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Bellator 156: "Galvao vs. Dantas 2" takes place TONIGHT (Fri., June 17, 2016) from inside Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif., featuring a Bantamweight title match between champion Marcos Galvao and former division kingpin Eduardo Dantas.
This is Bellator's third attempt to put this rematch together -- Dantas withdrew at Bellator 144 in Oct. 2015 because of an injury, and Galvao pulled out with an illness at Bellator 150; therefore, fight fans are really looking forward to this rematch as Dantas knocked out Galvao in their first meeting.
The Spike TV-televised main card will also feature key divisional matches, including Brandon Halsey vs. John Salter at Middleweight, among others.
Bellator 156 will start tonight on Spike TV at 9 p.m. ET. MMAmania.com will be here all night long to deliver LIVE results and play-by-play for the televised fights, along with the "Prelims" undercard action airing on Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET.
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 156) about the bouts before you leave and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show -- it's always a lot of fun!
BELLATOR 156 QUICK RESULTS:
Marcos Galvao (c) vs. Eduardo Dantas -- Dantas via UD 50-45, 50-44, 50-43.
Chidi Njokuani vs. Thiago Jambo -- Njokuani via KO at 2:39 R3.
Brandon Halsey vs. John Salter -- Salter via sub (triangle choke) 4:03 R1.
Chris Honeycutt vs. Mikkel Parlo -- Honeycutt via UD 29-28, 30-27 X2.
A.J. Matthews vs. Ben Reiter -- Reiter via UD 30-26 X3.
Jermaine McDermott vs. Blake Watkins -- McDermott via TKO 0:20 R1.
Paul Ruiz vs. Christian Navarro -- Ruiz via SD 30-27, 28-29, 30-27.
Javy Ayala vs. Roy Boughton -- Ayala via TKO 3:02 R1.
Nick Bustamante vs. Antoine Smith -- Bustamante via MD 28-28, 29-27, 29-27.
C.J. Keith vs. Carrington Banks -- Banks via UD 30-25, 30-26 X2.
John Paul Elias vs. Jose Cabezas -- Cabezas via KO 0:25 R1.
Chris Lewis vs. Myron Smith -- Lewis via TKO at 4:48 R1.
Luis Jauregui vs. Ryan Tobar -- Jauregui via UD 30-27 X3.
BELLATOR 156 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
Marcos Galvao vs. Eduardo Dantas
The challenger and former champion Dantas is in blue gloves for this fight. "Dudu" is 17-4 and fights out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The blonde haired Marcos "Loro" Galvao comes out to defend his title in the red gloves. His career record is 17-6-1 and he now fights out of New York, NY. Our referee is "Big" John McCarthy.
Round 1: Both men respectfully tap gloves to open and Dantas quickly throws a leg kick. Galvao carefully measures the range as Dantas circles on the outside and throws another kick. Galvao with a kick at the minute mark. Dantas steps in and out with his hands, hitting and avoiding the counter shot. They trade kicks as we hit two minutes. Solid left jab to the face by Dantas. More kicks. Dantas keeps slapping his knee with his hand, perhaps trying to trick Galvao with the sound of a strike that doesn't come. Galvao nearly single legs him but Dantas quickly escapes. Dantas keeps attacking the inside and outside of Galvao's left leg, which he stays planted on almost all of the time. There's very little footwork from Galvao. The crowd is impatient at 4:30 and wants more action. R1 10-9 for Dantas.
Round 2: Galvao is trying to pressure Dantas to open R2 but eats more leg kicks and jabs for his trouble. Two minutes in the crowd is getting restless. Galvao shoots and gets stuffed again. Dantas is throwing combos and landing. He tags Galvao with a really nice series at 2:32. Galvao seems to have little answer save for leg kicks. He's throwing little offense and getting overwhelmed whenever they exchanged. As Jimmy Smith just said he's waiting to react instead of acting. Another 10-9 for Dantas.
Round 3: It's no better for Galvao in the first minute of the third round than it was in the last 10. The crowd is unhappy again at 1:42. Dantas lights him up with a combo at 2:18. The cuts and swelling are accumulating on Galvao's face and he may not be able to see out of his right eye. You can also see black and blue marks on Galvao's left leg from the knee on up. Dantas lands a big left at 3:45. This may just be a matter of time until Dantas either knocks him out or the doctor stops it for Galvao's own health and safety. Another nice combo at 4:42. Dantas is pitching a shutout.
Round 4: Galvao is cleared by the doctor to continue in R4. Galvao shoots for a takedown but Dantas fends it off. He escapes at 58 seconds and goes right back to attacking with his hands. Galvao shoots for a single again at 1:23. All that does is slow Dantas down and cause McCarthy to call for work. He breaks them at 2:20 and they return to the center. Dantas nails Galvao with a head kick and follows it with an uppercut. He creams Galvao with a left hook at 2:56. You can tell clear as day he's a one-eyed man. If he survives there's no reason for a fifth round. It's over. He can't defend himself this way. Dantas goes to the body as Galvao backs away and throws a big leg kick. This is the best Dantas has looked since before he lost the title. Nasty leg kick at 4:40. The round is over. I hope they stop this.
Round 5: It's hard to believe but they're letting this fight continue. Galvao tries to tie Dantas up against the fence but that's not helping him at all. McCarthy calls for work at 1:18. Galvao pulls guard out of desperation and Dantas backs up to force the stand-up at 1:40. Sean Grande: "Sometimes you don't need a judge. All you need is the visual." It couldn't be any more clear visually that Galvao has lost this fight. Big right hand by Dantas at 2:51. Head kick at 3:15. Dantas winds up his right hand for fun without even throwing it. There's blood all over Galvao's face. Galvao is coming forward hoping to land a miracle shot and doesn't. Dantas ties him up and time ebbs away on Galvao's title reign. McCarthy resets them with ten seconds left but it's academic.
Final result: Eduardo Dantas takes the title 50-45, 50-44, 50-43 by unanimous decision.
Thiago Jambo vs. Chidi Njokuani
Jambo is 18-4, Njokuani is 14-4. Jambo is in black trunks and fights out of Maceio, Alagoas, Brazil. Njokuani is in the red trunks and fights out of Las Vegas, Nevada. Our referee in charge is Mike Beltran.
Round 1: Jambo is pushing forward trying to go strike for strike with Njokuani, who is happy to back up and use his long reach to strike and kick his foe. Jambo shoots for the takedown and gets Njokuani to his knees for a second at 1:21. Jambo pushes Njokuani into the fence and pushes hard with all his body weight but Njokuani turns him around at 2:58. They jockey back and forth for position as Beltran looks on. They break at 3:50. Jambo closes the distance again at 4:16. Beltran calls for work at 4:30 and 4:45. No major advantage was gained either way this round but I'd give it 10-9 Njokuani for landing more strikes.
Round 2: Jambo lands a good right hand early in R2 and Njokuani ties him up on the fence throwing knees at knees as Beltran keeps calling for work. He stops the fight at 58 seconds as Njokuani takes a knee to the cup. Njokuani claims another cup shot at 2:21 but Beltran tells him to continue fighting. They tie up on the fence while the impatient mustache man called Beltran wants more work. He finally resets them at the three minute mark. Njokuani wobbles Jambo with a right hand but he recovers quickly. Jambo pushes him into the fence at 3:48 and Beltran immediately calls for work again. He breaks them again at 4:30. Njokuani throws a series of strikes and leg kicks. This round clearly goes to Njokuani.
Round 3: Jambo tries to rush forward in the first 13 seconds but Njokuani ties him up against the cage. Jambo goes for the leg trip to no avail. Beltran wants work at 0:59. He wants them to improve position at 1:15. Njokuani backs off at 1:40 when Jambo flops to his back. Jambo just ducks under a head kick as he stands back up, then he pushes Njokuani into the fence again. Njokuani breaks free at 2:19. Njokuani hurts him with a kick at 2:30 and pounds it out on the ground for a stoppage at 2:39.
Final result: Chidi Njokuani by knockout at 2:39 of the third round.
Brandon Halsey vs. John Salter
Salter is 11-3 and Halsey is 9-1. Salter is in the red trunks and fights out of Wilmington, NC. Halsey is in the white trunks and fights out of Costa Mesa, California. Our referee is Mark Lawley.
Round 1: Salter throws a head kick and cuts Halsey open over his right eye. Halsey shoots for a takedown and can't get it and goes back to standing and striking as the blood runs down his chest. Halsey attempts a single but it's not there. Halsey is a crimson mask of blood two minutes into the fight. His white trunks are going to be pink before long. Nice body kick by Salter. The ref calls time at 2:48 for the doctor to come in and look at the cut. He clears Halsey to continue and he's eager to swing but Salter tags him with a right hook, and another. Halsey goes for a takedown as he's rocked and Salter stuffs it and pours it on. Halsey stands and shoves Salter into the fence. Jimmy Smith: "This fight is like a Saw remake!" Halsey finally gets that single leg he wanted but Salter goes for a triangle and taps him out with just under a minute left! He gets up covered in his opponent's blood.
Final result: John Salter submits Brandon Halsey (triangle choke) at 4:03 of the first round.
Chris Honeycutt vs. Mikkel Parlo
Parlo is 13-2 and Honeycutt is 7-1. Parlo is in the black trunks fighting out of Copenhagen, Denmark. Honeycutt is in the gold trunks fighting out of Fresno, California. Our referee is John McCarthy.
Round 1: Honeycutt wastes little time going for a takedown but Parlo turns him around on the fence. Honeycutt breaks free swinging at 43 seconds. Parlo backs him up with a kick. Honeycutt returns to center. Honeycutt drives for a takedown again and Parlo eats a few lefts as he's pushed against the fence. He turns out at 1:50 and comes over the top with some left hooks. Parlo is trying hard to test Honeycutt's chin. He's mixing in some body and leg kicks. Honeycutt lands a right hook. He shoots and is stuffed at 3:17. Now Honeycutt tests Parlo's chin. Another takedown is stuffed. Honeycutt digs for a single leg against the fence and tries hard to trip Parlo but he keeps his balance. Honeycutt throws himself to the ground swinging on the break but quickly gets up. Both guys slug it out and Parlo briefly hits the ground in the exchange before R1 ends.
Round 2: Parlo and Honeycutt are going toe to toe again 20 seconds into R2. Honeycutt uses the strikes to set up a single but he just can't get Parlo off his feet and resets at 56 seconds. Parlo tries a jumping left. Honeycutt tags him with a left hand jab. Parlo throws a spinning strike that misses and Honeycutt briefly gets him down when he's off balance but lets him stand up. Honeycutt lands a right that makes Parlo shake his head, then goes to the body. Honeycutt tags him on a combination at 3:42. Parlo tries to pressure his way in and eats a big knee. Honeycutt pushes off the fence at 4:10. A good three strike combo for Honeycutt all lands. R1 was close enough to go either way but R2 is clearly to Honeycutt.
Round 3: Parlo charges forward swinging to open R3. He tries a jumping knee too but can't land it flush. McCarthy calls for work at 52 seconds as they tie up on the fence. They break at 1:03. Honeycutt keeps throwing nice combos and just misses with an uppercut. Knee to the body again as Parlo charges in. Honeycutt lands 3-4 straight left jabs to the face. Parlo looks like he's having a hard time seeing and he's breathing hard. His stance has become very awkward. He's leaning all the way to one side. Honeycutt lands a nice combo at 3 minutes. Another big knee to the body. Spinning backfist by Parlo misses. Parlo is quickly becoming a punching bag. He lands a left hook and shoots for a takedown of his own and now it's Honeycutt's turn to stuff it. He reverses and takes Parlo down with 20 seconds left. Honeycutt should get the W with the judges.
Final result: The judges score this contest 29-28, 30-27 and 30-27 for Chris Honeycutt by unanimous decision.
A.J. Matthews vs. Ben Reiter
Round 1: Reiter is 16-1-1 fighting out of Albuquerque, NM. Matthews is 8-4 and fights out of Carlsbad, California. Our referee is Mike Beltran. Reiter is in the white trunks and Matthews the blue. Reiter is pushing Matthews toward the outside and forcing him to circle. He goes for a single leg but Matthews quickly gets back up. Beltran warns them about grabbing the shorts. Matthews finally pushes free at 1:40. Beltran warns them to watch the fingers to the eye. Matthews seems content to play the counter striker. Reiter gets a takedown at 2:53 and drives knees to the body and legs as Matthews gets back up. Matthews is warned not to grab the fence. Reiter goes for a double at 3:53. Foot stomps are traded. Reiter lifts Matthews high in the air, throws him down and tries to take the back. Matthews is up at 4:38. 10-9 round for Reiter but Matthews did get in a spinning elbow before the bell.
Round 2: Both guys are trading in the center 21 seconds into this round. They settle down and reset the distance between them when neither falls down. As with R1 Reiter pressures Matthews backward and Matthews is countering effectively. Reiter catches a kick and pushes Matthews into the fence. Beltran calls for work at 2:26. Reiter finally gets the takedown at 2:44. Beltran tells them both to "work to finish" multiple times. Reiter has a full mount at 3:48 but lets it go and moves back to half guard. Reiter nails Matthews in the head with some lefts as he scrambles to get up with 20 seconds left. Another 10-9 for Reiter.
Round 3: Reiter has Matthews rocked 26 seconds into R3 but decides to take him down instead of finishing him standing. Matthews gets back up at 44 seconds and breaks free. Reiter starts lighting him up again. Reiter's corner is warning him to keep his hands up and not get caught. Matthews slips trying to defend a takedown and gives up his back. Reiter is on top in half guard in the middle of the cage pounding him with shots. Reiter is going for a submission and Matthews looks spent as he gives up his back. Reiter works to full mount and lays in the shots as Beltran tells him to defend himself. Matthews keeps rolling front to back but he keeps getting hurt. He has a big cut open on his left eye. Reiter has a full mount again pounding on him with 30 seconds left. Matthews survives but got blown out in R3.
Final result: The judges score this contest 30-26 X3 all for Ben "The Hunter" Reiter.
Jermaine McDermott vs. Blake Watkins
Round 1: Unaired on Spike.com.
Final result: Jermaine McDermott defeats Blake Watkins via TKO at 0:20 of the first round.
Paul Ruiz vs. Christian Navarro
Round 1: Unaired on Spike.com.
Final result: Paul Ruiz wins via split decision 30-27, 28-29, 30-27.
Javy Ayala vs. Roy Boughton
Round 1: Unaired on Spike.com.
Final result: Javy Ayala defeats Roy Boughton by TKO at 3:02 of the first round.
Nick Bustamante vs. Antoine Smith
Round 1: Unaired on Spike.com.
Final result: The judges score it 28-28, 29-27, 29-27 for Nick Bustamante by majority decision.
C.J. Keith vs. Carrington Banks
Round 1: This is a catchweight 165 pound fight. Banks is 4-0 and fights out of Boca Raton, FL in the black trunks and blue gloves. Keith is 8-3 and fights out of Porterville, CA in the green trunks and red gloves. Our referee is John McCarthy. Banks gets a couple of takedowns early and moves to take the back and sink his hooks in. He's already looking for a rear naked choke. Keith escapes but Banks takes full mount. Keith pushes him back to half guard and attacks the ribs for a bit with his free right arm. There's a scramble as Banks goes for an arm triangle, but he's able to take Keith's back again and retake the full mount as Keith squirms. Keith escapes again and Banks takes him down at 3:33. Banks tries for another arm triangle but Keith saves himself by pushing off the fence with his feet. 10-9 Banks.
Round 2: Banks double legs Keith at 29 seconds for a textbook takedown. There's a camera right in Keith's face and you can hear him sucking wind trying to get Banks off him. Banks is going hard for a choke which is only making it worse. He finally gets out at 2:15 but Banks has full mount. Keith tries to spit out his mouthpiece and McCarthy warns him to keep it in. Keith grabs the fence twice and McCarthy has to slap his hand away. Keith pushes off the fence and rolls to being on top but gets another warning about his mouthpiece. Banks pulls his head out of danger at 3:53 and quickly takes another full mount. McCarthy calls for more work at 4:25. Another 10-9 for Banks.
Round 3: Banks has another takedown in the first minute of R3. This is rinse, lather, repeat. Banks goes for another triangle, Keith avoids submitting again, but nothing much changes. McCarthy calls for improvement at 2:57. Banks starts to pour it on with right hands to the head. Needless to say Keith is having a very bad day. He's now getting cut up with elbows. McCarthy reminds Keith to put his mouthpiece back in. Keith tries to push off the fence with his legs but can't get him off. McCarthy repeatedly tells Banks to work with 30 seconds left. He ends it on top in full mount. This should be an easy clean sweep for Banks on the scorecards.
Final result: The judges score this fight 30-25, 30-26, 30-26 for Carrington Banks.
John Paul Elias vs. Jose Cabezas
Round 1: Unaired on Spike.com.
Final result: Cabezas wins via knockout 25 seconds into the first round.
Chris Lewis vs. Myron Smith
Round 1: Unaired on Spike.com.
Final result: Chris Lewis wins via technical knockout at 4:48 of the first round.
Luis Jauregui vs. Ryan Tobar
Round 1: Unaired on Spike.com.
Final result: All three judges score it 30-27 for Luis Jauregui by unanimous decision.
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