki (4-3) (Featherweight)
Brennan Picks Up Quick Anaconda Choke To Continue Undefeated Run
Lucas Brennan added to his undefeated win streak on the prelims, securing a slick anaconda choke against Matthew Skibicki within a round.
Brennan pulled guard in the second minute of the fight to attempt an anaconda choke. After scrambling with Skibicki while keeping hold of the choke, a tap eventually came to end the fight.
Brennan now has five wins along with four submissions in his pro career. He went to scorecards for the first time in his pro record in his previous showing, defeating Andrew Salas in November.
Skibicki is now on a four-fight losing streak. His fight on Friday was his first for Bellator.
Bout 2: Amanda Bell (7-7) vs. Marina Mokhnatkina (4-2) (Featherweight)
Mokhnatkina Returns To Win Column In Return
Marina Mokhnatkina picked up a win in her return to the cage, scoring a unanimous decision win against fellow featherweight Amanda Bell on the prelims (30-27, 30-27 & 30-27).
Mokhnatkina was able to win the slow-paced fight with takedowns and strikes landed while on her back foot.
The bout was Mokhnatkina’s first appearance since early 2019. It was also her first win in Bellator, as her prior appearance in the cage was a loss to Janay Harding.
Bell has now lost two consecutive fights and has a negative MMA record in total. Her previous bout was in the fall, where Leslie Smith scored a decision win over her.
Bout 1: Alex Polizzi (7-1) vs. Gustavo Trujillo (3-1) (Light Heavyweight)
Polizzi Returns To Win Column With Armbar Win
Alex Polizzi bounced back from his sole pro loss in the opening bout of the card, submitting Gustavo Trujillo in the first round with a straight armbar.
Polizzi secured the tap after a dominant final minute or so in the opening frame. He secured the armbar while in side control after searching for a rear naked choke from the back of Trujillo.
Trujillo succeeded early in the fight as his wrestling skills were on display. The fight was his Bellator debut in his fifth pro bout.
Polizzi took his first loss in his previous bout, dropping a fight on scorecards to Julius Anglickas last year.
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