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Bellator 207: “Mitrione vs. Bader” takes place TONIGHT (Oct. 12, 2018) at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Friends become rivals in the Paramount Network-televised main event as Matt Mitrione (13-5) and Ryan Bader (25-5) each seek to advance to the finals of the Heavyweight Grand Prix.
Bellator 207’s main card will start at 9 p.m. ET on Paramount Network. MMAmania.com will deliver results and play-by-play for the entirety of the Bellator MMA card, including the “Prelims” undercard that begins 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 207) about the bouts and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show -- it’s always a lot of fun!
BELLATOR 207 QUICK RESULTS:
Matt Mitrione vs. Ryan Bader — Bader UD 30-25, 30-24, 30-25.
Roy Nelson vs. Sergei Kharitonov — Kharitonov KO 4:59 R1.
Lorenz Larkin vs. Ion Pascu — Larkin UD 29-28 X3.
Kevin Ferguson Jr. vs. Corey Browning — Browning TKO 2:08 R2.
Carrington Banks vs. Mandel Nallo — Nallo KO 0:57 R2.
Kristi Lopez vs. Sarah Click — Click UD 30-27 X3.
Andre Fialho vs. Javier Torres — Fialho MD 28-28, 29-28 X2.
Mike Kimbel vs. Alex Potts — Kimbel KO 0:06 R1.
Sean Lally vs. Kemran Lachinov — Lachinov UD 29-28, 30-27 X2.
Kastriot Xhema vs. Pat Casey — Casey UD 30-26 X3.
Sinead Kavanagh vs. Janay Harding — Harding TKO (doctor) 5:00 R1.
Tim Caron vs. Vinicius de Jesus — de Jesus UD 30-27, 29-28 X2.
Alexandra Ballou vs. Lisa Blaine — Ballou TKO 3:28 R3.
BELLATOR 207 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
Matt Mitrione vs. Ryan Bader
The 25-5 Bader is out first in the blue gloves and black trunks. The 13-5 Mitrione comes out in the red gloves and black/blue trunks. Bader fights out of Gilbert, Arizona. Mitrione fights out of West Lafayette, Indiana. Our referee for the main event is Todd Anderson. They touch gloves during final instructions and we’re good to go!
Round 1: Bader has a takedown in the first 20 seconds. Mitrione is trying to sit up against the fence but eats a right hand when he does. Mitrione gets to one knee and is finally back up at 1:02. Bader takes him down again at 1:13 and immediately throws a hard right hand at the body. Mitrione is trying to control the left arm as Bader rides on him from behind. He gets up as we pass the two minute mark and Bader takes him down again at 2:12. Mitrione almost gets up at 2:57 but Bader puts him back down and lands a right hand, then starts jack hammering Mitrione with multiple lefts. If he hadn’t moved the ref could’ve stopped it. More lefts to the head as Bader presses Mitrione into the fence. Bader throws a hard body shot as Mitrione tries to get back up, and a left uppercut to boot. Mitrione gets up and throws some hard right hands right at the bell. 10-8 Bader.
Round 2: Bader has the takedown 20 seconds into this round as well. He has an arm cinched up and thinks about a kimura for a bit before letting it go. Now he’s looking to pin down Mitrione’s right arm. Mitrione gives up his back and covers up as Bader throws hard lefts at his head. Mitrione tries to sit up at 2:08 and in the process gives up his left arm for Bader to attempt the kimura. Mitrione thought about tapping but hung on and tried to roll out of danger. Mitrione tries to grapevine a leg at 3:05 but Bader blocks it easily. Mitrione tries to get up and Bader puts him right on his ass with 90 seconds left. Mitrione tries again and Bader puts him on his back at 4:08 and is in full guard. Mitrione tries to wall walk and Bader is having none of it. He finally stands with 10 seconds. It’s not as much of a blowout as R1 but Bader still wins it 10-9.
Round 3: Bader gets the takedown even FASTER this time. Mitrione starts to sit up at 1:08 but you know the drill, Bader grinds him back down to the mat when he does. Mitrione tries to stand at 2:25 but Bader had the leg laced and Mitrione falls right to the canvas again. Mitrione can’t even help himself and he grabs the cage trying to stand back up, but Anderson wasn’t close enough to slap it away and Bader got control of him anyway. Bader is throwing shots from behind through the armpit and now takes a full mount with under a minute left. Mitrione almost gets up at 4:45 but he’s dragged right back down. This time he doesn’t get up before the bell. 10-8 Bader. The judges will make it official momentarily.
Final result: Ryan Bader scores a dominant unanimous decision of 30-25, 30-24 and 30-25.
Roy Nelson vs. Sergei Kharitonov
“Big Country” Roy Nelson is 23-15 in the red gloves and Sergei Kharitonov is 27-6 (1 NC) in the blue gloves. Both Nelson and Kharitonov have black trunks on. Kharitonov fights out of Plesestsk, Russia and Nelson out of Las Vegas, NV. Our ref is Dan Miragliotta.
Round 1: Both men touch a glove and we’re underway. Kharitonov is head hunting with his left and Nelson responds by driving him to the fence. They break at 37 seconds. Kharitonov backs off when he smells Nelson leaning in for an overhand right. Nelson shoots again and Kharitonov stuffs it and throws an illegal left knee while Nelson’s hands and knees are on the ground. Miragliotta calls time as the doctor checks on Nelson. Miragliotta signals a one point deduction to the judges as Nelson gets his time to recover. Nelson decides to continue and the fight is back on with just over 3:30 left in the round. Nelson keeps eating the left hand from Kharitonov while looking for the overhand right. One finally gets through and Kharitonov brings his left hand up to block another. Nelson backs him up with a flurry and drops levels but Kharitonov slips away. Nelson lands a left and Kharitonov just ducks under the right. Nelson eats a hard body shot and backs up. Kharitonov lands the right uppercut, then tries to grab the clinch for knees. Nelson throws the right and Kharitonov lands two more uppercuts that don’t drop “Big Country.” 40 seconds left. Kharitonov hurts Nelson at 4:45 with a right and he’s going for uppercuts and knees on the fence. Sergei gets the stoppage RIGHT before the bell as Nelson finally drops to his knees after one more uppercut followed by one big knee.
Final result: Sergei Kharitonov wins by knockout at 4:59 of round one.
Lorenz Larkin vs. Ion Pascu
Pascu enters first in the blue gloves and black trunks. The Romanian’s record to date is 18-8 and he’s a product of Conor McGregor’s camp at SBG Ireland and fighting out of Dublin (naturally). Larkin enters with the red gloves and trunks and a career record of 19-7 (1 NC), and he’s fighting out of Riverside, California. Our referee is Kevin MacDonald.
Round 1: Pascu is the aggressor at the start. Larkin circles him with leg kicks then throws a left high kick that’s checked. Pascu shoots at 0:41 and he’s trying hard to lift Larkin up off the ground and take him down. Larkin breaks free at 1:13. Larkin pops him with a right jab and may have hurt Pascu with a short left because he shoots again. Pascu gets pushed away and hit with a knee up the middle. He gets his hands up to avoid a crushing left hook and turns away from another, but can’t avoid a kick to the body. Larkin claims a cup shot, MacDonald says no and tells them to keep going. Good counter shots by Pascu at 4:08. He ducks under a shot looking for a single leg and ALMOST gets it... but doesn’t. 10-9 Larkin.
Round 2: Another potential groin shot is waved off by MacDonald early in the round but Pascu still took a big knee to the body no matter what. Larkin continues to circle and stick the jab and Pascu spends more time covering up than throwing strikes. When he does Larkin fires the leg kicks. Larkin goes for a jumping knee at 2:09. Larkin leads Pascu across the cage looking to land a counter shot and turns Pascu around into the cage on his takedown attempt. They break at 3:20. Pascu throw a right hand and a left, while Larkin misses with an uppercut. Pascu goes for a single leg but he gets popped with a hard right hand uppercut that stuns him and makes him lose his grip. 10-9 Larkin again.
Round 3: Pascu goes for a head kick but Larkin gets the right arm up. Pascu comes forward swinging and Larkin eludes all the shots then throws a big hook. Larkin follows up with a body kick and a straight right, and another right, and another. Pascu can’t seem to get out of the way of the right hand and Larkin knows it. He’s starting to treat Pascu like a punching bag. Pascu throws a leg kick and Larkin a left hook. Pascu gets a takedown to side control with 2:10 left in the fight. Larkin moves him to half guard and he’s looking to sweep. He’s got Pascu in full guard with 90 seconds remaining. Pascu tries to posture up with a half minute left but Larkin was controlling the arms. Pascu goes for a leg lock late and lets Larkin on top. 10-9 Larkin for out striking Pascu and Pascu not doing any significant damage on the ground.
Final result: The judges score it unanimously 29-28 X3 for Lorenz Larkin.
Kevin Ferguson Jr. vs. Corey Browning
Ferguson Jr. a/k/a “Baby Slice” is 3-1 in the red gloves and blue trunks. Browning is 2-1 in the blue gloves and black trunks. Ferguson is 26, 5’11”, 72” reach. 5’11” and 74” reach for the 29 year old Browning. Ferguson fights out of Long Beach, California and Browning fights out of Knoxville, Tennessee. Our referee in charge is Bryan Miner.
Round 1: Browning throws the first punch but gets decked by a huge right and taken down ten seconds into the fight. Ferguson tries to get a choke but doesn’t have it so he lets it go then stands up looking for another takedown, and he’s got it at 56 seconds. He lands two knees to Browning as he gets up (no hand down) and looks for another takedown. Browning tries and fails to stuff it and take the back. It’s strength versus strength against the cage and Ferguson wins that battle at 2:22. He avoids a possible armbar attempt and settles back down. He tries to pass to half but Browning sweeps at 3:18. He’s got the back and he wants to get the hooks in but Ferguson sweeps right back. Browning is split open over his right eye, but despite that he traps one arm on Ferguson and lands some nice ground and pound and some elbows that force Ferguson to cover up to make it to R2. Close 10-9 to Ferguson.
Round 2: Browning ROCKS Ferguson early in the frame but he goes for a takedown to save himself. Ferguson moves to side control with an arm around Browning’s neck looking to get the submission, Browning rolls to escape but Ferguson gets the full mount and takes the back. Ferguson lets go out a rear naked choke and Browning sweeps on top and finishes the fight at 2:08.
Final result: Corey Browning wins via technical knockout at 2:08 of the second round.
Carrington Banks vs. Mandel Nallo
Banks is 7-1 in the red gloves, Nallo is 6-0 in the blue. Nallo fights out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada in black trunks with red trim. Banks fights out of Denver, Colorado in the black trunks. Our referee in charge is Bryan Miner.
Round 1: Nallo is trying to use his long legs early, making Banks back up to avoid a high kick then landing a leg kick. Banks shoots looking to negate that advantage but Nallo stuffs it easy. He throws another big kick and Banks eats it coming forward for another takedown attempt, pushing Nallo into the fence. Nallo pushes forward and he’s the one with the takedown, trapping the head as Banks stands back up and going to the ground with the anaconda. Banks is trying to scramble to get out of it and Miner is taking a close look. Banks escapes at 2:24. He tries to get Nallo down but he’s back up at 2:45. Banks with a takedown at 3:07. Banks is unable to pass but Nallo is unable to get back up so it stalls out here. 10-9 Banks.
Round 2: NALLO DROPS BANKS WITH A KNEE 57 SECONDS INTO ROUND TWO. He’s out cold. No follow up shot was necessary.
Final result: Mandel Nallo wins by knockout at 0:57 of the second round.
Kristi Lopez vs. Sarah Click
Blue gloves, black top, 1-0, fighting out of Bourne, Mass. is Click. Red gloves and trunks with a white top, 2-0-1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Calif. is Lopez. Our ref is Kevin MacDonald.
Round 1: Both fighters cautiously approach each other to open the bout. Lopez lands a right hand and Click responds by pushing her backward into the cage. Lopez turns her around but Click almost kicks her in the head from there. Lopez throws a right elbow over the top as they separate. Lopez is coming forward now throwing lefts and rights. Lopez catches a kick but Click avoids the takedown and pushes to the cage. Round and around they go. Where it will stop, only they know. Lopez lands a few elbows to the head but Click does as well. Lopez drags Click to the ground but she gets right up. Lopez throws a 1-2 but Click pops her in the chin. Lopez throws combos but gets rocked by a right hand and was wobbled at the bell. 10-9 Click.
Round 2: Lopez tries a spinning back kick but Click walks through it. Click with a hard left hand. Click is mixing in body kicks as she walks Lopez down. Lopez connects with a left hook. They clinch and go to the fence at 1:56. Click works knees to the body with double underhooks. Foot stomps by Click. Lopez gets the hooks and looks for a leg trip but it’s not there, but she does land a right elbow over the top a few times. Lopez drops levels with 40 seconds to go but gives up on the attempt and goes back to striking. 10-9 Lopez.
Round 3: Lopez circles on the outside as Click tries to cut the angle and land the right. Leg kick for Click. Click with a 1-2 and a low kick. Lopez circles and throws a double jab. Lopez’ corner urges her to be busier in the cage. Click is keeping Lopez guessing by changing her stance and shadowboxing with her hands. She pushes Lopez into the cage at 2:38. MacDonald warns her about knees to the groin. Click with hands to the body as Lopez pushes Click backward into the fence. Click responds with knees and turns Lopez back. Lopez turns Click again but Click is landing knees. MacDonald resets them to the center with 40 seconds to go. Click comes forward with combos and repeated body shots. She’s imposing her will at the end and will earn the decision as a result. 10-9 Click.
Final result: The judges score it 30-27 X3 for Sarah Click.
Andre Fialho vs. Javier Torres
Red trunks and blue gloves for Torres, 10-4, fighting out of Obregon, Sonora, Mexico. Green trunks/red gloves for Fialho, 9-1, fighting out of Lisbon, Portugal. Todd Anderson is the ref.
Round 1: Fialho is the aggressor early and lands a leg kick before throwing a head kick. Fialho takes the center and forces Torres to circle to his left and right on the outside. Torres stops claiming an eye poke but Todd Anderson tells them to keep fighting and Fialho almost gives him a dirt nap. Fialho continues to work the leg kicks as Torres circles. Fialho slips throwing a head kick but quickly jumps back to his feet before Torres can take advantage. Jump knee for Fialho. 10-9 Fialho.
Round 2: Fialho continues to impose his will and lands a nice combo at 40 seconds. Torres suddenly comes forward with left hands. Fialho responds with a low kick and Torres backs up. Torres eats a big right at 1:28 and another comes seconds later. Torres gets another left hand off but then backs up from Fialho’s power again. Torres claims an eye poke a second time and Anderson says no, keep fighting. Left hook by Fialho. Another clean left. Right uppercut and right hook by Fialho. They clinch and Torres puts FIalho on the cage briefly but gets the worse of the dirty boxing and lets it go. Fialho goes for a late takedown and doesn’t get it. 10-9 Fialho.
Round 3: Fialho continues to push Torres backward and make him fight defensively. Torres attempts a takedown just to slow Fialho down a bit even though he’s not going to get it. He goes for a leg trip multiple times but it’s not there. Fialho finally backs him up with a hook with 90 seconds to go. The fact he’s negated Fialho’s offense and been the one attempting to take the back or get the takedowns probably edges the round narrowly to Torres 10-9 but Fialho will take the decision either way.
Final result: The judges score it 28-28 draw, 29-28 and 29-28 for Fialho by majority decision.
Mike Kimbel vs. Alex Potts
Blue gloves, black trunks for Potts, 1-0 out of Syracuse, N.Y. Red gloves, black trunks for Kimbel, 1-0 out of Waterbury, Conn. Our referee in charge is Todd Anderson.
Round 1: Kimbel rocks Potts six seconds into the fight with a right hand and IT IS ALL OVER. He landed one hammer fist on the ground but Anderson was already stepping in as he did.
Final result: Mike Kimbel wins via knockout at 0:06 of round one.
Sean Lally vs. Kemran Lachinov
Round 1: Unaired on DAZN.
Final result: Lachinov wins a unanimous decision of 29-28, 30-27 X2.
Kastriot Xhema vs. Pat Casey
Blue gloves, black trunks, 3-0, fighting out of Springfield, Mass. is Casey. Red gloves, pink trunks, 2-1, fighting out of Greenwich, Conn. is Xhema. Our referee is Dan Miragliotta.
Round 1: Touch of gloves and Xhema quickly lands a kick that stumbles Casey. Casey shoots for a couple of takedowns unsuccessfully. Third attempt at 31 seconds he gets Xhema to the ground and moves to half guard. Xhema gets him back to full guard as they inch closer to the cage and is trying to throw elbows and right hands off his back. Xhema gives up full mount at 2:07 but is quickly able to escape and get back to his feet. Casey single legs Xhema but he pops up instantly. Casey goes for a leg trip but Xhema keeps his balance. They break and stare each other down at 3:10. Casey throws Xhema down into side control 20 seconds later. Casey tries to headlock the neck as Xhema stands up and he may have the guillotine choke, but he lets it go and then swings hands instead. 10-9 Casey.
Round 2: A hard high-five starts this round. Both men are throwing heavy hands but it’s Casey who knocks Xhema down with a left, diving on top into side control. Casey is looking to pass to full mount and throwing knees to the ribs as he does. He’s also landing right hands and elbows to Xhema’s head as he starts hunting for an americana. Xhema is completely overwhelmed this round. More knees to the body. Xhema’s forehead is getting sliced up. Casey even makes an armbar attempt late. 10-8 Casey.
Round 3: They hug it out to start the final round. Xhema is going for flying knees but Casey avoids the damage and pushes Xhema into the fence. Xhema widens his stance to avoid a quick takedown but Casey grinds his way to it at 55 seconds anyway. We get a call for more work as Xhema manages to trap Casey in the guard and once again throw a few elbows off his back. Casey is trying to posture up and throw hands to the body. Time ekes away. Miragliotta warns them to get busy with 24 second to go but doesn’t stand them up. 10-9 Casey and he should easily take the UD.
Final result: Pat Casey wins by 30-26 X3 unanimous decision.
Sinead Kavanagh vs. Janay Harding
Harding is 3-4, blue gloves, black trunks and top, fighting out of Sydney, Australia. Kavanagh is 5-2 with red gloves, gray top and black trunks, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland. Our referee is Kevin MacDonald.
Round 1: Kavanagh pushes Harding toward the outside circle quickly and is letting her hands go. Harding weathers the storm and circles to her right. Harding is getting her hands up to block a lock of the shots and is throwing some nice elbows. In fact she’s opened up a cut on Kavanagh’s face, who has to keep wiping the blood out of her eyes. Now Harding is the aggressor as the blood continues to pour over Kavanagh’s right eye. Kavanagh looks to clinch and drop levels. Harding breaks free at 3:28 with a knee on the exit. Left hand flush for Harding. Kavanagh lands a clean shot as Harding went for a spin kick. Crisp right hand by Kavanagh. Kavanagh with a left. That’s a super close first round but it’s not going to a second — the cut man can’t stem the flow of blood and the doctor is calling it off.
Final result: Janay Harding wins by TKO (doctor’s stoppage) at 5:00 of round one.
Tim Caron vs. Vinicius de Jesus
Round 1: Unaired on DAZN.
Final result: VDJ wins via unanimous decision 30-27 and 29-28 X2.
Alexandra Ballou vs. Lisa Blaine
Ballou is making her pro debut in the blue gloves and black top out of Bethlehem, Conn. Lisa Blaine is 2-0 in the red gloves and blue trunks, and she fights out of North Haven, Conn. Our referee in charge is Kevin MacDonald.
Round 1: Both fighters take the center with no glove tap. Blaine paws with the left and keeps the right hand up high, letting it spring out when she can find the range. She pushes Ballou backward toward the fence but Ballou turns her around when they clinch. Blaine does some dirty boxing as they spin back and forth. Blaine tries to avoid a takedown and ends up balancing on one leg with the other pushed against the cage — legal because she didn’t link her toes into the fence. Ballou gets the double underhooks but lets go at 2:50 and Blaine immediately lands the right hand and gives chase. Ballou responds with a knee and a high kick. Blaine goes for the clinch on the cage at 3:27 and Ballou turns her around again. Ballou throws knees to the body and Blaine throws rights and uppercuts. She punches her way out of being on the fence with 24 seconds left and avoids a single leg. 10-9 Blaine.
Round 2: Blaine goes for an over the top hook immediately. Ballou throws a right high kick Blaine easily avoids. Ballou throws an uppercut that’s also far from the mark. Blaine keeps pressing forward with the left jab and right hook. Blaine is having trouble seeing out of her left eye, the same place Blaine is targeting her power shots. Ballou has a takedown attempt cut off with a punch but she gets a muay thai plum and throws a knee. MacDonald tells the fighters to get busy as they spin around on the cage looking for control. He resets them to center at 3:17. Blaine continues to connect with the right hand. Blaine gets a hand up to check a head kick and continues to connect with her shots. 10-9 Blaine.
Round 3: Blaine inexplicably goes for a clinch again even though her corner has told her repeatedly to stand and throw and not give Ballou the one position she’s able to control in this fight — and that’s exactly what Ballou does with knees to the body and legs. They break with just over three minutes left. Ballou finally gets the takedown she was looking for at 3:10, takes full mount and starts hammering away hard and heavy until the ref steps in to save Lisa Blaine, making Mike Goldberg erupt with joy on commentary.
Final result: Alexandra Ballou wins via technical knockout at 3:28 in the third round.
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