411’s Bellator 154 Report 5.14.16

– Welcome to 411’s UFC 154 report. Tonight I will be doing the review of the main card; here are some preliminary card results…

* Mark Dickman defeated Thomas Diagne via RD3 (3:05) TKO
* Jaimelene Nievara defeated Stephanie Frausto via RD3 (2:43) TKO
* Joshua Hardwick defeated Jorge Acosta via RD1 (1:21) submission
* Sam Spengler defeated Doyle Childs via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

– Tonight’s main card is scheduled for four fights, with a light heavyweight main event featuring King Mo vs. Phil Davis.

Welterweight Bout: Andre Fialho (7-0) vs. Rick Reger (7-1): ROUND ONE: Fialho, who won his last Bellator fight in 29-seconds, has a height advantage as well as a seven-inch reach advantage. Reger worked some leg kicks to begin, and then ate a stiff jab that almost dropped him. Reger keeps trying for the leg kicks, but eats another jab that he did not enjoy. Reger follows with a poor shot, leading to some work along the cage where Fialho laid in some elbows. Fialho is landing more, drops Reger, but he gets back up and is cut. Fialho dropped him again, laid in some ground and pound and that was that.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Andre Fialho via RD1 (2:11) KO

– Post fight, Fialho dedicates the fight to a friend of his that passed away on April 9th. He wants to be a world champion and will get there, and will fight anyone.

– They discussed the passing go Jordan Parsons, and a yearly scholarship to “Pretty Boy’s” favorite wrestling camp. With the newly announced Jordan Parsons Scholarship Fund, Bellator will annually send a young wrestler to “The J Robinson Intensive Wrestling Camp” where Parsons honed his skills.

Lightweight Bout: Adam Piccolotti (7-0) vs. Ray Wood (7-1): ROUND ONE: Wood has a slight reach advantage, but is also moving up from 145 to take this fight. Mike Beltran and his awesome 32-foot long mustache are the officials for the fight. Both guys out quickly, looking to establish their range throwing a lot of leg kicks; Piccolotti then took down Wood and worked form half guard. Piccolotti postured up a few times to try and land some elbows, he then got full guard and took the back of Wood. Wood is hand fighting well, but Piccolotti then flattens him out and transitions into the head and arm choke. Piccolotti was too high on the choke, released and again worked from guard as they were against the cage. Piccolotti then backpacked on Wood as he stood, got the rear naked choke and Wood had to tap because the choke was deep. That was a dominant performance for Piccolotti.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Adam Piccolotti via RD1 (3:17) submission

– Piccolotti spoke about having to take a new opponent on two weeks notice; he was to fight Jordan Parsons. He said once he got past dealing with the emotional element, he was good to go. Piccolotti also wants to fight as much as possible and make noise in the division.

– Earlier today, Bellator released lightweight champion Will Brooks (17-1 MMA, 9-1 BMMA). Bellator terminated his deal, and waived all negotiation rights, because they said that they were getting out of the “Will Brooks” business. They also stripped absentee heavyweight champion Vitaly Minakov (17-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) of his title. Minakov last fought for Bellator back in April of 2014.

Bantamweight Bout: Jeremiah Labiano (9-4) vs. Josh San Diego (6-1): ROUND ONE: Josh San Diego does not fight out of San Diego. This is a big chance for both guys with the changes to the card. Both guys fishing to find some distance, throwing some of leg kicks and jabs, nothing of real urgency here; they are on a fact finding mission for the right distance. San Diego finally went for a big leg kick, slipped and fell but Labinao didn’t even think of attacking, allowing San Diego to get up with ease. San Diego scored with a takedown center cage, Labiano is working to sweep, but San Diego decided to back out and throw some leg kicks at the downed Labiano. Labiano then tried a shot, but San Diego stuffed him as they ended up against the cage. Labiano is pressing, but next to no real work being done here, not even foot stomps or shoulder shrugs. They separate, Labiano then got a late take down and landed the most significant strikes of the round as it ended. SCORECARD: Labiano 10-9

ROUND TWO: Both men circle and look to land, but are mostly missing until Labiano landed a body kick. He mixes in some leg kicks, but it’s a lot of throwing, countering, and missing. San Diego keeps flashing high kicks, which are checked each time. Both guys are busy, starting to land some body and leg kicks, but this feels like a glorified sparring session. Labiano is landing more, but only slightly. San Diego finally landed with the head kick, Labiano tries to shoot but gets stuffed and eats a lot of rights. Labiano finally takes him down, but San Diego is right back up and the round ends. Close round. SCORECARD: Labiano 20-19 overall (but it’s close and could go either way due to the lack of anything of substance really landing.)

ROUND THREE: Labiano is more aggressive early, but like the rest of the fight, not much is landing. San Diego is starting to get more aggressive here, but it’s not paying dividends for either guy. Labiano finally lands some body shots and a kick, they work to the cage and Labiano pulls San Diego down. He works from guard, but he’s mostly just holding position. San Diego is holding on and looking for a stand up, they get warned to work and then stood up. They get wild, San Diego takes Labiano down and starts to unload and reigns down elbows and the round ends. SCORECARD: Labiano 29-28, but the scores could be interesting because there wasn’t much of substance happening here.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Josh San Diego via unanimous decision (29-28 across the cards)

– We go to prelim action, where Joshua Hardwick defeated Jorge Acosta via RD1 (1:21) submission.

– Michael Chandler will face Patricky Pitbull on June 24th for the vacant Bellator Lightweight Title. Chandler says that the fight is years in the making, and he is excited for the fight. He knows that he and Pitbull have both improved, and he is happy to put on a great show for the fans and to win the title again.

Welterweight Bout: Saad Awad (18-7) vs. Evangelista Santos (21-16): ROUND ONE: Awad has been fighting mostly at lightweight, and lost this last fight to Patricky Freire. Santos is coming off of a victory over Brennan Ward on April 22nd. Santos with leg kicks to begin, Awad then wings some wild rights and misses. They go to the cage, where Santos pulls Awad down and works from half guard as Awad lands short strikes from the bottom. Awad starts to fish for the arm bar, but then transitions and Santos tries to get the heel hook. Awad is fighting hard to escape, Awad lands kicks and gets warned to stop grabbing the cage, and then starts to punch his way out. Santos is too determined for the heel hook and is eating a ton of shots and gets warned to defend himself. Awad is punishing Santos here, but Santos is blocking a bit while still going for the heel hook. Awad opens up Santos with elbows, and then Santos covers up and the ref finally stops it.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Saad Awad via RD1 (4:31) TKO

– Saad Awad gets a post fight interview. He knew he had to throw everything he had at Santos, and is going back to 155. He wants a big name, and Josh Thomson would be a great fight.

– Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Liam McGeary (11-0 MMA, 8-0 Bellator) will be on commentary for the main event (the winner gets a title shot against McGeary). McGeary has been out of action, needing leg surgery, and while it has taken a long time to get back, he’s excited to be back. He thinks Mo will win tonight’s fight, because Davis can’t throw a kick or take a punch.

Light Heavyweight Bout: Phil Davis (15-3) vs. Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (19-4): ROUND ONE: Mo looking to press the action early, Davis with some push kicks to try and back him off. We get lots of circling from both, with Davis landing a body kick and then single shot kicks from Davis. Mo lands a combo, follows with a hook as Davis goes to the body. Mo then goes to the body, catches a kick by Davis, which trips him up but nothing bad happens to him. Mo is starting to put together better strikes now, finding distance and largely blocking/catching Davis’ kicks. Davis tried the GSP fake superman/leg kick combo, which really doesn’t work or him. Davis had success early, but Mo found distance and was able to stop Davis from using the kicks effectively. SCORECARD: Mo 10-9

ROUND TWO: When we came back from commercial, McGeary did not seem impressed by the first round. Davis keeps going for the kicks, and Mo catches one and pulls him to the ground. Davis got up right away, and then almost fell over when missing a spin kick. Davis caught Mo with a kick low, and we get a break in the action. Back to action as Mo connects with a good combo. Davis keeps on with these kicks, and almost everyone is being blocked or caught. Davis appeared to catch Mo low again, but Big John didn’t see it that way and the fight continued. Both are finding some success, but it is one shot and out from both. Davis tried for a takedown, but that was stuffed and he backed right out. Davis lands a couple of body kicks, and the round ends. SCORECARD: Mo 20-18, but it could be even.

ROUND THREE: Final round as Mo comes out and takes center cage. He connects first and is continuing to set the pace. Mo keeps pressing, not doing much but continues to land more than Davis. Davis is just not doing anything with any sense of urgency, and continues to be the same fighter he always has been, one that has not evolved enough. Half ass level changes, no real aggression until with two-minutes left, Davis finally connected clean and with power and took Mo down. Davis is keeping him down but likely needs a finish (or 10-8 round here). He’s fishing for an arm bar, some nice work actually but Mo escapes and gets back to his feet. Davis fell down on a kick, looking exhausted. Mo chasing with strikes, backing Davis off and the round ends. Full credit to Davis for finally getting something done, but it’s likely too little and too late. But the second round was VERY close, so this could go either way. SCORECARD: Mo 29-28

OFFICIAL RESULT: Phil Davis via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

30-27 x2 ???

– Davis says he fought hard to win, and he gets the title shot against McGeary. McGeary say she hopes Davis brings that standup to their fight, because he will KO him.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”