Joe Taimanglo Shocks Darrion Caldwell at Bellator 159
Joe Taimanglo Shocks Darrion Caldwell at Bellator 159
Joe Taimanglo shocked the MMA world by upsetting huge favorite Darrion Caldwell at Bellator 159
By Jim Edwards
In a week full of surprises in mixed martial arts, Bellator 159 kept the ball rolling last evening when hot prospect Darrion Caldwell was defeated by Joe Taimanglo at the Kansas Star Arena.
Caldwell came into the fight with Joe Taimanglo a 14-to-1 betting favorite and having just signed a new seven-fight contract with Bellator. All the pressure was on Caldwell to show he was the real deal and unfortunately for him, last night he didn't live up to the hype.
Caldwell dominated rounds one and two using his wrestling. In both rounds, he was able to get Taimanglo down to the mat and dominate him though never fully passing his guard. While he wasn't able to get Taimanglo in any seriously dangerous submission position, Caldwell still controlled the fight and heading into the last five minuted there only looked like there was going to be one winner.
At the beginning of the third and final frame, Caldwell looked to get the takedown in the first few seconds but shot in way too far out. This gave Taimanglo the time to adjust his position, ride the takedown and lock in a deep guillotine choke that Caldwell had no way of escaping. After just a few seconds in the choke, Caldwell tapped and jaws dropped around the world as the huge betting underdog picked up the victory.
Also on the main card, Melvin Guillard overcame his problems at the weigh-ins to KO David Rickels with some vicious short elbows in the first round. Emily Ducote and Daniel Weichel also had successful evenings inside the Bellator cage.
Bellator 159 Full Results:
Main card
Joe Taimanglo def. Darrion Caldwell via submission (guillotine) Round 3 0:09
Melvin Guillard def. David Rickels by KO (strikes). Round 1, 2:14
Emily Ducote def. Bruna Vargas by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 2, 0:29.
Daniel Weichel def. Emmanuel Sanchez by split decision (30-27, 27-30, 29-28)
Preliminary Card
Jessica Middleton def. Bruna Ellen via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Gaston Reyno def. L.J. Hermreck by TKO (strikes), Round 3, 3:57
Chris Harris def. Matt Foster via submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 1:23
Fernando Martinez def. Marcio Navarro via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Johnny Marigo def. Andy Riley via submission (armbar), Round 1, 2:44
Brandon Phillips def. Chuka Willis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Phillipe Lins def. Guilherme Viana by KO (punch), Round 2, 1:13
In a week full of surprises in mixed martial arts, Bellator 159 kept the ball rolling last evening when hot prospect Darrion Caldwell was defeated by Joe Taimanglo at the Kansas Star Arena.
Caldwell came into the fight with Joe Taimanglo a 14-to-1 betting favorite and having just signed a new seven-fight contract with Bellator. All the pressure was on Caldwell to show he was the real deal and unfortunately for him, last night he didn't live up to the hype.
Caldwell dominated rounds one and two using his wrestling. In both rounds, he was able to get Taimanglo down to the mat and dominate him though never fully passing his guard. While he wasn't able to get Taimanglo in any seriously dangerous submission position, Caldwell still controlled the fight and heading into the last five minuted there only looked like there was going to be one winner.
At the beginning of the third and final frame, Caldwell looked to get the takedown in the first few seconds but shot in way too far out. This gave Taimanglo the time to adjust his position, ride the takedown and lock in a deep guillotine choke that Caldwell had no way of escaping. After just a few seconds in the choke, Caldwell tapped and jaws dropped around the world as the huge betting underdog picked up the victory.
Also on the main card, Melvin Guillard overcame his problems at the weigh-ins to KO David Rickels with some vicious short elbows in the first round. Emily Ducote and Daniel Weichel also had successful evenings inside the Bellator cage.
Bellator 159 Full Results:
Main card
Joe Taimanglo def. Darrion Caldwell via submission (guillotine) Round 3 0:09
Melvin Guillard def. David Rickels by KO (strikes). Round 1, 2:14
Emily Ducote def. Bruna Vargas by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 2, 0:29.
Daniel Weichel def. Emmanuel Sanchez by split decision (30-27, 27-30, 29-28)
Preliminary Card
Jessica Middleton def. Bruna Ellen via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Gaston Reyno def. L.J. Hermreck by TKO (strikes), Round 3, 3:57
Chris Harris def. Matt Foster via submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 1:23
Fernando Martinez def. Marcio Navarro via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Johnny Marigo def. Andy Riley via submission (armbar), Round 1, 2:44
Brandon Phillips def. Chuka Willis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Phillipe Lins def. Guilherme Viana by KO (punch), Round 2, 1:13