Bellator 86 Results: Play-by-Play & Updates

Matt Jones vs. Cortez Coleman

Round 1
Both fighters exchange in the center if the cage, with Coleman landing two snapping left hooks while Jones pops him with a pair of leg kicks. Coleman’s left hook is continually connecting now as he circles to his right. Jones lands a two-punch combination to the body, but Coleman fires right back with a hard right of his own to the ribs. Coleman lands four or five really solid hooks as Jones backs up and regains his bearings, landing a nasty low kick to the groin. Referee Jason Herzog restarts the action, and Coleman goes back to work but eats a round kick to the ribs and a stiff left. With two minutes remaining, Coleman is still winging hooks, and neither man appears to have any desire for this fight to hit the floor. Jones lands a single right, but Coleman returns fire with a right hook and a knee to the body. Jones takes the center of the cage and is still trying to find a home for his jab, but Coleman lands a nice right elbow over the top. Jones presses the action as the round ends, but neither man can land cleanly.

Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Coleman
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Coleman
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Coleman

Round 2

Jeff Sherwood

Coleman took it to Jones in rounds one, two.

Both fighters pick up where they left off to start round two, with Jones picking away from range while Coleman lands shots inside. Jones connects with a nice overhand right and a low kick, but neither shot appears to hurt his man. Coleman connects with a blunt right straight and his foe moves forward, but Jones recovers well and connects with a right, instigating a flurry from both men. Coleman wobbles Jones with a hard jab, but Jones is hanging tough. Nevertheless, Coleman stay with it and lands a sharp knee and then a hard right. Though Jones holds on, Coleman once again rocks him, flooring Jones with a hard right only to see his opponent bounce back to his feet.

A nasty one-two again staggers Jones, who clinches and again survives, firing back with a looping right that catches Coleman on the cheek. Jones again moves forward, despite being outgunned, winging punches while blood streams down the left side of his face.

Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Coleman
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Coleman
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Coleman

Round 3
Round three begins with Jones looking for a takedown, but Coleman shucks him off several times in the first two minutes of the frame. Jones moves forward and lands another looping right, though Coleman is counterpunching effectively with harder shots, despite looking quite tired at this point. Jones fires off a low kick but eats a solid uppercut before firing back with a nice one-two. Coleman may be ahead on points, but Jones is acquitting himself well in this third frame. Jones continues to press the action as the final bell sounds but cannot land a home run shot.

Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Jones (29-28 Coleman)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Jones (29-28 Coleman)
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Jones (29-28 Coleman)

Official scores: All three judges see the bout 29-28 for Cortez Coleman.

Zach Church vs. Damon Jackson

Round 1

J. Sherwood

Jackson tossed Church around.

Jackson fires a trio of round kicks to start the fight and clinches, grabbing a front headlock before seeing Church reverse him against the fence with over-unders. Church is staying tight and tries to monkey-climb on Jackson’s back, who uses the ill-advised maneuver to grab a rear waist-lock of his own. Church turns inside, but Jackson lands a nice body lock takedown and rides his opponent from the turtle position. Quickly, Church again turns the tables and winds up in Jackson’s half guard, futilely searching for a guillotine as Jackson works to his knees and hits a slick double-leg takedown. Church recovers half-guard, but Jackson briefly takes the mount before Church explodes out of the position. Nevertheless, Jackson grabs a front headlock and knees the head, finishing the round with a beautiful gut-wrench takedown after grabbing another waist-lock.

Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Jackson
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Jackson
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Jackson

Round 2
Jackson launches a front kick to start round two and hits another takedown, landing in side control against the fence. Church pulls half guard but has to fend off an arm-triangle try. Off the scramble, Church somehow locks Jackson in a weird inverted triangle and looks to have a form of a hammerlock available to him on Jackson’s left appendage. Jackson manages to escape and quickly takes his foe’s back, snatching Church’s neck and forcing a tap out via rear-naked choke. The official time is 2:43.

Bellator Season 8 Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal
Raul Amaya vs. Jose Gomes

Round 1

J. Sherwood

Amaya overpowered Gomes.

The fighters touch gloves and immediately begin firing bombs. Amaya happens to land a solid hook on Gomes’ jaw and grabs a rear-naked choke with no hooks in. Gomes leans forward and bucks him off, quickly taking Amaya’s back after the Floridian hits the floor off a failed push kick. The action is too quick to call soon after, as neither fighter appears concerned for his well-being. Both men eat heavy shots, but neither go down. Amaya lands a nice right uppercut that puts Gomes on the deck. The Brazilian rises, only to be briefly floored again with a right hand. We are only halfway through the frame and both men look gassed.

Never mind, as Amaya floors the 41-fight vet with another hard hook and pounces looking for the finish. Though Gomes does his best to hold on, Amaya manages to pound him out with hammer fists, forcing referee Kerry Hatley to stop the contest 3:12 into the first round. Amaya is your first welterweight semifinalist.

Bellator Season 8 Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal
Marius Zaromskis vs. Brent Weedman

Round 1
Jason Herzog starts the action, and Weedman quickly grabs a high-crotch and hoists Zaromskis into the air, landing in side control. Zaromskis will not let go of the American’s head, and Weedman is looking hard for a Von Flue choke. The Lithuanian survives but is still underneath Weedman until escaping to his feet and rifling off a one-two. Weedman fires right back, snapping the ex-Dream champion’s head back with a straight right hand. The man from Kentucky is now digging for a single-leg against the cage, but that high-crotch is no longer available. Zaromskis defends the attempt and creates space in order to fire off a pair of hard body kicks. Weedman appears unintimidated by any power Zaromskis may possess standing, walking forward and gauging distance with straight shots as the round expires.

J. Sherwood

Weedman controlled Zaromskis.

Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Weedman
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Weedman
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Weedman

Round 2
Weedman tells his corner that he feels good between rounds, and he resumes his forward movement to start round two. Zaromskis whiffs on a high kick and then eats a straight right and a knee to the body. The Lithuanian fires back with a nice body shot, but he is now on the retreat, as Weedman pursues with jabs and right hands. The Kentuckian again hits a takedown and tries to take the back. However, he is riding a little too high and slide off. Zaromskis recovers his vertical base and launches what appears to be a backflip knee-drop. Weedman easily defends the wild but inventive attack, taking Zaromskis’ back with 90 seconds remaining in the frame and rides “The Whitemare” until the round expires.

Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Weedman
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Weedman
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Weedman

Round 3
Weedman attacks with low kicks to start and then shoots for another takedown. Zaromskis grabs a Thai clinch with Weedman on his knees and lands two deliberate knees to the American’s face. Herzog warns him after the first one, but Zaromskis wastes no time in throwing the second. Herzog deducts a point from the former Dream king after Weedman gets checked out by the doctor and agrees to continue. Weedman walks through a spinning back fist from Zaromskis and tries another takedown against the cage. Zaromskis sprawls out and lands in Weedman’s guard, pounding away to the body with 2:30 remaining. Herzog stands them due to inactivity, and Zaromskis immediately launches a somersault kick. Weedman shoots, but Zaromskis shucks him off and pounds away from the turtle position before allowing the onetime lightweight to recover guard. Herzog again stands the fighters, and Zaromskis has two high kicks blocked to end the fight.

Mike Whitman scores the round 9-9 (29-27 Weedman)
TJ De Santis scores the round 9-9 Weedman (29-27 Weedman)
Mike Fridley scores the round 9-9 Weedman (29-27 Weedman)

Official scores: All three judges see the bout 29-27 for Weedman, winner by unanimous decision.

Chris Pham vs. Jason Sampson

Round 1
Kerry Hatley starts the 140-pound catch-weight contest, and Sampson lands a sharp low kick. Clearly the smaller and faster man, Pham jumps inside and lands a nice right before eating another hard leg kick. After another exchange, Sampson complains about a shot to the back of the head, but Hatley says fight on. Sampson scores a takedown, but Pham turtles and escapes to his feet midway through the frame. Pham blocks a high kick but eats a right on his way in. Pham continues to press forward, but he gives up another takedown in the process. Sampson passes to half-guard and then stands to unleash a hard right hand before passing to side control. Sampson takes Pham’s back off a scramble and transitions to an armbar attempt. It is not close, however, and Pham finishes the round in top position.

Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Sampson
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Sampson
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Sampson

Round 2

J. Sherwood

Sampson finished Pham in round three.

Sampson slips a jab to start round two and then whiffs on a right straight. Soon after, he tries a takedown, but Pham sprawls out and pushes him away, catching Sampson with sweet counter knee during another takedown attempt. The third time is the charm for Sampson, however, who secures a topside crucifix. Pham bucks him off, but Sampson is right back on top of him, sliding into mount and then once again taking Pham’s back, cinching up a rear-naked choke attempt that Pham somehow manages to wriggle out of. Pham is desperately trying to free himself from this position, but Sampson now has a body triangle secured.

A sweet armbar attempt from Sampson ends the middle stanza.

Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Sampson
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Sampson
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Sampson

Round 3
Round three begins with a flying knee attempt from Sampson, who scores another takedown after whiffing on the knee. Sampson again takes Pham’s back as the Louisianan tries to stand, but this time Sampson has more than three minutes with which to work. Sampson is framing up another RNC, but he cannot free his second hand. Hatley warns Sampson about hitting Pham in the back of the head, and “C-Lo’s” corner is griping loudly about the blows from outside the cage. Pham is taking a beating, but he will not cry uncle. Sampson secures another smooth armbar attempt and transitions to a triangle, switching back to the armbar and extending the elbow to force his foe to submit with just five seconds remaining in the fight.

Bellator Season 8 Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal
Koffi Adzitso vs. Ben Saunders

Round 1
Kerry Hatley tells Ben Saunders and Koffi Adzitso to go to work, and the Spike TV broadcast is underway. Saunders lands a hard right hand to start and clinches up with “The Lion King” against the fence. Adzitso scores a slick takedown, but Saunders is fishing for a triangle choke off his back, elbowing the head while he adjusts his hips. Adzitso postures up and squirms out of the position, but “Killa B” goes right back to his high guard. Hatley stands the men, and Saunders hits a takedown of his own. Shots to the ribs and head follow from the Floridian, but Hatley again stands the fighters. Saunders lands a beautiful step-in knee to end the round.

Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Saunders
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Saunders
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Saunders

Round 2

J. Sherwood/Sherdog.com

Saunders outhustled his opponent.

Saunders lands a high kick and a knee to start round two. As Adzitso tries to take the fight to the floor, Saunders throws him to his back and dives into Adzitso’s guard with a brutal right hand. The African-born fighter tries to tie him up, but Saunders is continually landing with ground-and-pound. Another standup from Hatley, and this one is questionable. Adzitso tries for a single leg, and Saunders threatens with a kimura before the Utah resident finishes his takedown. Saunders then tries an omoplata, but Adzitso steps over and escapes the hold. Saunders again tries for a triangle, and Hatley again makes it known that no ground fighting will be tolerated tonight.

Adzitso grabs a single leg, but Saunders hits a switch and follows with a series of sharp series of knees.

Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Saunders
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Saunders
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Saunders

Round 3
Round three begins with more knees from Saunders, and Adzitso goes right back to the single-leg. The UFC vet again counters with a switch and lands in Adzitso’s guard. More ground-and-pound from Saunders, but Hatley is hovering dangerously close, and a standup seems imminent. Surprisingly, Saunders is instead allowed to work, and he lands some really crisp shots to the face and body as Adzitso tries to wall-walk. Adzitso tries a belly-to-back suplex, but Saunders drops his weight and lands -- bottom first -- on Adzitso’s face. The men scramble to their feet, and Adzitso tries another throw. This time, Saunders’ counter lands in him full mount. Punches and hammer fists follow, and Saunders pivots for a straight armbar. The bell sounds before he can lock out the appendage, however.

Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Saunders (30-27 Saunders)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Saunders (30-27 Saunders)
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Saunders (30-27 Saunders)


Official scores: All three judges see the bout 30-27 for Saunders, who wins by unanimous decision.

Bellator Season 8 Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal
Douglas Lima vs. Michail Tsarev

Round 1
Lima circles right and lands a leg kick to start the fight. Tsarev shoots hard for a single-leg, but “The Phenom” defends easily. Still, the Russian is tenacious, hanging onto that thigh like his life depends on it. Lima calmly rips to the ribs as he pushes down on the head of “The Lonely Wolf.” Tsarev finally turns the corner, but Lima hits a switch and lands in Tsarev’s guard. Referee Jason Herzog stands the men due to inactivity, and the Season 5 tournament winner connects with a jab and a low kick. Tsarev takes a heavy breath and lands a low kick of his own. Lima counters with a teep and lands a low kick as the bell sounds.

J. Sherwood/Sherdog.com

Lima destroyed Tsarev with kicks.

Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Lima
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Lima
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Lima

Round 2
Lima’s low kick to end the first round apparently floored Tsarev, and the Russian limped back to his corner. The Brazilian-born talent immediately goes to work on that leg, flooring Tsarev with another brutal shin to the thigh. Tsarev is wincing and gamely trying to stay in the fight, standing only to be floored again with another leg kick.

“The Lonely Wolf” can no longer put any weight on that lead leg, and Herzog mercifully waves the contest off. The official time of the stoppage is 1:44 of round two.

Light Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal Fight:
Muhammed Lawal vs. Przemyslaw Mysiala

Round 1

J. Sherwood/Sherdog.com

King Mo abused Mysiala.

Kerry Hatley kicks off the final light heavyweight tournament semifinal, and Mysiala lands an inside low kick. Lawal counters with a left hook and blocks a high kick attempt. The Pole whiffs with an overhand right, and Lawal is now gauging distance with his left. Mysiala lands a low kick, but “King mo” catches it and counters with a hard right hand before wobbling Mysiala with a crisp jab. Two more jabs open cause the blow to flow from Mysiala’s nose, and Lawal now appears in total control. Another pair of jabs connects for Lawal followed by a right hand and a left hook.

The London-based fighter is gamely trying to hang in there, but it looks as if he is severely outclassed. With one minute to go, the former Oklahoma State Cowboy, slips a right cross and lands a slick one-two, flooring Mysiala with a short right. Hatley halts the contest before “King Mo” can even pursue any ground-and-pound, awarding Lawal the technical knockout victory at 3:52 of round one.

Bellator Welterweight Championship
Ben Askren vs. Karl Amoussou

Round 1
Amoussou lands a hard one-two and another right hand to start as Askren tries to close the distance. The Frenchman throws a kick and slips to his back, where Askren dives into his guard. Amoussou tries an Omigawa-style armbar off his back and elbows Askren’s curls, only to see the champ fire back with punches and elbows. With three minutes remaining, Amoussou is still landing decent shots off his back and making Askren miss some blows from top position. Askren lands a really sharp short elbow that cuts “Psycho” over his left eye. Another elbow from Askren prompts Amoussou to throw up a futile armbar attempt. Amoussou tries another armbar and uses it to land a hard right hand. Hammer fists coming now from Amoussou, but the Frenchman eats another series of elbows from “Funky.”

Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Askren
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Askren
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Askren

Round 2

J. Sherwood/Sherdog.com

Askren absolutely dominated his challenger.

Amoussou tries to keep his distance to start round two, landing a right hand but eating a right from Askren shortly thereafter. Amoussou ends up in top position off a scramble but gives it up in no time, falling back for a heel hook. The champion rolls with the technique and squirts his foot free, climbing atop his foe once more to deliver those mauling shots from the guard. Amoussou’s face is now a crimson mask from that cut over his eye. The judo player now looks to be fading badly, and Askren passes to half-guard before stepping briefly into mount. Amoussou recovers half-guard, but Askren’s onslaught does not cease. Nasty right hands from Askren land on Amoussou’s skull against the fence. Askren is now dishing out double-fisted punishment. Amoussou is gamely trying to fight back, but he is in a bad spot when the round expires.

Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Askren
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Askren
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Askren

Round 3
Amoussou’s eye is swollen badly, but the cage-side doctor allows him to come out for round three. The Frenchman lands a hard uppercut as Askren charges forward, but “Funky” walks right through it, stepping through with a double-leg and quickly passing to half-guard. It’s rinse, repeat for the champion, who is relentlessly pounding on the challenger with right hands. Askren is in total control now, sitting down on a leglock attempt and landing more jackhammer rights before stepping into mount. Askren launches a flurry of punches, and Amoussou gives him his arm. Askren won’t take the armbar, however, sitting on Amoussou’s chest and pounding away to end round three.

Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Askren
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-8 Askren
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-8 Askren

The cage-side doctor will not allow a battered Amoussou to come out for round four, and referee Jason Herzog awards Askren a third-round technical knockout.

Hunter Tucker vs. Javier Obregon

Round 1
The featherweight contest is over seen by referee Kerry Hatley. The southpaw Tucker takes the center of the cage and fires off a leg kick that takes the lead leg of Obregon out from underneath him. Back to his feet Obregon paws a jab forward but nothing lands. Tucker goes high with a kick and follows it up with a flying knee that glances Obregon. Breifly Tucker finds himself on the mat but he is able to stand. The Greg Jackson product clinches his opponent against the fence and drags him to the floor. In a scramble Obregon is able to get free and fight again from range. Obregon shoots shoots from far outside and finds himself in a guillotine. Nothing is there and a scramble ensues. Obregon is able to frame a guillotine of his own but to no avail. In another quick scramble Tuckers back is taken but the Texan spins in to the guard of Obregon. The two men again battle for position and ultimately return to their feet. 10-9 Tucker.

Round 2
The two men fire kicks at one another to start the round. The exchanges of strikes shows no advantage to either man. Tucker is able to clinch and slam Obregon to the canvas. The ground play is short lived however as the two men get back to their feet a moment later. Tucker is the aggressor with Obregon not really commiting to any of hi s strikes. A left high kick rocks the jaw of Obregon. The strike lands with the foot rather than the chin and Obregon is able to get a takedown off the landed strike. Tucker is able to get back to his feet with two minutes remaining in the period. Another Obregon takedown attempt gets the fight to the floor. However, Tucker settles in to a fight-ending guillotine choke. The tap comes at 3:17 of the second round.

Mike Maldonado vs. Joseph Salas

The bout has been cancelled due to time constraints.