Bellator 161: Kongo Grinds, Warren Returns to Savagery
Bellator 161: Kongo Grinds, Warren Returns to Savagery
Texas is a state known for its rowdiness and Bellator 161 didn’t disappoint.
The Los Angeles-based promotion has picked up serious momentum as of late by landing huge free agent signings in Rory MacDonald and Chael Sonnen. Bellator kept the energy rolling strong on Friday night with an action-packed card at the H-E-B Center on the outskirts of Austin, TX.
Photo Credit: Bellator MMA
Anytime two heavyweights step into the cage there’s a good chance someone’s going to sleep, and Cheick Kongo and Tony Johnson didn't show up to play around.
Kongo controlled the first round with his signature clinch game, which kept Johnson's power at bay. And while Johnson would eventually find some space, the savvy veteran didn't allow him much room to breathe as Kongo was able to put 'The Hulk' back on the canvas. Kongo quickly jumped to full mount were he rained down punches and elbows to close out the first round.
Having dropped the opening frame Johnson quickly went to work with pressure of his own and turned the tide of the fight with a solid takedown against the cage. Johnson easily found back position, but was unable to lock up a submission attempt. Nevertheless, Johnson was able to control the action, and used a choke attempt to transition into a full mount of his own.
Johnson finished the second stanza from the same position he was on the receiving end of at the end of the first five minutes, which made it anyone's game going into the final round.
And while his opponent had the momentum, Kongo's experience ultimately sealed the deal. The 39-year-old stuffed a takedown attempt in the early stages of the third round, and was able to force Johnson back to the canvas. Kongo rode out the remaining minutes in control, and picked up the majority decision on the judges' scorecards.
With the win, Kongo has now picked up three-straight victories inside the Bellator cage, and puts himself in position to compete for the promotion's vacant heavyweight title.
Photo Credit: Bellator MMA
The only thing that matters to Joe Warren is being a champion.
Where the decorated wrestler turned mixed martial artist once held Bellator gold, losses in two of his past three put those dreams up against the wall. The 39-year-old desperately needed a victory against Sirwan Kakai at Bellator 161, and Warren returned to form to get the job done on Friday night. The former bantamweight champion pressured and battered Kakai throughout the first two rounds, before latching onto a neck crank to bring the fight to an abrupt end in the final frame.
It was a solid performance from Warren, and one that will keep the Michigan native alive in the 135-pound title picture.
Photo credit: Bellator MMA
There was a lot of hype surrounding Anastasia Yankova in the lead up to Bellator 161.
The highly touted Russian prospect had been vocal in the media about putting talent over presentation, and her bout against Vega Arteaga was yet another chance to prove her legitimacy as a fighter.
And judging by the way she fights, protecting her looks isn’t in the Yankova playbook.
The 25-year-old came straight out the gates guns blazing and paid the price for it. Arteaga got the better of an early exchange that sent Yankova to the canvas. Nevertheless, Yankova rebounded with vigor and let her hands fly.
The two women spent the next 12 minutes going toe-to-toe in an all-out scrap. While Yankova struggled early she found her mark in the second frame and continued to press forward throughout the third. Arteaga battled her at every turn, and looked as if she was going to derail the hype, but the two of the three judges sitting cageside saw the bout in Yankova’s favor as.
With the win, Yankova remains undefeated, but it’s clear she needs a bit more time to develop.
Photo Credit: Bellator MMA
Zombie movies are all the rage these days and there was an undead sighting on Friday night.
After Derek Campos caught a combination from Djamil Chan that appeared to steal his very soul, the Lubbock native not only resurrected, but did so with vengeance. Campos rallied back to take the final two rounds on the judge’s scorecards to pick up his second consecutive victory inside the Bellator cage.
With a knockout over Melvin Guillard and now a thrilling performance against Chan, Campos' stock will certainly rise in the increasingly competitive ranks of the 155-pound division.
Bellator 161 Official Results:
Cheick Kongo def. Tony Johnson via majority decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Joe Warren def. Sirwan Kakai via submission (neck crank) Rd 3
Anastasia Yankova def. Veta Arteaga via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Derek Campos def. Djamil Chan via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Preliminary Card
Rey Trujillo def. Duece King via submission (guillotine choke) Rd 1
Garrett Scott def. Waylon Bronstrup via submission (rear-naked choke) Rd 1
Emily Ducote def. Kenya Miranda Da Silva via submission (armbar) Rd 2
Daniel Pineda def. Mark Dickman via submission (rear-naked choke) Rd 2
Matt Mazurek def. Jose Guerra via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
The Los Angeles-based promotion has picked up serious momentum as of late by landing huge free agent signings in Rory MacDonald and Chael Sonnen. Bellator kept the energy rolling strong on Friday night with an action-packed card at the H-E-B Center on the outskirts of Austin, TX.
Photo Credit: Bellator MMA
Anytime two heavyweights step into the cage there’s a good chance someone’s going to sleep, and Cheick Kongo and Tony Johnson didn't show up to play around.
Kongo controlled the first round with his signature clinch game, which kept Johnson's power at bay. And while Johnson would eventually find some space, the savvy veteran didn't allow him much room to breathe as Kongo was able to put 'The Hulk' back on the canvas. Kongo quickly jumped to full mount were he rained down punches and elbows to close out the first round.
Having dropped the opening frame Johnson quickly went to work with pressure of his own and turned the tide of the fight with a solid takedown against the cage. Johnson easily found back position, but was unable to lock up a submission attempt. Nevertheless, Johnson was able to control the action, and used a choke attempt to transition into a full mount of his own.
Johnson finished the second stanza from the same position he was on the receiving end of at the end of the first five minutes, which made it anyone's game going into the final round.
And while his opponent had the momentum, Kongo's experience ultimately sealed the deal. The 39-year-old stuffed a takedown attempt in the early stages of the third round, and was able to force Johnson back to the canvas. Kongo rode out the remaining minutes in control, and picked up the majority decision on the judges' scorecards.
With the win, Kongo has now picked up three-straight victories inside the Bellator cage, and puts himself in position to compete for the promotion's vacant heavyweight title.
Photo Credit: Bellator MMA
The only thing that matters to Joe Warren is being a champion.
Where the decorated wrestler turned mixed martial artist once held Bellator gold, losses in two of his past three put those dreams up against the wall. The 39-year-old desperately needed a victory against Sirwan Kakai at Bellator 161, and Warren returned to form to get the job done on Friday night. The former bantamweight champion pressured and battered Kakai throughout the first two rounds, before latching onto a neck crank to bring the fight to an abrupt end in the final frame.
It was a solid performance from Warren, and one that will keep the Michigan native alive in the 135-pound title picture.
Photo credit: Bellator MMA
There was a lot of hype surrounding Anastasia Yankova in the lead up to Bellator 161.
The highly touted Russian prospect had been vocal in the media about putting talent over presentation, and her bout against Vega Arteaga was yet another chance to prove her legitimacy as a fighter.
And judging by the way she fights, protecting her looks isn’t in the Yankova playbook.
The 25-year-old came straight out the gates guns blazing and paid the price for it. Arteaga got the better of an early exchange that sent Yankova to the canvas. Nevertheless, Yankova rebounded with vigor and let her hands fly.
The two women spent the next 12 minutes going toe-to-toe in an all-out scrap. While Yankova struggled early she found her mark in the second frame and continued to press forward throughout the third. Arteaga battled her at every turn, and looked as if she was going to derail the hype, but the two of the three judges sitting cageside saw the bout in Yankova’s favor as.
With the win, Yankova remains undefeated, but it’s clear she needs a bit more time to develop.
Photo Credit: Bellator MMA
Zombie movies are all the rage these days and there was an undead sighting on Friday night.
After Derek Campos caught a combination from Djamil Chan that appeared to steal his very soul, the Lubbock native not only resurrected, but did so with vengeance. Campos rallied back to take the final two rounds on the judge’s scorecards to pick up his second consecutive victory inside the Bellator cage.
With a knockout over Melvin Guillard and now a thrilling performance against Chan, Campos' stock will certainly rise in the increasingly competitive ranks of the 155-pound division.
Bellator 161 Official Results:
Cheick Kongo def. Tony Johnson via majority decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Joe Warren def. Sirwan Kakai via submission (neck crank) Rd 3
Anastasia Yankova def. Veta Arteaga via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Derek Campos def. Djamil Chan via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Preliminary Card
Rey Trujillo def. Duece King via submission (guillotine choke) Rd 1
Garrett Scott def. Waylon Bronstrup via submission (rear-naked choke) Rd 1
Emily Ducote def. Kenya Miranda Da Silva via submission (armbar) Rd 2
Daniel Pineda def. Mark Dickman via submission (rear-naked choke) Rd 2
Matt Mazurek def. Jose Guerra via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)