Bellator 271 goes down tonight (Fri., Nov. 12, 2021) inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., airing exclusively on SHOWTIME (watch it here). Headlining the event is a women’s Featherweight title fight between division champion Cris Cyborg taking on Sinead Kavanagh while Tyrell Fortune and Linton Vassell collide in a Heavyweight bout.
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 271) about the bouts and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it’s always a lot of fun!
BELLATOR 271 QUICK RESULTS:
145 lbs.: Cris Cyborg vs. Sinead Kavanagh – Cyborg via first round knockout (HIGHLIGHTS)
265 lbs.: Tyrell Fortune vs. Linton Vassell – Vassell via split decision
145 lbs.: Aaron Pico vs. Justin Gonzales – Pico via unanimous decision
145 lbs.: Arlene Blencowe vs. Pam Sorenson – Blencowe via unanimous decision
265 lbs.: Steve Mowry vs. Rakim Cleveland – Mowry via first round submission
125 lbs.: Bruna Ellen vs. Desiree Yanez – Ellen via split decision
170 lbs.: Roman Faraldo vs. Robert Turnquest – Faraldo via first round knockout (HIGHLIGHTS)
125 lbs.: Valerie Loureda vs. Taylor Turner – Loureda via split decision (HIGHLIGHTS)
170 lbs.: Ethan Hughes vs. Mahmoud Sebie – Hughes via third round TKO
265 lbs.: Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Muhammed DeReese – Cortes-Acosta via unanimous decision
BELLATOR 271 PLAY-BY-PLAY
Cris Cyborg vs. Sinead Kavanagh
Round 1: Cyborg goes in right away and lands five cleans shots to back Kavanagh up against the cage. Kavanagh survives and tries a takedown. Nothing doing there, Cyborg separates and lands two more massive shots. Cyborg clinches and pushes her foe up against the cage. Cyborg lands a huge right hand, and then another that drops Kavanagh! She goes in for the kill and lands a few hammer fists to close the show! WOW! Vintage Cyborg here.
Final result: Cyborg def. Kavanagh via first round knockout
Tyrell Fortune vs. Linton Vassell
Round 1: Low kick from Vassell. Man these fans are restless tonight. We are just one minute in and they are already booing. Vassell closes the gap and shoots for a takedown but it is stuffed. Fortune reverses position and he now looks for a takedown. Vassell changes position and he scores the takedown. This is a great position for Vassell. He takes Fortune’s back. Vassell is starting to pile on the punishment from behind. Fortune trying to defend. Vassell is scoring major points in the first round. Vassell is really working for the rear-naked choke but Fortune’s defense is pretty strong here. Vassell now working the ground-and-pound from behind again. Fortune has no choice but to give up position and open him up to the rear-naked choke. 10-9 Vassell
Round 2: Huge overhand right from Fortune to open things up. Fortune now attacks with a flurry of strikes on Vassell and then he scores a takedown. A burst of offense from Fortune here. Vassell manages to reverse position and now they are back to the feet. Low blow from Vassell and Fortune is in pain. Break in action. We resume. Low kick from Vassell and a high kick in return from Fortune. Fortune misses on a huge lead right hand. Nice low kick from Vassell and Fortune lands a solid right hand straight down the pipe. Fortune gets the takedown and landing some solid shots on Vassell, who turtles up to defend. Vassell is now cut and Fortune is relentless with his attack. Vassell again finds a way to reverse position. Now he is starting to land left hands and he has a rear-naked choke in. He lets it go. Close round. 10-9 Fortune
Round 3: Fortune closes the distance again and he starts landing knees to the body. Now Fortune lands the low blow and Vassell drops to the canvas in agony. Vassell took the entire five minutes to gather himself, smart move. We resume the action. Fortune comes in strong and lands some solid shots and they are exchanging bombs! Fortune with another huge right hand. Fortune goes in for the takedown and he gets it. In side control. Vassell once again reverses Fortune and his has his back. One hook is in, looking for the rear-naked choke. He has both hooks in. Fortune is out of it momentarily. Vassell gets Fortune’s back again. 10-9 Vassell
Final Result: Vassell def. Fortune via split decision
Aaron Pico vs. Justin Gonzales
Round 1: Gonzales lands an overhand right to start. Pico shoots in and takes Gonzales down with ease. Pico looking for an anaconda choke but Gonzales escapes. Pico scores another quick takedown, effortless. Stiff right hand to the body from Pico. Pico lands another overhand right. They clinch. Fast paced action to start. He stuns Gonzales with a nasty left hook. Low kick from Gonzales. Pico lands his third takedown of the round. In half guard. Shots to the body from Pico to end the round. 10-9 Pico
Round 2: Gonzales whiffs on a low kick and Pico goes in and lands another takedown. In side control now for the powerhouse wrestler. Pico looking for a guillotine choke but transitions to take his foe’s back. He has one hook in. Gonzales looking for hand control. Pico is relentless. Gonzales works his way up to his feet. Nice jab from Pico, another. High kick from Pico before he lands another takedown. One hook in for Pic, looking for a rear-naked choke. Gonzales defending well but Pico is relentless. Gonzales turns but now Pico is in full mount. Thankfully for Gonzales the round comes to an end. 10-9 Pico.
Round 3: Pico lands a left hand flush on Gonzales’ chin and he pushes him up against the cage soon thereafter. Huge left elbow from Pico rocks Gonzales. Low kick to the body from Pico. Gonzales lunges in with a right hand. Pico misses with an uppercut but lands a right hand on the way in. Pico changes levels and lands yet another takedown. In side control again for Pico. Gonzales tries to pop off some offense from bottom but it’s pointless, no power behind it. Pico comfortable with this position up 2-0. Pico is now in half guard and Gonzales has no answer here. One minute left, Gonzales needs a Hail Mary knockout or submission. Pico looking for a guillotine. They are up to their feet and Pico lands a huge body shot. Pico with a left hook to the body and Pico lands one more takedown as the round comes to an end. 10-9 Pico
Final Result: Pico def. Gonzales via unanimous decision
Arlene Blencowe vs. Pam Sorenson
Round 1: Blencowe comes out and lands a hard right hand to get Sorenson’s attention. She blitzes again and backs her foe up to the fence. Sorenson clinches. Blencowe lands another right hand and Sorenson is already cut above her left eye. Sorenson shoots but Blencowe stuffs the takedown. Sorenson now pushes Blencowe up against the cage is working hard for the takedown. Blencowe is defending well. Sorenson drives the knees right in Blencowe’s thighs. Boo birds from the restless fans. It works because the referee separates them. Good for Blencowe, who lands a solid left hand. Nice low kick from Sorenson. Three-punch combo for Blencowe. Sorenson lands a left of her own. Nice one-two from Blencowe. Sorenson clinches to close out the round and lands a short elbow. 10-9 Blencowe
Round 2: Left kick to the body from Sorenson. Sorenson lunges in and eats a left hand for her eagerness. Sorenson lands a right hand and is countered by Blencowe. Blencowe is piecing up Sorenson. She smartens up and goes in for the takedown, and again the boo birds. Blencowe separates. Kick to the body from Sorenson, not much behind it. Blencowe’s boxing is crisp, finding the target all night. Sorenson goes in for the takedown and Blencowe reverses position and starts unloading with a heavy barrage of strikes. Sorenson weathers the storm and goes in for the takedown again. Blencowe separates and lands a vicious right hand, Sorenson has a chin on her. Hematoma forming on Sorenson’s left eye. She’s tough as nails. 10-9 Blencowe
Round 3: Sorenson needs a finish here. Right hand from Sorenson lands but Blencowe counters with a right hand. Nice low kick from Sorenson. Blencowe with a left hook that lands. Sorenson eyes are starting to show the damage and she shoots in for a takedown again but it is stuffed. Sorenson lands another low kick. Blencowe eats it and counters forward. Down the middle right from Blencowe lands flush. Sorenson may lose this fight but she has proven to be a game fighter. Blencowe lands another three-punch combo. Two low kicks from Sorenson and Blencowe counters with a right hand. Blencowe keeps pushing forward and landing at will. Sorenson trying to work the low kicks but it won’t be enough to get the win. 10-9 Blencowe
Final Result: Blencowe def. Sorenson via unanimous decision
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