Ryan Bader wins rematch with Cheick Kongo, Yoel Romero picks up first win in nearly four years at Bellator 280
Lorenz Larkin also scored a first round finish of Kyle Stewart in Bellator's second trip to France
This post is powered by Refind, get smarter everyday.
Every day Refind picks 7 links from around the web for you, tailored to your interests. Loved by 50k+ curious minds.
Ryan Bader retained his Bellator heavyweight title on Friday, winning a unanimous decision over Cheick Kongo in Bellator’s second-ever visit to Paris, France for Bellator 280.
Bader used his superior wrestling skills to smother Kongo in front of his hometown crowd and secure the third successful defense of his championship. The Frenchman failed to get any offense going, losing 50-45 across the board on the judges’ scorecards.
The two were meeting for the second time after Bader inadvertently eye-poked Kongo in the first round of their initial title fight at Bellator 226 in September 2019. Kongo was ultimately unable to continue and the fight was ruled a no-contest.
An immediate follow-up to the unwanted result was delayed some years until this weekend after Bader’s entry into the Bellator light heavyweight grand prix and eventual return to the heavyweight division.
In the rematch, Bader put forth a workman-like effort and he ultimately did what he needed to do to win the fight from a stylistic perspective, even though he wasn’t happy with the result. However with the win, Bader is now on a two-fight win streak and has righted the ship after a rocky performance in the recent Bellator LHWGP.
“That’s wrestling right there,” Bader said while the crowd booed him as he was interviewed by Big John McCarthy post-fight. “Get your kids into wrestling. Youth wrestling, that’s how we came up. If you wanted to get into MMA, wrestling was the key.
“I didn’t want the fight to go like that. I wanted a finish. To be honest, I felt like shit in the first round. I had a stomach thing and I was like wow, I’m going to have to grind this one out. It was kind of an uneventful fight. I didn’t want it to go that way but I got the win.”
For his next heavyweight title defense, Bader mentioned interest in a rematch with Linton Vassell, who he defeated in the first defense of his Bellator light heavyweight belt at Bellator 186 in November 2017.
“You know who has looked good of late, Linton Vassell,” Bader said. “[Maybe a] rematch. He came up to heavyweight, he’s coming into his own and rolling through people. So, let’s run it back.”
Kongo has now dropped two of his last three bouts and has only tasted victory once in his last four appearances.
Romero TKO’s Polizzi, Larkin finishes Stewart
Yoel Romero found himself back in the win column after a nearly four-year long string of losses with a last-minute TKO of former Legacy Fighting Alliance light heavyweight champion Alex Polizzi, finishing him off at the 3:59 mark of the third and final round with a flurry of punches.
Romero put on a clinic against Polizzi, using his opponent as more of a sparring partner than considering him a threat throughout the fight. A four-time UFC middleweight title challenger and 2000 Olympic silver medalist, Romero frequently made gestures to the crowd, asking them to be patient while he worked for the finish.
After the fight, Romero said that the tactic was intentional.
“I wanted to send a message and I think that I did,” Romero said.
Melvin Manhoef, Romero’s originally intended Bellator 280 opponent, who was forced to withdraw due to injury, was then brought into the cage and it was announced that a bout between the two has been booked once again, this time for an event in Dublin, Ireland later this year.
“Excuse me for not being here,” Manhoef said about his withdrawal from the event. “I got injured so I apologize for all the fans that wanted to watch this fight [tonight], I’m sorry.
“It’s going to be a hell of a fight. I think we’re gonna enjoy it. I think for this fight, the fans are going to be the winner. I’m looking forward to facing him in Dublin.”
Romero concurred.
“I’ve always wanted to compete against him,” Romero said of Manhoef. “And I still do because he’s one of the greats. See you soon, boy.”
The 45-year-old Romero picked up his first win since a third-round KO of former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold at UFC 221 in February 2018, snapping a four-fight skid, the first losing streak of his career.
Polizzi had a three-fight win streak broken in defeat. He now goes back to the drawing board following his second loss under the Bellator banner after taking the fight against Romero on short notice.
Elsewhere on the main card, Lorenz Larkin won his sixth straight fight, scoring a first-round TKO of UFC and LFA veteran Kyle Stewart. It was Larkin’s first finish since dispatching of Neil Magny in quick fashion at UFC 202 in August 2016.
During the final sequence of the fight, Larkin stung Stewart with a knee to the body while Stewart was downed and pinned against the fence. The shot clearly hurt Stewart, who could do nothing but cover up while Larkin rained down heavy shots until the proceedings were waved off.
After the fight, Larkin announced that he would be dropping back down to 170 lbs.
“I’m going back to welterweight,” Larkin said. “These guys are too f*cking big. I know I keep saying that, but yeah. And I want to get a date. I’m healthy, there ain’t sh*t wrong with me. Scott [Coker], let me fight before August.”
Complete Bellator 280 results
Main card —
Ryan Bader def. Cheick Kongo - Unanimous Decision (50-45 x3)
Yoel Romero def. Alex Polizzi - TKO (punches) R3, 4:59
Davy Gallon def. Benjamin Brander - TKO (strikes) R2, 3:18
Lorenz Larkin def. Kyle Stewart - (TKO) strikes) R1, 4:44
Gregory Babene def. Mike Shipman - KO (punches) R1, 2:11
Preliminary bouts —
Pitor Niedzielski def. Pedro Carvalho - Split Decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)
Thibault Gouti def. Lewis Long - Unanimous Decision (30-27 x3)
Jordan Barton def. Fabacary Diatta - Split Decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)
Soren Bak def. Charlie Leary - Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
Yves Landu def. Gavin Hughes - TKO (strikes) R1, 3:01
Lucie Bertaud def. Katarzyna Sadura - Unanimous Decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
Youcef Ouabbas def. Matthieu Duclos - TKO (punches) R1, 4:17
Bourama Camara def. Victor Verchere - KO (punches) R1, 3:06
