Former UFC prospects Lorenz Larkin and Paul Daley faced off in the Bellator cage. What a crazy finish!
Taking place last night at the SAP Center in San Jose, Bellator 183 was a blast. Featuring a host of former UFC stars and rising Bellator prospects, the card was a solid show. As always, the true talent in Bellator’s ranks shined through.
Headlining the card was former UFC lightweight champion in a 155-pound bout against Patricky Freire. Owning a win over Freire’s brother Patricio, Henderson hoped to make it two wins against the Brazilian family.
After three rounds, Freire won a split decision and Bendo dropped to 1-3 for the promotion. Elsewhere on the card was a fierce rivalry between two ex-UFC stars. Facing off in a welterweight affair, Paul Daley and Lorenz Larkin provided fireworks.
There was a fierce rivalry before this bout, with both men being separated at the weigh-ins and media scrum.
Paul Daley Knocks Out Lorenz Larkin
Promising to keep the fight standing, Lorenz Larkin guaranteed a knockout over Daley. There was indeed a big knockout involved, but it was ‘Monsoon’ on the receiving end of the brutal finish.
‘Semtex’ lived up to his nickname yet again, and Larkin drops to 0-2 for Bellator MMA. Watch as Daley puts the screws to Larkin with a brutal combo:
Nasty KO!
Also featured on Bellator 183 was the heavyweight knockout artist Roy Nelson. Disgruntled with his former UFC employers, ‘Big Country’ left for greener pastures over at Bellator. Facing Javi Ayala, Nelson earned a unanimous decision win.
And how about Aaron Pico? After an unsuccessful debut, Pico returned to face Justin Linn. You’ll want to watch this knockout. The Youtube video below shows Pico starching Linn in the very first round with a mean punch:
Ladies and gentlemen…@AaronPicoUSA #Bellator183 pic.twitter.com/kp5mHl7pfS
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) September 24, 2017
What did you think of Bellator’s two highlight-reel knockouts? With the UFC always looming over them, Bellator is under constant pressure to provide big fights and finishes to hungry MMA fans.
That said, the UFC is doing a great job of alienating both fans and fighters and sending both over to a welcoming Bellator
Bellator 183 results list:
MAIN CARD (Spike/9 p.m. ET)
Lightweight: Patricky Freire def. Benson Henderson via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Welterweight: Paul Daley def. Lorenz Larkin via KO (punches) at 2:40 of R2
Heavyweight: Roy Nelson def. Javy Ayala via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 29-28)
Featherweight: Aaron Pico def. Justin Linn via KO (punch) at 3:45 of R1
Lightweight: Goiti Yamauchi def. Adam Piccolotti via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:19 of R1
PRELIMINARY CARD (Online/7 p.m. ET)
Tony Johnson def. Mike Ortega via knockout (punch) – Round 2, 1:49
Kaytlin Neil def. Brooke Mayo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Brandon Laroco def. Gaston Bolanos via technical submission (triangle choke) – Round 2, 2:16
Jaimelene Nievera def. Corina Herrera via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 29-27)
Fernando Gonzalez def. Alex Lopez via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Ricardo Vasquez def. Justin Tenedora via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 2:39
J.J. Okanovich def. Luis Jauregui via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 0:42
Daniel Gonzalez def. Anthony Castrejon via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 4:03
