Last update on. From the section Mixed Martial Arts
Phil Davis, a former light heavyweight champion, spoiled Yoel Romo's debut at Bellator 266 San Jose with a split decision win.
Romero, a former UFC middleweight champion and 44-year-old, was expecting high expectations.
American Davis, 36 years old, won the three-round bout with scores of 30-27. 28-29. 30.26
Officials received a complaint from Cuban Romero after the fight that he had expected the bout would last five rounds.
He later displayed his class after hearing that one judge had scored his bout in his favor. He waved his finger and pointed at Davis to indicate that his American opponent had won at the SAP Center, California.
Through the first half, Davis was well behind his jab against Romero, who is notoriously slow to start.
The fight was won by 'Mr Wonderful' Davis, a former American college wrestle champion. He turned to his ground game and landed five takedowns against Olympic freestyle wrestling silver-medallist Romero.
Davis stated, "Man, that man is a monster." That power was more than I ever imagined. He is an incredible fighter.
"Gotta use wrestling!" God bless wrestling. The best sport in the entire world.
After a landmark win, Gracie targets top-ranking names
NeimanGracie's win was his first by knockout during his 13-fight career.
The co-main event was a former welterweight title challenger, and noted submission artist NeimanGracie. He displayed his improved striking to win a first-round TKO over Mark Lemminger.
Brazilian Gracie, 32 years old, trained under Rafael Cordeiro, a well-known striking coach. He stunned American Lemminger with a massive right uppercut.
Gracie continued with a barrage punches, which forced Jason Herzog, the referee to intervene after just one minute and 27 seconds.
"I don’t have to bring people down in order to win fights anymore. It's possible. But, if you take me down... Oh boy! Gracie replied, before calling out three top-ranked names in the division - Yaroslav Amosov and Michael 'Venom" Page from England for his next bout.
"I want to fight "MVP". This fight has never happened. I have been calling him out for years. He has always had an excuse.
"I want to rematch Jason Jackson. I lost that fight last time and was robbed.
"And I want Mr Yaroslav Anmosov. He has the worst game and I think I'll win his first loss.
"I know that my dad is with me"
DeAnna Bennett, a Californian-born flyweight competitor, won an emotional victory earlier in the evening over Alejandra Lara, number five.
Bennett fought in memory of her father, who was a San Jose police officer and used to work at the SAP Center events. Bennett won unanimously before he was sworn in as tribute.
Lara from Colombia was dominated by Bennett throughout the three rounds. The judges scored the bout 30-27-30-26, 30-26 and 30-26. This gave Bennett the 11th win in her 10-year MMA career.
"It's hard to describe how I feel right now. Bennett stated that this place is everything to him.
"I was born in the Bay Area and raised there. This is where I belong, the SAP Center. It's my home, I love it, I love the Bay Area and I am so happy to be fighting in this cage for Bellator, and all of the fans.
"I know that my dad is here with me. He knew from the beginning that I would fight here.
Rogers celebrates weight loss after his dominant win
British fighter Saul Rogers defeated American Georgi Karakhanyan, who was the only Briton to fight on the card.
Rogers grew to 155lb after competing at featherweight in his previous Bellator appearances.
Rogers defeated Karakhanyan, a 44-year-old veteran fighter, by unanimous decision.
Rogers used his grappling and wrestling to take down Karakhanyan in all three rounds. He earned scores of 30-27/30-26/30-26 and the 15th victory of his career.
Rogers said, "It felt incredible." Rogers said, "I have been trying to reduce my weight to 145 for far too long. It's killing me." I feel stronger, more powerful and dominant now that I have moved up. I feel miles better.
"In the other fights, after perhaps a round, two-and-a-half minutes, my arms gassed and I had nothing to continue.
"(Tonight) I have managed it for three rounds, and I feel good to go."
Big knockout for "Big Tuna"
The opening main card bout saw Ben 'Big Tuna" Parrish score a surprise knockout victory over Christian Edwards, a highly regarded light heavyweight prospect. It took only 38 seconds for him to finish Edwards.
Edwards, a team-mate of Jon Jones, the former UFC light-heavyweight champion, was identified as a potential opponent in the future.
Edwards tried to connect with Parrish with big punches but Parrish countered immediately with a massive left hand that dropped Edwards.
Edwards was defeated by Herzog with ground strikes, and the fight was canceled. The fight was rescheduled twice.
"It feels good not to offend a lot of people. This is not luck. It's preparation! Parrish's only loss in six fights was when he fractured his leg in November 2019.
