Photo Credit: BELLATOR MMA / LUCAS NOONAN
Bellator MMA returned to action on Friday night at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. In the main event, Cris Cyborg put on a dominant performance over Leslie Smith en route to a fifth-round TKO to retain the women’s featherweight championship.
“I knew she was tough and I’ve fought her before. I know her and respect her and she’s a real fighter. I knew with her it would be a great match, because she’s capable and she’s tough,” Cyborg said after retaining the title.
“I was really working in sparring to keep going and going because I knew it was going to be this way. I noticed I enjoyed it a little more. It’s going to be 16 years as a professional fighter this month so I started to enjoy it in there.”
In the co-main event, Leandro Higo scored a big win over Darrion Caldwell via split-decision.
Other big wins on the main card came from Hannah Guy, who defeated hot prospect Valerie Loureda, and Austin Vanderford who cruised to a unanimous decision over Fabian Edwards.
Did you miss out on Friday night’s event? We have you covered.
A full look at the Bellator 259 results can be seen below.
- c-Cris Cyborg (24-2, 1 NC) defeated #4-Leslie Smith (12-9-1) via TKO (strikes) at 4:51 of round five
- #6-Leandro Higo (20-5) defeated Darrion Caldwell (15-5) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- #3-Austin Vanderford (11-0) defeated #4-Fabian Edwards (9-2) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Jaleel Willis (15-2) defeated Maycon Mendonca (11-5) via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
- Hannah Guy (3-1) defeated #8-Valerie Loureda (3-1) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Saad Awad (24-13, 1 NC) defeated Nate Andrews (16-4) via KO (strikes) at 3:16 of round one
- #7-Grant Neal (6-0) defeated #8-Tyree Fortune (5-1) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:20 of round one
- Sumiko Inaba (2-0) defeated Kristina Katsikis (1-2) via TKO (strikes) at 3:35 of round three
- Aviv Gozali (6-0) defeated Sean Felton (5-3-1) via submission (heel hook) at 1:17 of round one
- #9-Davion Franklin (3-0) defeated Tyler King (12-10) via KO at 2:02 of round one
- #7-Leah McCourt (5-1) defeated 6-Janay Harding (6-5) via submission (triangle choke) at 2:42 of round two
- Danny Sabatello (11-1) defeated Brett Johns (17-3) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Alexander Shabliy (20-3) defeated #9-Alfie Davis (14-4) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
