Bellator 164: "Koreshkov vs. Lima 2" airs TONIGHT (Fri., Nov. 11, 2016) from Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv, Israel. The headlining fight tonight is a Welterweight title fight pitting current champion Andrey Koreshkov against former champion Douglas Lima.
In addition two Featherweight fights will see Georgi Karakhanyan vs. Kirill Medvedovsky and Noad Lahat vs. Scott Cleve. Kickboxing Lena Ovchynnikova seeks her first Bellator MMA win against Karla Benitez on the main card too.
Bellator 164 will start tonight on Spike TV at 9 p.m. ET. MMAmania.com will be here all night long to deliver results and play-by-play for the televised fights.
Many readers check in before, during and after the fights to share their thoughts on all of the action. Feel free to leave a comment (or 164) about the bouts before you leave and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show -- it's always a lot of fun!
BELLATOR 164 QUICK RESULTS:
Andrey Koreshkov vs. Douglas Lima -- Lima KO 1:21 R3.
Noad Lahat vs. Scott Cleve -- Lahat sub (RNC) 2:26 R1.
Georgi Karakhanyan vs. Kirill Medvedovsky -- Karakhanyan TKO 3:40 R1.
Lena Ovchynnikova vs. Karla Benitez -- Ovchynnikova UD 30-27 X3.
Joaquin Buckley vs. Jackie Gosh -- Gosh TKO 2:44 R1.
Onor Keles vs. Omri Barel -- Keles sub (RNC) 3:02 R1.
Chen Shhori vs. Kfir Eittan -- Shhori TKO 2:41 R3.
Moshe Rand vs. Haitham Kiuof -- Rand TKO 1:01 R1.
Ejargew Tariku vs. Rob Becker -- Tariku sub (arm lock) 3:44 R1.
Alex Trofimov vs. Sol Renato -- Trofimov SD (29-28 X2, 28-29).
Almog Shay vs. Vitaly Khmeinytsky -- Shay sub (heel hook) 1:45 R1.
Olga Rubin vs. Laurita Cibirite -- Rubin TKO 3:12 R1.
Raz Bring vs. Maor Kazalkopy -- Bring TKO 1:40 R3.
Alexander Nikulin vs. Avi Baron -- Nikulin TKO 0:54 R1.
Haim Gozali vs. Zane Clerk -- Gozali sub (toe hold) 1:31 R1.
Itai Gayer vs. Igor Postnikov -- Gayer UD (30-26 X3).
BELLATOR 164 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
Andrey Koreshkov vs. Douglas Lima
Lima is in the black trunks and blue gloves for tonight's main event. The reigning and defending champion Koreshkov is in the red trunks and red gloves. 27-6 vs. 19-1, 170 vs. 169.8 pounds from challenger to champion. Lima fights out of Atlanta, Georgia by way of Brazil and Koreshkov fights out of Omsk, Russia. Our referee in charge for tonight's main event is Dan Miragliotta.
Round 1: Both men adopt a cautious stance and feel out the range to open the fight. Lima moves toward the outside and catches a leg kick as he circles, then steps back into the center. Koreshkov tries a right to the head and Lima blocks it. Spinning kick from Koreshkov misses, leg kick connects. Lima keeps his hands up high and paws with the left jab. Koreshkov ducks a punch for a single leg but Lima sweeps his way back to his feet quickly and pushes Koreshkov into the cage. They spin around against the cage and Miragliotta declares a stalemate and resets them at 2:33. Leg kicks are traded. Lima checks a head kick attempt. His jab is being compared to Larry Holmes on commentary. No huge advantage gained on either side this round but I'd say Lima out struck the champion for a close 10-9.
Round 2: Both men show respect to start the second round. Lima is trying to put Koreshkov on his heels. Koreshkov responds with a kick to the body and Lima responds in kind with a leg kick that makes Koreshkov wince. Koreshkov tries to close the distance and does put a right hand on Lima's chin but doesn't stun him. Lima can't block the shot or the takedown that follows. Lima has his back to the fence but Koreshkov is able to turn him away. Lima tries to throw his legs up for a triangle but can't get it. Koreshkov is doing a good job of keeping Lima grounded but isn't having much lick advancing to a submission attempt. Lima gets his back to the fence again with a minute left. Koreshkov is able to turn him away and flatten him out again. Lima tries to sit up one more time at 4:36. Good ground and pound to end R2 including a nice elbow. Koreshkov 10-9.
Round 3: The rematch can go either way at this point as we edge into the championship rounds. The commentators have it 20-18 for Koreshkov, but just as I type that Jimmy Smith admits it could be tied up a round apiece. Lima is again backing up and letting Koreshkov step into range, and DOES THAT EVER PAY DIVIDENDS as Lima FLOORS Koreshkov with a left and this fight is OVER.
Final result: Douglas Lima regains the welterweight title via KNOCKOUT at 1:21 of the third round.
Noad Lahat vs. Scott Cleve
Scott Cleve enters to Pantera's "Cowboys From Hell" in the black trunks and blue gloves. He brings a pro record of 15-5 into the cage for tonight's co-main event, fighting out of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Lahat is the home country hero from the town of Alfei Menashe in the red trunks and gloves, bringing a record of 9-2 to his Bellator debut. Our referee in charge of this contest is John McCarthy. He gives final instructions and both men touch gloves.
Round 1: Lahat runs to the center and the fight's underway. Cleve pushes Lahat to the outside and the crowd is chanting loudly as throws a leg kick then unloads with a couple of right hands. They're ecstatic at any shot he lands and they explode for his leg trip at 1:07. Cleve gets to his knees but is being tagged by left hands from behind, and Lahat compounds the misery by throwing knees at his side. Lahat gets the hooks in and gets under Cleve's neck. Cleve escapes but Lahat still has the hooks in and he can't get away on the second try. Cleve taps out in under 2:30 and Lahat celebrates in the crowd with all of his fans.
Final result: Noad Lahat wins via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:26 of the first round.
Georgi Karakhanyan vs. Kirill Medvedovsky
Medvedovsky is out first in the black with blue gloves. Karakhanyan has on the red trunks and red gloves. Medvedovsky is 7-2, Karakhanyan is 25-6-1.Medvedovsky fights out Ntanya, Israel and Karakhanyan out of Riverside, California by way of Moscow, Russia. Our referee is Todd Anderson.
Round 1: Karakhanyan gets a takedown in the first minute of the fight and quickly passes to side control at 1:15. He's already looking for an arm triangle or other possible submission. Medvedovsky tries to push him off with rubber guard but Karakhanyan hops right back on top. He has side control again at 2:14. Medvedovsky looks to sweep but can only get Karakhanyan back to full guard. Karakhanyan stands up and backs out and Anderson stands Medvedovsky up at 3:10. Karakhanyan starts pressuring again and has another takedown at 3:27.Medvedovsky pounds it out quickly after that. The crowd booed but Medvedovsky was screaming in pain and verbally submitting.
Final result: Georgi Karakhanyan wins by technical knockout at 3:40 of the first round.
Lena Ovchynnikova vs. Karla Benitez
Benitez is in the red and gold trunks with the yellow top tonight, singing along to her own music as she makes her way into the Bellator cage. Ovchynnikova slaps hands with the fans as she walks out to Evanescence, taking off her t-shirt to reveal a black top and trunks. Benitez is 13-9-1, Ovchynnikova is 10-4. Benitez fights out of Madrid, Spain by way of Venezuela. Ovchynnikova fights out of Lviv, Ukraine. Our referee is Dan Miragliotta.
Round 1: Miragliotta lets them tap gloves at the center, backs them up to their corners, and they tap gloves again to start the fight. Ovchynnikova throws leg kicks to open the fight, bouncing back and forth on her feet, opening up with her hands at 48 seconds. Benitez tries to pressure Ovchynnikova to the outside but she steps in and out of the center circle of her own accord. She seems to be daring Benitez to come at her and lands a big left hook when she does. Ovchynnikova pushes Benitez into the fence when she starts backing up and looks for a throw, then backs off and lands an over the top left hook. Benitez misses with a left hook but catches a Ovchynnikova kick. She didn't try to take her down off it though. Ovchynnikova continues to snap off the kicks and lands a good combo at 3:45 followed by a hard left hook. Benitez eats another combo at 4:18. Big left hook at 4:33. Benitez can't last long eating these shots. A blowout first round for Ovchynnikova. 10-9 at least.
Round 2: Ovchynnikova opens the round again with leg kicks. Benitez catches one and pushes Ovchynnikova to the fence but can't keep her there. Benitez keeps walking straight into Ovchynnikova's striking. I haven't seen Benitez land a single strike that made Ovchynnikova flinch or back off in any way. Another big left over the top at 2:33. Benitez' face is getting messed up from eating so many shots. Benitez catches a kick at 3:48 but again fails to turn it into anything meaningful. Nice combo by Ovchynnikova at 4:11. Ovchynnikova throws a knee too to keep it interesting. That's another round solidly in the book for Ovchynnikova.
Round 3: The only way Ovchynnikova loses this fight now is a huge mental mistake. Both women touch gloves to open our third and final round. Benitez tries to grab the head and throw a knee with no success. She grabs the foot on a kick but still can't take Ovchynnikova down with it. Ovchynnikova misses with a spinning backfist but continues to land the combos and left hooks. Benitez is constantly coming forward now just hoping anything will work. Ovchynnikova is happy to step back and let her hands go. Benitez catches a kick at 2:48, considers a takedown attempt, but doesn't even come close. The striking and combos from Ovchynnikova are eliciting "oohs" and "whoas" from the crowd in Tel Aviv. If Benitez was hoping Ovchynnikova would get tired or falter, she's out of luck with under a minute left. Benitez tried to get a takedown but Ovchynnikova was never in deep trouble and stood back up with 20 seconds left. She takes every round on my card.
Final result: Ovchynnikova gets a unanimous decision 30-27 X3.