Bellator’s middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi easily defended his belt.
After defeating Jumabieke Tuerxhe (11-1-0) and Nyjah Huston in a combined total of 48 minutes, he was looking to add another victory and end his career so far on a high note. Namely, “Mr. VanZant” fought for the title against Geghard Mousasi in Bellator’s middleweight class, after defeating Jumabieke Tuerxhe (11-1-0) and Nyjah Huston in a combined time of just over two hours.
Nonetheless, Gegard defended the title with ease, despite his 36 years old. It only took 85 seconds for the Dutchman of Iranian descent to conclude the job with a technical knockout. He now enters his second consecutive belt defense and third overall, having previously held the title twice.
From the very beginning, the combatants began openly and traded blows. Mousasi, on the other hand, shook Vanderford with his left hand when attempting to break him down. He defended Gegard’s opponent’s frantic effort to take him down after that, gaining control of the bottom position and scoring a series of punches that forced the referee to call an end to the bout. Mousasi went unscathed in his title defense fight and called himself the world’s top middleweight after he won it.
Pure dominance from @mousasi_mma, finishing Austin Vanderford in less than two minutes at #Bellator275 ⏰
(via @BellatorMMA) pic.twitter.com/6l0dgnsKlq
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) February 25, 2022
Gegard Mousasi has won four fights in a row, and three of them have been for the championship. Rafael Lovato, Jr. was the last fighter to beat Mousasi, which occurred in mid-2019. Lovato received a majority decision, but due to a brain cavern he had to vacate the middle category throne and it is uncertain if he will ever return to sports. In his previous 13 outings, Mousasi has 12 wins and one loss (to Rafael Lovato).
In the main event of the night, Sinead Kavanagh and Leah McCourt went at it in a battle for Ireland. A unanimous decision went to Kavanagh, according to president Bellator Scott Coker, who avenged her defeat to Cris Cyborg in 2018. Recall that Kavanagh was defeated by Cyborg by knockout in the first round in the 11th month of last year.
The tournament in Dublin featured 13 matches and up to seven finishes. The last of the results may be found at the bottom of the page.
Bellator 275 – results:
The main part of the event:
Gegard Mousasi def. Austin Vanderford via TKO – R1, 1:25
Sinead Kavanagh def. Leah McCourt via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Ciaran Clarke def. Abou Tounkara via TKO – R1, 5:00
Khasan Magomedsharipov def. Jose Sanchez via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Jornel Lugo def. Brian Moore via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Preliminary part of the event:
Brett Johns def. Khurshed Kakhorov via TKO – R3, 3:00
Davy Gallon def. Charlie Leary via TKO – R2, 3:01
Stephanie Page def. Danny McCormack via TKO – R1, 1:46
Darragh Kelly def. Junior Morgan via submission (‘guillotine’) – R1, 1:47
Vladimir Tokov def. Daniele Scatizzi via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Gokhan Saricam def. Kirill Sidelnikov via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Nathan Kelly def. Scott Pedersen via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Lee Hammond def. Jamie Hay via TKO – R1, 3:32
