>>> THE MOMENT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR. FIGHT FANS ARE BACK! BELLATOR MMA BRINGS YOU THREE ACTION-PACKED CARDS FROM MOHEGAN SUN ARENA FEATURING THREE CHAMPIONSHIP BOUTS. DOUGLAS LIMA, DEFENDS THE WELTERWEIGHT CROWN, AGAINST THE 25-YEAR-OLD YAROSLAV AMOSOV. TAKING ON TIM JOHNSON IN A WELTERWEIGHT HEAVY FIGHT. JULIANA VELASQUEZ DEFENDS AGAINST DENISE KUHOLTZ. PLUS, SOME OF THE MOST ELECTRIFYING NAMES GOING HEAD-TO-HEAD LOOKING TO EARN THEIR SHOT AT BELLATOR GOLD. DON'T MISS BELLATOR MMA ACTION LIVE FROM MOHEGAN SUN ARENA. LIMITED TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE. VISIT TICKET MASTER OR BELLATOR.com FOR MORE DETAILS. ♪ ♪ >> Jenn: HEY, BELLATOR NATION. FOLLOW US ACROSS A LARGE ARRAY OF DIGITAL PLATFORMS AND STAY UP TO DATE ON EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW. LIKE US ON THE BELL FOR FACEBOOK PAGE AND SEE EXCLUSIVE VIDEOS. FOLLOW US AND GET INSTANT UPDATES ON TWITTER AT BELLATORMMA AND GET A CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR TWEET LIVE ON BROADCAST. AMAZING PICTURES ON INSTAGRAM AT MMA. JOIN BELLATOR NATION TODAY. ♪ ♪ >>> DOUGLAS LIMA IS A DIVISION KING. >> RIGHT HERE! BOOM. >> AND THREE-TIME BELLATOR WORLD CHAMPION. YAROSLAV AMOSOV IS SEEMINGLY UNBEATABLE AT 25-0, RIDING THE LONGEST ACTIVE WINNING STREAK IN MMA. SOMETHING HAS GOT TO GIVE. ♪ ARE YOU COMING UP ♪ >> BETORE MMA LIVE TONIGHT ON SHOW TIME, WHERE WARRIORS RULE. >> WHAT A FIGHT! >> -- MAKES BELLATOR HISTORY! >> OH, MY GOD! >> WELCOME TO BELLATOR MMA! ♪ ♪ >> Jenn: WELCOME, BELLATOR NATION. WE ARE BACK AT THE MOHEGAN SUN ARENA FOR ANOTHER STACKED FIGHT CARD. THIS IS BELLATOR 260, HEADLINED BY A WELTERWEIGHT WORLD TITLE FIGHT. THE CHAMPION, THE PHENOM, DOUGLAS LIMA, WIDELY REGARDED AS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS WELTERWEIGHTS IN THE SPORT, HE PUTS HIS BELT ON THE LINE, VERSUS THE UNDEFEATED 25-0 YAROSLAV AMOSOV. THE COUNTDOWN IS ON. WELL, WELCOME IN TO THE FIGHT, EVERYONE. I'M JENN BROWN. WE WILL BE AT THE FIGHT DECK ALL NIGHT LONG. JOINING ME TO BREAK DOWN THE FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY IS NONE OTHER THAN MR. BIG JOHN McCARTHY. WELCOME TO THE DESK WITH ME. >> John: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. PLEASED TO BE HERE. >> Jenn: JOINING US FOR THE FIRST TIME, MAKING HIS FIGHT DESK DEBUT, MICHAEL. >> Michael: IT IS EXCITING TO ME. IT IS A DEBUT IN A DIFFERENT WAY. >> Jenn: WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT AS WELL. A STACKED CARD, LOTS OF GREAT CARDS COMING YOUR WAY. I KNOW THERE'S ONE YOU HAVE YOUR EYES ON SPECIFICAL TO NIGH. THE MAIN EVENT, A WELTERWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT. DOUGLAS LIMA TAKING ON THE UNBEATEN YAROSLAV AMOSOV. JOHN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS WE CERTAINLY LIKE THE PRES. WHY SHOULD FANS BEING EXCITED ABOUT THIS MATCHUP TONIGHT? >> John: IT IS SIMPLE. YOU HAVE A GUY IN YAROSLAV WHO IS UNBEATEN. ANY TIME YOU HAVE SOMEBODY UNBEATEN IN THEIR CAREER, THERE'S THE MYSTIQUE ABOUT WHY IS HE SPECIAL, WHAT IS HE DOING NOBODY ELSE HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT? CAN DOUGLAS LIMA FIGURE OUT THE PUZZLE? WE WILL FIND OUT. >> Jenn: WHY DO YOU THINK NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT AMOSOV? WHAT MAKES HIM DANGEROUS? >> Michael: HE IS AN ALL-AROUND FIGHTER, A STRAIGHT NINE OR TEN IN EVERY AREA EVER MADE. WE NORMALLY SEE PEOPLE SPECIALIZE IN SPECIFIC AREAS BUT HE IS QUITE COMPETENT EVERYWHERE AND THAT MAKES HIM DANGEROUS. >> Jenn: LET'S TALK ABOUT DOUGLAS LIMA BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT HIM AND NOT THE LATE KICKS. HE IS EFFECTIVE, EXPLOSIVE. OPPONENTS KNOW THEY'RE COMING BUT STILL SO EFFECTIVE. WHY, JOHN? >> John: LET'S BE HONEST, I BELIEVE IT WAS GEORGE MASINOV THAT STARTED THE LOW CALF KICK. THAT LOW CALF KICK ABSOLUTELY CHANGED THE SPORT. PEOPLE HAVE TO BE AWARE OF IT, BUT HE'S THE ONE THAT KIND OF STARTED IT. VINCENT HENDERSON KIND OF MADE IT BETTER. DOUGLAS LIMA PUT HIS NAME ON IT. HE HAS TATTOOED THAT KICK NOT ONLY IN THIS COURSE OF THE SPORT, BUT HE'S TATTOOED IT ON TO HIS OPPONENT. >> Jenn: YES, HE HAS. >> John: HE IS DYNAMIC WITH THAT KICK. >> Michael: 100%. IT IS FIRST THING YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU ARE EVEN COMING TO FIGHT SOMEONE LIKE DOUGLAS LIMA, THAT LEG KICK. YOU HAVE SEEN HOW DAMAGING IT IS ACROSS THE BOARD IN EVERY SINGLE OPPONENT HE HAS FOUGHT. SO YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN FIGHTING HIM, THE SAME WAY I HAVE TO. >> Jenn: WE WILL SKIP TO YOUR MATCHUP LATER, TALK ABOUT IT. THAT IS OUR MAIN EVENT, COMING UP LATER ON TONIGHT ON SHOW TIME. HERE IS A LOOK AT THE REST OF THE FIGHT CARD. FEATURING KNOCK-OUT ARTIST PAUL DALEY TAKING ON JASON JACKSON. PLUS WE HAVE AARON PICO TAKING ON AIDEN LEE. THE NIGHT WILL KICK OFF WITH A SHOWDOWN BETWEEN DeMARQUES JACKSON AND MARK LEMMINGER. FOUR INCREDIBLE FIGHTS. LET'S KICK OFF THE NIGHT AND HEAD DOWN CAGE SIDE TO THE REST OF OUR BROADCAST TEAM. WE HAVE MAURO RANALLO AND JOSH THOMSON. HEY I GUYS. >> Mauro: THANK YOU. IT TAKES PLACE, THE OPENER, IN THE LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION. ALEX POLL POLL AGAINST BELLATOR NEWCOMER GUSTAVO TRUJILLO. >>> AND NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE WELCOME THE FIRST FIGHTERS OF THE EVENING, ASSASSIN, GUSTAVO TRUJILLO! >> Mauro: I FEEL LIKE I'M GOING BACK TO MY STAMPEDE WRESTLING DAYS FOR THE LEGENDARY HART FAMILY, A LEGENDARY FIGURE BY THE NAME OF THE CUBAN ASSASSIN USED TO STOMP THROUGH THE PROFESSIONAL RING. JOSH, GUSTAVO TRUJILLO, HE IS THE REAL DEAL, A CUBAN NATIONAL. GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLING BRINGING A 3-1 RECORD TO THE BELLATOR MMA CAGE, AND ALL THREE OF HIS WINS CAME INSIDE THE DISTANCE. TWO VIA KNOCKOUT AND ONE VIA TRIANGLE CHOKE. >> YOU MAY REMEMBER HE MAY HAVE A WRESTLING PEDIGREE BUT HE LIKES TO THROW PUNCHES. HE PUTS HIMSELF IN DANGER. THAT SOMETIMES WILL GET HIMSELF IN TROUBLE GETTING OUT OF POSITION. I HAVE TO TELL YOU HE IS FUN TO WATCH. >> Mauro: YOU'RE RIGHT. HE'S DECORATED WRESTLING, AND OVER TO TRY TO END HIS FIGHTS WITH FLASHING KNOCKOUTS AND, WELL, WE SAW IT IN THE LAST OUTING, A FIGHT THAT LASTED 35 SECONDS. >> Josh: YEAH, HE POSSESSES THE POWER AND UNDERSTANDS THAT. SO HE WALKS PEOPLE DOWN. HE TOUCHES THEM. LIKE I SAID, HE SOMETIMES LEAVES HIMSELF IN JEOPARDY TO GET HIT WHICH MAKES IT MORE FUN FOR THE FANS AND FOR US OBVIOUSLY SITTING HERE CALLING THE FIGHTS. BUT HE ONLY RELIES ON HIS WRESTLING WHEN HE NEEDS TO OR WHEN HE FEELS LIKE POTENTIALLY THE EXCHANGES ARE NOT GOING HIS WAY. I HAVE TO TELL YOU, THAT MAKES IT FUN FOR EVERYBODY. >> Mauro: COMMITMENT, DISCIPLINE AND STRIKING. THOSE ARE HIS THREE GREATEST STRENGTHS ACCORDING TO THE CUBAN ASSASSIN. >>> AND NOW WE WELCOME HIS OPPONENT, ALEX POLIZZI! >> Mauro: NOTHING CAME EASY FOR ALEX POLIZZI IN HIS LAST FIGHT IN THE BELLATOR MMA CAGE AT BELLATOR 251. HE WAS OUT POINTED BY JULIUS ANGLISKIS. WHEN WE TALK TO HIM, POLIZZI TOLD US IF EATING JABS WAS AN ADMIRABLE SKILL I DID PRETTY WELL IN THAT. THEN HE SAID IN SERIOUSNESS HE SHOULD HAVE UTILIZED HIS WRESTLING EARLIER. HE WAS A THREE-TIME NCAA QUALIFIER AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY. SO TAKING THE LOSS AND HOPEFULLY LEARNING AND BUILDING ON THAT EXPERIENCE. >> Josh: YEAH, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, HE IS VERY, VERY TOUGH. HE IS A STUD, AND IT WAS ONE HE RAN INTO, HE JUST RAN INTO A BRICK WALL. THAT HAPPENS FROM TIME TO TIME. HE'S GOING BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. I WANT TO SEE IF HE MADE ANY CHANGES. HIS WRESTLING IS DOMINANT. HE HAS GREAT TOP POSITION, LIKES TO LAY DOWN THE VICIOUS GROUND AND POUND. IT COMES DOWN TO MAKING SURE HE MADE ADJUSTMENTS FROM HIS LAST FIGHT TO SEE IF HE CAN GET THEM INTO PLAY. >> Mauro: LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE TALE OF THE TAPE FOR OUR OPENING ENCOUNTER THAT TAKES PLACE AT 2:05. >> Josh: YEAH, YOU CAN SEE THAT GUSTAVO HAS A FOUR-AND-A-HALF REACH ADVANTAGE. HE PLANS TO USE IT. HE WILL TRY TO WALK HIM DOWN, TOUCH HIM WITH THE HANDS AND LET IT FLY. >> Mauro: WITH OFFICIAL INTRODUCTIONS HERE IS THE VOICE OF BELLATOR MMA, MICHAEL C. WILLIAMS. >> Michael: WELCOME BACK INSIDE MOHEGAN SUN ARENA AS WE GET SET NOW TO KICK OFF TONIGHT BELLATOR 260 PRELIMS WITH THREE FIVE-MINUTE ROUNDS IN THE LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION! INTRODUCING THE BLEW CORNER FIRST. AT 6'3", WEIGHING AT 205. HIS PROFESSIONAL RECORD, THREE WINS, ONE LOSS. HAILING FROM CUBA, HE FIGHTS OUT OF NORTH CAROLINA. GUSTAVO "THE CUBAN ASSASSIN" TRUJILLO! ACROSS THE CAGE HIS ADVERSARY FIGHTING OUT OF THE RED CORNER AT 6 FOOT, WEIGHING IN AT 205 POUNDS EVEN, PROFESSIONAL SEVEN VICTORIES, JUST ONE DEFEAT. FROM MADISON, WISCONSIN, INTRODUCING ALEX "EASY" POLIZZI. IN CHARGE, THE REFEREE BLAKE RICE. >> Mauro: BLAKE BRYCE, THE THIRD MAN IN THE CAGE. ALEX POLIZZI, 1 AND 1 IN BELLATOR MMA, WELCOMING GUSTAVO TRUJILLO. >> READY? READY? FIGHT! >> Mauro: TRUJILLO IN THE BLEW GLOVES. POLIZZI IN THE RED GLOVES. IMMEDIATELY POLIZZI COMES FORWARD, LOOKING FOR THE LEG TAKEDOWN RIGHT FROM THE JUMP. AND INSTEAD, THE CUBAN GRECO NATIONAL WRESTLER PUTS POLIZZI ON HIS -- >> Josh: HE CAME TO THE BODY LOCK AND THAT'S NOT WHERE YOU WANT TO BE WITH THE GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLER. >> Mauro: TRUJILLO WORKING FROM TOP POSITION. POLIZZI TRYING TO SOMEHOW GET BACK TO HIS FEET, SCRAMBLE. >> Josh: TRUJILLO DOING A GOOD JOB MAINTAINING POSITION. HE HAS THE FAR SIDE HOOK OVER THE ARM AND NOW HE HAS THE LEG RIGHT AS WELL. >> Mauro: TAKEDOWN BY TRUJILLO FROM THE WAIST LOCK. WE HAVE PASSED ONE MINUTE HERE IN THE OPENING ROUND, SCHEDULED FOR THREE AT 2:05. POLIZZI WEARING THE BIG BACKPACK IN TRUJILLO. >> Josh: TRUJILLO DOING A GOOD JOB MAKING SURE HE STAYS OVER THE TOP. NOW, BRING THAT RIGHT LEG AROUND, POTENTIALLY TO TRY TO THROW THAT HOOK AND CARRY ALL OF HIS BODY WEIGHT. >> Mauro: POLIZZI COMING OFF HIS LONE LOSS AFTER BEGINNING HIS CAREER WITH SEVEN CONSECUTIVE WINS, BUT TOUGH HERE IN THE OPENING. 90 SECONDS AGAINST THE DEBUTING GUSTAVO TRUJILLO. >> Josh: GREAT JOB ON THE LIFT. GOT TO TURN HIM OFF THE FENCE, GET THE SLAM. YOU WANT TO TRY TO SLAM HIM AWAY FROM THE FENCE. IF THERE'S NO SLAM AWAY FROM THE FENCE, THEY CAN PUT THEIR BACK TO THE FENCE AND GET UP RIGHT AWAY. POLIZZI WORKING ON THE GUY OWE TEEN, NOT ABLE TO GET IT BUT THREATENING TRUJILLO TO TRY TO STAND BACK UP TO TRY TO DEFEND. >> Mauro: POLIZZI HAS TWO SUBMISSION WINS AS HE IS PUT BACK ON HIS -- TRUJILLO WORKING SOME GROUND AND POUND AS HE LOOKS TO BRASS KICK POLIZZI'S BACK. POLIZZI TURNING INTO TRUJILLO. HE'LL GROUND IT. >> Josh: WHAT HAPPENS IS A LOT OF WRESTLERS DRILL THESE MOVES, IT IS CALLED MAT RETURN. POLIZZI IS ACTUALLY STANDING BACK UP EVERY SINGLE TIME RIGHT AWAY, MAKING SURE HE IS MORE TIRED WITH GOING OVER AND OVER. >> Mauro: NOW POLIZZI GOING TO TRY TO MAXIMIZE HIS POSITION. FULL MOUNT. >> Josh: THIS IS WHERE TRUJILLO TENDS TO HAVE PROBLEMS. WHEN GUYS GET ON TOP, HE HAS A HARD TIME GETTING THEM OFF. >> Mauro: YOU KNOW A THING OR TWO ABOUT IT, YOU REPORTED ONE IN YOUR LONE VICTORY IN JAPAN FOR PRIZE WINNING CHAMPIONSHIPS AS TRUJILLO WAS FISHING THERE MOMENTARILY. NOW OPEN COURT. >> Josh: IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET ONE, NOW IS THE TIME TO GET THEM WHILE STILL DRY. >> Mauro: UNDER TWO MINUTES LEFT IN THE FIRST ROUND. >> Josh: THE DIFFERENCE IN POLIZZI AND TRUJILLO IS THAT POLIZZI IS ABLE TO HOLD POSITION AND HOLD IN THERE WHEREAS TRUJILLO WASN'T ABLE TO HOLD POLIZZI DOWN. HE KEPT STANDING UP RIGHT AWAY. >> Mauro: POLIZZI HAS A REAR-NAKED CHOKE VICTORY ON HIS RESUME, LOOKING TO FLATTEN OUT TRUJILLO. COMING UP ON THE POINT OF 90 SECONDS. >> Josh: START LIFTING THE KICK, WORK THE ARM UNDERNEATH. TRUJILLO, ON THE INSIDE -- TAKE AWAY THAT REAR-NAKED -- >> Mauro: TRUJILLO UTILIZED HIS WRESTLING BACKGROUND TO KICK DOWN POLIZZI IN THE EARLY GOING, AND NOW POLIZZI PUSHING FOR THE REAR-NAKED CHOKE. POLIZZI COMING BACK HERE IN THE OPENING ROUND, AND NOW TRUJILLO IN TROUBLE. >> Josh: UNDER THE CHIN, BUT HE'S ON THE RIGHT SIDE. ALL TRUJILLO HAS TO DO, OF COURSE, IS FLATTEN HIS BACK TO THE GROUND, START COMING OFF. THE ARM STARTS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CHIN. >> Mauro: AND TRUJILLO ABLE TO ESCAPE THAT SUBMISSION ATTEMPT AS POLIZZI LOOKS TO MOUNT AGAIN. >> Josh: THAT'S NICE WORK RIGHT THERE WHEN YOU ARE MAKING THE GUY ON BOTTOM SCRAMBLE AS MUCH AS TRUJILLO. THEY'RE NOT PREPARED FOR THAT. START TAKING THE WIND OUT, ATTACKING THE ARM BAR. >> Mauro: POLIZZI, TEMPORARY TATTOOS, AND ALEX POLIZZI GETS IT DONE! YEAH! IN MANY WAYS, DIDN'T MAKE IT LOOK EASY UNTIL THE END. >> Josh: MR. POLIZZI MADE IT LOOK EASY. >> Mauro: AND ALEX POLIZZI, WHO WAS ABLE TO OVERCOME THE EARLY TAKEDOWNS OF GUSTAVO TRUJILLO AND POLIZZI IMPROVING TO 8 AND 1, 2 AND 1 IN THE BELLATOR MMA CAGE AS TRUJILLO TAKES DEFEAT FOR THE SECOND TIME, GETS FINISHED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS CAREER. HERE WAS THE EARLY WRESTLING BY TRUJILLO THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, JOSH. >> Josh: THIS WAS THE EARLY STORY OF THE ROUND. HE KEPT TAKING HIM DOWN, EXHAUSTED HIMSELF. ONCE POLIZZI GOT ON TOP, YOU SAW HE WASN'T ABLE TO GET POLIZZI OFF HIM. POLIZZI MADE EXCHANGES, GOT TO THE TOP, GOT TO THE BACK, MADE THE TRANSITION. GOT CLOSE TO THE REAR NAKED, WASN'T ABLE TO FINISH IT. GREAT JOB BY TRUJILLO PULLING THE TOP HAND OFF, BUT WHEN IT CAME TO ATTACKING THE ARM HE EXHAUSTED HIS ENERGY TRYING TO DEFEND. STUCK WITH HIS BACK FLAT TO THE GROUND, WAS ABLE TO ATTACK THE ARM BAR. POLIZZI MAKES HIM VERBALLY TAP AS WELL AS TAPPING. GREAT JOB BY ALEX POLIZZI. >> Mauro: PAIN, SHAME AND TEMPORARY TATTOOS. WELL, HE SECURES A PERMANENT VICTORY VIA SUBMISSION AS ALEX POLIZZI GETS IT DONE IN OUR OPENING BOUT HERE AT BELLATOR 260. . >> GOT TO LIVE WITH IT NOW. CAN I COME? >> Mauro: LET'S MAKE IT OFFICIAL WITH MICHAEL C. WILLIAMS. >> Michael: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, INSIDE THE BELLATOR CAGE, THE STRAIGHT-ARM BAR BRINGS ON THE TAP OFFICIALLY 4:22 INTO ROUND NUMBER ONE. THE WINNER BY SUBMISSION, ALEX "EASY" POLIZZI! >> Mauro: THE MOST CELEBRATED HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING FROM HIS HOMETOWN OF BELOIT, WISCONSIN, ALEX POLIZZI PICKS UP THE FIRST STRAIGHT ARM BAR SUBMISSION WIN OF HIS CAREER. YOU NOW HAS THREE SUBMISSIONS ON HIS RESUME AS HE IMPROVES TO 2 AND 1 HERE IN THE BELLATOR MMA CAGE, 8 AND 1 OVERALL. LET'S GO UP TO JOSH THOM SON. >> Josh: I'M HERE WITH THE WINNER, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ALEX POLIZZI. HEY, GREAT JOB ON THE MAT RETURNS. HE KEPT LIFTING AND SLAMMING. LOOKED LIKE HE GOT EXHAUSTED FROM THE LIFT AND TAKEDOWNS. TALK TO ME HOW YOU WERE ABLE TO GET BACK TO YOUR FEET. >> THE PLAN WAS TO COME IN AND MAKE USE OF MY WRESTLING. I KNOW A LOT OF TIME PEOPLE THINK OF THAT AND TAKEDOWNS ARE ON TOP, BUT YOU HAVE TO GET IN THERE. HE TOOK ME DOWN AT FIRST, ABLE TO KEEP COMING UP, COMING UP. THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO PUT PRESSURE ON GUYS, AND THAT JUST HAPPENED TO BE ONE OF THEM. GETTING THAT REVERSAL, AFTER THAT IT WAS JUST A BATTLE OF ATTRITION. I CAME OUT ON TOP. >> Josh: SO THERE WAS A LOT OF ATTEMPTS ON SUBMISSION. THE REAR NAKED. WHEN YOU WENT TO THE STOP YOU WERE ABLE TO GET THE STRAIGHT ARM BAR. TALK ME THROUGH THAT. >> YOU KNOW, ONCE I'M ON9 LET'S GO BACK TO JENN BROWN AT THE FIGHT DESK. >> Jenn: THANKS, MAURO. THAT WAS AN IMPRESSIVE WIN. LOOKING AT THE GUYS ON PAPER, BOTH GREAT WRESTLING BACKGROUND. WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE MAKER. >> John: WHAT JOSH WAS TALKING ABOUT, THE WAY HE WAS GETTING UP AND WHERE YOU WOULD SEE TRUJILLO TAKEN BACK DOWN AGAIN AND THE WORK THAT HE WAS DOING. THEN WHEN POLIZZI FINALLY GOT THE REVERSAL, GOT ON TOP, IT WAS A DIFFERENCE OF HIS BODY POSITIONING AND NOT MAKING THE MISTAKE THAT TRUJILLO MADE. WE TALKED ABOUT TRYING TO MAKE BIG THINGS HAPPEN. YOU CAN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME. TAKE YOUR TIME. LET THINGS WORK THEMSELVES OUT. >> TAKE YOUR TIME, OF COURSE, IT IS THE FIRST ROUND. YOU HAVE ANOTHER TWO ROUNDS TO CORRECT THAT DECISION. THERE'S NO NEED TO RUSH. FOR ME, THE DIFFERENCE -- THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IS THE FACT HE COULDN'T CONTROL ONCE HE TOOK HIM DOWN. THAT'S THE MAIN DIFFERENCE. ONCE HE WAS REVERSED, THE DIFFERENCE WITH POLIZZI IS HE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE TOP POSITION AND THEN TAKE IT FROM THERE. >> Jenn: I WAS WONDERING, TRUJILLO WAS GOOD. HE WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF A COUPLE OF THE SUBMISSION ATTEMPTS SO HATS OFF TO BOTH GUYS. >> John: LOOK, ALEX POLIZZI HAS A GOOD RECORD, HE'S GOOD AT WRESTLING, ABLE TO CONTROL PEOPLE, AND HE LIKES TO USE GROUND AND POUNCE. IT WAS NICE TO SEE HIM USE THE STRAIGHT ARM LOCK. >> Jenn: TO 9 AND 1 INSIDE THE CAGE TONIGHT. THAT'S THE PERFECT WAY TO START THE NIGHT HERE FOR BELLATOR MMA. WE HAVE FOUR GREAT FIGHTS COMING YOUR WAY. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CO-MAIN. IT HAS A LOT OF FIGHT FANS EXCITED. PAUL DALEY TAKING ON WELTERWEIGHT JASON JACKSON. A CATCH WEIGHT OF 175. THIS WILL BE DALEY'S THIRD FIGHT AT 175. JOHN, HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE FOR HIM IN THE FIVE EXTRA POUNDS? >> John: I'M TELLING I RIGHT NOW FOR PAUL DALEY, THOSE FIVE EXTRA POUNDS ARE EVERYTHING. LOOK, THERE IS 175-POUND WEIGHT DIVISION IN THE UNIFIED RULE. MOST PROMOTIONS DON'T USE IT. BUT BELLATOR KNOWS PAUL DALEY IS AN EXCITING FIGHTING. HE IS NOT GOING TO HAVE AN EASY TIME GETTING BACK TO 170. THOSE FIVE POUNDS ARE HUGE FOR PAUL DALEY. HE HAS ENERGY. HE DOESN'T KILL HIMSELF TO GET DOWN TO IT, AND HE CAN COME OUT AND FIGHT A GREAT FIGHT. >> Jenn: WE TALK ABOUT DALEY'S POWER. WHAT DOES JASON JACKSON NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE HE DOESN'T GET DRAWN INTO THE BRAWL THAT DALEY IS KNOWN FOR? YOU KNOW, THAT CAN BE DEVASTATING AS WE'VE SEEN FROM SO MANY OF HIS OPPONENTS. >> IT IS ABOUT STAYING TRUE TO YOUR GAME PLAN YOU COME IN WITH. DON'T FEEL PRESSURE OR PRIDEFUL ANY SINGLE MOMENT. IF YOU GET CAUGHT, COME BACK. DON'T FIGHT FROM A BAD POSITIVE SIS. I SAY THE SAME THING, MY COACH TELLS ME THE SAME THING. IF YOU GET HIT, DON'T FIGHT FROM THAT POSITION, ADJUST, START ON THE GOOD FOOT. THAT'S WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO IN THIS FIGHT. HE NEEDS TO START ON THE FRONT FOOT, KEEP HIM ON THE BACK FOOT. IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF POWER OUT AND STAY TRUE TO YOUR GAME PLAN. >> John: MICHAEL IS RIGHT. YOU CAN'T GET INTO THIS, OH, HE HIT ME, I HAVE TO HIT HIM BACK. JASON JACKSON HAS A FANTASTIC JAB, IF HE GETS INTO THE GUN SHRINKING MATCH WITH PAUL DAILY HE IS LOOKING TO LOSE THE FIGHT. IF HE MAINTAINS HIS DISTANCE, MAINTAINS HIS COMPOSURE, REALIZES I DON'T HAVE TO WIN EVERY SECOND OF THE FIGHT, JUST THE MAJORITY, THAT'S HOW HE GETS HIS WAY. >> Jenn: THAT'S THE CO-MAIN EVENT COMING UP. UP NEXT, FEMALE FEATHERWEIGHTS TAKE THE STAGE AND CAGE TO BREAK DOWN THE FIGHT. HERE IS GARETH A. DAVIES. >> WOMEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT MATCHUP SEES THE COLLISION OF HEAVY HANDED CALIFORNIAN AMANDA BELL AND RUSSIAN FORMER STAND YOUND MARINA MOKHNATKINA. AMANDA BELL GOES BY "THE LADY KILLER" FOR A REASON. SHE WILL BE SEEKING A STAND-UP BRAWL AGAINST THE SUBMISSION SPECIALIST, MOKHNATKINA. FROM PERM, THE CITY ONCE KNOWN AT MOLOTOV, AND IT WILL BE A COCKTAIL OF FISTS AND FURY VERSUS LOCKS AND HOLDS AS THE RUSSIAN FIGHTER LOOKS TO REBOUND FROM A LOSS TO HARDING ON HER BELLATOR DEBUT. MARINA HAS WON FOUR OF HER SIX FIGHTS BY SUBMISSION USING THE SKILLS THAT MADE HER A LEGENDARY SIX-TIME WORLD CHAMPION IN SAMBO. BELL'S 7 AND 7 WIN LOSS SEQUENCE SUGGEST A VICTORY AFTER DEFEAT TO LESLIE SMITH LAST TIME OUT, BUT SHE WON'T WANT TO PLAY RUSSIAN ROULETTE ON THE GROUND. SO EXPECT A FAST, AGGRESSIVE START FROM THE NUMBER 8 RANKED 145-POUNDER AS THE USA MEETS RUSSIA. STYLES MAKE FIGHTS. IN THIS ONE, IT IS ALL ABOUT GUYS WHO CAN APPLY THEIR SUPERPOWER. >>> CHEERIO TO THE PRINCE OF PUNDITRY ACROSS THE POUND. GARETH DAVIES BREAKING DOWN THE FEATHERWEIGHT MATCHUP. NUMBER 8 RANKED AMANDA BELL MEETS MARINA MOKHNATKINA. >>> NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE WELCOME OUR NEXT FIGHTER. THIS IS MARINA MOKHNATKINA. >> Mauro: SHE IS AS TOUGH AS IT IS TO SAY HER SURNAME. SAY THE NAME, JOSH THOMSON. MARINA MOKHNATKINA, WHO TURNED 33 LAST MONTH, AND SHE COMES TO BELLATOR TONIGHT LOOKING TO, WELL, MOVE TO 1 AND 1. SHE MADE HER BELLATOR DEBUT AT BELLATOR 219, MARCH OF 2019, LOSING TO JANAI HARDING VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION. SO SHE'S BEEN AWAY FROM THE CAGE AND THIS BIG OF A STAGE FOR A LONG TIME. >> Josh: A LOT OF FIGHTERS THAT LIVE OVERSEAS, THEY'VE BEEN AWAY FOR A WHILE BECAUSE OF VISA PROBLEMS OR TRAVEL ISSUES BECAUSE OF 2020 COVID, BUT SHE IS BACK NOW IN THE CAGE, HOPING TO SEE HER HAVE A DOMINANT PERFORMANCE. SHE NEEDS TO GET BACK ON THE WINNING TRACK. >> Mauro: AND SHE HAS BEEN ABLE TO TRAIN IN WITH A GANG AT STANFORD MMA AND HAS BEEN SPARRING COMPLETELY WITH THE GUYS AS SHE GETS READY FOR THIS IMPORTANT FIGHT AT 145, LOOKING TO GET, AS YOU MENTIONED, BACK ON THE WINNING TRACK AND IMPROVE THAT, WELL, SHE IS MORE THAN A COLORFUL CHARACTER. SHE IS A FORMIDABLE FIGHTER. >>> AND NOW AMANDA "THE LADY KILLER" BELL! >> Mauro: LIKE HER OPPONENT, A FIRED-UP AMANDA BELL LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK FROM TAKING AN "L" IN HER LAST FIGHT. SHE FACED VERY TOUGH LESLIE FITH WHO WENT WITHIN NINE SECONDS OR SO OF GOING THE DIFFERENCE WITH CHRIS CYBORG IN THE FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT AS WE SAW. FOR AMANDA BELL, SHE LOOKS TO BE A BRUISER IN THIS FIGHT. SHE WANTS TO BULLY HER OPPONENT. >> Josh: YES, SHE IS A JUNK YARD DOG. SHE WALKS YOU DOWN, MAKES YOU FIGHT OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE. IF SHE IS ABLE TO DO THAT TONIGHT TO MOKHNATKINA, THEN -- >> Mauro: NICELY DONE. >> Josh: -- I THINK SHE WILL HAVE A GREAT NIGHT AND SHOULD COME OUT WITH A VICTORY, IF SHE CAN IMPOSE HER WILL. >> Mauro: HER THREE STOPPAGE VICTORIES IN BELLATOR FEMALE FEATHERWEIGHT COMPETITION, TIED FOR THE MOST IN DIVISIONAL HISTORY, ARE THREE KNOCKOUT VICTORIES, TIED FOR THE MOST INDIVIDUAL HISTORY. AMANDA BELL HOPING TO MAKE A LITTLE HISTORY AND GET BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN. LET'S LOOK AT THE 411 AT THIS FIGHT FOR 145. >> Josh: AMANDA BELL HAS A FOUR-AND-A-HALF REACHING ADVANTAGE. ALL SHE HAS TO DO IS KEEP MARINA ON THE EDGE OF HIS JAB OR HER PUNCHES. >> Mauro: WITH THE OFFICIAL INTRODUCTION HERE ONCE AGAIN IS MICHAEL C. WILLIAMS. >> Michael: FOR THOSE JOINING US TONIGHT LIVE ON YouTube AT BELLATOR MMA AND SHOW TIME SPORTS, WE WELCOME YOU TO THE BELLATOR 260 PRELIMBS HERE INSIDE MOHEGAN SUN ARENA. NOW TO THE FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION SET FOR THREE FIVE-MINUTE ROUNDS. IN BLEW CORNER AT 5'6", WAYING IN AT 145 AND ONE HALF POUNDS, HER PROFESSIONAL RECORD, FOUR WINS, TWO LOSSES, FROM ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA, PRESENTING MARINA MOKHNATKINA! ACROSS THE CAGE OUT OF THE RED CORNER AT 5'7" WEIGHING IN AT 145 EVEN, AS A PROFESSIONAL SHE STANDS AT 7 AND 7. SHE FIGHTS OUT OF SALEM, OREGON. AMANDA "THE LADY KILLER" BELL! IN CHARGE, YOUR REFEREE BRIAN MINOR. >> Mauro: BRIAN MINOR, THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE FOR THIS FEMALE FEATHERWEIGHT ENCOUNTER. AMANDA BELL AT SEVEN AND SEVEN OVERALL FACING OFF WITH MARINA MOKHNATKINA, WHO IS FOUR AND TWO. IT IS BELL IN THE RED GLOVES, MOKHNATKINA IN THE BLUE GLOVES. IT HAS BEEN OVER TWO YEARS SINCE MOKHNATKINA HAS SEEN PRO MMA ACTION. I'M TRYING, JOSH. MOSHL MOUTH RANALLO HERE. >> Josh: YOU'RE A BETTER MAN THAN ME GIVING IT A TRY. >> Mauro: BELL LOOKING TO ESTABLISH THE JAB. WANTS TO ESTABLISH HER STAND-UP GAME AND DOMINATE IN THAT DOMAIN. INSIDE CALF KICK BY MOKHNATKINA. >> Josh: MOKHNATKINA HAS TO BE CAREFUL NOT JUST GETTING LAZY WITH THE KICKS BECAUSE SHE ALREADY GOT CAUGHT ONE TIME BY AMANDA BELL WITH THE VERY FIRST LEG KICK THAT WAS SLOW. >> Mauro: MOKHNATKINA GETS TO WORK WITH A SUBLIME STRIKING COACH IN HENRY HOOP DOWN IN THE SUNSHINE STATE. BUT LIKE ALL MARTIAL ARTS DISCIPLINES, JOSH, IT TAKES YEARS AND YEARS TO MASTER, ALTHOUGH SHE DOES THROW A COUPLE OF PUNCHES BUT LEAVES HER CHIN STRAIGHT UP, OPEN FOR THE COUNTER. >> Josh: YEAH, HENRY HAS A PLETHORA OF TOP, TOP FIGHTERS TO HELP HIM WITH THE COACHING. NICE KICK THERE, THAT CALF KICK FROM MOKHNATKINA. >> Mauro: TRYING TO SHOWCASE THE WRINKLES SHE HAS BEEN ADDING TO HER OVERALL GAME. WINDING UP WITH THAT CATAPULT-LIKE RIGHT HAND, AMANDA BELL, THE VETERAN, STILL SURVEYING THE LANDSCAPE, TRYING TO COLLECT DATA, MAYBE TRYING TO TIME MOKHNATKINA. >> Josh: YEAH, BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER DURING THAT DURATION, TWO YEARS OFF THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT COULD CHANGE. SO MOKHNATKINA HAS ALREADY SHOWN SHE IS KICKING A LOT MORE AND ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING THE OVERHAND RIGHT. BEFORE IT WAS A LOT OF STRAIGHT ONE, TWO, ONE, TWO. SHE HAS GROWN A LOT ALREADY FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN IN HER STRIKING. >> Mauro: MOKHNATKINA, AFTER BEGINNING HER CAREER WITH FOUR CONSECUTIVE WINS, TRYING TO SNAP A TWO-FIGHT LOSING STREAK, AND ON TO A GOOD START AGAINST THE NUMBER EIGHT RANKED AMANDA BELL. >> Josh: THIS IS WHERE IT FAVORS MOKHNATKINA BECAUSE SHE IS GREAT ON THE GROUND, LEG LOCK, TRANSITIONS TO THE KNEE BAR. ALL OF THOSE SUBMISSIONS ARE AVAILABLE, THE SIX-TIME ENSEMBLE WORLD CHAMPION. SHE IS SOMEBODY THAT CAN GET IN THERE AND GET AFTER IT WHEN IT COMES TO THE GRAPPLING ASPECT OF IT ALL. >> Mauro: MOKHNATKINA SAYING ALL OF THE RIGHT THINGS, SAYING SHE CAME TO BELLATOR TO BECOME THE CHAMPION. SHE FEELS THERE IS NOBODY THAT CAN STOP HER ON THE WAY TO HER GOAL AS SHE IS BRINGING THE FIGHT TO AMANDA BELL AS WE PASS THE MIDWAY POINT OF THE FIRST FRAME, AND THEY CONTINUE TO JOCKEY FOR POSITION, EXPENDING ENERGY ALONG THE FENCE, JOSH. >> Josh: SHE IS DOING A GREAT JOB KEEPING THE UNDERHOOK. NOTICE HOW SHE IS HOLDING THE UNDERHOOK HIGH ON THE LEFT SIDE. THAT WILL KEEP AMANDA BELL'S BACK PRESSED AGAINST THE FENCE. >> Mauro: BELL HAD TO ENDURE HER FAIR SHARE OF TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS, LIKE ALL OF US HAVE OVER THE PAST YEAR DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC. HAS FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO JUST TRY TO MAINTAIN FIGHTING SHAPE WITH ALL OF THE PERSONAL THINGS ONE HAS TO DEAL WITH, AND YET MADE WEIGHT AND IS HERE TONIGHT TO TRY TO RESURRECT THE MOMENTUM IN HER CAREER. >> Josh: A LOT COMES DOWN TO WHAT STATE YOU LIVE IN BECAUSE SOME STATES WERE OPEN, SOME WEREN'T, SOME STATES LIFTED RESTRICTIONS SOONER AND FIGHTERS WERE ABLE TO GET IN THERE. >> Mauro: SHE IS OUT OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. >> Josh: SHE IS OUT OF SALEM, OREGON. >> Mauro: BY WAY OF SPOKANE, AS SHE CONTINUES TO TRY TO STIFLE MOKHNATKINA'S ATTACK HERE, PUTTING HER WEIGHT ON AS MOKHNATKINA FISHING FOR THE SINGLE. NOW AMANDA BELL LOOKING TO TRY TO BREAK IT. CREED MOMENTARILY. >> Josh: REACHING OVER THE BACK, BUT YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE HEAD TO THE OUTSIDE, TRY TO HIT THAT, OR AT LEAST THREATEN ENOUGH WHERE MOKHNATKINA WOULD LET GO OF HER GRIP. >> Mauro: AMANDA BELL HAS ONE SUBMISSION WIN ON HER RECORD. THAT WAS AGAINST BRITNEY ELGIN WAY BACK IN APRIL OF 2014, AS WE COME UP ON THE FINAL 60 SECONDS OF THE OPENING ROUND BETWEEN AMANDA BELL AND MARINA MOKHNATKINA. MOKHNATKINA TOLD US HER GREATEST STRENGTH IS WRESTLING AND GROUND GRAEME. AS YOU MENTIONED, A MASTER OF SPORTS IN SAMBO YET FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO BRING THE FIGHT TO THE MAT. >> Josh: SOMETHING ABOUT BRINGING THE FIGHT TO THE MAT AS MUCH AS IT IS CONTROLLING THE POSITION AND LETTING YOUR STRIKES FLY FROM THERE. >> Mauro: THEY BREAK APART. >> Josh: THIS IS WHERE AMANDA BELL WANTS TO BE THOUGH. SHE WANTS TO BE RIGHT THERE ON THE OUTSIDE BUT LETTING HER HANDS GO. RIGHT NOW SHE IS A LITTLE HESITANT, SHE'S NOT PULLING THE TRIGGER. >> Mauro: AS WE'VE MENTIONED, MARINA MOKHNATKINA ALREADY SHOWCASING IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STAND-UP DEPARTMENT DUE TO THE TIME SHE'S ALREADY SPENT IN SANFORD MMA. >> Josh: YES, BECAUSE, LIKE WE GET BACK TO THE COVID TALK, THE GYMS WERE OPEN AND SHE WAS ABLE TO TRAIN MAJORITY OF THE TIME. >> Mauro: HERE'S THE EXCHANGE THERE AS WE COME TO THE END OF ROUND ONE. MOKHNATKINA ACQUITTED HERSELF WELL IN FIRST FIVE MINUTES ZWROO SHE DID A GREAT JOB. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET A TAKEDOWN, RIDE AMANDA BELL IN POSITION. AMANDA BELL WAS ABLE TO GET BACK TO HER FEET, BUT SHE KEPT BELL TO THE FENCE. WE WILL LISTEN IN. SEE WHAT IS SAID. >> TUCK, TUCK. WHEN YOU GET HER ON THE FENCE, BOOM. YEAH? HEY, HEY, DING, DING. NOT THIS, THIS, THIS AND THEN THIS, YEAH? YOU HAVING FUN? YEAH! >> BRING THAT LEFT BACK UP. >> KEEP THE PRESSURE. KEEP PRESSURE. >> YOU WANT MORE? >>Mauro: BELL AND ROUND TWO. FEMALE FEATHERWEIGHTS GOING AT IT. AMANDA BELL IN THE RED GLOVES, MARINA MOKHNATKINA IN THE BLUE GLOVES. JOSH, BELL TOLD US SHE FELT HER STRIKING WOULD OVERWHELM HER OPPONENT. SHE HAS TO RATCHET UP THE STRIKING IN THE ROUND FOR THAT TO BE THE CASE. >> Josh: HER CORNER TOLD HER TO KEEP THE PRESSURE ON, BUT SHE'S ALSO GOING TO THROW KEEPING THE PRESSURE ON. YOU CAN'T KEEP PRESSURE WITHOUT THROWING SOMETHING OFF THE PRESSURE. MOKHNATKINA'S CORNER TOLD HER TO STOP THROWING BIG, LOOPY PUNCHES, START THROWING THEM STRAIGHT. ALSO THE NUMBER ONE THING I I THINK FOR YOUNGER FIGHTERS IS TO HAVE FUN OUT THERE. IT IS HARD TO SAY FOR THE PEOPLE AT HOME, HAVE FUN FIGHTING. >> Mauro: I ALWAYS HAVE FUN HERE. >> Josh: WE'RE NOT FIGHTING. >> Mauro: EXACTLY. >> Josh: BUT, NO, FIGHTERS GENERALLY PERFORM BETTER WHEN THEY'RE OUT THERE HAVING FUN BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY LOVE. IT IS STILL A SPORT, ENJOY IT. >> Mauro: BUT THESE KIND OF BATTLES CAN'T BE FUN. MEANWHILE, JOSH, THE BATTLE FOR POSITION WHERE EVERY MILLIMETER, EVERY INCH COUNTS AND ENERGY IS BEING EXPENDED HERE. >> Josh: AMANDA BELL, SEE HOW SHE HAS THE OUTSIDE UNDER HOOK, SHE NEEDS TO TURN MOKHNATKINA BACK TO THE FENCE. IF SHE CAN DO THAT, SHE CAN BASICALLY GET AWAY OR KEEP HER PRESSED AGAINST THE FENCE BUT RIGHT NOW SHE IS NOT ABLE TO DO THAT. ANOTHER WAY DOING IT FOR YOU GUYS AT HOME WATCHING, AMANDA BELK LIFT UP FROM THE CHIN TO DRIVE HER FOREHEAD UNDER MOKHNATKINA'S CHIN AS WELL. THAT WILL STRETCH HER OUT AND MAKE IT EASIER TO GET OFF THE FENCE. >> Mauro: IN A DIVISION BEREFT OF DEPTH, AN IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE WOULD CAPTURE THE ATTENTION OF THE MATCHMAKERS AND, AGAIN, CHRIS CYBORG DEFENDING HER FEATHERWEIGHT CROWN. AGAIN, MOKHNATKINA STILL VERY EARLY IN HER CAREER, BUT, AGAIN, WE TALK ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTING THEMSELVES, JOSH. >> Josh: YES, FIGHTING THE NUMBER EIGHT FIGHTER IN BELLATOR, IF SHE GETS A WIN IT PUTS HER INTO THE TOP TEN RANKING. >> Mauro: BELL COMING BACK WITH KNEES, AND MOKHNATKINA HAS THAT RIGHT. OH! RIGHT HAND LANDED ON AMANDA BELL. MOKHNATKINA YET TO RECORD A VICTORY DUE TO HER STRIKE, BUT WE'RE SEEING IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT DEPARTMENT, THERE'S NO QUESTION. >> Josh: I'VE SEEN A LOT OF IMPROVEMENT, KEEPING AMANDA BELL ON HER TOES. MAKING HER HEAVY WITH THE PUNCH. THAT'S NORMALLY NOT HER FORTE. SHE LIKES TO GET IN YOUR GRILL AND GET AFTER YOU. >> Mauro: AMANDA BELL LOOKING FOR THAT SPINNING ATTACK AND, AGAIN, EITHER THAT RIGHT CROSS. THE RIGHT CROSS CONTINUES TO BE THERE FOR MOKHNATKINA, AND SHE'S NAVIGATING THE RANGE VERY WELL, JOSH. >> Josh: YES, SHE IS DOING A GOOD JOB OFF THE EXCHANGES AS WELL. AS SOON AS THEY BREAK, SHE THROWS OFF OF THAT AS WELL. >> Mauro: AND, MEANWHILE, AMANDA BELL CONTINUES TO SHOW HESITANCY, JOSH. >> Josh: YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SEEING FROM AMANDA BELL IS SHE IS STALKING BUT NOTHING IS BEING THROWN. >> Mauro: YES. >> Josh: WHICH IS ONE THING, BUT I THINK SHE IS HAVING A HARD TIME WITH MOKHNATKINA'S FOOTWORK. SO THE FOOTWORK AND THE MOVEMENT IS REALLY THROWING HER OFF. >> Mauro: AND MOKHNATKINA ATTACKING THE LEAD LEG WITH THE HALF KICK, BODY KICK, AS BELL COUNTERED WITH SOME ARM PUNCHES. UNDER 90 SECONDS LEFT HERE IN THE MIDDLE FRAME. BELL CONTINUES TO WALK DOWN MOKHNATKINA, BUT IT IS MOKHNATKINA WHO INITIATES THE ATTACK, JOSH, AND IT IS DIVERSIFIED GOING DOWNSTAIRS AND UPSTAIRS, THROWING HERSELF MOMENTARILY OFF BALANCE THOUGH. >> Josh: BUT EVEN AFTER SHE LANDS, WHAT SHE DOES IS MOVES OUT AND AMANDA BELL IS NOT QUICK ENOUGH TO STALK AFTER HER FROM THERE. >> Mauro: AND DOESN'T MOVE OUT IN A LINEAR FASHION. MOVES OUT ANGLE CIRCLES AND WHEN YOU ARE UNDER THE REVERTING HOOPS, YOU WILL LEARN EVERYTHING YOU WANT OF STRIKING. NICE. >> Josh: YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL THOUGH, THROWING HER HANDS DOWN WHEN SHE IS THROWING THE LOW KICK BECAUSE AMANDA BELL CAUGHT HER TWICE THROUGHOUT THIS FIGHT. >> Mauro: WITH THAT LEFT HAND THERE. 45 SECONDS LEFT IN THE ROUND. AGAIN, MOKHNATKINA ATTACKING THE LEAD LEG. IT MAY BE GETTING TO ALREADY SHOW DIVIDENDS. BELL HAVING DIFFICULTY STANDING IT SEEMS. >> Josh: YES, SHE'S SHIFTING HER STANCE. YOU SEE THE PACE STARTING TO SET IN. >> Mauro: AND IT IS SO GREAT TO HEAR THE SOUNDTRACK OF ACTUAL FANS IN THE STANDS. A LIMITED AUDIENCE HERE WITH US AT THE MOHEGAN SUN ARENA, AND THEY ARE SUPPORTING THESE WARRIORS IN THE FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION AS AMANDA BELL WAS COMING FORWARD, BUT MARINA MOKHNATKINA CONTINUES TO SHOWCASE HER STRIKING AS BELL SHOWS QUARTER. WHAT A TURN AROUND BY MOKHNATKINA. WELL, SATURDAY, JUNE 19th, UNDEFEATED JAMAL JARLOW PUTS HIS MIDDLE WEIGHT BELT ON THE LINE IN FRONT OF HIS HOMETOWN OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. THE POWER-PUNCHING CONTENDER WILL BE THE OPPONENT. IT IS SHOW TIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, SATURDAY, JUNE 19th FROM H-TOWN RIGHT HERE ON SHOW TIME. CAN'T WAIT TO BE BACK IN THE LONE STAR STATE AS THE FEMALE FIGHTING OUT OF THE SUNSHINE STATE CONTINUES TO SHOWCASE HER STRIKING, JOSH. >> Josh: YEAH, MOKHNATKINA IS DOING A GREAT JOB WITH THAT CALF KICK. YOU CAN TELL THE FIRST COUPLE ONES IN FIRST ROUND LANDED, BUT IT WAS THE SECOND ROUND SHE HAD SUCCESS WITH IT, ESPECIALLY TOWARD THE END IN THE LAST MINUTE. YOU SEE AMANDA BELL IS HAVING A HARD TIME PUTTING HER WEIGHT ON IT. NOW SHE IS LOOPING PUNCHES AND HOPING SOMETHING LANDS AS A KICK IS THROWN. >> Mauro: ON A NIGHT WHERE THE KING OF THE CALF KICK, WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION DOUGLAS LIMA DEFENDS THE TITLE AGAINST YAROSLAV AMOSOV IN THE MAIN EVENT, WE HAVE MARINA MOKHNATKINA WHO HAS UTILIZED THE CALF KICKS VERY WELL HERE IN THIS FIGHT AGAINST AMANDA BELL. THE THIRD AND FINAL ROUND, AS THE NUMBER EIGHT RANKED AMANDA BELL HAS TO TRY TO FIND A WAY TO FIND A TARGET AS SHE JUST DID WITH THAT RIGHT HA. >> Josh: IT IS COMING OFF THOSE KICKS. SO EVERY TIME SHE THROWS A KICK, EVERY TIME MARINA THROWS A KICK AMANDA IS ABLE TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT. SHE HAS A REACH ADVANTAGE. MOKHNATKINA NEEDS TO MAKE SURE HER HANDS STAY UP AS SHE THROWS A KICK. SHE HAS A TENDENCY TO LOWER HER HANDS AS SHE THROWS. STORY OF THIS FIGHT THOUGH SO FAR OUTSIDE OF THE CALF KICK IS THE MOVEMENT. MOKHNATKINA IS DOING A GOOD JOB OF LANDING HER STRIKES AND MOVING. AMANDA BELL WITH THE COMPROMISED LEG IS HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING AFTER HER AFTER SHE LANDS. >> Mauro: BELL IS CLOSING THE GAP, BOTH IN TERMS OF DISTANCE AND IN TERMS OF HER TOTAL IN THE STRIKING DEPARTMENT AS MOKHNATKINA NOW RETREATING ON HER BACK FOOT. PERHAPS ATTEMPTING TO SET A TRAP, BUT MOVING LATERALLY. THERE'S THE COUNTER RIGHT BY MOKHNATKINA, AS BELL CLENCHES, SHOULDER STRIKE. >> Josh: WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS SPACE. SHE HAS CAUGHT HER NOW, BUT SHE IS DOWN TWO ROUNDS TO NONE. SHE NEEDS TO MAKE SPACE AND LET THE HANDS GO. THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ROOM IN HERE FOR HER TO DO IT. THIS IS THE OTHER, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE REVERSED. IN THE SPACE AND LET THE HANDS GO. SHE NEEDS TO FINISH IN THIS ROUND. >> Mauro: TOTAL STRIKES LANDED, A BIG EDGE FOR MOKHNATKINA, NOW IN TOP POSITION, BUT BELL CONTROLLING HER POSTURE. HALF BUTTERFLY HOOK. >> Josh: AMANDA BELL IN THAT BUTTERFLY POSITION, BUT SHE NEEDS ONE FOOT ON THE HIP AND NEEDS ESCAPE, NEEDS TO PUSH MOKHNATKINA BACK TO MAKE THE SPACE SO SHE CAN GET BACK TO HER FEET. THERE'S THE FEET ON THE HIP AND THERE'S THE SPACE. NICELY DONE. >> Mauro: BY MOKHNATKINA, MOKHNATKINA DEFENDING WELL ENOUGH, BACKING BELL TO THE FENCE. BELL LOOKING TO SPIN OUT. AND SIDE CONTROL FOR MOKHNATKINA. >> Josh: SHE WAS ALL THE WAY OUT. SHE LOST HER BALANCE AND FELL IN A HORRIBLE POSITION, IN THIS POSITION HERE. >> Mauro: UNDER TWO MINUTES LEFT IN THE FIGHT AND MARINA MOKHNATKINA, WHO HAD THE EDGE IN THE STAND-UP, NOW LOOKING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS DOMINANT POSITION. >> Josh: AND THIS TO ME IS WHERE I THOUGHT THE WHOLE FIGHT WOULD BE FOR -- >> Mauro: YES, BELL TALKED ABOUT IT AS WELL. >> Josh: DID A GREAT JOB OF KEEPING HER ON THE FEET, LETTING HER KICK AND STRIKE. NOW SHE'S ON TOP AND AMANDA BELL IS GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING HER OFF THERE. BELL GETTING THE UNDERHOOK. NOW SHE IS STARTING TO WORK HERSELF BACK OUT. AT LEAST TRYING TO WORK HERSELF BACK INTO A FULL GUARD POSITION. >> Mauro: GROUND AND POUNCE FROM MOKHNATKINA AS BELL FISHING FOR A SUBMISSION FROM BACK, LOOKING TO SCRAMBLE. NOW IN NORTH SELF POSITION, TO CRAWL BY MOKHNATKINA. MOKHNATKINA AT UNDER A MINUTE LEFT IN THE FIGHT. GOOD SITUATIONAL AWARENESS BY MOKHNATKINA IN TERMS OF HER POSITIONING, JOSH. >> Josh: WELL, I CALL THAT A GOOD FIGHT IQ. SHE NEVER TRIED TO CHASE SOMETHING AND LEFT HERSELF OUT OF POSITION. SHE KEPT -- SHE IS SPRAWLED ON TOP OF AMANDA BELL, MADE HER CARRY HER WEIGHT. WHEN SHE COULDN'T GET THERE, SHE WENT BACK TO MAKING SPACE AND THE BODY LOCK. NICE JOB. >> Mauro: AS WE COME TO THE FINAL 30 SECONDS OF THIS FEMALE FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT HERE DURING THE BELLATOR 260 PRELIMS, BOTH AMANDA BELL AND MARINA MOKHNATKINA LOOKING TO GET BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN. AN IMPORTANT FIGHT FOR THE RESPECTIVE CAREERS, AS WE ARE IN THE FINAL 10 SECONDS. A SCRAPPY, GRITTY AFFAIR BETWEEN BELL AND MOKHNATKINA. [ BELL RINGING ]. >> Mauro: WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THIS FIGHT, JOSH, BETWEEN MARINA MOKHNATKINA AND AMANDA BELL? >> Josh: I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT PERFORMANCE, MARINA. MARINA, SHE NEEDED THIS, COMING IN AGAINST A NUMBER EIGHT OPPONENT. GETTING THAT WIN THAT SOLIDIFIES HER AT LEAST BEING IN THE TOP TEN. >> Mauro: YOU THINK SHE IS GETTING THE WIN. WE'VE GONE TO THE SCORECARD, JOSH. YOU KNOW BETTER THAN THAT, SIR. >> Josh: YES, YES, I UNDERSTAND THIS. BUT I DON'T SEE HOW SHE LOST THIS FIGHT. SHE DOMINATED POSITION. THE THIRD ROUND WAS PROBABLY THE CLOSEST BUT I GAVE MARINA ALL THREE ROUNDS. >> Mauro: AND YOU MENTIONED THE EVOLVING, THE FIGHT IQ CONTINUING TO IMPROVE. AND THERE MAY BE THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY OF ONE OF THE POSITIVES OF BEING AWAY FOR SO LONG, WE DID SEE A DIFFERENT FIGHTER AND A BETTER FIGHTER IN MARINA MOKHNATKINA. >> Josh: YES, WE SAW A WAY BETTER FIGHTER IN TERMS OF JUST LEARNING HOW TO USE THE CAGE, RECOGNITION SHE CAN MOVE AROUND, CIRCLE AROUND. IT WAS THE FOOTWORK I THOUGHT THAT REALLY DICTATED THE PACE OF THIS FIGHT. SO SHE WAS ABLE TO LAND THE CLEAN SHOT AND CIRCLE OUT. WHEN SHE COULDN'T CIRCLE OUT, YOU CAN SEE THAT SHE IN THE SCRAMBLE, SHE COULDN'T CIRCLE OUT, SHE GOT TO THE TOP POSITION. WHEN SHE GOT TO THE TOP POSITION, SHE WAS HARD TO GET OFF. A VERY GOOD PERFORMANCE BY MARINA MOKHNATKINA. YOU CAN SEE THIS TAKEDOWN. SHE HAS THE UNDER HOOK. SHE RAISED THE UNDER HOOK HIGH, KNEE PICKED AND GOT TO THE TOP POSITION THERE AS WELL IN THE THIRD ROUND. >> Mauro: AMANDA BELL CAME IN RANKED AT NUMBER EIGHT IN THE BELLATOR MMA FEMALE FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION. MARINA MOKHNATKINA WOULD LOVE TO CRASH THE TOP TEN PARTY. WITH THE OFFICIAL DECISION HERE IS MICHAEL C. WILLIAMS. >> Michael: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HAVING GONE THE DISTANCE, WE'LL GO NOW TO YOUR THREE JUDGES AT CAGE SIDE. ALL THREE, DAVE HAGAN, DAVE TERRELL ALL SEE THE SAME. BY UNANIMOUS DIVISION, THE WINNER, MARINA MOKHNATKINA! >> Mauro: OVERCOME WITH EMOTION AFTER HAVING JUST AUTHORED THE BIGGEST VICTORY OF HER CAREER, AND WHAT A RELIEF IT IS SNAPPING A TWO-FIGHT LOSING STREAK. MARINA MOKHNATKINA WITH A CLEAN SWEEP ON THE JUDGES' SCORE CARDS, KNOCKING OFF THE VETERAN, AMANDA BELL, AS MARINA MOKHNATKINA PICKS UP HER FIRST VICTORY UNDER THE BELLATOR MMA BANNER, AND THE WINNER IS STANDING BY WITH JOSH THOMSON. >> Josh: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE HERE WITH MARINA MOKHNATKINA. GREAT PERFORMANCE OVER AMANDA BELL, THE NUMBER EIGHT RANKED FIGHTER. TELL ME WHAT YOU ARE FEELING RIGHT NOW. . >> I WANT TO ENJOY MY FIGHT. I HAVEN'T FOUGHT IN TWO YEARS, SO I'VE BEEN WAITING A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THIS AND I JUST WANTED TO ENJOY IT, GO IN THERE, HAVE FUN AND JUST HAVE FUN AS MUCH AS I CAN. >> Josh: THE LAST TIME YOU FOUGHT, OKAY, IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS, LIKE YOU SAID. BUT THEN COMING BACK, YOU LOOK LIKE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FIGHTER, NOT JUST THE GRAPPLING AND THE MOVEMENT BUT AS WELL AS YOUR STAND-UP. TALK TO ME ABOUT YOUR MOVEMENT AND WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH THE LAST TWO YEARS. >>. >> I WAS WORKING ON MY SAMBO AND I'M PLANNING ON MAKING A STATEMENT IN THE BELLATOR, AND MY MIXED MARTIAL ARTS CAREER, AND THIS IS NOT THE END. I'M PLANNING ON MAKING A HUGE COMEBACK AND MAKING A LOT OF NOISE IN BELLATOR. >> Josh: THAT WAS A BIG WIN OVER THE NUMBER EIGHT, AMANDA WELL. CONGRATULATIONS, MARINA MOKHNATKINA. >> Mauro: A BELATED BIRTHDAY PRESENT, A BELATED 33 BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR MARINA MOKHNATKINA WHO TURNS IN HER BEST PERFORMANCE AND PICKS UP HER FIRST WIN IN BELLATOR MMA FEMALE FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION. ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE OUT OF THE SANFORD MMA TEAM AS WE GO BACK TO THE FIGHT DESK. HERE IS JENN BROWN. >> Jenn: THAT IS A BIG BIRTHDAY PRESENT TO CELEBRATE THERE AFTER A TWO-YEAR LAY-OFF. YOU HAVE TO WONDER WHERE SHE WILL STAND IN THE RANKINGS WHEN THOSE COME OUT IN THE FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION AFTER KNOCKING OFF THE NUMBER EIGHT RANKED BELL. WE HAVE SOME GREAT FIGHTS COMING YOUR WAY, FOUR IN THE MAIN CARD COMING UP LATER TONIGHT ON SHOWTIME. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SECOND FIGHT OF THE NIGHT. WE HAVE AARON PICO. HE COMES IN ON A HOT STREAK, RIDING A THREE-FIGHT WIN STREAK TAKING ON A DANGEROUS OPPONENT IN AIDEN LEE. WHEN WE TALKED TO PICO IN THE LAST FEW MEETINGS YOU CAN SEE A DIFFERENCE IN HIM, RIGHT? IT IS HIS MINDSET AND IN HIS PERFORMANCE IN THE CAGE AS WELL. HE SAYS IT IS TIME BUT THERE'S MORE TO THE STORY THAN JUST TIME FOR AARON PICO. >> Josh: I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FIGHT AND IT IS BECAUSE OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO AARON PICO. AARON PICO HAS BEEN A WORLD CLASS ATHLETE SINCE HE HAS BEEN INTO HIS TEENS. LOOK, HE WAS PHENOMENAL AS FAR AS HIS WRESTLING. HE WAS A GOLDEN GLOVE BOXER, BUT HE WAS NOT A MIXED MARTIAL ARTIST AND HE COULD NOT COMBINE IT TOGETHER. MICHAEL, YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO HAVE GREAT SKILL SET, BUT WHEN YOU STEP IN THE CAGE IT IS ALL ABOUT BRINGING ALL OF THOSE SKILL SETS TOGETHER IN THE TRANSITION. THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE NOW THERE IN PICO. >> Michael: 100%. MY COACH AFTER MY FIRST FIGHT HE SAID YOU WILL SPEND THE REST OF YOUR TIME ON YOUR BACK IN THE GYM. IT IS BECAUSE MY STAND-UP WAS GREAT AS QUALITY, BUT I NEED TO LEARN EVERYTHING ELSE THAT GOES ALONG WITH BEING A MIXED MARTIAL ARTIST AND THAT'S WHAT AARON PICO NEEDS TO DO AS WELL. >> John: YOU CAN SEE IN THE HIGHLIGHTS THIS IS WHAT IS MAKING HIM GOOD. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY, HE NEVER GOT HURT AGAINST JOHN DEJESUS. HE TOOK HIS TIME. A HUGE RIGHT HAND FINISHES HIM OFF. IT IS HIS PATIENCE AND IT IS HIS ABILITY TO HAVE A RHYTHM IN THE FIGHT NOW WHERE HE'S NOT PRESSING ALL THE TIME. HE'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FIGHTER. >> Jenn: YOU KNOW, WHEN I SAW THESE TWO AT THE WEIGH-INS YESTERDAY THERE'S A NOTICEABLE SIZE DIFFERENCE AIDEN LEE HAS ON AARON MIKO. I KNOW, MICHAEL, THAT'S SOMETHING YOU ARE USED TO FIGHTING WITH. HOW CAN IT PLAY TO HIS FAVOR? HOW CAN HE USE THAT AGAINST A DANGEROUS STRIKER AND WRESTLER IN AARON PICO? >> Michael: I FEEL IN THIS FEET AARON PICO HAS TO UTILIZE HIS WRESTLING TO CLOSE THE GAP. IF AIDEN LEE IS ABLE TO MAINTAIN SOLID DISTANCE AND USE THE HIGH KICK, KEEP HIS HANDS UP, IT WILL BE EASIER TO DEFEND THE TAKEDOWN OR SHOT COMING IN THAT WILL BE EASIER FOR HIM. I HAVE SEEN HIM. HE'S SOUTH PAW AS WELL. MAKES SLIGHTLY HARDER. HE HAS ALL OF THE RIGHT ATTRIBUTES THERE, BUT CAN HE DO IT? >> John: THAT IS THE QUESTION BECAUSE AIDEN LEE IS A FANTASTIC ATHLETE. HE IS FAST, EXPLOSIVE IN HIS MOVEMENT AND HE HAS A VERY GOOD SUBMISSION GAME. THE REAL QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS HE IS TALKING ABOUT ACTUALLY OUT-WRESTLING AARON PICO. HE IS TALKING ABOUT TAKING AARON PICO DOWN. I LOOK AT THAT AND I GO, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? DON'T PLAY ANOTHER MAN'S GAME. IT IS NOT THE WAY TO GET THE WIN. BE THAT GUY THAT USES THAT LENGTH, USES THAT EXPLOSIVENESS AND HURT HIM FROM AFAR. >> Michael: SO MANY PEOPLE LIKE TO COME IN AND PROVE THEMSELVES UNNECESSARILY, SO I DON'T GO IN THERE. I DO A LOT OF WRESTLING, A LOT OF JUJUTSU, BUT I DON'T COME HERE TO PROVE MY WRESTLING OR JUJUTSU. I COME HERE TO PROVE MY FIGHTING. USE YOUR DISTANCE AND WIN THROUGH MOCKING HIM OUT. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY I SEE HIM TAKING HIM DOWN. >> Jenn: I LIKE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. >> John: KNOCKDOWNS WILL BE GOOD. >> Jenn: FOR MORE ON THE MATCHUP WE WILL HEAD TO LONDON WHERE BELLATOR'S GARETH DAVIES HAS A REPORT. >> Gareth: THEY MEET TO NEAT IN WHAT PROMISES TO BE AN EXPLOSIVE BATTLE. LEE WHO TRAINS IN BIRMINGHAM ALONG BROTHERS FAVORS THE STRIKE, STUN AND SUBMIT STYLE OF COMBAT. HE WILL BE LOOKING TO MAKE A NAME FOR HIMSELF ON HIS DEBUT HERE ON U.S. SOIL. HE DOES, INDEED, FACE A NAME IN NUMBER SIX RANKED PICO. LEE TOLD ME THIS WEEK, IT IS TIME I GOT THIS TYPE OF FIGHT. THERE'S A LOT OF EYES ON HIM. SO WHEN I SMASH HIM, ALL EYES WILL BE ON ME. THAT'S A BIG CALL FROM LEE. PICO, MEANWHILE, RAISED LIKE A BOXER FROM THE AGE OF 7, WAS HAILED AS A FUTURE CHAMPION EVEN BEFORE HE TURNED PROFESSIONAL. EXPLOSIVE, NOT INTO OVERTIME. HE HAS LEFT A DESTRUCTIVE TRAIL WHICH HAS SEEN SIX OF HIS SEVEN WINS END IN THE FIRST ROUND. HE IS NOT INVULNERABLE HOWEVER HAVING BEEN STOPPED HIMSELF THREE TIMES. CAN THE MIDLANDER, LEE, PROVE HE BELONGS IN BIG TIME AND ASSIGN PICO A FOURTH DEFEAT? GET THE JUNGLE CLEARING READY FOR SOME BEAUTIFUL BRUTALITY. >> Mauro: FROM THE LONDON SKYLINE TO THE PICTURESQUE SKYLINE HERE AT THE MOHEGAN SUN IN CONNECTICUT AS WE GET SET FOR ACTION. IT WILL BE CONTESTED IN A CONTRACT WEIGHT OF 150 POUNDS. SECOND GENERATION MIXED MARTIAL ARTIST LUKE AN BRENNON WILL BATTLE MATT SKIBICKI. >>> AND NOW SET TO MAKE HIS WAY TO THE CAGE, MATT SKIBICKI! >>Mauro: 26-YEAR-OLD MATT SKIBICKI MAKING HIS BELLATOR MMA DEBUT AND HOPING TO NOT ONLY PICK UP A VICTORY HERE IN HIS FIRST FIGHT IN BELLATOR BUT HOPING TO STOP THE BLEEDING, JOSH. HE HAS LOST THREE IN A ROW AND HE IS LOOKING TO SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY HERE TONIGHT, KNOWING THAT THIS COULD BE MAKE OR BREAK FOR THIS FIGHTER. >> Josh: HE HAS HIS HANDS FULL AGAINST LUCAS BRENNAN. BRENNAN COMES FROM A FAMILY OF GOOD GRAPPLERS AND GOOD FIGHTERS, BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU MATT HAS THE CHANCE AND OPPORTUNITY TO GET BACK ON THE WINNING SIDE. HE IS GOOD ALL THE WAY AROUND. HE JUST HAS TO START FIGHTING A LITTLE SMARTER. THOSE LOSSES ONLY CAME BECAUSE SOME OF THE TIME HE WASN'T FIGHTING SMART, AND THAT'S TO BE EXPECTED FROM YOUNG FIGHTERS. >> Mauro: YEAH, HE STARTED HIS CAREER WITH FOUR CONSECUTIVE WINS AND NOW WILL LOOK TO RIGHT THE SHIP HERE IN HIS FIRST FORAY INSIDE THE BELLATOR MMA CAGE. >>> AND NOW SET TO MAKE HIS WAY, LUCAS "SKYROCKET" BRENNAN! >> Mauro: I MENTIONED THAT HE'S A SECOND GENERATION MIXED MARTIAL ARTIST. HIS FATHER, CHRIS, WAS IN THE FIRST FIGHT EVER CALLED AT CASINO ONE, OCTOBER 2003 AT THE SITAMA SUPER ARENA IN JAPAN. HIS FATHER PICKED UP THE SUBMISSION WIN THAT NIGHT AS YOU DID IN YOUR LONE FIGHT WHICH BY THE WAY TOOK PLACE IN JULY OF 2005. I'M NOT GETTING OLD. >> Josh: I'M GOING TO AGE MYSELF. >> Mauro: WE'RE ALL GETTING OLD. HE JUST TURNED 21, LUCAS BRENNAN. >> Josh: I'M GOING AGE MYSELF. I WAS SUPPOSED TO FIGHT HIS FATHER THREE OR FOUR TIMES. WHAT YOU CAN SEE FROM HIM THOUGH, AGAINST LOPEZ, HE GETS TO THE BACK, CONTROLS THE POSITION, GETS UNDERNEATH THE CHIN AND FINISHES. THIS KID IS A FINISHER. THAT'S THE ONE THING I LOVE ABOUT HIM, IS THAT HE IS SOMEBODY, ONCE HE GETS ON TOP OF YOU OR HE GETS TO YOUR BACK, HE FINDS WAYS TO FINISH IT. HE HAS THE GABLE GRIP CHOKE HERE AND GETS TO THE BACK AND DOES IT AGAIN. NOW HE IS LASHING HIS ARMS THROUGH. SITS UP. BIG ELBOWS FOR SUCH A YOUNG MAN. SOMETIMES YOUNGER KIDS WILL TRY TO TOUCH, TOUCH AND MAKE THE REF STOP. NO, HE WAS LAYING DOWN HEAVY ELBOWS THAT LED INTO THE BIGGER SHOT. >> Mauro: THUS FAR THE MMA FOURTH HAS BEEN WITH LUCAS "SKYWALKER" BRENNAN AS HE WILL WELCOME MATT SKIBICKI TO BELLATOR MMA. AGAIN, THIS FIGHT WILL TAKE PLACE IN A CONTRACT WEIGHT OF 150 POUNDS. WHAT NUMBERS STICK OUT TO YOU, JOSH? >> Josh: THE AGE, FOUR YEARS YOUNGER, BUT HE'S SO MATURE BEING FOUR YEARS. COMFORTABLE WITH HIS FATHER. GOOD STUFF. >> Mauro: I WASN'T GOOD AT MATH. HE'S FIVE YEARS YOUNGER. WE GO TO MICHAEL C. WILLIAMS. >> Michael: JOINING US TONIGHT, LATE NIGHT FROM THE UK, WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON DBC I PLAYER HERE AT THE BELLATOR 260 PRELIMBS. WEIGHT FIGHT AT 150 POUNDS. THE BLUE CORNER AT 5'8" WEIGHING IN AT 146 POUNDS EVEN. HIS PROFESSIONAL RECORD, 4 AND 3, FROM LEXINGTON PARK, MARYLAND, PRESENTING MATT SKIBICKI! ACROSS THE CAGE HIS ADVERSARY OUT OF THE RED CORNER AT 5'10" WEIGHING IN AT 146 AND ONE HALF POUND, AS A PROFESSIONAL HE'S UNDEFEATED, FOUR VICTORIES, NO DEFEAT. FROM FRISCO, TEXAS, INTRODUCING LUCAS "SKYWALKER" BRENNAN! REFEREE IN CHARGE, BRIAN MINOR. >> Mauro: BRIAN MINER HAS BEEN ASSIGNED THIS FIGHT BETWEEN LUCAS BRENNAN, UNDEFEATED AT 4 AND 0. MATT SKIBICKI, 4 AND 3. BRENNAN IN THE RED GLOVES, SKIBICKI IN THE BLUE GLOVES. DID WE GET AN ABICUS FOR MY PARTNER? WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR EARLY IN THIS ONE, J.T.? >> Josh: SIX MINUS ONE? I'M FRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT STILL. OH, MAN. FOR LUCAS, HE HAS TO BE PATIENT, DON'T OVER COMMIT WITH THE STRIKES, WORK HIS WAY TO THE TAKEDOWN AND GET IN TOP POSITION. BOTH ARE VERY GOOD WRESTLERS SO IT WILL BE ONE OF THOSE WRESTLERS CANCELLING OUT EACH OTHER. GOOD FOR US. >> Mauro: A LOT OF MOVEMENT BACK AND FORTH, LOOKING TO ESTABLISH DOMINANCE IN THE CENTER OF THE CAGE. OPENING MINUTE. DELIVERED BY SKIBICKI AS BRENNAN FIGHTS FROM THE SOUTH-PAW STANCE. >> Josh: LUCAS ROLLED HIS ANKLE A LITTLE BIT. I SAW HIM HOP AROUND. OH, NICE BODY. >> Mauro: LUCAS BRENNAN, LOOKING FOR THAT GUILLOTINE. CHOKE HERE ATTEMPT BY BRENNAN! >>Josh: DIDN'T HAVE THAT ARM ALL THE WAY ACROSS. TAKING A ROLL. HE USES BOTH LEGS, TRYING TO STEP OVER AND HOOK. READJUSTED TO MAKE IT A LITTLE TIGHTER. ALSO GIVE HIS RIGHT KNEE A PUSH, SKIBICKI'S ELBOW DOWN, GO ALL THE WAY ACROSS. PIKE THOUGH. GREAT FINISH BY LUCAS BRENNAN. >> Mauro: JUST 21 YEARS OF AGE, LUCAS BRENNAN, BESTS MATT SKIBICKI WITH A FIRST ROUND CHOKE. HE NOW HAS A FOREARM CHOKE, A REAR-NAKED CHOKE AND NOW A DARSE CHOKE AS THE RESUME CONTINUES TO BUILD. OBVIOUSLY THE APPLE DOES NOT FALL FAR FROM THE TREE AS PAPA CHRIS BRENNAN HAS TO BE VERY PROUD OF WHAT HE SAW HERE TONIGHT. >> Josh: YEAH, SKIBICKI MAKE A BIG MISTAKE. BRENNAN HIT HIM WITH THE BODY KICK AND THEN BRENNAN JUMPED HIM AND SKIBICKI JUMPED HIM. BEAUTIFUL LOCK THERE. THAT TRANSITION WAS RIGHT INTO THAT DARS. AS THEY'RE SCRAMBLING AROUND, LUCAS IS TRYING TO MAKE IT TIGHTER AND TIGHTER AS HE GOES. NOT ABLE TO GET IT BUT HE KEEPS MAKING THE ADJUSTMENTS AND EVENTUALLY GETS THE SUBMISSION. NICELY DONE. >> Mauro: IT IS ONLY FITTING ON A DAY I WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH BIG JOHN McCARTHY WATCHING DARS CHOKES AND ANACONDA CHOKES OVER AND OVER AGAIN, TRYING TO SPOT THE DIFFERENCE, OF COURSE THERE'S A BIG ONE, IT WOULD ONLY BE FITTING WE SEE A TEXTBOOK DARS CHOKE HERE TONIGHT FROM LUCAS BRENNAN, A YOUNGSTER ON THE RICE IN BELLATOR MMA. >> Josh: HIS DAD WAS FAMOUS FOR HAVING SOME OF THE BEST GUILLOTINES IN THE BUSINESS, GETTING TO YOUR BACK AND CHOKING YOU OUT. IT IS NO SURPRISE HE'S REALLY GOOD ON THE NECK. >> Mauro: BRAZILIAN TOP TEAMS CREATED THE TOP CHOKE. I WAS EXPOSED TO IT IN PRIZE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS. DESPITE BIG JOHN McCARTHY'S TUTORIAL IT CONTINUES HERE TONIGHT. LET'S MAKE IT OFFICIAL WITH MICHAEL C. WILLIAMS. >> Michael: INSIDE THE BELLATOR CAGE, THE ANACONDA CHOKE ENDS IT WITH A TAP, OFFICIAL TYPE 1:54, ROUND NUMBER ONE, BY SUBMISSION. THE STILL UNDEFEATED LUCAS "SKYWALKER" BRENNAN! >> Mauro: IF THE FORMER STRIKE FORCE LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION DIDN'T GET IT, I'M GOING TO GIVE MYSELF A MULLIGAN. IN ANY EVENT, LUCAS BRENNAN WITH AN IMPRESSIVE SUBMISSION WIN VIA ANACONDA CHOKE. HE IS STANDING BY WITH JOSH THOMSON. >> Josh: HERE WITH LUCAS BRENNAN. NICE TRANSITION, OFF THE BODY KICK, CAME IN ON THE BODY LOCK, JUMPED ON THE NECK. WALK ME THROUGH THE REST OF IT. >> MAN, I LIVE IN THAT POSITION, THAT FRONT HEADLOCK POSITION, YOU KNOW, LIKE FOREVER. THAT'S WHAT I LOVE. SO I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GET SLAMMED PRETTY HARD OUT OF THERE BUT, YOU KNOW, I GOT MY HANDS TOGETHER, I KNEW IT WAS WRAPPED. I JUST HAD TO GET THE ADJUSTMENT IN AND, YEAH, MAN, I WAS ABLE TO LOCK UP MY ANACONDA. I'M HAPPY. >> Josh: MY NEXT QUESTION WILL BE, WHERE DID YOU GET IT FROM? >> WHAT'S THAT? >> Josh: WHERE DID YOU GET THAT SUBMISSION FROM? FROM YOUR DAD? YOUR DAD HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN FAMOUS FOR GETTING ON THE NECK, ON THE HEAD FROM HIS YEARS OF FIGHTING. I'M JUST LEADING INTO THAT CONVERSATION. >> MAN, I OBVIOUSLY GET A LOT OF MY INFORMATION OFF HIM, THAT'S A GREAT SOURCE FOR MY CHOKES AND MY SUBMISSION GAMES. BUT HE'S DEFINITELY MORE OF AN ARM GUY. ME, MY BROTHER, I HAVE BEEN WORKING A LOT OFF THAT POSITION, THAT ANACONDA POSITION, D'ARCE CHOKE, THAT WHOLE POSITION THERE. I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT IN. >> Josh: DOMINATING PERFORMANCE TONIGHT. STILL A YOUNG FIGHTER. CONGRATULATIONS. >> Mauro: HEY, AT LEAST WE GOT A D'ARCE CHOKE OUT OF LUCAS BRENNAN AS HE PICKS UP AN IMPRESSIVE WIN HERE. JENN BROWN, TELL HIM THAT HE CAN PUT THEM IN THE ANACONDA AND D'ARCE CHOKE SO WE CAN FINALLY FIGURE OUT THE DIFFERENCE. >> Jenn: THAT'S RIGHT, MAURO. HAD A LITTLE CHAT WITH JOHN McCARTHY. HE'S NOT DOING IT TO US UP HERE FOR SURE. LET'S TALK ABOUT IT, JOHN. LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT LUCAS WAS ABLE TO DO AND HOLD ON, YOU KNOW, IN THE TRANSITIONS, NOT LET GO OF THAT CHOKE AND GET IT TIGHTER AND TIGHTER AND HOW IMPRESSIVE IT WAS. >> John: ONE OF THE THINGS YOU REALLY HAVE TO BE IMPRESSED WITH LUCAS IS HE IS SO GOOD IN THE GRAPPLING. HE HAS BEEN DOING IT HIS ENTIRE LIFE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE LITTLE TRANSITION HE MAKES, HE KNOWS HE HAS IT TIGHT BUT HE KNOWS A GUY IS NOT JUST GOING TO GIVE UP AND TAP OUT HERE. YOU HAVE TO CREATE THAT SPECIFIC PRESSURE THAT MAKES HIM FEEL LIKE, I AM GOING UNCONSCIOUS, AND HE DOES THAT WITH HIS MOVEMENTS. YOU SEE HIM TRYING TO TRAP THE LEG HERE. HE JUST MISSES IT. YOU SEE HIM COMING UP ON TOP AND THEN GOES BACK AND TURNS HIS BODY BACK INTO IT TO GET TO HIS SIDE, AND YOU SEE THAT PRESSURE COMING. THERE IT IS RIGHT THERE. ALL OF THAT DRIVE OF THAT SHOULDER AND EVERYTHING DOWN, THAT CREATES THAT PRESSURE. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL JOB BY A TECHNICIAN. >> Jenn: AND YOU KNOW A LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT HIS DAD THOUGH. HE WAS SITTING UP HERE TELLING US HIS DAD, CHRIS, YOU GO WAY BACK WITH HIM. >> Josh: YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CHRIS AND I MET IN THE GRACIE ACADEMY BACK IN 1992. HE CAME IN WITH A GUY NAMED JEREMY WILLIAMS, BOTH BECAME GREAT FIGHTERS. CHRIS HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE PROPONENT OF THE MARTIAL ARTS, A GREAT COACH. YOU CAN SEE WHAT HE HAS DONE WITH HIS SON. >> Jenn: ABSOLUTELY. HE MOVES TO 5 AND 0 INSIDE THE BELLATOR CAGE. GOT TO IMAGINE IF HE IS KNOCKING ON THE FEATHERWEIGHT TOP TEN RANKINGS THERE IN BELLATOR. SPEAKING OF RANKINGS, LET'S TAKE A LOOK HERE AT OUR WELTERWEIGHT RANKINGS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LIST IT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR WHY THE NUMBER ONE RANKED YAROSLAV AMOSOV IS IN THE CHALLENGER POSITION FOR TONIGHT'S WELTERWEIGHT TITLE. HE'S BOASTING AT 25 AND 0 RECORD INCLUDING 19 STOPPAGES. HE FACES THE THREE-TIME WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION DOUGLAS LIMA, AND HE FEELS IT IS HIS EXPERIENCE AT THE TOP THAT GIVES HIM THE EDGE. >> BECOMING A CHAMPION IS HARD. IT IS EVEN HARDER TO STAY CHAMPION, JUST BEING ABLE TO OVERCOME ALL OF THE HARDSHIPS. THE INJURIES, THE LOSSES. I'M NOT HERE LOOKING FOR AN EASY FIGHT. I FOUGHT THE BIGGEST NAME. I HAVE BEEN THREE TIMES. BUT OCTOBER 26, 2019, MAN, WHAT A SPECIAL DAY. PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY OF MY FIGHTING CAREER. REMATCH, CHAMPION AGAIN, TOURNAMENT CHAMPION, GOT GOOD ON ME. I TOOK HOME $1 MILLION. >> THE BELT BELONGS ONCE AGAIN TO DOUGLAS LIMA! >> THAT'S LIFE CHANGING. I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT DAY. I WILL NEVER FORGET IT. IT IS THE BIGGEST DAY I HAVE HAD IN MY CAREER. YOU KNOW, I LOVE THE FIGHT GAME, BUT I LOVE MY FAMILY EVEN MORE. YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING BETTER, YOU KNOW, TO GO ON VACATION, TAKE THEM TO A BEACH, TAKE THEM TO A DIFFERENT COUNTRY AFTER I WIN A FIGHT. THERE'S NOTHING LIKE FAMILY. >> MY NAME IS YAROSLAV AMOSOV. I AM NUMBER ONE IN WELTERWEIGHT IN WORLD. I HAVE 25 WINS AND NO LOSSES. I WANT 26 AND 0. >> HE IS A VERY SPECIAL GUY AND VERY SOFT SPOKEN, HUMBLE AS CAN BE, BUT A COMPLETE MONSTER. ONE OF THE MOST SKILLFUL ATHLETES THAT I HAVE SEEN. AS OF RIGHT NOW HE HAS THE BEST RECORD IN MMA, 25 AND 0. IMPRESSIVE. >> I FOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THE GUY BEFORE. WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. >> MICHAEL "VENOM" PAGE LOOKING TO REMAIN UNDEFEATED. DOUGLAS LIMA, RUNNING ANOTHER TRACK AT BECOMING WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION. >> DOUGLAS LIMA! >> IN THIS SPORT, IT IS DIFFICULT. I DON'T CARE WHO YOU FOUGHT, IT IS HARD, BUT IT IS ALSO HARD, YOU KNOW, GETTING THIS BELT BACK THREE TIMES. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF HE'S 100 AND 0, YOU KNOW, WHEN HE STEPS IN THAT CAGE HE WILL BE THERE AGAINST ME, IT IS 0-0. >> AN IMPRESSIVE -- >> HIS GAME, HE HAS NEVER LOST, BUT, YES, IT IS THE FIRST TIME HE IS TRAINING FOR A FIVE ROUNDER. NOT AS EASY AS PEOPLE THINK. YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT HOW REAL, YOU KNOW, 25 AND 0 IS. >> ANYBODY CAN FIGHT HARD AND WIN A FIGHT IN TWO MINUTES. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE REAL SUPER STUDS CAN DO IT 15, 25 MINUTES. THIS GUY CAN DO IT FOR 25 MINUTES HARD. HE'S GOT THAT MENTALITY. HE WOULD RATHER DIE THAN LOSE. . >> IT IS ONE THING TO BE UNDEFEATED BUT IT IS ANOTHER TO BE A WORLD CHAMPION. SITTING AT THAT THRONE, HOLDING THAT GOLD, YOU KNOW, IT JUST MEANS A LOT TO ME. AMOSOV HAS FOUGHT ANYBODY LIKE ME. I HAVE TO PUT THIS GUY OUT NO MATTER WHAT, YOU KNOW. HE IS TRYING TO TAKE AWE FROM ME A DREAM THAT I ACHIEVED. EXPECT FIREWORKS BECAUSE I'M COMING TO FINISH THIS GUY AND THE BELT IS STAYING AROUND MY WAIST. >> THERE WILL BE A NEW WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION WITH ME, YAROSLAV AMOSOV. >> TODAY I'M FIGHTING FOR MY FAMILY BUT NOTHING BEATS THE AFTERMATH. YOU KNOW, GET A WIN, MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY, TAKE MY FAMILY OUT, PLAY WITH MY KIDS, AND THAT'S WHAT I PLAN ON DOING AFTER I BEAT HIM. >> Jenn: LIMA SAYS ADVERTISE HIS FAMILY HE FIGHTS FOR. HE WANTS TO WORK HARD TO PROVIDE FOR THEM. HAVING COVERED HIM FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS NOW, I HAVE TO SAY HE IS PROBABLY THE NICEST, MOST HUMBLE FIGHTER I HAVE EVER COVERED IN THIS SPORT. ON THE FLIP SIDE, HE'S ALSO AN ABSOLUTE DESTROYER IN THE GAME. >> John: THERE'S NO DOUBT HE THE DESTROYER. THAT'S WHY HE IS THE CHAMPION. WHEN YOU BECOME MATURE IN THE SPORT YOU UNDERSTAND WHO YOU ARE AS A FIGHTER. YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACT LIKE A BAD GUY ALL THE TIME, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACT LIKE A TOUGH GUY. YOU ARE TOUGH, YOU HAVE PROVEN IT IN THE CAGE, THAT'S ALL YOU NEED TO DO. YOU HAVE BEEN IN THERE WITH THIS GUY, YOU KNOW WHAT HE BRINGS, BUT YOU GUYS ACTUALLY HAD A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP EVEN THOUGH YOU WERE GOING TO FIGHT. >> Josh: YOU KNOW, I'M USED TO THAT BECAUSE IN THE KICKBOXING WORLD I TRAVELED AROUND WITH PEOPLE OVER AND OVER AGAIN. SOME OF THE PEOPLE I FOUGHT AGAINST FOR YEARS ARE SOME OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS NOW. IT IS DIFFERENT HERE. IT DOESN'T FEEL QUITE THE SAME. EVERYONE FEELS THAT THEY NEED TO PUT ON THAT KIND OF FACADE. WITH HIM, LIKE YOU SAY, HE UNDERSTANDS THAT. NO, WE PROVE IT WHEN WE GET INTO THE CAGE AND THAT'S WHERE IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT. >> Jenn: THEY SAY ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. THAT'S ALWAYS TRUE WHEN YOU STEP IN THE CAGE. THAT IS OUR MAIN EVENT COMING UP TONIGHT. SHOWTIME, 9:00 EASTERN, 6:00 PA CIVIC, WITH THREE OTHER GREAT MATCHES. BACK CAGE SIDE. >> Mauro: JEN, TIME TO ADD WORDS TO THE ACTIONS OF NICK NEWELL AND BOBBY KING. THESE LIGHTWEIGHTS ARE ABOUT TO GO AT IT HERE ON THE BELLATOR 260 PRELIMS. >>> NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE WELCOME BOBBY KING! >> Mauro: BOBBY KING KNOWS HE IS ENTERING THE DANGER ZONE WHEN IT COMES TO THE BELLATOR MMA CAGE. THE 37 YEAR OLD WITH A RECORD OF NINE AND THREE, ABOUT TO FIGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME UNDER THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF BELLATOR MMA FOR FANS WHO HAVE YET TO SEE HIM COMPETE. WHAT STANDS OUT FOR YOU, JOSH, WHEN IT COMES TO BOBBY KING? >> Josh: WELL, HE IS WELL-ROUNDED. HE GOES EVERYWHERE. HE LIKES TO STAND AND FAINT. BUT HE SOMETIMES WILL LEAVE HIMSELF OUT OF POSITION ON THE FEET. ALSO, HE IS A GOOD WRESTLER. HE DOESN'T WANT TO GET INTO THE TAKE-OUT POSITION AS WELL WITH NICK NEWELL BECAUSE NICK NEWELL IS A BEAST WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING ON THE NECK. >> Mauro: RIDING A LOT OF MOMENTUM IS WHAT THIS IS INCLUDING A ARM BAR AGAINST STEVEN STYLER TO EARN THE RIGHT TO COMPETE IN THIS CIRCLE OF TRUTH, THE MMA CAGE. BOBBY KING! >>> AND THIS IS CONNECTICUT'S OWN NICK NEWELL! >>Mauro: DID I MENTION HOW MUCH WE HAVE ALL MISSED THAT SOUND, THE SOUND OF AN AUDIENCE? YES, LIMITED CAPACITY HERE TONIGHT AT THE MOHEGAN SUN ARENA, BUT MANY OF THEM HERE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT CONNECTICUT'S NICK NEWELL. OVERALL RECORD OF 16 AND 3, TRYING TO BOUNCE BACK FROM HIS FIRST LOSS HERE IN THE BELLATOR MMA CAGE, AND HIS STORY HAS BEEN WELL-DOCUMENTED, AN INSPIRATIONAL HUMAN BEING WHO WAS BORN WITH CONGENITAL AMPUTATION OF HIS LEFT ARM WHICH ENDS JUST BELOW HIS ELBOW. BUT, MAN, HE PUTS THE ABILITY IN DISABILITY AND THEN SOME, JOSH. >> Josh: YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT IS HIS FIGHT SKILL. HE'S GOOD. >> Mauro: HE IS. >> Josh: HE'S VERY GOOD. HE KNOWS HOW TO USE ALL WEAPONS FROM THE KICKS TO THE CHOKES TO THE SUBMISSIONS, HIS WRESTLING, EVERYTHING. HE'S A FANTASTIC FIGHTER. >> Mauro: 11 OF 16 WINS HAVE COME DUE TO HIS SLICK SUBMISSION GAME. HE WRESTLED IN COLLEGE FOR WESTERN NEW ENGLAND AND HE'S ACTUALLY ONE OF THE VERY FEW WRESTLERS TO HAVE WON MATCHES AT SIX DIFFERENT WEIGHT CLASSES. SO NICK NEWELL CONTINUING TO LIVE HIS MMA DREAM AND HOPING TO GIVE THE HOMETOWN CROWD SOMETHING TO CHEER ABOUT. JOSH, TAKE US THROUGH THE TALE OF THE TAPE FOR THIS MATCHUP. >> Josh: YEAH, I THINK WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE HERE AND THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT NICK NEWELL HAS 16 WINS AND BOBBY KING HAS NINE. A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE EXPERIENCE WHEN IT COMES TO THE HIGHER LEVEL OF COMPETITION, NICK NEWELL HAS FACED THAT COMPETITION. >> Mauro: HERE IS MICHAEL C. WILLIAMS. >> Michael: TONIGHT'S BELLATOR 260 PRELIMS CONTINUE NOW WITH A FEATURED FIGHT SET FOR THREE FIVE-MINUTE ROUNDS IN THE LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION. INTRODUCING THE BLUE CORNER AT 5'9" WEIGHING IN AT 156 POUNDS EVEN, HIS PROFESSIONAL RECORD 9 WINS, 3 LOSSES. HE FIGHTS OUT OF LANGTON, UTAH, BY WAY OF LAHAINA, MAUI, HAWAII. PLEASE WELCOME BOBBY KING! ACROSS THE CAGE HIS ADVERSARY FIGHTING OUT OF THE RED CORNER AT 5'10" WEIGHING IN AT 156 POUNDS. AS A PROFESSIONAL, 16 VICTORIES, 3 DEFEATS, HAILING FROM MILFORD, CONNECTICUT, INTRODUCING NOTORIOUS NICK NEWELL! THE REFEREE IN CHARGE, DAN MURGLIATA. >> Mauro: THE REFEREE FOR THIS MATCHUP INSIDE THE BELLATOR MMA CAGE AT LIGHTWEIGHT. NICK NEWELL/BOBBY KING. THE BELL IN ROUND ONE. NULL, THE RED GLOVES, WHILE BOBBY KING IS IN THE BLUE GLOVES. BOBBY KING, A PROFESSIONAL FIRE NIGHT DANCER, ONES TOURED WITH CIRQUE DU SOLEIL. SO OBVIOUSLY VERY ATHLETIC, FLEXIBLE, BUT NOW PLYING HIS WARES INSIDE THE MMA CAGE. HE ALREADY EATS A SHOT FROM NEWELL. NEWELL LIKES TO GET THINGS, JOSH, DONE EARLY. ALL 13 OF HIS WINS VIA KNOCK OUT OR SUBMISSION IN OPENING ROUNDS. >> Josh: THE THING WITH NEWELL, HE WILL DO THINGS THE OTHER FIGHTERS WON'T. HE WILL SWITCH HANDS TO MAKE HIS POWER HAND, THROW THE OVERHAND, HE MIXES UP THE COMBINATION ALONG WITH THE KICK, INSIDE LEG KICK, AND COMING OFF WITH THE COMBINATION WITH HIS HANDS. >> Mauro: HE TOLD US HE FEELS HE'S BETTER AT ROUNDING ALL ASPECTS OF MIXED MARTIAL ARTS TOGETHER THAN MOST FIGHTERS ARE. IN THE EARLY GOING, BRINGING THE FIGHT TO BOBBY KING AS WE PASS THE OPENING MINUTE OF THIS FIRST ROUND. KING TAGS NEWELL, UPSTAIRS WITH THE SHORT RIGHT. >> Josh: THAT SHOT THERE BY BOBBY KING. >> Reporter: THERE'S A SHOT BY NEWELL. AND THEN BOTH WAYS, AND BOBBY KING TO THE MAT. >> Josh: GATHERED AWAY. CAN DO THAT AND BOBBY KING'S BACK OFF THE FENCE. THE KEY TO THIS POSITION FOR MOST FIGHTERS IS TRY TO TURN THEIR BACK OFF THE FENCE, PUT THEIR BACK FLAT TO THE GROUND, START WORKING YOUR BODY UP THEIR BODY TO GET IN TOP POSITION. >> Mauro: NEWELL TOLD US THAT FOR THIS FIGHT CAMP HE DELEGATED MORE THAN USUAL. ADDED A NEW CONDITIONING PROGRAM. THEY'RE A LOT MORE SCIENTIFIC THAN ANYTHING HE HAS DONE IN THE PAST. >> Josh: THERE HE GOES. HE STARTED TO PUT HIS BACK TO THE CANVAS. JUST START WALKING HIS LEGS MORE TOWARDS THE CAGE, WHICH ALLOWS HIM TO SLIDE BOBBY KING BACK OFF THE FENCE AS WELL. >> Mauro: BOTH ATHLETES KNOWN FOR THEIR FINISHING TECHNIQUES. SEVEN OF KING'S NINE WINS CAME INSIDE THE DISTANCE INCLUDING TWO KNOCKOUTS. HE TRIES, TRYING TO GET BACK TO HIS FEET. HE IS ABLE TO POP BACK UP. >> Josh: BY BOBBY KING, AS SOON AS HE ESCAPED THE GRIP, HE WAS GOING TO GET UP. >> Mauro: TWO MINUTES REMAINING IN THE FIRST ROUND. KING WORKING. DELIVERS THE RIGHT KNEE TO THE MID SECTION. TRYING TO CREATE SEPARATION, BUT PINNED UP ALONG THE FENCE. NEWELL CHANGES LEVEL BUT HAMMER FIST FROM KING, AND KING DOING A GOOD JOB OF DEFENDING. >> Josh: YEAH, DOING A GOOD JOB. BACK IS STILL AGAINST THE FENCE. HE HAS TO LOOK TO MAKE THE SPACE AND GET OUT. GOOD JOB WITH THE KNEE AS WELL. >> Mauro: UNDER A MINUTE AND A HALF REMAINING IN THE OPENING ROUND. >> Josh: WHAT IS KEEPING HIM IN THIS POSITION, HE HAS THE HIGHER UNDER HOOK. HE HAS THE DOUBLE UNDERHOOK RIGHT NOW. JUST GOING TO TRY TO DROP DOWN ON THE BODY LOCK. >> Mauro: YES, ABLE TO CREATE SEPARATION. DISENGAGES AND NOW RESET. LOCKING DOWN NEWELL. HITS HIM WITH A RIGHT. UNDER A MINUTE LEFT IN THE FIRST ROUND. NEWELL LUNGING FORWARD WITH THE LEAD RIGHT HOOK. 30 SECONDS LEFT IN THE OPENING ROUND. NEWELL ATTEMPTS TO KICK. DOESN'T FIND HIS MARK. MORE OF A FEELING-OUT PROCESS, A TACTICAL OPENING ROUND. OH. COMING BACK, SOME KICKS AND FINALLY AN OFFENSIVE UPPER FROM BOBBY KING, BUT WITH JUST A FEW SECONDS LEFT IN THE FIRST ROUND. SO AN ELECTRIC DISPLAY OF STRIKING THERE IN THE FINAL FEW SECONDS OF THE FIRST FRAME. COMING UP, FRIDAY, JUNE 25th, THE NUMBER ONE HEAVYWEIGHT IN THE BELLATOR MMA RANKING, TIM JOHNSON, TAKES ON THE 10 AND 1 STANDOUT VALLENTINE MOLLDOVSKI. THE HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE ON THE LINE, JUNE 25th. BELLATOR MMA ON SHOWTIME. >> A LITTLE SIP OF WATER. ALL RIGHT. SO WE GOT TO GET THAT JAB TO THE CHEST WHEN HE'S SITTING THERE. IF HE'S IN FRONT OF YOU, NOT DOING ANYTHING, GET LEVEL CHANGES AND RESET. YOU DON'T NEED TO BE THE GUY THAT ENGAGES EVERY TIME. YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. >> ALL RIGHT, SECOND ROUND. YOU GUYS READY? LET'S GO, GENTLEMEN. >> Mauro: THE BELL IN ROUND TWO, JOSH. NOT SCORING THE FIGHT OBVIOUSLY, BUT WHO WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE BEEN IN THAT OPENING FIGHT? >> Josh: I THOUGHT NICK NEWELL DOMINATED THE MAJORITY OF THE ROUND BUT I THOUGHT BOBBY KING DID THE MOST DAMAGE AT THE END OF THE ROUND. WOULD HAVE TO GIVE IT TO KING. >> Mauro: KING WAS LOOKING TO DROWN NEWELL IN THE FINAL SECONDS OF THE FIRST. NOW A MORE AGGRESSIVE START TO ROUND TWO. ROUND KICK BY KING TO THE BREAD BASKET OF NEWELL. >> Josh: A NICE LITTLE TOE KICK RIGHT THERE BY BOBBY KING RIGHT TO THE BREAD BASKET. >> Mauro: KING SWITCHES TO -- STANCE BEFORE GOING BACK TO ORTHODOX. HIT IN THE OFFENSIVE OUT FOOT OF BOBBY KING TO START THE SECOND STANDS AU. >> Josh: YES, IF YOU LOOK AT THE INSIDE OF HIS LEFT LEG, PULLING -- >> Mauro: OH, AND HE CAME IN WITH THAT LEAD, SLASHING ELBOW AS NEWELL CHANGES UP MOMENTARILY. BACKS KING UP TO THE FENCE AGAIN. >> Josh: THIS IS WHERE HE NEEDS TO BE. BOBBY KING DOING A GREAT JOB DEFENDING U SEE HIM DROP DOWN. CAN CIRCLE OFF THAT FENCE AND REALLY COVER HIS HEAD WITH THIS HIT. >> Mauro: 90 SECONDS GONE HERE IN ROUND NUMBER TWO. KING TRYING TO FRAME UP, CREATING SOME SEPARATION TO DELIVER THOSE KNEES TO THE MID SECTION. >> Josh: THIS IS THAT BATTLE OF POSITION WITH THE HEAD. YOU WANT NEWELL TO PUT HIS HEAD IN KING'S CHEST AND HOLD HIM THERE OR TAKE ONE TO THE CHEST. THAT WAS THE SECOND ONE, BY THE WAY. >> Mauro: NICK NEWELL TAKES ONE IN THE FAMILY JEWELS. WE'RE IN THE SECOND ROUND. >> Josh: OH, I LIKE THAT. HE WAS MAKING SURE THAT HE DIDN'T START STANDING BETWEEN -- HE WANTS TO BE IN THE SAME POSITION. >> TIME KEEPER, TIME! >> Josh: A LOT OF TIMES WHEN A FOUL HAPPENS, THE REF WILL PUT THEM BACK STANDING AND LEFT THE FIGHT ON THE GROUND. >> Mauro: UNDER THREE MINUTES LEFT HERE IN THE SECOND ROUND. A BATTLE FOR POSITION. CHANGING LEVELS. -- TAKE BOBBY KING DOWN. AGAIN, THAT KICK TO THE MID SECTION. JUMPING KNEE STRIKE JUST AS NEWELL WAS GOING FOR THE TAKEDOWN, JOSH. >> Josh: YES, RIGHT INTO -- HE CAN'T AFFORD TO SIT IN THIS POSITION. HE HAS TO CIRCLE AROUND TO THE BACKSIDE OR STAND UP WITH THE LEGS WITHOUT GETTING HIT. BOBBY KING MAKING IT A GRINDING, DIRTY FIGHT, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN THIS FIGHT. >> Mauro: KING, AGAIN, FINDING SUCCESS, THEN TO ORTHODOX BODY KICK AND NEWELL CONTINUES TO SEARCH FOR THE TAKEDOWN. UNDER TWO MINUTES LEFT IN THE SECOND ROUND. >> Josh: THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A SHOT IN THERE THAT GOT NICK NEWELL'S BODY. SAW HIM TAKE A REAL DEEP BREATH. >> Mauro: BACKED UP BY THE STRIKING OF BOBBY KING, WHO IS VARYING HIS ATTACK. GOING TO THE BODY, THEN UPSTAIRS. SHOT KICK BY NEWELL, BUT HE WAS KNOCKED OFF BALANCE BY KING. >> Josh: NICK IS SLOWING DOWN A LITTLE BIT. HE'S HAVING A HARD TIME KEEPING HIS HANDS UP AS HE'S TRYING TO DO SO MUCH. NICE COMBINATION. TO THE BODY WITH THE RIGHT KICK. TO THE LEFT SIDE. ELBOWS BODY SHOTS ARE HAVING AN EFFECT ON HIM. >> Mauro: QUICK JAB. >> Josh: YEAH, HITS TO THE BODY HARD. >> Mauro: HERE IN ROUND TWO, BOBBY KING LANDING ALMOST 20 MORE STRIKES THAN NICK NEWELL, ADDS THAT LEFT HAND. DUCKS UNDERNEATH. GUILLOTINE. THERE IT IS. YOU WERE LOOKING FOR THE GUILLOTINE. MAKE THAT KING POPS HIS HEAD OUT WITH 50 SECONDS LEFT IN THE SECOND. >> Josh: AND NICK IS REALLY GOOD WHEN HE GETS ON THAT NECK. THE SWEAT GOT BOBBY KING OUT OF THERE. >> Mauro: 30 SECONDS REMAINING IN THE ROUND AS KING CONNECTS WITH A LEFT HAND TO THE FACE OF NEWELL. >> Josh: SLOWING DOWN RIGHT NOW. >> Mauro: AGAIN, LOOKING FOR THAT GUILLOTINE! >> Josh: YOU HEAR THE CROWD GOING CRAZY. >> Mauro: CONNECTICUT'S OWN NICK NEWELL LOOKING FOR HIS 12th SUBMISSION AND WIN. AGAIN, KING ABLE TO POP HIS HEAD OUT AND LOOKING TO POP NEWELL IN THE HEAD WITH AN ELBOW STRIKE AND PUNCHES AS WE GO TO THE THIRD AND FINAL ROUND. [ BELL RINGING ] >>> WATER. SPIT IT OUT, PLEASE. OKAY. YOU'RE DOING GOOD. I NEED YOU NOT TO LUNGE ANYMORE, OKAY? >> I KNOW -- TO THE TOP, RIGHT. >> I LIKE THE BODY WORK. I WANT YOU TO -- ONE PULL ACROSS. >> Josh: YOU'RE GOING TO SEE BOBBY KING STEP IN. HE CHECKS THE KICK, THROWS THE RIGHT HAND OFF THAT SOUTH PAW POSITION, DOUBLES IT UP. FALLS BACK IN RIGHT FROM THAT POSITION AS WELL. GETS IN CLOSE. HE WANTS TO STAY OUTSIDE OF THE KICKING RANGE. NICK THROWS A LAZY KICK. DOESN'T THINK THAT BOBBY KING IS GOING TO STEP IN AND WAS ABLE TO STEP IN AND THROW THAT COMBINATION. NICK ON THE NECK, THIS IS WHERE BOBBY KING NEEDS TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE NICK NEWELL IS DANGEROUS ON THE NECK. GOT TO KEEP HIS HEAD ABOVE THOSE GRIPS. >> FINAL ROUND, YOU READY? LET'S GO. >> Mauro: THIRD AND FINAL ROUND IN THIS, A MATCH-UP IN THE BELLATOR MMA LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION. NICK NEWELL IN THE RED GLOVES, BOBBY KING IN THE BLUE GLOVES. KING IN HIS BELLATOR MMA DEBUT. NEWELL, HOPING TO MOVE TO 2 AND 1 HERE IN BELLATOR. COMES BACK FROM THE ROCK AS HE GOT -- THAT WAS AN EXCHANGE TO OPEN UP ROUND THREE. >> Josh: IT'S IN THOSE KICKS TO NEWELL'S BODY THAT HAS MADE HIM HESITANT TO COME FORWARD AS WELL AS SLOWING HIM DOWN QUITE A BIT. >> Mauro: SHOT KICK BY NICK NEWELL. FOUR MINUTES LEFT IN THE FIGHT. WHATEVER IS LEFT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE TANKS, IT IS TIME TO EMPTY THEM RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. >> Josh: YOU CAN SEE THE TOE MARKS ON NICK NEWELL'S STOMACH FROM THE PUSH KICK. A COUPLE OF SCRAPES, LIKE THE TOENAILS GOT UP IN THERE. THAT'S ANOTHER MISTAKE BY NICK NEWELL. YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO THROW THE KICK AND LEAVE YOUR BODY OUT, YOU HAVE TO THROW IT AND GET BACK IN POSITION. >> Mauro: NEWELL CLOSEST THE DISTANCE. PINS KING ALONG THE FENCE AS KING LOOKS TO FIND A WAY OUT. NEWELL BACKS AWAY AND EATS THE KICK FROM KING. AND NEWELL IS NOT RETURNING FIRE. >> Josh: HE'S SLOWING DOWN QUITE A BIT, ON THAT ESCAPE AS WELL. HE TOOK ANOTHER BODY TOE KICK. >> Mauro: YEAH, LANDED FOR KING. NEWELL AVOIDED THAT ONE AND, AGAIN, CLOSES THE DISTANCE, MISSES WITH THE HEAD KICK. >> Josh: NICE LITTLE ELBOW, BOBBY KING IN THERE. >> Mauro: YEAH. >> Josh: ELBOW RIGHT THERE BY NICK NEWELL. THROUGH THE KNEE AND OFF THE BREAK THROUGH THE ELBOW. >> Mauro: NEWELL. MOVING LEFT. OUT OF THE RIGHT HAND BUT, AGAIN, CLOSES THE DISTANCE BUT A KNEE TO THE MID SECTION AS HE PUSHES KING BACK, AND NEWELL JUST LOOKING FOR THE TAKEDOWN AS THE SECONDS TICK AWAY HERE IN THE THIRD AND FINAL ROUND. >> Josh: BOBBY KING UNTIL THE FIRST TAKEDOWN IN THE VERY FIRST ROUND, HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO ESCAPE THE TAKEDOWN. >> Mauro: HE HAS. NEWELL NEEDS TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. >> Josh: HERE IS THE THING. THE FIRST ROUND COULD HAVE WENT TO NICK, SO IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO IF THIS ROUND -- HOWEVER WINS THIS ROUND COULD WIN THE FIGHT. >> Mauro: UNDER TWO MINUTES LEFT. NEWELL, AGAIN, TENACIOUS IN HIS PURSUIT OF THE TAKEDOWN. STIFLED BY BOBBY KING. >> Josh: YOU CAN SEE THE EXHAUSTION. AFTER NOT GETTING THE TAKEDOWNS, HE COMES OUT A LITTLE SLOWER. >> Mauro: RIGHT. NICE HOOK THERE BY NEWELL THAT CONNECTED UPSTAIRS. THAT TIME NEWELL CAUGHT THE KICK OF KING. KING ON ONE LEG, IS TAKEN OFF HIS FEET! MUCH TO THE DELIGHT OF THIS CONNECTICUT CROWD! >> Josh: BEAUTIFUL JOB OF CATCHING THE KICK, ELEVATING THE KICK AND MAKING BOBBY KING JUMP AND HIS FOOT OFF THAT POSITION. >> Mauro: KING DEFEATING NEWELL WITH A STEADY DIET OF HANDS TO THE HEAD, NOW IN THE CLOSE GUARD WITH 1:11 LEFT IN THE FIGHT. >> Josh: THIS IS WHERE NICK NEEDS TO GET BUSY, BECAUSE I FEEL HE LOST THE FIRST TWO, TWO-AND-A-HALF MINUTES OF THIS ROUND. HE NEEDS TO TURN BOBBY KING BACK OFF THE FENCE, HOLD HIM DOWN. >> Mauro: LAST TIME NICK NEWELL TOOK AN "L", TONIGHT HE'S TRYING TO BOUNCE BACK. BOBBY KING HOPES TO INCREASE HIS WIN STREAK TO FOUR IN HIS BELLATOR MMA DAY BUTTE WITH 45 SECONDS LEFT IN THIS LIGHTWEIGHT ENCOUNTER. NOW NEWELL ON HIS BACK MOMENTARILY. >> Josh: HAD TO ROLL ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO COME UP, GET TO THE FINISH. >> Mauro: AND BOBBY FEEDING HIM A STEADY DIET OF LEFT HANDS, FEEDING NEWELL TO THE BACK, TO THE FENCE. >> Josh: NICE BODY KICK OUT OF THAT EXCHANGE BY NICK NEWELL. >> Mauro: A GUTSY EFFORT BY BOTH NICK NEWELL AND BOBBY KING! FINAL 15 SECONDS. AND THESE TWO LIGHTWEIGHTS WILL HEAR THE JUDGES' SCORES AT THE MOHEGAN SUN ARENA, AND WE'LL HEAR THIS CROWD! >> Josh: WHAT A FIGHT. WHAT A FIGHT. >> Mauro: A SPIRITED EFFORT FROM BOTH. COME BACK. BOBBY KING LOOKING TO SECURE HIS FIRST VICTORY UNDER THE BELLATOR MMA BANNER, COMING IN WITH THREE CONSECUTIVE WINS. WHILE NICK NEWELL LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK AFTER HE HAD HIS THREE-FIGHT WIN STREAK SNAPPED IN HIS LAST FIGHT. THAT WAS A SPLIT DECISION AT BELLATOR 232 WAY BACK IN OCTOBER 2019. SO NEWELL HAS BEEN ON THE SHELF FOR A WHILE AS WELL DUE TO A VARIETY OF FACTORS INCLUDING COVID. >> Josh: YEAH, THAT INSIDE LEG KICK BY NICK NEWELL IS WHAT ACTUALLY MADE BOBBY KING SWITCH TO THE SOUTH PAW STANCE. BOBBY KING THOUGH, THE KEY FOR HIM TONIGHT WAS MIXING UP HIS STRIKES. HE WENT FROM THROWING THE INSIDE LEG KICK TO THE SPINNING KICK TO THE PUSH KICK AND TOE KICK, UP THE MIDDLE, AND MIXING THAT UP WITH HIS HANDS. AS THE FIGHT WENT ON, NICK NEWELL HAD A HARD TIME GETTING THE TAKEDOWN MANY YOU SAW THAT IN THE LAST ROUND, BUT HE WASN'T ABLE TO DO ANYTHING WITH IT. WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO IT, THE TAKEDOWNS, ONLY TWO, BUT HE EXERTED A LOT OF ENERGY TRYING TO GET THEM, AND THE STRIKES AND THE KICKS LANDED WERE DEFINITELY TO BOBBY KING. 18 AND 7, THAT'S A LOT OF STRIKES AND KICKS LANDED THOUGH THROUGHOUT THE FIGHT THEY WERE UNANSWERED BY NICK NEWELL. >> Mauro: PROUD HAWAIIAN BOBBY KING. 37 YEARS OF AGE, TAKING ON THE 35-YEAR-OLD NICK NEWELL. THE JUDGES HAVE TABULATED THEIR SCORES. AND THE WINNER'S NAME IS ABOUT TO COME OUT OF THE MOUTH OF MICHAEL C. WILLIAMS. >> Michael: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HAVING GONE THE DISTANCE WE WILL GO NOW TO YOUR JUDGES AT CAGE SIDE. YOUR FIRST JUDGE, DAVE HAGUE ANSWER SCORES THE FIGHT 30-27. HE SEES THE FIGHT FOR KING. YOUR SECOND JUDGE, DAVE TOREELLI, 29-28. HE SEES THE FIGHT FOR NEWELL. THE THIRD AND FINAL JUDGE AT CAGE SIDE, MIKE MURTHA, SCORES THE FIGHT 30-27, FOR THE WINNER BY SPLIT DECISION, BOBBY KING! >> Mauro: BOBBY KING RECORDS THE VICTORY HERE IN HIS BELLATOR MMA DEBUT. HE'S NOW WON FOUR STRAIGHT. MEANWHILE, NICK NEWELL SUFFERS HIS SECOND CONSECUTIVE SPLIT DECISION, SETBACK, MUCH TO THE CHAGRIN OF HIS HOMETOWN FAITHFUL, HIS STATE FAITHFUL. AS WE GO TO JOSH THOMSON WHO WILL SPEAK TO THE WINNER. >> Josh: BOBBY, I'M HERE WITH YOU, FIGHTING IN FRONT OF NICK NEWELL'S HOMETOWN CROWD. TELL ME THE ENERGY YOU HAD TO POSSESS TO GET THE WIN TONIGHT. >> JUST ANOTHER DAY. CAME OUT HERE, I WAS HONORED TO FIGHT NICK. HE MADE ME A BETTER FIGHTER. I KNEW HE WASN'T GOING TO COME OUT AND LET ME COME OUT IN FRONT OF THIS CROWD AND BEAT HIM. I APPRECIATE HIM MAKING ME BETTER. >> Josh: WHAT ABOUT HIM MADE YOU FIGHT HARDER, TRAIN DIFFERENTLY FOR HIM? >> OBVIOUSLY HE'S MORE THAN I DO. HE'S BEEN HERE. HE IS A BAD ASS WRESTLER AND I KNOW HE IS A TOP ELITE FIGHTER. THAT ALONE, NOTHING ELSE. HE IS JUST A BAD ASS. >> Josh: YOUR COMBINATIONS IS WHAT I REALLY THOUGHT MADE THE DIFFERENCE, THE PUSH KICK UP THE MIDDLE, THE TOE KICK HAD A LOT OF EFFECT AND THEN YOU MIXED IT UP BEHIND YOUR COMBINATION WITH YOUR HANDS. TALK TO ME ABOUT, WAS THAT THE GAME PLAN COMING IN OR WERE YOU LOOKING TO GET SOME TAKEDOWNS AND HOW DID YOU MIX IT UP? >> WE JUST CAME OUT HERE TO FLOW, NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS. CAME OUT HERE, READ WHAT WAS HAPPENING, WE KNEW HIS WEAKNESSES AND HIS STRENGTHS AND WE DIDN'T CARE WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO. WE DID WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO. >> Josh: CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WIN TONIGHT. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOUR WINNER, BOBBY KING! >> Mauro: SUCCESSFUL BELLATOR MMA DEBUT FOR BOBBY KING AND A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES, THE FANS INSIDE THE MOHEGAN SUN ARENA. LIMITED CROWD HERE. DWAYNE "BANG" LUDWIG, AN AMAZING FIGHTER TURNED TREMENDOUS COACH. OF COURSE, TRAINED UNDER THE LEGENDARY EL BOPO BOSS ROOT SYSTEM. BOBBY KING GETTING IT DONE WITH HIS STRIKING HERE TONIGHT. LET'S GO TO JENN BROWN. >> Jenn: THANKS. THAT'S RIGHT. AN IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE BY BOBBY KING, MOVING TO 10 AND 3, PICKING UP FOUR STRAIGHT WINS TONIGHT. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL CATCH UP ON THE 24-7 NOW ON THE BELLATOR POLLUTE OWE TV CHANNEL. NO PASSWORDS, NO PAYMENT. JUST DROP IN AND ENJOY THE SHOW. AVAILABLE ON YOUR FAVORITE DEVICES. LOOK FOR US IN THE SPORTS CATEGORY. WELL, TONIGHT WE HAVE A STACKED FIGHT CARD COMING YOUR WAY ON SHOWTIME. THE NIGHT STARTS WITH A WELTERWEIGHT CLASH BETWEEN DeMAR KES JACKSON, MARK LEMMINGER. JOHN, YOU SAID THEIR STYLE MAKES FOR AN EXCITING FIGHT. WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT? >> John: BOTH STYLES ARE COME-AT-YOU STYLES. THEY BOTH PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE. THEY'RE DIFFERENT IN THE FACT THAT DeMARQUES IS MORE STRIKING CENTER WHILE YOU HAVE LEMMINGER WHO IS A WRESTLER BUT HE USES THE STAND-UP WELL. DeMARQUES IS A GUY THAT WE SAW IN HIS LAST FIGHT PUT IT ALL ON THE LINE. HE WILL NOT QUIT. YOU LOVE GUYS THAT FIGHT IN HIS STYLE. TALK TO ME ABOUT WHY YOU THINK IT IS IMPRESSIVE. >> Michael: IF I'M GOING TO WAR, DeMARQUES IS THE PERSON I WANT ON MY RIGHT SIDE BECAUSE HE'S GOING OUT ON HIS SHIELD. HE'S MAKING SURE HE IS LEAVING EVERYTHING IN THE CAGE, BUT I CAN'T TAKE ANYTHING FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN OF MARTIN LEMMINGER. IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE HE CAN WIN ANYWHERE. HE'S HAD FIVE TKOs, THREE SUBMISSIONS, THREE DECISIONS. HE CAN WIN IN ANY WAY. SO IT IS GOING TO BE A GREAT FIGHT. THEY'RE BOTH GOING TO BE IN THERE, ON THEIR FRONT FOOT. >> Jenn: WHEN WE TALKED TO MARK THIS WEEK, HE SAYS IN HIS LAST FEW FIGHTS HE DOESN'T FEEL LIKE HE USES ALL OF THE TOOLS IN HIS TOOL BOX. THIS FIGHT HE CAN. HE WORKED ON SPECIFICALLY HIS WRESTLING. WHAT IMPROVEMENTS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FROM HIM IN THE CAGE? >> John: YOU LOOK AT HIS LAST COUPLE OF FIGHTS. HE GOT STOPPED ON A CUT. NOW, AMAZON, 25 AND 0, HE PRESENTS PROBLEMS FOR EVERYONE. BUT IN HIS LAST FIGHT YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED. IT WAS THAT HIS NORMAL OUTPUT SLOWED DOWN. HE CAN'T DO THAT, ESPECIALLY AGAINST JACKSON. HE NEEDS TO COME OUT WITH THAT FAST PACE, THAT PRESSURE PACE AND KEEP PUTTING SHOTS ON JACKSON SO HE HAS PROBLEMS IN BEING OFFENSIVE HIMSELF. >> Jenn: YOU KNOW, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE HEART, RIGHT. THESE TWO GUYS BITE DOWN ON THEIR MOUTH PIECE. THEY LIKE TO GO IN AND THROW DOWN. WHEN WE HEAR THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. >> Michael: FOR ME IT IS JUST A GREAT SHOW, A GREAT FIGHT TO START ON FOR THE SHOW. FOR ME, I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD LOOK FORWARD TO THIS ONE. DON'T BLINK. >> Jenn: ACTUALLY, DON'T BLINK. A GREAT WAY TO PUT IT. THAT KICKS OFF OUR SHOWTIME CARD. OUR FIRST FIGHT OF THE NIGHT, AND THEN IN OUR CO-MAIN EVENTS TONIGHT WE HAVE PAUL DALEY TAKING ON JASON "THE ASS KICKING MACHINE" JACKSON IN A FIGHT THAT PROMISES AN EXPLOSION LIKE THE FIRST ONE. FOR A BIT OF HISTORY ON WHY THIS FIGHT WILL FEATURE FIREWORKS HERE IS BELLATOR'S UK GUY GARETH. >> Gareth: WE MIGHT AS WELL SAY. BELLATOR PRESIDENT COKER SEES PAUL DALEY'S 4:42 WAR WITH NICK DIAZ OVER A DECADE AGO AS ARGUABLY THE MOST THRILLING ROUNDS IN THE HISTORY OF MMA. DALEY FACES TONIGHT THE MAN FROM KINGSTON, JAMAICA, A FIGHTER WHO HAS SHOWN AN INCREASING VERSATILITY ON A FOUR-FIGHT WINNING STREAK. LAST TIME OUT, HE HOLDS A VICTORY OVER KNEE MAN GRACIE IN A BY DAR FIGHT IN WHICH JACKSON CAUGHT HIS EYE ON THE CAGE FENCE BUT WENT ON TO WIN CONTROVERSILY IN MY VIEW BY DECISION. THIS MATCHUP, AT 175 POUNDS, IS AN OLD-SCHOOL ROOTS AND RESPECT FIGHT. DALEY, WHO SERVED IN THE SAME BRITISH ARMY REGIMENT ASPIRINS HAIRY TOLD ME I'M 3-0 AND 175 POUNDS AND I'M THE CURRENT CHAMPION OF THAT DIVISION. BELLATOR SHOULD MAKE THE DALEY BELT. NICE TRY, PAUL. EXPECT SYMTEX TO EXPLODES FROM THOSE HEAVY FITS, AND ATTEMPTS FROM JACKSON IN AN ATTEMPT TO SMOTHER THE WILY FIGHTING FOX. HERE IN LONDON WE CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS ONE. >> Mauro: NEITHER CAN WE, MR. DAVIES. FRANKLY, WE CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT FIGHT ON THE PRELIM PORTION OF BELLATOR 260. IT WILL BE CONTESTED IN THE FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION, TYWAN CLAXTON, THE NUMBER ONE RAENKD 145 POUNDER TAKES ON DEBUTING JUSTIN GONZALES, WHO IS 11 AND 0. >>> NOW READY TO MAKE HIS WAY TO THE CAGE, THE UNDEFEATED JUSTIN GONZALES! >> Mauro: THE J-TRAIN HAS ROLLED INTO BELLATOR MMA. 11 PRO FIGHTS, 11 VICTORIES, 4 KNOCKOUTS AND 1 REAR NAKED CHOKE WIN FOR THE 30-YEAR-OLD GONZALES, WHO WRESTLED FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO IN CSUPUEBLO AND A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN EXERCISE SCIENCE, HEALTH, AND LOOKING TO MAKE A BIG IMPACT HERE IN BELLATOR MMA. BUT HE THINKS IT IS A BIG TEST. >> Josh: YEAH, IF HE CAN GET PAST CLAXTON, THAT PUTS HIM RIGHT IN THE RANKINGS. I WILL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW HE HAS A GREAT CHANCE OF DOING IT. HE IS AS GOOD, IF NOT BETTER OF A WRESTLER, AND VERY INTENSE. HIS CONDITIONING IS ON POINT, OUT OF COLORADO, AT ELEVATION. HE COMES IN. HE WILL PUSH THE LIMB OUTS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE FIGHT. >> Mauro: SAYS HE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE HIS LIFE AND THE LIVES OF MANY OTHERS THROUGH FIGHTING. HAS BIG GOALS. WANTS TO INSPIRE OTHERS SO THEY CAN ACHIEVE ám CLAXTON, WANTING TO PUT ON A SHOW. AS FOR TYWAN "AIR" CLAXTON COMING OFF A SPLIT DECISION SETBACK AGAINST THE RISING J.J. WILSON, BUT HE FEELS HE IS STILL IN THE MIX. FOR YOU, JOSH, WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU NEED TO SEE MORE OUT OF CLAXTON TO BECOME A REAL BELIEVER OF HIM IN BELLATOR? >> Josh: I NEED TO SEE THE CLAXTON THAT MADE HIM FAMOUS, DOING THE THINGS THAT IS UNEXPECTED, IS WHAT GOT HIM TO WHERE HE IS. HE GOT AWAY FROM THAT A LITTLE BIT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF FIGHTS. THEN WHAT HAPPENED IS WITH J.J. WILSON HE MADE IT A STRICTLY WRESTLING FIGHT, PRESSING TO THE FENCE, NOT DOING A LOT OF THE WORK ON THE FEET LIKE WE KNOW HE CAN. THAT WAS A SETBACK. I THOUGHT HE STILL KIND OF WON THE FIGHT. I KNOW IT WAS A SPLIT DECISION, BUT YOU CAN'T BE MAD IT WENT EITHER WAY. IF HE MAKES THIS FIGHT, HE WILL BE EXCITING AGAIN. >> Mauro: HE WENT VIRAL IN HIS BELLATOR MMA DEBUT AND HIS PRO-AM DEBUT. ALL OF THE FIGHTS FOR TYWAN CLAXTON HERE IN BELLATOR MMA, HE RECORDED THE FIRST ROUND FLYING KNEE KNOCKOUT AND HAS GONE ON TO AUTHOR A 6 AND 2 RECORD. BUT, AGAIN, LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK AGAINST A MAN WHO HAS YET TO TASTE DEFEAT AS WE GO TO THE TALE OF THE TAPE. J.T. >> Josh: YOU WILL SEE HERE THAT TYWAN CLAXTON HAS A 2 1/2 INCH REACH ADVANTAGE. HE HAS TO MAKE SURE HE KEEPS GONZALES ON THE END OF HIS PUNCHES, UNLESS HE IS ABLE TO GET ON TOP AND THEN RISE UP AND LAND THOSE VICIOUS GROUND AND POUND STRIKES HE LIKES TO DO. >> Mauro: WITH THE OFFICIAL INTRODUCTIONS HERE IS MICHAEL C. WILLIAMS. >> Michael: FOR THOSE FANS TONIGHT AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY INSIDE MOHEGAN SUN ARENA, IT IS GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK LIVE HERE AT BELLATOR MMA. THE PRELIMS ROLL ON NOT. WITH THREE FIVE-MINUTE ROUNDS IN THE FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION, INTRODUCING THE BLUE CORNER. AT 5'9", WEIGHING IN AT 145 POUNDS, IN HIS DEBUT HE BRINGS AN UNDEFEATED PROFESSIONAL RECORD OF 11 AND 0. HE FIGHTS OUT OF COLORADO. JUSTIN GONZALES! ACROSS THE CAGE, HIS ADVERSARY OUT OF THE RED CORNER, AS A PROFESSIONAL, 6 VICTORIES, 2 LOSSES ESHS FIGHTING OUT OF DENVER, COLORADO, BY WAY OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, TYWAN "AIR" CLAXTON. IN CHARGE, YOUR REFEREE BLAKEOH. IN CHARGE, YOUR REFEREE BLAKE WRIGHT. >> Mauro: BLAKE GRICE, THE OFFICIAL ASSIGNED TO OVERSEE THIS FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT BETWEEN TYWAN "AIR" CLAXTON WHO SAYS HIS EXPERIENCE INSIDE THE BELLATOR MMA CAGE IS THE GREATEST ADVANTAGE OVER THE DEBUTING JUSTIN GONZALES, WHO IS IN THE BLUE GLOVES. CLAXTON IN THE RED GLOVES. BOTH OF THEM HIGH-LEVEL WRESTLERS, BUT ALSO BOTH LOVE TO CHUCK FOR THE LEATHER. AND IN THIS SPORT, YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO SEAMLESSLY MIX IT TOGETHER, JOSH THOMSON. >> Josh: YES, WE ARE GOING TO SEE JOSH IS SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT LOSING ISN'T AN OPTION BECAUSE HE IS UNDEFEATED. HE IS 11 AND 0. HE FEELS LIKE EVERYTHING HE HAS BEEN DOING IS WORKING, AND HE COMES IN HERE WITH THE MOST CONFIDENCE. WHEREAS TYWAN CLAXTON, COMING IN OFF A LOSS. THAT MESSES WITH YOUR MIND A LITTLE BIT. YOU DON'T WANT TO DROP TWO IN A ROW WHEREAS GONZALES HAS HAD THAT FEELING YET. THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG THING I THINK MENTALLY FOR BOTH FIGHTERS. >> Mauro: WHILE GONZALES HAS MORE OVERALL EXPERIENCE IN THIS FIGHT, AS WE MENTIONED, CLASS TON FIGHTING OUT OF THE SOUTH PAW, CLAXTON FOUGHT HIS ENTIRE CAREER UNDER THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF BELLATOR MMA, BUT GONZALES FEELS THIS IS WHERE HE BELONGS AND HE FEELS HE'S FACED A BETTER QUALITY OF OPPONENTS OVERALL. HE IS COMING OFF A FOURTH ROUND TKO WIN, AND HE WOULD LOVE TO STOP D'JUAN CLAXTON. IN FACT, HE PREDICTED A TKO FIGHT HERE TONIGHT. >> Josh: YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD SAY HIS QUALITY OF OPPONENTS WITH SANCHEZ. DIDN'T LAST TOO LONG. >> Mauro: NO. CLAXTON BEGAN WRESTLING IN THE EIGHTH GRADE, DIVISION 2, IN BRISTOL, TENNESSEE. TRANSFERRED TO OHIO UNIVERSITY WHERE HE WAS A TWO-TIME NATIONAL QUALIFIER. THERE, THE DOUBLE JAB BYGONE GONE, LOOKING TO CLOSE THE DISTANCE BUT CLAXTON ABLE TO DISENGAGE. >> Josh: BOTH FIGHTERS THROWING EVERYTHING WITH HEAT AND SPEED. >> Mauro: -->> Josh: BOTH FIGHT EVERYTHING WITH HEAT AND SPEED. >> Mauro: -- BY GONZALES. PIT BULL WILL MEET -- IN THE FINAL OF THE $1 MILLION BELLATOR MMA FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD GRAND PRIX. OF COURSE, CLAXTON PARTICIPATED IN THAT TOURNAMENT, LOSING TO EMANUEL SANCHEZ. ALREADY BLOOD ON THE NOSE OF GONZALES. UNDER TWO MINUTES LEFT HERE IN THE FIRST. >> Josh: KICKS ARE HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF AN EFFECT. EVERY TIME HE KICKS THE LEG, TAKES A STEP BACK, LETS HIS LEG RESET A LITTLE BIT. >> Mauro: LEAD, RIGHT HAND SWITCH THE GUARD OF CLAXTON FOR JUSTIN GONZALES. >> Josh: HE'S FEINTING AND THEN CHANGING THE ANGLE. HE'S NOT ALWAYS THROWING OFF OF IT, WHICH IS FINE, BUT HE HAS TO BE A LITTLE MORE BUSY BECAUSE HE IS DOING THE SAME FEINT AND SAME ANGLE CHANGE EVERY TIME. >> Mauro: ONE-TWO, THAT LANDED FOR GONZALES. IT IS A ROUND WHERE BOTH CLAXTON AND GONZALES ARE TRYING TO MAKE THE OTHER -- A BIG PART OF THE FIGHT GAME IS THE MENTAL ASPECT. UNDER A MINUTE. >> Josh: TYWAN HAS TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT LUNGING IN SO MUCH BECAUSE GONZALES IS ACTUALLY DIPPING DOWN AN MAKING SURE HE IS GETTING TO THE TAKEDOWN, A COMBINATION OFF OF THAT. HE NEEDS TO SLIDE HIS FEET IN INSTEAD OF JUST LUNGING IN. >> Mauro: 20 SECONDS LEFT IN THE OPENING ROUND. A TACTICAL STOP HERE BETWEEN THE NUMBER NINE RANKED FEATHERWEIGHT IN BELLATOR MMA, TYWAN CLAXTON, AND JUSTIN GONZALES. FIGHTING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN BELLATOR. [ BELL ]. >> Josh: IN THE BLUE CORNER HERE OF JUSTIN GONZALES, TAKE A LISTEN. >> HEY, YOU ARE DOING GREAT. A LITTLE MORE PUSH, OKAY? A LITTLE MORE PRESSURE. YOU ARE DOING GREAT. YOUR ANGLES ARE GOOD. A LITTLE MORE FACING, TOO. A LITTLE MORE FACING. KEEP CIRCLING LEFT. YOU ARE DOING PERFECT, MAN. >> YEAH. >> AND SHUT HIM OFF. HE'S RUNNING, YOU FEEL THAT, RIGHT? >> YEAH. >> HOW DOES HE FEEL WHEN YOU PUT HIM ON THE CHAIN A LITTLE BIT, CUT HIM OFF WITH THE FOOTWORK. >> Mauro: GONZALES REPRESENTING TOPNOTCH SPORTS ACADEMY, PROUD MMA. REPRESENTING ELEVATION FIGHT TEAM, BOTH OF THEM. LOOK TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS HERE AS WE HEAD INTO ROUND NUMBER TWO. CLAXTON, LOOKING TO -- >> READY? >> READY. >> FIGHT. >> Mauro: GET BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN WHILE JUSTIN GONZALES HOPES TO GO 12 AND 0. WE HEARD FROM THE GONZALES CORNER, AS WE BEGIN ROUND TWO THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE PRESSURE. >> Josh: YEAH, MORE PRESSURE BUT ALSO MORE OUTPUT. ON TOP OF THAT OUTPUT, CUT THE CANS OFF WITH CLAXTON TRYING TO MOVE THE CIRCLE OUT. >> Mauro: I THINK EVERYONE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OUTPUT, PERIOD, HERE IN ROUND NUMBER TWO. >> Josh: JUSTIN FOLLOWING THE CORNER'S ADVICE, CUT HIM OFF. NICE JOB. >> Mauro: CLAXTON, FROM THE SOUTH PAW HANDS. CHANGED LEVELS MOMENTARILY. THOUGHT ABOUT GOING FOR THE SHOT, BUT CHANGED HIS MIND. AGAIN, JUST A LITTLE CUT THERE ON THE BRIDGE OVER THE NOSE OF JUSTIN GONZALES, AND GONZALES WANTS TO -- IT LOOKS LIKE HE WANTS TO CLOSE THE GAP. HE'S TRYING TO UTILIZE THE JAB. AND WE HEARD FROM HIS CORNER THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM UTILIZE MORE FEINTS AS WELL, JOSH. >> Josh: YES, UTILIZE MORE FEINTS AND HE NEEDS TO MOVE HIS HEAD, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S KIND OF WHERE THE INITIAL CUT ON THE NOSE. >> Mauro: AND REMAINS ON THE CENTER LINE. WORKS FROM A CLAXTON -- AS WE SEE -- CONTINUE -- SOUTH PAW. CLAXTON GOES FOR THE BODY LINE. CLAXTON, SECURED. GONZALES OFF HIS FEET. NICELY DONE. >> Josh: FIGHT OUT OF THE DOUBLE -- LITTLE BOUNCE OFF THE -- DOWN THE OPEN THOUGH. >> Mauro: TWO MINUTES GONE HERE IN THE SECOND. -- UP THE MIDDLE BY CLAXTON. >> Josh: THIS NEWER GENERATION OF FIGHTERS THEY USE THE FENCE LIKE A THIRD LEG TO KEEP THEMSELVES STANDING UP. NOW YOU HAVE TO PULL HIM OUT IN THE OPEN BECAUSE NOT A LOT OF FIGHTERS KNOW HOW TO DEFEND THEMSELVES OUT IN THE OPEN. THERE HE GOES. TURNING. NOW HE'S GOING TO USE THAT FENCE. HE WILL START WALL WALKING AGAINST THE FENCE, USING IT AS SUPPORT TO GET HIMSELF BACK TO HIS FEET. NICE TAKEDOWN BY TYWAN CLAXTON. >> Mauro: CLAXTON LOOKING TO -- ONE LEG, SOMETHING YOU TRIED JOSH THOMSON. IMAGINE HE TOOK IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL -- >> Josh: I DON'T LIKE TO TOOT MY OWN HORN. >> Mauro: I DO IT FOR YOU, BROTHER. >> Josh: THANK YOU, BUDDY. THANK YOU. BUT NICE WORK. NOW WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO IS HE FIGURED FOR IT, NOW HE NEEDS TO START TAKING HIS FEET. JUSTIN GONZALES'S FEET TOWARDS THE FENCE SO HE CAN PUT JUSTIN GONZALES ON THE GROUND. >> Mauro: JOSH "THE PUNK" TOMSON DOESN'T LIKE TO TOOT HIS OWN HORN? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? UNDER TWO MINUTES LEFT HERE AS GONZALES BACK TO HIS FEET DETERMINEDLY. THE DETERMINED CLASSICTON DELIVERING SOME KNEES. . >> Josh: HE HAS TO BE CAREFUL HE DOESN'T GET HIS ARM STUFFED IN THERE. ABLE TO GET TO THE ARM, FLIP TO THE BACK AND IT IS OVER. -- ARM STUCK. CLAXTON DOING A GREAT JOB IN THIS POSITION. >> Mauro: CLAXTON HAS CLASPED HIS HANDS, THE GRIP AROUND THE BODY. RELEASING IT. DEFENDED BY GONZALES. GONZALES, TRYING TO MAINTAIN. GONZALES -- SEPARATED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. >> Josh: GONZALES, A PHENOMENAL WRESTLER HIMSELF. ALL HE HAS TO DO IS BOUNCE HIM OFF AND GET HIM OFF, TOO. HE CAN GET IN TOP POSITION AND DO SOME WORK IN THE LAST MINUTE, WHEN WIN THIS ROUND. >> Mauro: IT IS A BATTLE FOR POSITION. UNDER A MINUTE LEFT IN THE SECOND ROUND. >> Mauro: HOW ABOUT MARCO, THE KING OF THE STREETS? >> Josh: YOU CAN HEAR JUSTIN GONZALES'S CORNER YELLING AT HIM, DON'T WAIT, GET OUT THERE AND GET IT. >> Mauro: FANS HERE AT THE MOHEGAN SUN ARENA WOULD LIKE TO SEE A BIT OF A BREAKOUT AS THEY'VE WITNESSED THIS BATTLE OF THE TRIP TO THE WALL, THE FENCE. THE OVERHOOKS BY CLAXTON. 15 SECONDS LEFT IN THE SECOND ROUND. KNEES BEING EXCHANGED WITH SOME SPACE IN BETWEEN CLAXTON AND GONZALES AS WE HEAD TO THE THIRD AND FINAL ROUND OF THIS FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT. [ BELL ]. >> A BIG KNEE. LISTEN, YOU'RE A BETTER WRESTLER THAN HIM. HE CAN'T HANG WITH YOU. I NEED MORE OF THAT. MIX IT IN WITH YOUR SIGHT BUT LET'S WRESTLE. >> ALL I NEED IS FIVE MINUTES OF EVERYTHING YOU GOT. LEAVE IT IN HERE. >> YES, SIR. LET'S TAKE EVERYTHING. >> HANDS WITH THE WRESTLING AND WE'RE NOT LETTING UP, WE'RE NOT LETTING UP. >> LISTEN. >> OKAY. I LOVE IT. >> HEY, THE PEOPLE -- UP THE MIDDLE, START -- ON HIS RIGHT GET -- >> Josh: ZIPPING IT EVERY TIME, EVERY TIME. >> HEY, HEY! WE NEED IT. >> Mauro: TYWAN CLAXTON, MANY SKILLS INCLUDING WRITING COMPUTER CODE. HE AND THE DEBUTING JUSTIN GONZALES, TRYING TO CRACK EACH OTHER'S CODE AS THEY LOOK TO CRACK EACH OTHER'S SKULLS AS WE BEGIN THE THIRD AND FINAL ROUND. GONZALES IN HIS FIRST BELLATOR MMA APPEARANCE. 11 AND 0. TYWAN "AIR" CLAXTON, ALL EIGHT OF HIS PREVIOUS HERE IN BELLATOR MMA, LOOKING TO MOVE TO SEVEN AND TWO. >> Josh: YES. THE CORNER TOLD HIM TO WRESTLE MORE. USE THE PUNCHES IN THAT CORE POSITION, ON THE TAKEDOWN. >> Mauro: YET GONZALES ABLE TO STYMIE THE TAKEDOWN ATTEMPTS. AGAIN, CLAXTON WITH HIS BACK ALONG THE FENCE. >> YOU GOT TO CIRCLE WITH YOUR LEGS! >> Josh: GONZALES'S CORNER TOLD HIM TO THROW THE BOOT KICK UP THE MIDDLE AND FINISH UP WITH THE RIGHT HAND. PUSH KICK TO THE STOMACH OR TO THE FACE, AND HE CAME IN AND NOW HE'S READY TO PUNCH. >> Mauro: YES. AND THERE IS SEPARATION. CLAXTON FROM THE -- WIDE. GOES WITH THE JAB ON THE EXIT, THE JAB. CLAXTON USING MORE FEINTS, USING MORE FOOTWORK. AND WITH 3:30 LEFT, YOU HEARD THE CORNERS OF BOTH FIGHTERS, THEY NEED TO PUSH THE PACE HERE. >> Josh: YEAH, IN THE SECOND ROUND CLAXTON HAD THE LEAD. IN THE FIRST ROUND IT WAS A TIED ROUND. IT COMES DOWN TO WHOEVER CAN WIN THIS ROUND. CLAXTON I THINK NEEDS TO WIN THE MOST. >> Mauro: GONZALES WITH THE SCORES WITH THE LOW KICK TO THE LEAD LEG OF CLAXTON. CLOCKED BY CLAXTON. FINAL THREE MINUTES. COUNTER RIGHT HAND BY GONZALES. >> Josh: THE CORNER WAS TELLING HIM TO COME IN ON THAT EXCHANGE, GET THE JAB. NICELY DONE. >> Mauro: CLAXTON CHANGING LEVELS. NOW -- OF JUSTIN GONZALES. 2:30 LEFT. HAMMER FIST BY GONZALES, THEN ELBOW. >> Josh: CLAXTON HAS TO BE CAREFUL KEEPING HIS HEAD IN THAT POSITION TO BE ELBOWED AS WELL AS THE SETUP. >> Mauro: GONZALES WAS LOOKING FOR THAT DOUBLE -- ATTEMPT AS WE COME UP ON THE FINAL TWO MINUTES OF THIS FEATHERWEIGHT BOUT HERE, THE BELLATOR 260 PRELIMS. GONZALES ON HIS BACK, OPEN GUARD. CLAXTON FROM TOP POSITION. >> Josh: THAT WAS A NICE LITTLE ARM DRAG. GONZALES IS PRESENT, TO THE GROUND. WAS ABLE TO GET BY, ABLE TO GET THE ROLL THROUGH TO THE TOP POSITION. NICELY DONE. >> TAKE YOUR TOE OUT OF THE CAGE. >> THE TOE IS STILL IN THERE. >> Mauro: GONZALES DIPPING HIS TOES INTO THE DEEP END OF THE BELLATOR MMA FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION, AND HE GET SCORED FOR USING HIS TOES ALONG THE CAGE. SCRAMBLE. >> Josh: IT SAYS A LOT COMING IN FOR THE DEBUT, BELLATOR, IT SAYS A LOT. HE HAD GOOD MOMENTS IN THE FIGHT. -- LEFT. >> Mauro: AND THEY ARE JUST BATTLING FOR THE TAKEDOWN, KEEPING JUST CLOSE QUARTERS. FINAL 60 SECONDS BETWEEN TYWAN "AIR" CLAXTON AND JUSTIN GONZALES. WILL CLAXTON BOUNCEBACK FROM HIS SECOND CAREER LOSS? WILL GONZALES REMAIN UNDEFEATED IN HIS BELLATOR MMA DEBUT? >> Josh: WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT. BUT I TELL YOU, CLAXTON IS DOING EVERYTHING THAT HIS CORNER TOLD HIM TO DO, WHEREAS GONZALES'S NOT LISTENING TO THE CORNER. THAT'S GOING TO BE THE -- JUDGE'S DECISION. >> Mauro: HALF A MINUTE LEFT. FOOT STOMP BY GONZALES. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH. I STILL WONDER, DESPITE THE FACT HE'S ALSO A WRESTLER, WHETHER OR NOT HE SHOULD TRY TO SEPARATE AND TRY TO UNLOAD ON CLAXTON. EASIER SAID THAN DONE. 10 SECONDS LEFT IN THE FIGHT. >> Josh: TAKEDOWN AT THE VERY END, GOT TO GET UP, JUST LET IT GO. >> Mauro: BOTH OF THEM EMBRACE THE GRIND. WHO WILL EMBRACE THE HARD-FOUGHT VICTORY? HOW DID YOU SEE IT OVERALL, JOSH? >> Josh: DON'T PUT ME IN THAT POSITION, MAURO. COME ON. >> Mauro: I KNOW. I PUT BIG JOHN IN THAT POSITION. I HAVE TO PUT YOU IN THAT POSITION. YOU CAN SAY. PLEAD THE FIFTH. >> Josh: HONESTLY I WOULD PROBABLY GIVE IT TO TYWAN CLAXTON BASED OFF THE FIRST TWO ROUNDS THOUGH I WOULD GIVE THE THIRD ROUND TO JUSTIN GONZALES. IT WAS CLOSE. I THINK THE LAST LITTLE TAKEDOWN, EVEN THOUGH THERE WASN'T MUCH OUT OF IT, BATTLING, JOCKEYING FOR POSITION AND WRESTLING THE WHOLE ROUND. LOOK, IT IS SPLITTING HAIRS TO BE HONEST. >> Mauro: YES. WE SAW -- WE COULD SEE A SPLIT DECISION WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE. IN ANY EVENT, IT IS UP TO THE THREE JUDGES AT CAGE SIDE. BOTH CLAXTON AND GONZALES BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE DONE ENOUGH. >> Josh: BUT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE FIGHTS WHERE IT COULD BE 30-27 EACH DIRECTION. >> Mauro: RIGHT. >> Josh: SO FOR PEOPLE AT HOME WATCHING, YOU GUYS HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT WAS A CLOSE FIGHT. IT REALLY DEPENDS ON HOW THE JUDGES SAW, THEY GAVE MORE REWARD TO ONE, TOUCHES, WRESTLING, TAKEDOWNS OR WHATEVER IT WAS. >> Mauro: GREAT TO SEE THE SIGN OF RESPECT. AN IMPORTANT FIGHT, OBVIOUSLY, AS THEY ALL ARE HERE IN BELLATOR MMA, BUT GONZALES CAME IN WITH PLENTY OF HYPE AFTER RECORDING 11 CONSECUTIVE WINS. AND FOR TYWAN "AIR" CLAXTON CAME UP SHORT IN THE BELLATOR FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD GRAND PRIX'S OPENING ROUND. IN A RAZOR THIN SPLIT DECISION LOSS AGAINST J.J. WILSON IN HIS LAST FIGHT, THAT CAME AT A CATCH WEIGHT AFTER WILSON MISSED WEIGHT LAST JULY. AND THEN TONIGHT HERE AT 145, JUSTIN GONZALES, HE FEELS HE'S DONE ENOUGH. CLAXTON HAD SAID HE IS FINALLY AT A PLACE WHERE HE DOESN'T FEEL GUILTY ABOUT HIS SUCCESS AND DOESN'T FEEL GUILTY ABOUT PUTTING HIS CAREER FIRST. WELL, LET'S SEE IF HE FINISHES FIRST IN THIS FIGHT. LET'S GO TO MICHAEL C. WILLIAMS. >> Michael: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FOR DECISION WE GO TO THE THREE JUDGES AT COURTSIDE. BRIAN MINER SCORES THE FIGHT 29-28. HE SEES THE FIGHT FOR GONZALES. THE SECOND JUDGE SCORES THE FIGHT 29-28. HE SEES THE FIGHT FOR CLAXTON. THE THIRD AND FINAL JUDGE AT CAGE SIDE, DOUG CROSBY, SCORES THE FIGHT 29-28. HE SEES IT FOR, THE WINNER BY SPLIT DECISION, JUSTIN GONZALES! >> Mauro: IT IS A SPLIT DECISION WIN FOR JUSTIN GONZALES, IMPROVING TO 12 AND 0 AND PICKING UP A HARD-FOUGHT VICTORY IN HIS BELLATOR MMA DEBUT AS HE SHADES TYWAN "AIR" CLAXTON WHO TAKES DEFEAT FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE TIME AND THIRD TIME IN HIS CAREER. TO JOSH THOM SON. >> Josh: JUSTIN GONZALES, GREAT PERFORMANCE. HARD-FOUGHT FIGHT. DID YOU SEE THE DECISION GOING YOUR WAY AS YOU WERE COMING IN HERE FOR THE DECISION? >> YES, YES, I DID. YOU KNOW, I THINK I CONTROLLED THE STRIKING, CONTROLLED THE CAGE IN THE FIRST AND GOT THE TAKEDOWN. PROBABLY STOLE THE ROUND FROM ME THE SECOND. THE THIRD WAS PRETTY CLOSE, BUT I THINK I WAS WINNING THE STRIKING BATTLE. I TOOK HIM DOWN AT THE END AND FINISHED THE WAY I HAD TO. >> Josh: WHAT REALLY SURPRISED YOU THE MOST ABOUT HIM AND HOW DID YOU HAVE TO MAKE CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE FIGHT? >> HE WAS STRONG, MAN. HE WAS GOOD. HE IS A GOOD WRESTLER. I KNEW HE WAS GOING TO BE A GOOD WRESTLER, SO I HAVEN'T BEEN TAKEN MUCH DOWN, SO KUDOS TO HIM. MUCH LOVE, MUCH RESPECT. >> COMING IN HE IS RANKED NUMBER NINE IN THIS DIVISION. YOU HAVE NOW PUT YOURSELF IN THAT STAMP, YOU PROBABLY SHOULD BE RANKED IN THE TOP TEN AFTER THAT PERFORMANCE. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AND WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO FIGHT NEXT? >> OH, MAN, BELLATOR, I WOULD LIKE TO JUMP IN THE RANKINGS, IF YOU DON'T MIND. I THINK I JUST DESERVED IT. YOU KNOW, ANYBODY IN THE RANKINGS, THAT'S MY HIT LIST. I KNOW WE CAN GET IT. MAN, I GOT MY EYES ON ALL OF THEM. >> Josh: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOUR WINNER, JUSTIN GONZALES. >> Mauro: JUSTIN GONZALES SHOULD INDEED CRACK THE TOP TEN. BELLATOR MMA FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION RANKINGS AFTER BEATING NUMBER NINE RANKED TYWAN CLAXTON VIA SPLIT DECISION HERE AT BELLATOR 260 AND CELEBRATING WITH MEMBERS FROM THE TOPNOTCH SPORTS ACADEMY AND TRIALS MMA, AS WE GO BACK TO THE FIGHT DESK FOR MORE REACTION. >> Jenn: THANKS, MAURO. FANTASTIC BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN BOTH OF THOSE GUYS. JUSTIN GONZALES, BELLATOR DEBUT. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT HE WAS ABLE TO DO TONIGHT, JOHN? >> John: I THOUGHT HE DID A VERY GOOD JOB. HE WAS TIGHT IN WHAT HE DID. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WRESTLING STARTED COMING OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE BOTH GOOD WRESTLERS AND IT LEADS TO A STRIKING BATTLE BUT IT ENDED UP A WRESTLING BATTLE IN THE END. GIVING IT IN THE END, TO JUSTIN, BIG WIN. >> Michael: TO BE FAIR, I AGREE WITH THE FACT USUALLY WHEN YOU SEE WRESTLERS GET TOGETHER, SCRAP THE REST OF THEM AND JUST THROW HANDS. BUT I ACTUALLY FELT THAT CLAXTON TOOK THE BEST OF THE REST OF THEM AND THE STRIKING WAS FAIRLY EVEN. SO I WAS SURPRISED AT THE RESULT. >> John: I KIND OF AGREE. I THOUGHT IN THE END THE WRESTLING, THE BETTER WRESTLING, GRAPPLING ART WAS CLAXTON, BUT THE JUDGES DISAGREED. >> Jenn: YEAH. GONZALES MOVING TO, WHAT IS IT, 12 AND 0. >> Mauro: BUT IT IS INTERESTING HE IS 20 AND 0 IF YOU COMBINE HIS AMATEUR AND PRO CAREER. IMPRESSIVE, NEVER A LOSS. WE HAVE ONE MORE FIGHT TO GO BEFORE THE MAIN CARD STARTS ON SHOWTIME AT TOP OF THE HOUR. KICKING OFF WITH DeMARQUES JACKSON VERSUS MARK LEMMINGER. THEN WE HAVE AARON MIKO MAKING A RETURN TO FACE AIDEN LEE. WE HAVE THE SHOW-STOPPING PAUL DALEY AND THE ASS-KICKING MACHINE JASON JACKSON. I LOVE BEING ABLE TO SAY THAT. IT IS IN ANTICIPATION OF THE MAIN EVENT, THE WELTERWEIGHT WORLD TITLE ON THE LINE, DOUGLAS LIMA DEFENDING THE BELT AGAINST YAROSLAV AMOSOV. ONCE AGAIN, WE WILL HEAD ACROSS THE POND TO GET A FIGHT PREVIEW FROM GARETH DAVIES. >> Gareth: WHAT A MAIN EVENT WITH THE HUGE PHYSICAL PRESENCE OF REIGNING DOUGLAS LIMA DEFENDING AGAINST YAROSLAV AMOSOV, THE THREE-TIME CHAMPION FROM YU CRACK. AMOSOV FACES ONE OF THE SPORT'S STANDOUT CHAMPIONS IN LIMA, WHO HAS NOTCHED A NOTABLE VICTORY OVER RORY McDONALD, ANDRE, MICHAEL PAGE, PAUL DALEY AND LORENZE LOCK ENS APPROACHING A DECADE. LIMA HAS POISE AND PRECISION BUT MORE THAN THAT, HE HAS EXPERIENCE. LIMA HAS BEEN TO A FIFTH ROUND SEVEN TIMES WHEREAS THE DYNAMO HAS NEVER BEEN BEYOND THREE. IN THIS ONE, IF IT GOES BEYOND THREE, THE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS COULD REALLY BE TELLING, ALL TO FIGHT FOR. OVER AND OUT FROM LONDON. >> Mauro: WELL, THANKS. WE JUST HEARD GARETH SAY THAT HE SAYS THAT AMOSOV IS THE BEST WRESTLER IN THE GYM AND THAT'S IMPRESSIVE CONSIDERING HE HAS NO WRESTLING BACKGROUND. WHEN YOU SEE WHAT HE HAS DONE IN BELLATOR AGAINST NCAA CHAMPIONS, NCAA ALL-AMERICANS. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE, JOHN? >> John: TO SAY IT IS POSSIBLE, IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE. WHAT HE DOES IS HE DOESN'T HAVE THAT WRESTLING BACKGROUND BUT HE HAS THAT SAMBO BACKGROUND. SAMBO BRINGS IN NOT ONLY WRESTLING FROM THE RUSSIAN SIDE WHICH IS INCREDIBLE, BUT ALSO THE JUDO. A LOT OF THINGS WHEN HE GETS TIED UP WITH HIS OPPONENTS OR EVEN IN THE GYM. LOOK AT THAT. THAT'S A THREE-TIME NCAA CHAMPION, LETS HIM GET AROUND IN THE BACK. THIS IS WHAT MAKES YAROSLAV AMOSOV SPECIAL. HE JUST USES DIFFERENT FOOT SWEEPS AND A LOT OF JUDO THROWS. HE WILL USE THEM AND GUYS ARE NOT ANTICIPATING THAT MOVEMENT. HE'S JUST BECOME SUCCESSFUL. HE IS JUST AN OUTSTANDING WRESTLER. >> Jenn: THAT'S RIGHT. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GUYS HE TRAINS WITH OVER AT ACP DOWN IN FLORIDA. THEY HAVE AN IMPRESSIVE UNDEFEATED RECORD. I THINK IT IS LIKE 49 AND 0. THE GUYS THAT HE IS TRAINING WITH THERE, WHAT DOES IT DO FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE WHEN YOU ARE IN THE GYM DAY IN AND DAY OUT, MICHAEL, WITH GUYS AND EVERYBODY IS WINNING? IT HAS TO FEEL GOOD. A LITTLE PRESSURE I HAVE TO ASSUME, TOO? >> Michael: I DON'T THINK IT IS NECESSARILY PRESSURE. I THINK IT HELPS YOU RISE TO THE OCCASION. WHEN YOU SURROUND YOURSELF WITH CHAMPIONS, THE RESULTS ARE GOING TO BE -- YOU ARE GOING TO MOST LIKELY BE A CHAMPION. SO IT IS ABOUT SURROUNDING YOURSELF WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE. HE IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM. AND TO HEAR FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE GYM AS I HAVE MANY TIMES, THAT HE IS OUT WRESTLING THE GUYS AS WELL, UNBELIEVABLE. WE KNOW IT WILL BE A MASSIVE FACTOR IN THE PLAY. >> Jenn: WE TALK ABOUT DOUGLAS LIMA AND YOU LOOK AT HIS OPPONENTS AND WHO HE FOUGHT, YOU LOOK AT A RORY McDONALD, ANDRE KORSHKOV, WHO HE HAS FOUGHT THREE TIMES, WELL-ROUNDED, WHAT CAN WE TAKE FROM THOSE FIGHTS, PARTICULARLY AGAINST KORSHKOV HOW HE WILL HANDLE HIMSELF TONIGHT. >> John: WHEN YOU LOOK AT A GUY LIKE KORSHKOV, HE IS GOOD WITH THE SPINNING ATTACK AND HIS WRESTLING IS OUTSTANDING AND FIRST TIME FACING DOUGLAS LIMA HAD HE HIM IN TROUBLE, AND LIMA IN A KNEE INJURY AND IT LED TO PROBLEMS. BUT IT IS IT WAS DOUGLAS LIMA LEARNED AND HOW HE CAME BACK IN SECOND AND THIRD FIGHT THAT SAYS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW. HE WAS HEAVY ON TOP OF KORSHKOV AND WORE HIM OUT AND GETS TO THE REAR NAKED CHOKE AND PUTS HIM UNCONSCIOUS. DOUGLAS LIMA ALWAYS IMPROVES IN AREAS. WHEN HE KNOWS WHAT SOMEBODY DOES, HE WORKS VERY HARD IN IMPROVING THOSE AREAS AND MAKING IT SO IT IS A STRENGTH INSTEAD OF A WEAKNESS. >> Michael: IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ANYBODY THAT I HAVE WATCHED TAKE LIMA DOWN. WHEN YOU DO GET HIM DOWN, HE DOESN'T STAY THERE VERY LONG. THIS IS WHY I FEEL IT IS GOING TO BE A VERY INTERESTING -- THIS IS GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING BOUT BECAUSE, LET'S SAY, HE DOES GET HIM DOWN, HOW MANY TIMES CAN HE GET HIM DOWN AND HOW LONG CAN HE KEEP HIM DOWN FOR? HOW EFFECTIVE CAN HE BE ON THE FLOOR? THAT'S GOING TO PLAY THE ROLE. >> Jenn: I AGREE. ANOTHER INTERESTING ELEMENT OBVIOUSLY THE QUESTION THAT NEEDS TO BE ANSWER IS DOUGLAS LIMA HAS GONE THOSE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS, AMOSOV HAS NOT. >> John: AND THAT'S SO BIG. TO SIT THERE AND JUST TO SAY IT, AMOSOV HAS 13 FIRST-ROUND FINISHES. WE HAVE SEEN HIM IN THREE-ROUND FIGHTS WHERE HE HAS GOTTEN TIRED. HIS LAST FIGHT AGAINST LOGAN STERLING, HE OUTWRESTLED AN ALL-AMERICAN WRESTLER, MADE HIM LOOK AT TIMES HE'S THE BETTER WRESTLER LIKE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT HE DID OUTPACE HIMSELF. IN THAT THIRD ROUND LOGAN STERLING CAME ON AND WAS PUTTING A WHIPPING ON YAROSLAV. SO HE NEEDS TO MAINTAIN THAT LEVEL WHERE HE'S COMFORTABLE AND NOT OVER EXTENDING. >> Michael: I FEEL WITH LOGAN STERLING, HE WAS PUSHING THE PACE. THAT MADE HIM, YOU KNOW, IT IS A DIFFERENT FIGHT WITH LIMA. LIMA IS GOING TO HAVE A VERY SLOW, STEADY PACE. I BELIEVE HE WILL BE ABLE TO LAST FIVE ROUNDS. >> Jenn: AMOSOV TOLD US HE WAS WORKING ON CARDIO WITH HIS COACH FROM UKRAINE. IT IS TIME TO GET BACK TO THE FIGHT ACTION. MAURO. >> Mauro: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL WRAP UP THE MAIN EVENT OF BELLATOR 260 WITH A WELTERWEIGHT TITLE PHI FIGHT. WE WRAP UP THE PRELIMINARY PORTION OF BELLATOR 260 WITH A WELTERWEIGHT FIGHT WITH KYLE CRUTCHMER AND LEVAN CHOKHELI >>> TONIGHT'S ONE FINAL PRELIM REMAINS. NOW YOUR FIRST FIGHTER, PLEASE WELCOME LEVAN CHOKHELI! >> Mauro: ALL RIGHT. MICHAEL C. WILLIAMS SAYS IT WITH A LITTLE MORE PANACHE AND FLARE. IT IS LEVAN CHOKHELI. HE IS 24 YEARS OF AGE, MAKING HIS BELLATOR MMA DEBUT UNDEFEATED. HE FEELS HE SHOULD BE 10 AND 0, NOT 9 AND 0 WITH ONE NO CONTEST. HE KNOCKED OUT CONRAD BRISHKA IN GERMANY IN FEBRUARY LAST YEAR. THE REFEREE RULED THE FIGHT NO CONTEST AFTER SAYING CHOKHELI USED AN ILLEGAL STRIKE WHICH CHOKHELI SAYS HE DIDN'T. BUT IT WILL BE AN OFFICIAL NO CONTEST, SO HE'S LOOKING TO KEEP THAT TRAIN MOVING IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION HERE TONIGHT IN HIS BELLATOR DEBUT. >> Josh: HE'S UNDEFEATED. I GET IT, ONE MORE WIN ON YOUR RECORD, I UNDERSTAND THAT. >> Mauro: IT WOULD BE A PERFECT DROP. >> Josh: BUT CHOKHELI POSSESSES POWER IN BOTH HANDS AND HE IS AGGRESSIVE. IT MLB A FUN FIGHT. >> Mauro: YES, LIKE ALL FIGHTERS, CHO CHOCK WANTS TO EARN MORE BUCKS FOR HIS BANG AND SO FAR HE WON MORE MONEY FOR SECOND THAN HIS PEERS. ALL NINE WINS HAVE COME VIA FIRST ROUND KNOCKOUTS. >>> AND NOW MAKING HIS WAY, KYLE CRUTCHMER! >> Mauro: AFTER STARTING HIS CAREER WITH SIX STRAIGHT WINS, HE TASTED DEFEAT FOR THE FIRST TIME AT LAST BELLATOR 259, LOSING THE UNANIMOUS DECISION. THE 28-YEAR-OLD CRUTCHMER TELLING US IT WAS A LEARNING LESSON. HE SAYS HE'S A WRESTLER AT HEART AND HE STOOD ALL THREE ROUNDS. HE FEELS THAT, AGAIN, LIKE A LOT OF FIGHTERS TASTING DEFEAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IT HAS TO BE A LEARNING EXPERIENCE OR WHAT IS THE POINT. >> Josh: YEAH, IT REALLY JUST COMES DOWN TO -- I TRAINED WITH KYLE CRUTCHMER, I SEE KYLE CRUTCHMER ALL THE TIME IN THE GYM, I HAVE KNOWN HIM FOR YEARS. HE IS A PHENOMENAL WRESTLER BUT IN THAT FIGHT HE DECIDED TO STAND AND IT WORKED AGAINST HIM. HE HAS TO GET BACK TO HIS WRESTLING IN THIS GAME. >> Mauro: LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE TALE OF THE TAPE FOR THIS WELTERWEIGHT ENCOUNTER AT BELLATOR 260. >> Josh: YEAH, THE RECORD IS REALLY WHAT STANDS OUT, 9 AND 0 FOR CHOKHELI AND THEN YOU HAVE 61 WITH CRUTCHMER. BOTH OF THEM ARE GOOD FIGHTERS. BOTH OF THEM AT THE TOP OF THEIR FOOD CHAIN RIGHT NOW SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. WHO WILL END UP GETTING THE WIN? >> Mauro: HERE IS MCW! >> Michael: FROM MOHEGAN SUN ARENA, THE TIME HAS COME TO CONCLUDE THE PRELIMS HERE AT BELLATOR 260 WITH THREE FIVE-MINUTE ROUNDS IN THE WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION. INTRODUCING THE BLUE CORNER AT 6 FOOT, WEIGHING IN AT 170 POUNDS EVEN, MAKING HIS BELLATOR DEBUT, HE ENTERS UNDEFEATED, NINE WINS, NO LOSSES, HAILING FROM DIVINITY, GEORGIA, FEATURING LEVAN CHOKHELI. ACROSS THE CAGE FIGHTING OUT OF THE RED COURSE AT 5'9", WEIGHING IN AT 170 AND THREE QUARTER POUNDS. AS A PROFESSIONAL, HE STANDS NEAR PERFECT, SIX VICTORIES, JUST ONE DEFEAT, FIGHTING OUT OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA, KYLE CRUTCHMER! THE REFEREE IN CHARGE, STAND MERGLIANO. >> Mauro: SCHEDULED FOR THREE FIVE MINUTE ROUNDS. CRUTCHMER PROBABLY NEEDS TO RELY ON HIS WRESTLING AGAINST A GUY IN CHOKHELI WHOSE NINE WINS HAVE ALL COME IN THE OPENING ROUND DUE TO HIS STRIKE. CHOKHELI IN THE BLUE GLOVES. CRUTCHMER IN THE RED GLOVES. THIS IS ROUND NUMBER ONE. >> Josh: IT IS IMPORTANT FOR KYLE CRUTCHMER TO MAKE SURE IT IS THE FOCUS, THAT HE HAS TO RUSH INTO THE BREAKDOWN, ESPECIALLY IN THE BEGINNING ROUND. IN THE BEGINNING ROUND, YOU HAVE TO SET UP THE TAKEDOWN WITH STRIKING, INSIDE LEG KICK, OUTSIDE LEG KICK AS WELL AS HANDS. >> Mauro: CRUTCHMER, A TWO-TIME ALL-AMERICAN AT OKLAHOMA STATE. RANDY COUTURE, DANIEL CORNIER WHO HAS WORKED WITH ALL OF THE WRESTLERS AT AKA, JOSH. >> Josh: YES, YOU HAVE THE ROKOSH BROTHERS. >> Mauro: SO MANY. >> Josh: YES. VISNICKI. >> Mauro: WELL, CRUTCHMER HERE AGAINST LEF AN CHOKHELI. IMMEDIATELY CRUTCHMER GOES FOR THE TAKEDOWN. CHOKHELI LOOKING TO CHOKE CRUTCHMER IN THE MEANTIME. >> Josh: KYLE DID A GOOD JOB. TRYING TO WALK PAST THE LEGS. HE HAS TO BE CAREFUL GETTING INTO THE HALF GUARD. HE NEEDS TO SETTLE IN, MAKE SURE HE KEEPS THE BACK FLAT TO THE GROUND. >> Mauro: SO IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR CRUTCHMER TO BRING THIS FIGHT WHERE HE WANTED IT TO TAKE PLACE, ON THE GROUND. WORKING FROM THE -- WELL, TRYING TO WORK NOW FROM THE CLOSE GUARD OF CHOKHELI, WHO WAS TRYING TO STAY BUSY FROM THE BOTTOM. BUT CRUTCHMER DOING A GOOD JOB, WANTING TO PASS HERE. >> Josh: NICE JOB. CHOKHELI THOUGH WAS QUICK ON TRANSITION FROM THE ARM BAR. HE DIDN'T HAVE IT QUITE TIGHT ENOUGH. KYLE WAS ABLE TO PULL THE ARM OUT, GET THE PASS. >> Mauro: CRUTCHMER WORKING FROM SIDE CONTROL, HEAVY ON CHOKHELI. >> Josh: KYLE IS TRYING TO GET TO THE CRUCIFIX POSITION WHERE HE KIND OF TRAPS THAT RIGHT ARM BETWEEN HIS LEG. SEE HIM LAYING DOWN THOSE ELBOWS. >> Mauro: THE DETERMINATION OF CRUTCHMER, GOES FOR ANOTHER TAKEDOWN AND SECURES IT ON CHOKHELI. CHOKHELI, AN ELBOW. HAS TO BE CAREFUL, BEHIND THE HEAD OF CRUTCHMER, OR IN THE 12 TO 6. >> WATCH THE ARM BAR! KEEP YOUR ELBOWS INSIDE! >> Josh: TAKEDOWNS ARE NICE BUT HE HAS TO BE CAREFUL HOW MUCH ENERGY HE PUTS OUT BUSS AS THE BOUT GOES ON IT WILL BE HARDER TO GET. >> Mauro: CRUTCHMER TELLING US THAT IN CAMP, THEY IMPLORED HIM, DON'T GO AWAY FROM WHAT YOU'RE BEST AT. >> Josh: THAT'S SOMETIMES HARD FOR WRESTLERS BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY FIND OUT -- >> Mauro: FALL IN LOVE WITH PUNCHING PEOPLE. >> Josh: YEAH, THEY FALL IN LOVE, THE MAJORITY OF WRESTLERS POSSESS PUNCHING POWER AND WHEN THEY START TOUCHING PEOPLE THEY REALIZE, HEY, THIS IS MORE FUN AND TAKES LESS ENERGY. THEY START TRYING TO GET INTO THAT BUSINESS. WHEN I TALK ABOUT WRESTLERS, I TALK ABOUT GUYS LIKE RANDY COUTURE WHO NEVER GOT AWAY FROM THAT BUSINESS. CHOKHELI IN TRIANGLE POSITION HERE. >> Mauro: CHOKHELI LOOKING FOR HIS FIRST SUBMISSION AFTER ALL NINE OF HIS WINS CAME. ALL NINE WINS IN THE OPENING ROUND. HE HAS A MINUTE AND CHANGE LEFT TO WORK WITH FROM THIS POSITION. LOOKING FOR THE TRIANGLE. >> Josh: THAT'S IN TIGHT RIGHT THERE. HE ALSO TOO HAS CRUTCHMER'S ARM IS KIND OF STRAIGHT SO HE'S ABLE TO HIT IN. YOU SEE HIM TRYING TO MAKE THAT -- NICE JOB. >> Mauro: CRUTCHMER ESCAPES. NOW IN NORTH/SOUTH POSITION. CRUTCHMER HAS AN ANACONDA CHOKE ARM TRIANGLE AND A GUILLOTINE ON HIS RESUME. UNDER A MINUTE LEFT HERE IN THE FIRST FRAME. AS WE PUT A CAP ON THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE SIX-FIGHT PRELIMINARY CARD OF BELLATOR 260. MAIN CARD COMING UP AT 9:00 EASTERN, 6:00 PACIFIC. BELLATOR 260 ON SHOWTIME AS CRUTCHMER GETS ANOTHER TAKEDOWN. LESS THAN HALF A MINUTE REMAINING IN THE FIRST ROUND. >> Josh: WHAT KYLE NEEDS TO DO IS PUT HIS FOREHEAD TO THE CAGE, POSTURE UP, HIT IN AND START LAYING DOWN SOME LEATHER. EVEN THOUGH HE HAS THE DOMINANT ROUND IN TERMS OF WRESTLING, A LOT OF SUBMISSION THREATS AND ACTIVITIECOME FROM CHOKHELI AT THE BOTTOM. NICE. >> Mauro: THE ELBOW THERE AND ANOTHER ELBOW STRIKE BY CRUTCHMER. CRUTCHMER WILL CLOSE OUT THE ROUND WITH CHOKHELI ON HIS BACK AS WE HEAD TO THE SECOND STANZA. CRUTCHMER, STICKING WITH WHAT GOT HIM TO THE DANCE, JOSH THOMSON, UTILIZING HIS WRESTLING. >> Josh: THAT WILL BE THE KEY THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE FIGHT WITH CHOKHELI, HAS TO DO WITH MAKING HIM WORK HARDER IN THE ROUND. >> TAKE A DEEP BREATH. TRY TO GET THOSE ELBOWS ON HIM SOME. >> NICE. >> BEAUTIFUL WORK. YOU LOOK GREAT OUT THERE. OKAY. >> KEEP YOUR HANDS UP. >> HEY. YOU'RE FASTER. >> OKAY. >> USE THAT. LET IT GO. GET THE TAKEDOWN. >> Mauro: COMING UP AT 9:00 EASTERN/6:00 PACIFIC, AS I MENTIONED, BELLATOR MM A ON SHOWTIME. IT WILL CULMINATE WITH A MUCH-ANTICIPATED WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT, DOUGLAS LIMA BEGINS HIS RECORD THIRD REIGN DEFENDING AGAINST THE NUMBER ONE CONTENDER, THE 25-YEAR-OLD YAROSLAV AMOSOV. YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS BELLATOR 260, THE MAIN CARD, COMING UP AT 9:00 EASTERN, 6:00 PACIFIC, ONLY ON SHOWTIME. >> ALL RIGHT. SECOND ROUND, GENTLEMEN. >> Mauro: AND IT IS GO TIME AS WE BEGIN ROUND NUMBER TWO. KYLE CRUTCHMER IN THE RED GLOVES. UNDEFEATED LEVAN CHOKHELI, MAKING HIS BELLATOR MMA DEBUT IN THE BLUE GLOVES. IN THE WRESTLING FOR CRUTCHMER. EIGHT DIVIDENDS IN THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES IN THE GROUND CONTROL. 3:23 MEANT THAT CRUTCHMER WAS IN CONTROL ON THE GROUND. NO, I DON'T NEED YOUR -- OPENING 30 -- EYE-OPENING MINUTES. >> Josh: STILL CAN'T LEAVE THE -- >> Mauro: JAB BY CHOKHELI. >> Josh: WHAT KYLE IS PROBABLY DOING IS WAITING FOR CHOKHELI TO GO IN AND COMMIT TO A STRIKE SO HE CAN LOWER HIS LEVEL AN GET IN DEEP ON THE LEGS, NOT HAVE TO WORK AS HARD. THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE FROM LEVAN CHOKHELI, HE IS SOMEONE THAT THROWS EVERYTHING WITH A LOT OF POWER. SO HE WILL LEAVE HIMSELF AVAILABLE TO BE TAKEN DOWN BECAUSE HE DOES EXTEND HIMSELF A LOT. >> Mauro: CRUTCHMER, FEINTING, TRYING TO GET CHOKHELI TO COMMIT. WITH THAT LEAD RIGHT HAND. 90 SECONDS GONE. THE SHOT BY CRUTCHMER. >> Josh: BEAUTIFUL JAB. CRUTCH IS VERY GOOD AT -- YEAH, A VERY FAST ENTRY, AS WELL AS HE IS VERY FAMOUS FOR HIS DUST UNDER. HE DROPPED IN ON THE DOUBLE LEGS AND TURNED THAT CORNER REAL FAST. HE DIDN'T SETTLE IN ON THE BOTTOM. NICELY DONE BY KYLE CRUTCHMER. >> Mauro: CHOKHELI FROM THE BOTTOM, DELIVERING THE ELBOW SPLICE. TRYING TO CONTROL THE POSTURE OF KYLE CRUTCHMER, AND CRUTCHMER BEING UTILIZED BY CHOKHELI. >> Josh: OVER HOOKS. YEAH, HE'S JUST REALLY TRYING TO CONTROL KYLE SO THAT HE CAN'T POSTURE UP. KYLE NEEDS TO ELEVATE THAT RIGHT LEG AND PUT HIS KNEE UNDERNEATH HIM SO IT MAKES IT HARDER FOR CHOKHELI TO GO TO THAT SIDE AND STAND UP. NOW HE IS USING THAT FOOT TO PUSH HIM BACK AND CREATE SPACE, WHICH EVENTUALLY HE ENDED UP USING THAT FOOT TO HIT THAT HOOK AS WELL. >> Mauro: CHOKHELI, NOW AN ACTIVE HIT, NOW ALONG THE FIS. HALF BUTTERFLY. NOW GIVING UP HIS BACK. >> Josh: THIS IS NOT WHERE CHOKHELI WANTS TO BE WITH KYLE CRUTCHMER, AND KYLE TWO-ON-ONE, HE CAN RIDE HIM FORWARD. HE'S GOING TO ROLE HIM FORWARD THERE AND PUT WEIGHT ON HIM. >> Mauro: ELBOWS FROM THE BOTTOM AGAIN, CRUTCHMER BY CHOKHELI, AS CRUTCHMER BACK INSIDE. CONTROL ALONG THE FENCE. UNDER TWO MINUTES LEFT IN THE SECOND ROUND. >> Josh: WHAT KYLE NEEDS TO DO IS START PUTTING THAT LEFT KNEE ON THE BELLY SO HE CAN START MAKING HIM CARRY HIS WEIGHT, ESPECIALLY ON THE ABDOMEN AREAS SO THE TAKEDOWNS BECOME EASIER THROUGHOUT THE FIGHT. >> Mauro: KYLE CRUTCHMER, REPRESENTING ONE OF THE MOST DECORATED GYMS IN MMA HISTORY, AKA, A PLACE YOU KNOW WELL, MR. THOMSON. CHOKHELI REPRESENTS PHOENIX SPORTS ACADEMY OUT OF BELISI, GEORGIA. UNDER 90 SECONDS LEFT IN THE SECOND WITH CRUTCHMER CONTROLLING THE TOP POSITION, SIDE CONTROL. >> Josh: EVEN THOUGH HE IS CONTROLLING ALL OF THE POSITIONS, HE NEEDS TO GET BUSIER WITH STRIKING. >> Mauro: YES. >> Josh: RIGHT NOW AS BIG JOHN McCARTHY AND I TALK ABOUT, IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT CONTROLLING THE POSITION. IT IS ABOUT THE WORK YOU DO FROM THAT POSITION, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW CHOKHELI WAS LANDING THE BETTER ELBOWS FROM THE BOTTOM. HE IS THREATENING MORE OF THE COMMISSIONS FROM THE BOTTOM. SO HE HAS TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT JUST HOLDING HIM. HE HAS TO DO WORK FROM THE TOP. >> Mauro: FINAL MINUTE. YOU ALWAYS LEARN SOMETHING WHEN YOU WEIGH IN WITH JOHN McCARTHY AND JOSH THOMSON. CRUTCHMER NEEDS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DOMINANT POSITION, BUT CHOKHELI DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB STYMIEING THE OFFENSE AND DOING A GOOD JOB OF CONTROLLING CRUTCHMER'S POSTURE HERE WITH 35 SECONDS LEFT IN THE ROUND. >> Josh: NOW THAT HE'S IN FULL GUARD, HE NEEDS TO PUT HIS FOREHEAD INTO THE FENCE, POSTURE UP AND START LETTING IT GO. IF YOUR BODY IS OVER THEM, IT MAKES IT HARDER FOR THEM TO STAND UP KNOWING THEY HAVE TO GET PAST THEIR HEAD AND BODY TO STAND BACK TO THEIR FEET. >> Mauro: FINAL TEN SECONDS OF THE MIDDLE FRAME. CRUTCHMER DOING JUST ENOUGH, SOME OLD-SCHOOL HEEL STRIKES, BY LEVAN CHOKHELI AS WE GO TO THE FINAL FRAME. >> YOU NEED TO PUNCH YOUR WAY IN, RIGHT. DON'T BACK UP TOO MUCH. DON'T WANT TO GIVE HIM ANY CONFIDENCE. DON'T GIVE HIM ANYTHING. WE'RE JUST GOING TO SHUT HIM DOWN, OKAY. I NEED YOU TO KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF THE MAT, GET HIM OFF HIS FACE AND KEEP ELBOWING HIM. WE NEED MORE DAMAGE. >> OKAY. >> Mauro: AT THE END OF THE DAY IT IS ALL ABOUT DAMAGE, IMPOSING YOUR WILL AND SKILL AND TRYING TO DEFEAT YOUR OPPONENT, AND WE ARE DOWN TO THE FINAL FIVE MINUTES BETWEEN KYLE CRUTCHMER IN THE RED GLOVES, TWO AND ONE HERE IN BELLATOR MMA, AND LEVAN CHOKHELI, MAKING HIS BELLATOR MMA DEBUT, UNBEATEN AT 9 AND 0 WITH ONE NO CONTEST. WHO WANTS IT MORE? >> READY? FINAL ROUND. LET'S GO. >> Mauro: BODY KICK, AND A NASTY ONE FROM CHOKHELI. AND, AGAIN, JUST BATTERING THE BODY OF CRUTCHMER EARLY IN THE FINAL ROUND. >> Josh: YEAH, HE UNDERSTANDS THAT KYLE IS GETTING TIRED FROM THE TAKEDOWNS AND THAT'S WHY HE'S THROWING HEAT TO THE BODY. HE HAS TO BE CAREFUL KYLE DOESN'T CATCH ONE OF THOSE AND HE ENDS UP ON HIS BACK AGAIN FOR THE REST OF THE ROUND. OH, THAT ONE LANDED CLEAN. KYLE TOOK A STEP BACK AND DROPPED HIS ELBOW DOWN. >> Mauro: AND CRUTCHMER CHANGING LEVELS, SHOOTS FOR THE TAKEDOWN. SECURES IT, AND HE ADHERES TO HIS CORNER'S INSTRUCTIONS TO SHUT HIM DOWN. >> Josh: YOU HEAR THE CORNER OF KYLE CRUTCHMER, RON KESLER, TELLING HIM TO SWITCH SIDES. HE WANTS HIM TO KEEP HIS HEAD ON ONE SIDE AND TAKE HIS BODY TO THE OTHER SIDE. THAT WILL HELP TAKE AWAY SOME OF THE COMMISSION OF THE BACK SLAP. >> TRY TO GET YOUR ARMS DOWN. >> TRY TO GET YOUR ELBOW UP ON HIM. >> KEEP PULLING HIM DOWN. >> Mauro: CRUTCHMER TOLD US HE WANTED TO SHOWCASE HIS THROW AS A FIGHTER, WANTING TO SHOW THE ABILITY TO BOUNCE BACK AFTER TASTING DEFEAT FOR THE FIRST TIME. ALWAYS A BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW, JOSH, AND YET GOING BACK TO HIS BREAD AND BUTTER, HIS WRESTLING BAIT, HOPING TO WEAR DOWN AND DEFEAT A MAN YET TO TAKE DEFEAT. >> Josh: IT IS JUST A LOT OF WORK TO DO WHAT KYLE CRUTCHMER IS DOING. I THINK THAT'S WHY FIGHTERS TEND TO GET AWAY FROM IT, WRESTLERS TEND TO GET AWAY FROM IT WHEN THEY START FIGHTING. IT IS A TON OF WORK AND THEY TEND TO GET EXHAUSTED. YOU DON'T GET A TAKEDOWN AND YOU KNOW SOMEBODY IS BACK ON THEIR FEET AND THEY'RE A STRIKER, TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT. AND YOU SAW A LITTLE BIT OF THAT IN THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE ROUND. CHOKHELI CAME OUT, REALIZING THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT FOR HIM TO DO, JUST GO ON HIM. >> Mauro: CHOKHELI AS WELL THOUGH WITH TIME RUNNING OUT NOW DOESN'T WANT TO SETTLE BY ANY MEANS IN THIS POSITION. I KNOW EASIER SAID THAN DONE WHEN YOU HAVE A WRESTLER LIKE CRUTCHMER ON TOP, BUT HE EITHER NEEDS TO TRY TO FORCE THE STAND-UP FOR THE REFEREE OR TRY TO SOMEHOW TURN THE TABLES HERE ALONG THE FENCE, AS WE REACH THE MIDWAY POINT OF THE FINAL ROUND. THERE NEEDS TO BE THAT SENSE OF URGENCY. >> Josh: YES. I TALK TO BIG JOHN ALL THE TIME. >> Mauro: SURE YOU DO, AS I DO. WE ARE BOTH GOING TO FIND OUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A D'ARCE CHOKE AND ANACONDA CHOKE END OF THE NIGHT. >> Josh: GOT TO SHOW ME. >> Mauro: NO, I THREW MYSELF UNDER THE BUS. WHAT BEFORE YOU GOING TO SAY? >> Josh: IT IS THE SMALL LITTLE BODY SHOT KYLE IS DOING, THE SMALL HEAD SHOT, HE CALLS THOSE WRIST STRIKES. YOU DON'T COUNT THOSE AS A JUDGE. KYLE NEEDS TO BE BUSIER IN TERMS OF THROWING AT LEAST ONE OR TWO HARD STRIKES AND GO BACK TO SOFT STRIKES. MIX IT UP WHILE TRYING TO DRIVE IT DOWN BECAUSE IT IS A BAD LOOK. CHOKHELI IS TRYING TO DO MORE WORK FROM THE BOTTOM. >> Mauro: AND YET CRUTCHMER IS STAYING BUSY AGAIN WITH, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, THE STRIKES THAT BIG JOHN, YOU KNOW, AWARDS JUST A ONE TO AND NOT A LOT OF DAMAGE BY ANY MEANS BUT STAYING BUSY ENOUGH TO IMPRESS THE REFEREE AND ALLOW HIM TO CONTINUE TO WORK FROM THIS POSITION. AGAIN, A MINUTE AND A HALF LEFT. CHOKHELI AGAIN, YES, LOOKING FOR THE ARM BAR FROM THE BOTTOM. STILL LOOKING FOR HIS FIRST SUBMISSION VICTORY IN THIS, HIS 11th PROFESSIONAL FIGHT. HALF BUTTERFLY FLIP, WILL NOW, AND CHOKHELI WITH AN OPPORTUNITY HERE. BUT NOW MOMENTARILY GIVING UP HIS BACK. UNDER A MINUTE LEFT IN THE FIGHT. >> Josh: YEAH, I THOUGHT HE WAS STARTING TO GET AWAY LIKE HE DID EARLIER IN THE FIRST ROUND BUT HE WASN'T ABLE TO FINISH THE ROTATION SO HE ENDED UP IN THAT, WE CALL IT THE K-T POSITION WITH ONE LEG BETWEEN HIS WITH HIS BACK TURNED AND IT IS NOT A GOOD POSITION TO BE IN. >> KEEP PUNCHING. >> Mauro: THE SOUNDS OF BATTLE WITH 30 SECONDS LEFT, THE DEEP BREATHING. THESE TWO HAVE BEEN IN THE CAGE FOR 14 MINUTES AND 40 SECONDS, AND NOW FINAL 15 SECONDS OF THE FIGHT, AND CRUTCHMER'S INTENT TO RIDE IT OUT FOR TOP POSITION. HE MUST FEEL HE'S DONE ENOUGH TO SECURE THE VICTORY IN KEEPING CHOKHELI ON THE CANVAS. [ BELL ]. >> Mauro: IT WILL BE UP TO THE THREE JUDGES TO DETERMINE THE VICTOR IN OUR FINAL PRELIMINARY FIGHT HERE AT BELLATOR 260. YOU KNOW THE QUESTION THAT'S COMING TO YOU, JOSH. HOW DO YOU -- HOW DO YOU SEE THIS FIGHT ON YOUR HIGHLY UNOFFICIAL SCORECARD? >> Josh: IT HAS TO BE 30-27 YOU WOULD THINK, BUT I HAVE BEEN PROVEN WRONG SEVERAL TIMES TONIGHT AS WE HAVE FIGURED OUT. >> Mauro: AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE ACTION. >> Josh: THE STORY OF THE NIGHT, THE WRESTLING OF KYLE CRUTCHMER, THE OKLAHOMA STATE STYLE WRESTLER, SOME OF THE BEST MMA FIGHTERS CAME OUT OF THAT COLLEGE. I'M TELLING YOU, THE WAY HE SETS THINGS UP, BOOM, HE CAUGHT THE KICK, STEPPED IN, LOST THE HAND. AS SOON AS HE LOST HIS HANDS CHOKHELI WAS GOING DOWN. THAT WAS THE STORY OF TONIGHT. I WOULD LIKE FOR HIM TO BE A LITTLE MORE BUSY IN TERMS OF THE GRIND AND POUND, BUT WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO IT HE DID A GREAT JOB. >> Mauro: DID YOU HEAR WHAT HE SAID? ANYWAY, LET'S LOOK AT -- WELL, THE STRIKES LANDED ARE EVEN. GROUND CONTROL, BIG. ALL KYLE CRUTCHMER. AND IN THE TAKEDOWN DEPARTMENT, PITCHING THE SHUTOUT. BUT, YOU KNOW, STRIKING, WE SAW DEVAN CHOKHELI WITH THOSE KICKS AS WELL. >> Josh: I THINK ALL SIX OF THOSE HARD KICKS CAME IN THIS THIRD ROUND THOUGH. YOU KNOW, THERE'S PROBABLY ONE MAYBE IN FIRST. THE STORY OF THE TAPE TONIGHT WAS OBVIOUSLY THE TAKEDOWN AND THE BELLATOR MMA COMPETITION. COMING UP, BELLATOR 260. WE WILL BRING YOU THE WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT, THE CHAMPION, DOUGLAS LIMA AGAINST YAROSLAV AMOSOV. JOIN US THE TOP OF THE HOUR FOR BELLATOR MMA ON SHOWTIME. >> BELLATOR WORLD CHAMPIONS. YAROSLAV AMOSOV IS SEEMINGLY UNBEATABLE AT 25-0 RIDING THE LONGEST ACTIVE WINNING STREAK IN MMA. SOMETHING GOT TO GIVE. BELLATOR
