Bellator 256: “Bader vs. Machida 2” is set to air TONIGHT (Fri., Apr. 9, 2021) from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., broadcasting via Showtime. Heavyweight champion and former 205-pound kingpin Ryan Bader (27-6, 1 NC) faces former foe Lyoto Machida (26-10) in the opening round of the Light Heavyweight Grand Prix.
Bellator 256’s main card will air on Showtime at 9 p.m. ET. MMAmania.com will deliver results for the full card and comprehensive play-by-play for the televised portion of Bellator 256 below.
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 256) about the bouts and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it’s always a lot of fun!
BELLATOR 256 QUICK RESULTS:
Ryan Bader def. Lyoto Machida via unanimous decision
Liz Carmouche def. Vanessa Porto via unanimous decision
Adam Borics def. Jeremy Kennedy via unanimous decision
Cat Zingano def. Olivia Parker via first round submission (armbar)
Dan Moret def. Goiti Yamauchi via split decision
Dalton Rosta def. Tony Johnson via unanimous decision
Talita Nogueira def. Jessica Borga via unanimous decision
Jornell Lugo def. Cass Bell via unanimous decision
Cody Law def. Nathan Ghareeb via unanimous decision
Jaylon Bates def. Jeffrey Glossner via second round submission (guillotine)
Nainoa Dung def. Izzy William via unanimous decision
Diana Avsaragova def. Tara Graff via first round KO (WATCH HIGHLIGHTS HERE!)
John Douma def. Will Smith via split decision
BELLATOR 256 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
Ryan Bader vs. Lyoto Machida
Round 1: Those white gloves are sharp! Low kick to open things up for Machida. And another one. Another low kick from “The Dragon.” Bader a bit tentative to start. A minute in. Nice body kick from Machida lands flush. Bader rushes in with a right hand and misses. Another body kick from Machida. Bader’s right side of the body already showing the effects of the two nice kicks from Machida. “Darth” lunges in and whiffs again. Nice footwork from Machida, no surprise there. Another kick to the body lands for Machida. And another one. Bader tries to close the distance but Machida evades once again. Going in a bit reckless. Superman punch by Machida. Bader tries to push Machida up against the cage but “The Dragon” escapes. Two straight rights land for Bader. Another kick to the body from Machida. High kick from Machida then a front kick and then a flying knee! Bader tries to grab a hold of Machida as the round comes to an end. 10-9 Machida.
Round 2: High kick from Machida and another kick to the body. Jab misses for Bader and he fires with a kick to the body of his own. Kick to the midsection from Machida lands. Bader trying to close the distance but it’s hard to do with someone as elusive as “The Dragon.” Machida with a low kick, shot to the body counter from Bader. Front kick to the body from Machida. Bader misses on a left hook, lands a good jab. Machida with a straight right hand, misses on a left hook. Bader goes in for the takedown and he gets it. Good position for Bader as Machida tries to get up. Bader looking to take “The Dragon’s” back with 90 seconds remaining. Bader trying hard for the full takedown again. Bader delivering some left hands, all Machida can do is try to block. Bader still looking for better position and a nice left hand and then a hammer fist lands for Bader. Good round for “Darth.” 10-9 Bader.
Round 3: Machida lunges in with a one-two but Bader evades. High kick from Machida and Bader lands a good right counter. Kick to the body again for Machida. Both men are now sweating quite a bit, which is an advantage for Machida if Bader tries for control on the ground with a takedown. Nice right hand from Bader. Bader switches levels, and lands another takedown. Not good for Machida. Bader batters Machida with a few shots. Machida trying to fire some offense from bottom position, isn’t doing much to hurt Bader. “Darth” looking to take Machida’s back, “The Dragon” looking for wrist control. Nice shot to the body from Bader, and then an elbow lands flush. A minute left. Bader with another couple of strikes that bloody up Machida. Bader doing great work with top position by landing some big shots. Machida left with no option but to defend and ride out the round. 10-9 Bader.
Round 4: They exchange strikes and both men are picking up the intensity to open up the fourth round. Machida whiffs on a right hands and Bader earns an early takedown. That is not good news for Machida going in to the championship rounds. Nice left hand from Bader lands. Machida looks exhausted as he has a big and powerful man on top of him taking the air out of him. Machida trying hard to escape, but Bader is just too strong and keeps controlling “The Dragon” on the ground. Nice elbow from Machida lands and “The Dragon’s” face is starting to show damage. Heavy breathing from both men with one minute to go in the fourth round. Another solid elbow from Bader, followed by a hammer fist. Machida trying to get in position to sweep. Bader lands some nice punches from top to give Lyoto something to think about. Another dominant round from Bader. 10-9 Bader.
Round 5: Low kick from Machida to the lead leg of Bader. Nice counter right from Bader. “Darth” shoots in for another quick takedown and he gets it. If the previous three rounds are any indication, this isn’t going to end well for Machida. Nice shot to the body from Bader makes Machida wince. “The Dragon” trying to get out from under the powerhouse wrestler, but to no avail. Bader lands some kneed to Machida’s thigh as he tries to get up. Once again, Bader takes Machida completely down to the canvas. Bader is relentless and steady with his strikes from the top position. two minutes left to go in the fight. Right hand after right hand from Bader, not good for Machida who looks like a fish out of water in this position. Machida trying to get up and Bader once against takes him down. Machida trying once more. Bader drags him down to the canvas and starts unloading a barrage of strikes. One hammer fist after another as Bader tries to close out the final round strong. Nice elbow from Bader, and another, and another. One ore hammer fist and Bader ends the round swinging. He helps Machida up at the final bell. 10-9 Bader.
Final result: Bader defeats Machida via unanimous decision
Liz Carmouche vs. Vanessa Porto
Round 1: Calf kick, Carmouche counters with a kick to the body. Low kick from Carmouche, nice jab from Porto. A lot of tentativeness from both. Low kick from Carmouche. Porto with a strike to the body. Porto looking to counter, but Carmouche not give her much but a heavy does of body kicks. Nice body strike from Porto. Carmouche really working the leg kicks. Not a lot of definitive action to give the advantage to one. 10-9 Carmouche.
Round 2: Carmouche scores an early takedown. Porto back to the feet and is now landing some foot stomps. Fighting for position against the cage. Porto looking for an anaconda choke and Carmouche slams her down for her efforts. They are separated at back to the center of the cage. Nice right hand from Carmouche. Porto really aiming for those body shots. Low kick attempt from Porto and Carmouche counters with a high kick. Porto with a front kick to the body. She just can’t see to land a clean body shot. 10-9 Carmouche.
Round 3: Carmouche opens up with nice right hand. Low kick whiffs from Porto. She can’t seem to find the range or close the distance between her and Carmouche to land cleanly. Nice defense and foot work from Carmouche to evade Porto’s attack. Jab from Carmouche lands. Nice right hand from Porto. One-two from Carmouche down the middle. Porto with the jab. Single shots from Porto aren’t going to cut it. Porto attacks and Carmouche seems to drop down for the takedown, but she actually tripped on the cage. She gets right back up before Porto can take advantage. Carmouche is determined to score another takedown to secure the round but Porto defends well. Short knees from Porto but Carmouche is holding on. Carmouche smothering Porto up against the cage. Low kick misses for Porto. Carmouche picking up the intensity with her strikes. Porto goes for the takedown, stuffed. 10-9 Carmouche.
Final result: Carmouche defeats Porto via unanimous decision
Cat Zingano vs. Olivia Parker
Round 1: Zingano in for an early takedown but Parker defends well. Action up against the cage. Zingano secures the take down and is in closed guard. Zingano staying busy trying to improve position. Zingano steps over and is in full mount. Parker tries to get out and Zingano takes her back. Looking for a rear-naked choke and Parker somehow reverses and is in top position. She goes in reckless and Zingano sinks in an armbar. It’s tight. Parker has no option but to tap.
Final result: Zingano wins via first round submission (armbar)
Adam Borics vs. Jeremy Kennedy
Round 1: Borics with a nice one-two start. Kennedy whiffs on a left hook. Low calf kick from Borics. Kennedy pushes Borics up against the cage and is working for the takedown. Borics defending well but Kennedy is relentless. Fighting for position up against the cage. Borics reverses and he now has Kennedy up against the cage. Kennedy reverses, now Borics. Round and round we go. The ref calls for a break in action after Kennedy lands a low blow with a knee. Action back to the center of the cage. Low kick from Borics to the lead leg. Kennedy returns the favor. Close round so far. Right hook from Borics, nice jab from Borics and a counter right. Kennedy shoots in and lands a nice takedown. Borics back to his feet. Tough round to call. 10-9 Kennedy
Round 2: One-two from Borics misses. Kennedy with the double jab. Kennedy trying to sneak in some strikes but can not land cleanly. Kennedy attempts a takedown and Borics stuffs it. High kick from Kennedy. Borics using a lot of feints but doesn’t go in for a full on attack. Inside kick from Borics lands. Nice jab from Borics. Jab from Kennedy followed by a low kick. Jab from Borics, low kick from Kennedy. Borics tries a flying knee. Kennedy’s face is a bloody mess thanks to Boric’s jab. High kick from Borics. 10-9 Borics
Round 3: Kennedy with a double jab. Borics fires back with a low calf kick. Borics drops Kennedy with a nice kick. Borics on top delivering some body blows and Kennedy reverses! They are back to the feet and Kennedy pushes Borics up against the cage. Not a ton of action in the third and final round, which could be the deciding one. Kennedy takes Borics down via trip. A minute left in the fight and Kennedy seems content with holding on with position on top. Borics tries to wall walk but Kennedy has great control. Kennedy puts Borics back on his but as he tries to get back up. Borics gets up and he lands a nice kick to the body. Kennedy goes back in for a takedown attempt as the round comes to an end.
Final result: Borics defeats Kennedy via unanimous decision
Goiti Yamauchi vs. Dan Moret
Round 1: Low kick from Yamauchi to start. Another one and Moret counters with the same kick. A little tentative start from both. Yamauchi goes in for the takedown and Moret showed good defense. Moret drops Yamauchi with a one-two combo but he bounces right back up. Hick kick lands for Yamauchi. Flying knee from Yamauchi and Moret turns it into a takedown. Yamauchi reverse and takes Moret’s back with both hooks in. Moret is trying to shake him off but Moret has a good grip and position. Yamauchi has all his weight on Moret, who is trying to stay calm, not make a mistake. Yamauchi is trying a kimura but Moret is defending well. Yamauchi isn’t letting up. Yamauchi ends the round trying the submission, still holding on to Moret’s back. 10-9 Yamauchi.
Round 2: Moret starts with a high kick. Uppercut misses for Moret and Yamauchi scores a nice takedown. Moret looking for a triangle and Yamauchi is now in side control. Moret trying to kick himself out of bottom position using the cage. Yamauchi trying an anaconda choke. Moret defends well, back to the feet and Yamauchi takes Moret’s back. Yamauchi is relentless. He has both hooks in again and is looking to sink in a rear-naked choke. Yamauchi with great control once again for the entire round. Moret can’t seem to break loose. Another dominant round from Yamauchi to go up two rounds to none. 10-9 Yamauchi
Round 3: Yamauchi shoots for an early takedown but Moret scrambles and stuffs. Moret whiffs on a one-two combo and stuffs a takedown attempt from Yamauchi. Knee from Moret lands. Yamauchi trying hard for the takedown, doesn’t get it but is content with holding Moret up against the cage. A notion Moret’s corner agrees with, calling for their fighter to break free. They tussle for position and Moret lands on top of Yamauchi and is now in half guard. Moret landing some elbows with 30 seconds remaining. Yamauchi looking for an armbar to close out the round. Good round for Moret, but it won’t be enough to get the win. 10-9 Moret
Final result: Moret defeats Yamauchi via split decision
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