Bellator MMA
Bellator 237: “Fedor vs. Rampage” airs TONIGHT (Dec. 29, 2019) from Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, via Paramount Network. In a match that hearkens back to the glory days of Pride Fighting Championship, “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (38-6, 1 NC) will face Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (38-13) in the main event of the evening.
Bellator 237’s main card will start at 10 p.m. ET on Paramount Network. MMAmania.com will deliver results and play-by-play for the televised Bellator MMA card.
Many readers check in before, during and after the fights to share their thoughts on all of the action. Feel free to leave a comment (or 237) about the bouts and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it’s always a lot of fun!
BELLATOR 237 QUICK RESULTS:
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Quinton Jackson — Emelianenko KO 2:44 R1.
Michael Chandler vs. Sidney Outlaw — Chandler KO 2:59 R1.
Lorenz Larkin vs. Keita Nakamura — Larkin UD 30-27, 30-26 X2.
Ilara Joanne vs. Kana Watanabe — Watanabe TKO 4:39 R3.
Goiti Yamauchi vs. Daron Cruickshank — Yamauchi sub (RNC) 3:11 R1.
Michael Page vs. Shinsho Anzai — Page KO 0:23 R2.
BELLATOR 237 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Quinton Jackson
Fedor Emelianenko comes in 38-6, 1 NC in his career. Quinton Jackson has the same number of wins and a few more losses at 38-13. Lenne Hardt calls out the entrance as Jackson makes his way to the cage accompanied by the Pride theme song. He sports the blue gloves and black trunks tonight. The bell starts to toll before Fedor Emelianenko makes the walk “From Russia With Love” as Hardt says, wearing the red gloves and black trunks tonight. Jackson fights out of Memphis, Tennessee. Emelianenko fights out of Stary Oskol, Russia. The referee for our main event is Kevin MacDonald.
Round 1: A touch of gloves gets us started. Jackson covers up as Emelianenko throws a flurry of strikes. Emelianenko lands a right hand at 45 seconds. Fedor is bouncing on his feet as he comes forward with a combo. Jackson lunges with an overhand right and misses. Emelianenko finishes a series with a body kick at 1:20. Jackson circles to the left and eats Emelianenko’s right. Jackson lunges and misses. Emelianenko with a leg kick. Jackson with a body shot. Emelianenko with a leg kick that makes Fedor stumble briefly. Jackson finally lands a clean right but it’s not enough as Emelianenko immediately cleans his clock with the same back for the knockout stoppage. Jackson gets up with no idea what just happened.
Final result: Fedor Emelianenko via first round knockout at 2:44.
Michael Chandler vs. Sidney Outlaw
Outlaw has the red trunks and blue gloves for this fight, coming in 14-3 on a nine fight win streak, having just defeated Roger Huerta in his Bellator return. Chandler has on the black trunks and red gloves with a record of 19-5 before this bout. Outlaw fights out of Coconut Creek, Florida. Chandler fights out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The ref is Bryan Miner.
Round 1: Chandler rushes to the center and is immediately trying to crush the distance between him and Outlaw. 22 seconds in he has Outlaw against the fence throwing body and head shots. Outlaw backs him up momentarily and throws a leg kick. Chandler goes to the body again with a right hand. Outlaw tries to catch a leg kick and Chandler spins away. Another body shot connects. Outlaw is missing with right, feeling his way forward with the left hand, fingers out stretched. Outlaw finally pops Chandler with an uppercut. 2:30. Right hand and leg kick for Chandler. Chandler drops Outlaw with a right and Miner waves it off at 2:59. He climbs to the top of the cage to sit down and take it in, then does a few back flips in the cage afterward to celebrate.
Final result: Michael Chandler via knockout at 2:59 of round one.
Lorenz Larkin vs. Keita Nakamura
Nakamura sports the blue gloves and purple trunks along with a record of 35-10-2, 1 NC. Larkin sports the red gloves with red trunks and he missed weight for this fight. His record is 21-7. Nakamura fights out of Tokyo, Japan. Larkin fights out of Riverside, California. The referee is Jason Herzog.
Round 1: A glove tap leads to Nakamura quickly firing hands and Larkin circling on the outside to his left. Nakamura goes for a head kick and Larkin throws a right. Nakamura misses with his own right. Leg kick for Larkin. Body kick for Larkin. Larkin throws it again. Another leg kick. Larkin touches Nakamura’s chin. Front kick. Nakamura steps forward throwing his left. Larkin throws a head kick that’s checked. The uppercut lands flush. Nakamura ducks under some big power shots from Larkin. Larkin returns that favor. Body kick for Larkin. Nakamura with a left hand. Leg kick for Nakamura. Uppercut and right hand for Larkin. Nakamura’s head kick is blocked. Body kick at 4:34 for Larkin. Leg kick for Nakamura. 10-9 Larkin.
Round 2: Larkin and Nakamura feel each other out for the first 30 seconds before he comes forward with the hard right hand. Nakamura comes forward at 1:22 trying to close the distance but has to back off when Larkin clips him with a right. Push kick by Larkin. Hard body kick at 1:56 for Larkin. Nakamura tries to throw his own – Larkin catches it and lets it go. Leg kick for Nakamura. Left hand for Larkin. Larkin sweeps Nakamura to the ground with a leg kick and lands the uppercut when he gets up. Leg kick for Nakamura. Jumping knee for Larkin connects flush. Larkin connects with an elbow and a right. Nakamura is just trying to hang on after getting rattled. Another right lands. 10-9 Larkin.
Round 3: Nakamura tries to chase Larkin down as he circles on the outside, and when he closes the distance Larkin lands a left hook. Nakamura keeps trying to inch into range and lands a leg kick. Larkin pops Nakamura’s head back at 1:12. Larkin keeps stepping out of range each time Nakamura throws the left hand. Larkin blocks a body kick and throws another stinging right hand. Larkin hurts Nakamura with a body kick and a knee. Three minutes remain. Larkin goes for another flying knee. Nakamura has a cut open on his face with the blood streaming down as he shoots for a single leg and gets hammered by Larkin in response. Herzog is close to stopping it. Nakamura wobbles as he tries to get back up . Herzog lets him continue when he finally gets back up with 100 seconds left and his left eye a complete mess. Left hook lands.Larkin continues to attack the bloody and swollen eye and land the body kick to boot. 30 seconds remain. Jumping knee and a right elbow to end the round for Larkin. 10-8.
Final result: Lorenz Larkin wins via 30-27, 30-26 X2 unanimous decision.
Ilara Joanne vs. Kana Watanabe
Judo expert Watanabe enters first wearing her judo gi and blue gloves. Underneath she has on a black/red top and matching trunks. “Arya Stark” Ilara Joanne comes out to a parody of “Santa Clause Is Coming to Town” with red gloves on, sporting a black top and trunks. Watanabe is 8-0-1 and Joanne is 9-4. Watanabe fights out of Tokyo, Japan. Joanne fights out of Natal, Brazil. The referee is Kevin MacDonald.
Round 1: No glove tap as both women square up at the center. Joanne is already letting her hands fly. She’s chasing the right hook and feeling the range with her left. Joanne circles around Watanabe and continues to attack. A head kick and a right both connect followed by a left. Combo at 1:23. Watanabe goes for a takedown at 1:36 and Joanne tries to respond with a knee bar. Joanne doesn’t have it but transitions to a triangle and Watanabe’s head is trapped. McCarthy calls for her to pull down on the head and finish her opponent. Watanabe manages to break free at the three minute mark. Watanabe is in side control but not doing a lot with it at first. Left hands finally start to attack Joanne’s head. Joanne goes for a kimura but Watanabe shakes it off. Watanabe starts to go for the back late but has to let it go at the bell. 10-9 Watanabe.
Round 2: Watanabe goes for a clinch and a throw but Joanne is able to stay on her feet. Joanne pushes her into the fence with her arms wrapped around Watanabe’s waist. Watanabe breaks the grip and throws her but Joanne rolls with her and lands on top in three quarter guard blasting a couple of elbows into Watanabe’s head. Watanabe gets her back into butterfly guard as Joanne tries to pull her away from the fence. Watanabe hits her with pitter pat shots to the head as Joanne just lays on top, unable to improve her position. Kevin MacDonald looks in at the three minute mark searching for more activity. This is like watching paint dry. Watanabe sweeps at 4:27 and starts pouring on rights and lefts. Another 10-9 for Watanabe.
Round 3: Tap of gloves to start R3. Watanabe gets the takedown and is on top in closed guard 20 seconds in. Joanne tries to fire elbows from her back. She’s going for an armbar attempt at 1:14. Watanabe escapes and fires a hand straight down the pipe. Joanne tries to control the wrists and keep Watanabe from posturing up. She finally breaks the grip and steps over into half guard to throw right hands. Left hand hammerfists with 100 seconds left. Watanabe looks to improve position. Watanabe takes the back with 40 seconds to go. The ground and pound from behind leads to a stoppage late.
Final result: Kana Watanabe wins by submission (TKO) at 4:39 of round three.
Goiti Yamauchi vs. Daron Cruickshank
Cruickshank enters first to the strains of “Real American.” He’s 22-12 (1 NC) and has the silver trunks with blue gloves tonight. Yamauchi missed weight for this fight. He’s 24-4 in the red gloves and light blue trunks. Cruickshank fights out of Southfield, Michigan. Yamauchi fights out of Curitiba, Brazil. The ref is Bryan Miner.
Round 1: A friendly glove tap starts things off. Yamauchi dances back and forth in the center as Cruickshank loads up the left on the outside. He charges forward then resets and continues to look for the left hand to connect. Yamauchi keeps him at range with leg kicks. Cruickshank tries a spinning backfist and Yamauchi takes his back to shove him into the cage. By the two minute mark Yamauchi has climbed up onto his back with one hook in. Yamauchi pushes off the fence with his foot so he can get the second hook in and goes to the ground with 2:15 left. Yamauchi sinks in the rear naked choke and Cruickshank taps out
Final result: Goiti Yamauchi via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:11 of round one.
Michael Page vs. Shinsho Anzai
Anzai comes in first with the blue gloves, black trunks, and thick bushy black beard. His pro record to date is 11-3. Page comes in with the red gloves, 16-1 record and black trunks — running all the way to the cage with his hands behind him and a Naruto headband on. Anzai fights out of Saitama, Japan. Page fights out of London, England. The ref is Jason Herzog.
Round 1: No glove tap. Anzai comes out shadowboxing. Page side steps to and from his opponent trying to fake him out. Anzai rushes forward and gets tagged by a flying knee, but he briefly had a single leg. Page breaks it and comes toward Anzai, leaning forward, missing with a right uppercut. The left jab lands. Page continues to dance back and forth with his hands down low then brings up a right uppercut flush. Anzai charges him and Page throws a right and another flying knee. Anzai crushes him into the fence again on it. He breaks it and comes on attack at 2:55. Anzai gets tagged with a right coming in. Anzai is windmilling his hands just hoping to connect. Page drops him with a shot at 3:40 and goes right back after it with a series of hands and backward kicks. Anzai is trying to cover up to block it. He charges again at 4:12. Page is dancing in front of him. Another flying knee at 4:25 as Page is moving backward. Anzai is bleeding. Page lands another right hand. 10-8 Page.
Round 2: Another flying knee early for Page. He drops Anzai with a right hand shot at 23 seconds and Herzog immediately waves it off, which was 100% the right call as Anzai has trouble getting up afterward let alone getting back to the stool.
Final result: Michael Page wins via knockout at 0:23 of round two.