Bellator 277 is set to go down TONIGHT (Fri., April 15, 2022) from inside SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., featuring a Featherweight title fight between division champion, A.J. McKee, and Patricio Pitbull. In the co-main event of the evening, the Light Heavyweight Grand Prix will conclude as Vadim Nemkov defends his title against Corey Anderson.
Bellator 277’s main card will air on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET, with “Prelims” undercard action beginning at 7 p.m. ET right here. MMAmania.com will deliver results for the full card and comprehensive play-by-play for the televised portion of Bellator 277 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 277) about the bouts and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it’s always a lot of fun!
BELLATOR 277 QUICK RESULTS:
145 lbs.: Champion A.J. McKee vs. Patricio Pitbull – Pitbull via unanimous decision (HIGHLIGHTS)
205 lbs.: Champion Vadim Nemkov vs. Corey Anderson – Fight ruled a No Contest, inadvertent clash of heads (HIGHLIGHTS)
145 lbs. Aaron Pico vs. Adli Edwards – Pico via third round TKO
265 lbs.: Tim Johnson vs. Linton Vassell – Vassell via first round TKO
265 lbs.: Tyrell Fortune vs. Rakim Cleveland – Fortune via first round knockout
170 lbs.: Kyle Crutchmer vs. Michael Lombardo – Crutchmer via unanimous decision
170 lbs: Rhalan Gracie vs. Tyson Miller – Miller via first round TKO (doctor stoppage)
140-Pound Contract Weight: Gaston Bolanos vs. Cass Bell – Bolanos via first round TKO
125 lbs.: Edwin De Los Santos vs. Alberto Mendez -De Los Santos, decision
135 lbs.: Bobby Seronio vs. Calob Ramirez – Seronio via second round TKO
145 lbs.: Socrates Hernandez vs. Rogelio Luna – Luna via third round TKO (HIGHLIGHTS)
205 lbs.: Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov vs. Rafael Carvalho – Yagshimuradov via second round TKO
145 lbs.: Laird Anderson vs. JT Donaldson – Anderson via first round submission )rear-naked choke)
185 lbs.: Theo Haig vs. Alan Benson – Haig via first round submission (rear-naked choke)
BELLATOR 277 PLAY-BY-PLAY
Featherweight champion A.J. McKee vs. Patricio Pitbull
Round 1: McKee explodes with a kick to the body. Hich kick attempt from McKee. Pitbull a bit tentative to start. McKee imploring his foe to come to the center of the cage. Kick to the body from McKee. Left hook from Pitbull. McKee says he is unfazed. Left hand straight down the pipe for McKee. Mckee with another solid kick to the body, Pitbull firs off with a body shot of his own. Pitbull is a lot more patient this time around. McKee whiffs on a spinning back kick. Cal kick from Pitbull, McKee fires back with a head kick. Pitbull going to the well, landing several low kicks and he comes forward with a three-punch combination. McKee drops his hands and Pitbull lunges in with a four-punch combination, but doesn’t land much. 10-9 McKee
Round 2: McKee goes in for an early takedown, Pitbull stuffs but eats a knee to the face on the way out. Pitbull with another low kick, McKee seems frustrated, crowd is booing. Pitbull lunges forward again with a three-punch combo, but doesn’t land anything clean. Spinning back kick from McKee misses and Pitbull takes him down to the canvas. Pitbull back up and starts kicking the legs. McKee taunting him from the ground and he gets back up. McKee starts to pick up the pace, throws a knee down the middle and then a right hand. Kick to the body from McKee. Pitbull fires back with a kick to the thigh and complains of a clash of heads, to no avail. Pitbull lunges in with two left hooks, nothing clean lands. Pitbull with a solid shot to the body, McKee shakes it off. Close round. 10-9 Pitbull.
Round 3: McKee doing his best Nick Diaz impersonation by taunting Pitbull with his hands in the air. Pitbull isn’t falling for it. Left kook lands for McKee, Pitbull fires off two straight jabs. Pitbull lands a right hand the rocks McKee momentarily but McKee shoots for a quick takedown and he gets it. Great position for McKee, went int survival mode after he was rocked. Solid left hands from McKee and Pitbull is now looking for a guillotine and he has it locked in. McKee is in trouble here. McKee is relaxed so far but Pitbull isn’t letting it go. McKee muscles through and pops his head out. McKee is now in full guard and starts unloading shots. Pitbull is defending well so far. McKee scrambles and he now has Pitbull’s back, looking for a rear-naked choke as the round ends. 10-9 Pitbull
Round 4: Championship rounds. Calf kick from McKee, Pitbull laughs it off. Tentative start to the round. Pitbull with an inside kick. Kick to the body from McKee, no man willing to risk it to begin the fourth round. Crowd is growing restless, boo birds raining down. Nice kick to the body and right hand combo from McKee. Spinning back kick whiffs for McKee. Inside leg kick for Pitbull, punishing the lead leg of McKee. Left hand down the middle scores for the champion. Pitbull digs to the body with a left hook, McKee first back with two standing elbow attempts, hits nothing but forearm.Pitbull lands a right hand and goes in for the attack against the fence, but like a masterful matador, McKee ducks to the side swiftly. Straight right hand down the middle lands for McKee. Pitbull lands a solid kick to the head and he is now the aggressor. 10-9 Pitbull
Round 5: McKee shoots in for the takedown, stuffed momentarily by Pitbull. McKee is relentless and he gets it. Pitbull using the fence to get back up, but McKee drags him back down. McKee takes the back, looking for the rear-naked choke. Slashing elbow for McKee on the break. Solid left hand lands for McKee. Pitbull with a one-two combo, blocked by McKee. The action has slowed in this final round, but it’s still anyone’s fight as it could be 2-2. McKee goes in for the takedown, stuffed again by Pitbull. McKee has slowed in his attack, its his first time going five rounds. Kick to the body from McKee. Pitbull lands a high kick. Overhand right from Pitbull. Uppercut lands for Pitbull. McKee is breathing heavily here. One-two lands for McKee. Pitbull whiffs on a right hands and McKee lands the takedown. McKee firing off some shots up against the cage as the fight comes to an end. 10-9 Pitbull
Final Result: Pitbull def. McKee via unanimous decision
Champion Vadim Nemkov vs. Corey Anderson
Round 1: Low kick from Nemkov. Anderson with a one-two, Nemkov fires a jab. Low kick from Nemkov drops Anderson momentarily. Jab from Nemkov, overhand looping right from Anderson misses. Body kick from Nemkov. Anderson misses with a huge right hand and Nemkov grabs a hold of him, up against the fence. Nemkov with a right cross off the exit by Nemkov. Anderson goes in for the takedown, but Nemkov with stellar takedown defense. Elbow from Nemkov. Left hook from Nemkov. Anderson with a jab straight down the middle, Anderson fakes a takedown attempt and backs up. Nice right hand from Anderson lands. Nemkov now the aggressor as he goes in for the single leg, stuffed by Anderson. Jab to the body from Anderson and he grabs Nemkov up against the fence as time runs out. 10-9 Nemkov
Round 2: High kick lands for Nemkov, Anderson rushed in and lands a sneak left hook to the body before pushing Nemkov up against the cage and gets the takedown, nicely done. Nemkov has a hold of Anderson’s wrists, preventing the ground-and-pound. Full guard for Anderson now, lands a few shots as Nemkov tries to improve position. Anderson landing short elbows to the side of the head. Nemkov is now busted up. Short elbow slides his forehead and Anderson isn’t giving up this top position without a fight. Anderson postures up and is now in side control. Nemkov really trying to escape but Anderson is too strong here. Nemokov sneaks out as Anderson tries to go to full mount. Nemkov has Anderson’s back up against the fence, but Anderson is in no danger here. 10-9 Anderson
Round 3: Nemkov with a nice right hand down the middle lands. Anderson stuns Nemkov with a solid right hand. Anderson goes in for another takedown and he gets it. Bad position for the champion. Nemkov manages to get back up and has a guillotine in. It’s tight. Anderson escapes. That was a close call. Anderson takes Nemkov’s back and is landing shots to the side of the head. Nemkov takes a peak over to his corner for some advice. Anderson no looking for the neck. Nemkov rolls into Anderson, now in side control for “Overtime.” Anderson into half guard and starts unloading some ground and pound. Nemkov is looking for an armbar, but Anderson escapes. Anderson now grinding away, landing left hands and a vicious elbow. Referee Frank Trigg calls time, for what, I don’t know. The doctors steps in to look at a cut above Nemkov’s left eye and he quickly calls the fight and Anderson is declared the winner. Afterward, Nemkov protests that it was a clash of heads that caused the cut. Replay shows that it was an inadvertent clash of heads. Now we wait to see what will happen. After review, the commission has ruled the fight a no contest.
Final result: Fight is ruled a no contest (NC) due to an inadvertent clash of heads
Aaron Pico vs. Adli Edwards
Round 1: Inside leg kick from Edwards. Pico goes in for an early takedown, and he gets it. Shocker. Side control for Pico, now into half guard. Hard elbow lands for Pico across Edwards’ face. Edwards trying to snatch an ankle lock buy Pico escapes. Pico lands a huge right hand and he drops Edwards. Edwards gives up his back, he turns and Pico is in side control. Short elbows for Pico. Edwards stands up and Pico lands a huge left hook to the body before he takes down Edwards again. More short elbows are landings for Pico and Edwards has no answer for him. Pico allows Edwards back up and quickly lands a high kick to the head. Pico is ripping some shots to the body and he takes Edwards down again. Pico with another huge shot to the body before taking Edwards down again. Dominant round for Pico. 10-9 Pico
Round 2: Pico opens things up with a three-strike combo. He drops Edwards down with a high kick, though he gets up rather quickly. Pico with a nast left hook to the body before scoring his fifth takedown of the fight. Pico keeps going to the well with the body shots, and they keep landing, Edwards face is starting to show the punishment he’s taking. Pico stuns Edwards with a vicious left hook and he takes Edwards down again. Edwards may not have much to offer a ton offensively, but he’s showing a ton of heart here. Pico now landing some ground and pound. He gets up, only to get taken down again. Pico is looking perfect here tonight, putting it all together nicely, One-two from Pico after Edwards gets up. Pico with a nice left hook, then a spinning elbow lands. Kick to the body and another takedown to close out the round. 10-9 Pico
Round 3: Stiff jab from Pico. Front kick from Edwards up the middle. Three straight leg kicks land for Pico, then a one-two up top. Solid one-two combination drops Edwards and Pico goes in for the kill, shots to the side of the head before the referee puts an end to the punishment. Great stoppage.
Final Result: Pico def. Edwards via third round technical knockout
Tim Johnson vs. Linton Vassell
Round 1: Low blow to start things off from Vassell, but Johnson refuses to take time. Action resumes. They clinch and start unloading on one another for a few seconds. Johnson pushing forward as he pushed Vassell up against the cage. Inside kick from Vassell, Johnson once again pushes him up against the cage. Vassell looking for a takedown, doesn’t get it. Another inside kick from Vassell. Kick to the body from Vassell, body shot in return from Johnson. Johnson tags Vassell and he rocks his with a huge left hand. Vassell drops to the canvas and Johnson pounces. Vassell is up but falls down again and Johnson bum rushes him like a tank and starts unloading some vicious ground and pound. Vassell hanging tough but Johnson is relentless. Johnson suffered a cut on his forehead, probably from diving in recklessly. Vasell now has Johnson’s back and he is unloading. What a turnaround! Johnson turns towards Vassell and Vassell is now in full mount. Ground-and-pound from Vassell and Johnson has now answer, forcing the referee to put an end to the fight in the very first round. What a comeback from Vassell.
Final Result: Vassell def. Johnson via first round TKO
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