Bellator 148: “Daley vs. Uhrich” took place tonight (Fri., Jan. 29, 2016) inside Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif., streaming live on Spike TV.
The main event of the evening was a Welterweight showcase for the hard-hitting combat sports veteran ‘Semtex’ Paul Daley and his up-and-coming opponent ‘Stunner’ Andy Uhrich – winner of three straight fights.
Who prevailed inside the confines of the Bellator cage? Find out below:
After a cautious opening minute with a failed clinch by Daley and equally futile takedown attempt by Uhrich, ‘Semtex’ settled into a groove and waited for an opening to land his devastating punches. When it did, one right hand dropped and stopped Uhrich at 2:00.
Zombie Prophet has this highlight of the bout.
Paul Daley vs Andy Uhrich #Bellator148 pic.twitter.com/86KxhugnQC
— ZombieProphet (@ZProphet_MMA) January 30, 2016
Daley spoke to Jimmy Smith after the fight.
“KROTCHEK! KROTCHEK! KROTCHEK! Yeah yeah yeah yeah. Most definitely I did my part. First of all thanks to all the hometown fans coming out to see ME, cause your hometown boy sat right there on his big old {bleeped} looking like a muppet! He wouldn’t have been able to do what I did today. You guys would have been sleeping in your seats right now, but luckily the British boy came to the cage, entertained and knocked people out like I always do.”
Coming up behind them in the co-main event slot was another Welterweight bout, one meant to resolve an unfinished dispute. Chris Honeycutt and Paul Bradley met at Bellator 140, but a winner was never determined due to an accidental headbutt causing a doctor to wave the fight off. At long last it was finally time to determine a winner.
This one was a “blink and you’ll miss it” affair. Bradley had the heavy hands on this occasion, and got the victory at 40 seconds of round one by TKO thanks to two devastating right hands and a flurry on the ground that flattened Honeycutt out.
Zombie Prophet has a replay of Bradley’s quick stoppage.
Chris Honeycutt vs Paul Bradley #Bellator148 pic.twitter.com/1DL65sRcKa
— ZombieProphet (@ZProphet_MMA) January 30, 2016
Bradley spoke to Jimmy Smith afterward.
“I told you comin’ out I was going to make a statement. I don’t know why everybody’s booing tonight. Dude I… you know whatever dude. I’m here to do my job. Me and Chris have some bad blood, but you know what? It’s fighting, it’s entertainment. How you gonna boo a guy when he just tries to come in here and perform?”
It might be because he was in Honeycutt’s hometown. It might also be because he screamed “F— YEAH” about a dozen times after the win until Spike TV started to cut out the audio.
Royce Gracie spoke to Jimmy Smith with three weeks to go until his Ken Shamrock trilogy fight.
“Camp is on schedule. Royler is keeping me in check let’s say and man, body feels good, endurance is way high. I’m not gonna die out on endurance that’s for sure. Strength is ready. I was ready when I signed up for the fight. Once you’re a fighter, you’re always a fighter. I already fought Ken twice but he keeps talking so this time it’s personal. It’s always personal.”
Second to air on the card was Patricky Freire, returning on short notice after a loss at Bellator 147, taking on Ryan Couture in an attempt to derail his four fight win streak and Lightweight title aspirations.
The decision to quickly take a second fight paid dividends. Couture showed a surprising willingness to stand and trade, as opposed to going for takedowns and a submission, and that decision cost him dearly. The fighter had his nose split open in the process of being knocked out cold by a big left hand at 3:00 of round one.
Zombie Prophet provides the visual of the spectacular finish.
Patricky Freire vs Ryan Couture #Bellator148 Multiple Angles pic.twitter.com/5IUJst4J6U
— ZombieProphet (@ZProphet_MMA) January 30, 2016
Freire spoke to Jimmy Smith via translator after the stoppage, visibly emotional after his win.
“I was under serious stress at home you know, and I’m never going to let a judge ruin it again, and I’m going to kill everyone.”
“Pitbull” was asked if he wanted Will Brooks and had a one word response: “Anybody.”
Heavyweights stepped up for action at Bellator 148, with Tony Johnson putting a two fight win streak up against the evolving Raphael Butler, a former boxer coming into his own as a mixed martial artist.
It was not a good night for Butler. In a performance reminiscent of his bout with Alexander Volkov, Johnson used cage control and takedowns to frustrate Butler. Butler showed a better ability to escape and reset than Volkov, but he eventually ran out of gas in round three and Johnson rained down right hands until Mike Beltran stepped in at 4:24.
Zombie Prophet illustrates the stoppage.
Raphael Butler vs Tony Johnson Jr. #Bellator148 pic.twitter.com/AE2HYfcT67
— ZombieProphet (@ZProphet_MMA) January 30, 2016
The televised bouts were paired with exciting “Prelims” action that aired exclusively on Spike.com.