Vadim Nemkov has clearly established himself as the person to beat in Bellator’s mild heavyweight event, following Friday night time’s convincing title protection over Phil Davis.
Nemkov (14-Three) is already Bellator’s 205-pound champion, however with larger names within the promotion’s event, together with Anthony “Rumble” Johnson, Yoel Romero and Ryan Bader, it could be simple to miss him. The 28-year-old Russian reminded the remainder of the sector of his abilities on Friday, nonetheless, in a five-round choice over Davis.
All three judges scored the championship bout, which headlined Bellator 257 inside Mohegan Solar Enviornment in Uncasville, Connecticut, for Nemkov 48-47. The victory marks Nemkov’s first protection of the sunshine heavyweight title he gained from Bader final August and advances him to the event semifinals, the place he’ll meet Johnson or Romero.
“My plan was to outstrike him and defend his wrestling,” Nemkov mentioned by way of an interpreter. “I’m fairly proud of my efficiency however I had errors. I will work on them for subsequent time.”
Nemkov, who trains underneath legendary Russian heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko, appeared excellent within the first three rounds. He blended up his offense fantastically, attacking Davis’ lead leg with low kicks, and his physique and head with punching combos. He dropped Davis with a left hook within the middle of the cage within the third spherical.
Davis (22-6), who was seeking to avenge a really shut break up choice loss to Nemkov from 2018, turned the tide within the later rounds. He landed an overhand proper close to the again of Nemkov’s ear that quickly threw off his stability, and compelled him to start out retreating for the primary time within the combat. Davis continued to construct on that momentum in a intently contested fifth spherical, however the 13-year veteran dug himself too deep of a gap early on. Davis’ exceptional stat of by no means being completed in a combat, nonetheless, stays intact.
For Nemkov, it extends his lively win streak to eight in a row. He’ll discover out his subsequent opponent on Could 7, when Johnson and Romero meet at Bellator 258. Each of the previous UFC vets will likely be making their Bellator MMA debut.
Anderson advances to semifinals with dominant displaying
Corey Anderson (15-5) has made it no secret he intends to take his opponents down and pound them out till somebody stops him. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov could not cease him.
Anderson superior to the Bellator MMA mild heavyweight event semifinals by ending Yagshimuradov (18-6-1) by way of TKO at 2:15 of the third spherical. The victory strikes him right into a matchup in opposition to former champion Ryan Bader, who defeated Lyoto Machida in his opening-round bout one week in the past.
Preventing out of New Jersey, Anderson utilized his wrestling to take Yagshimuradov down within the second and third rounds and fully neutralize his offense. The Turkmenistan native hunted a number of dwelling run counterstrikes within the opening spherical, and got here near dropping Anderson with a spinning head kick, however finally succumbed to the wrestling fairly early on.
“I wasn’t damage, simply knocked off-balance,” mentioned Anderson, on the top kick that appeared to daze him. “I informed Coach, ‘I am advantageous, it did not rock me. Nevertheless it took me out of the place I used to be.’ I simply held my composure and made it to the following spherical.”
As soon as Anderson began getting Yagshimuradov to the bottom, issues snowballed rapidly for the previous UFC veteran. He went to work from high place with elbows and moved into full mount at one level within the second spherical. Yagshimuradov appeared very uncomfortable off his again, and it was solely a matter of time earlier than the referee needed to intervene.
Anderson improves to 2-Zero within the Bellator MMA cage.
Daley overcomes tough begin, knocks out Homasi in two
Paul Daley mentioned he did not respect Sabah Homasi‘s punching energy going into their 175-pound catchweight combat on Friday night time — but it surely did not take lengthy for that to vary.
Daley (42-17-2) scored a TKO end over Homasi (15-Eight) at 1:44 of the second spherical, however solely after he was practically knocked out himself within the combat’s opening minutes. Homasi, who trains out of American High Staff, rocked Daley with an early proper hand and dropped him moments later with punches alongside the fence.
Referee Kevin Macdonald stayed proper on high of the motion, however Daley, 38, did simply sufficient to outlive. After getting again to his toes, he turned the tables in a rush, gorgeous Homasi with three unanswered knees within the clinch within the remaining minute of the opening spherical. The end got here rapidly within the second, as Daley teed off with straight rights, then a tough left hook.
“I did not give him the respect he deserves,” Daley mentioned. “That child can bang simply as onerous as [welterweight champion Douglas Lima]. Wanting again on my fights, I do not actually get dropped and I have been in there with among the greatest strikers. A lot respect to Homasi.”
For Daley, who fights out of Nottingham, England, it was his first look since October 2019.
Former title challenger Arteaga earns nod over Yanez
Flyweight contender Veta Arteaga (6-Four) managed to outpoint Desiree Yanez (5-Three) by way of majority choice, regardless of some extent deduction within the second spherical for an unlawful knee.
Two judges scored the combat 29-27 for Arteaga, whereas a 3rd had it a 28-28 draw with the purpose deduction. Arteaga was docked some extent for throwing a knee to a grounded opponent, as she did not see Yanez had a hand on the mat in a entrance headlock place. Yanez wasn’t badly damage by the knee, nonetheless, and managed to proceed after a quick pause.
Total, it was Arteaga’s boxing that dictated the bout, as she maintained a constant string of offense on the toes. Yanez had her moments and blended in a handful of takedowns, however simply could not rating sufficient to beat Arteaga on the scorecards. Arteaga, who unsuccessfully challenged Ilima-Lei Macfarlane for the title in April 2019, snapped a two-fight skid.