Check out the results and highlights of tonight’s Bellator 163: McGeary vs. Davis card in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Bellator 163 is in the books, and it was a fun show. The first three main card fights ended in the opening round, and the result that stood out was the opening bout between Javy Ayala and heavyweight veteran Sergei Kharitonov. Capping off the card was Phil Davis, who was superb in his thorough dismantling of Liam McGeary, whose Bellator light heavyweight championship belt is now in the possession of “Mr. Wonderful.” Here’s how the fights played out, complete with event pictures from Bloody Elbow’s own Eddie Mercado, who was on-site at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut.
Phil Davis def. Liam McGeary by unanimous decision (50-43, 50-45, 50-44) to become the new Bellator light heavyweight champion
Davis was unable to get the takedown in his first two attempts, but they didn’t seem to be major shots. McGeary was seemingly rocked by a Davis punch and McGeary was shooting for a takedown of his own. This led to Davis taking the champ down and into full mount. Ground-and-pound by Davis but McGeary never had a shot at a submission attempt from the bottom. They returned to their feet for the final minute of the round. Replays showed that a left hook hurt McGeary, which led to Davis’ best moments of the opening frame. Davis’ leg kicks also posed problems for McGeary’s lead leg.
McGeary had success with his jab, body kicks, and showed solid takedown defense again in the early stages of round 2. Davis powered through for a takedown about two minutes into the round. McGeary had an active guard but Davis stepped over to mount and then into side control, in search of a kimura on McGeary’s left arm. Phil returned to full mount while McGeary ate some shots on the ground. Davis kept attacking the arm but McGeary was able to get back to his feet to end the round, which was unquestionably Phil’s.
Davis again took the champion down and alternated between arm-triangle, kimura, and americana attempts. The leglock game of McGeary was rendered ineffective by the NCAA wrestling champion. To McGeary’s credit, he did well enough defensively off of his back to avoid being finished, but a route towards actually winning the fight seemed unreachable. It was a fully dominant 3rd round.
The 4th round started out with kickboxing, McGeary no closer to getting back in the fight, while Davis kept peppering the lead leg until he closed the distance and got the takedown. Davis thwarted McGeary’s triangle attempt. Sharp elbows by Davis led to a cut on McGeary’s left eye. Rinse and repeat with Davis in a dominant position for several minutes at a time, McGeary just about helpless. Davis threatened with a kimura late in the round, but McGeary fought it off and returned to his feet.
McGeary went for broke in round 5, attempting a standing kimura and then pulling guard for a guillotine and then threw his legs up, but Davis was privy to all of it. Davis briefly looked at an arm-triangle but spent the rest of the round just staying in control on top. McGeary’s scrambles were feeble and Davis was in full command, repeatedly passing guard, staying active, and just suffocating the Brit. McGeary’s reign as champion is over after just one successful defense, and the former UFC contender now has Bellator MMA gold around his waist.
Brennan Ward (13-4) def. Saad Awad (19-8) via KO (punches) at 1:26 of round 1 – Welterweights
Fireworks were promised between these two action fighters, and unfortunately for Awad, Ward’s power was just too much. In a furious exchange, with Awad covering up against the fence, Ward drilled Saad with rights to the body, Awad fired back with his own punches, but Ward blasted Awad with a left hook that sealed the deal. Another fast finish for the Connecticut native, who was cheered on by the locals in attendance.
.@SwaggleBerryFin in Connecticut = madness. thrown for the hometown win #Bellator163 pic.twitter.com/wV9bYIL4eA
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) November 5, 2016
Neiman Gracie (5-0) def. Rudy Bears (16-15) via submission (armbar) at 4:39 of round 1 – 175 lbs catchweight
Lots of tepid kickboxing happened for 2 minutes before Gracie got a hip-throw takedown. He took Bears’ back just seconds later after initially obtaining full mount. Gracie went for the rear-naked choke with a body-triangle around Bears. Rudy escaped that submission attempt, but Gracie still had the back and was maneuvering his way towards something else. Neiman slickly transitioned to the armbar and Bears’ arm before the could tap.
Javy Ayala (10-5) def. Sergei Kharitonov (23-6) via KO (punch) at :16 of round 1 – Heavyweights
Well what can I say? Huge upset. Knockout of the year contender. One massive right hand by Ayala turned Kharitonov’s lights out. Incredible win for Ayala, and a disastrous Bellator debut for the veteran of PRIDE, DREAM, and Strikeforce.
Can’t open up a show much better!! @Eyecandyayala #Bellator163 pic.twitter.com/RH6trEpQyd
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) November 5, 2016
Preliminary Card results
Hannah Regina def. Sarah Payant via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 4:51
Tim Caron def. Steve Skrzat via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 1:22
Tyler King def. Josh Diekmann via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:19
Tyrell Fortune def. Cody Miskell via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 2:22
Ed Ruth def. Dustin Collins-Miles via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 3:19
Carlos Correia def. Ilya Kotau via split decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Vinicius de Jesus def. James Boran via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:55