Detailed coverage of a unique for ‘17 tape-delayed broadcast of Bellator 179 in London, featuring the promotional debut of Rory MacDonald as he faces England’s own Paul “Semtex” Daley.
Join us tonight on Bloody Elbow for results, discussion and play-by-play for a tape-delayed version of Bellator 179: MacDonald vs. Daley. The event took place earlier today but will air tonight on Spike TV at 9 p.m. ET.
For that reason: please, no spoilers in the comments section. This is for the many, myself included, who are seeing the event for the first time and are entirely unaware of the results.
The marquee matchup for Bellator 179 will see the promotional debut for top welterweight acquisition Rory MacDonald, as he faces the British striker Paul “Semtex” Daley. The co-main event on the night will see Bellator’s former light heavyweight king Liam McGeary square off with fellow Englishmen Linton “The Swarm” Vassell. Click HERE for a preview of the Bellator 179 main card, and click HERE for full in-depth analysis of the event from Bloody Elbow’s Zane Simon, Vic Rodriguez, and Eddie Mercado.
Main Card: Spike TV at 9:00 P.M. ET (Channel 5 at 5 PM local time in the UK)
Paul Daley vs. Rory MacDonald: Welterweight
Rd.1- MacDonald starts the match with a jab, jab, overhand right and followed up with a takedown. Daley locks up the full guard, with MacDonald looking to posture up. MacDonald lands twice to the head, and once to the body of the grounded Daley. MacDonald passes to half guard, and lands a heavy right hand to the face of his opponent. MacDonald looks to lock up a Kimora, and delivers a few elbows to the body. Daley recovers full guard, but eats a MacDonald elbow. MacDonald passes the guard, and briefly moves to full mount before Daley finds half guard. Daley locks ahold of MacDonald’s right arm, but eats a MacDonald left hand for his troubles. MacDonald lands a left hand, and Daley lands an upkick. Dominant first round for Bellator’s free agent acquisition. 10-8 MacDonald
Rd.2- MacDonald closes the distance, looking for the takedown, but Daley defends well. MacDonald sticks with it, and plants Daley on his back. MacDonald works from side control, but Daley uses his legs to find an awkward butterfly guard. MacDonald passes to a modified mount, and lands a right hand, forcing Daley to give up his back. Without missing a beat, MacDonald instantly grabs ahold of a Rear-Naked Choke, and Daley taps out at home in London.
-Rory MacDonald def. Paul Daley by Submission (RNC) at 1:45 of round 2
Liam McGeary vs. Linton Vassell: Light Heavyweight
Rd.1- McGeary leaps in with a jab, followed by another left hand and a head kick. Vassell pumps his jab, gauging the distance. VAssell lands a stiff jab to the chest of McGeary, then presses forward with a 1-2. McGeary lands a jab, slips a jab, and lands another jab. Vassell kicks to the body, but McGeary responds with a heavy leg kick. McGeary falls to his back, and Vassell takes advantage by falling into the guard. McGeary locks up a body triangle, landing strikes from his back. Vassell continues to hold his opponent in place, as McGeary lands small punches from the bottom. Vassell passes to half guard, looking to isolate one of McGeary’s arms. Vassell works a head and arm triangle, but lets bails on the attempt as the round ends. 10-9 Vassell
Rd.2- McGeary stats the second stanza with aggression, throwing a jab cross followed by a head kick. McGeary throws another head kick that is blocked, then leaps in with a left hook. Vassell explodes on McGeary to put him on his back with about 4 minutes left in the round. From half guard, Vassell looks to isolate the left arm of McGeary, and uses an Americana attempt to take full mount. Vassell opts to leave full mount for a more secure side control. McGeary regains half guard, using the cage to try and gain leverage. Vassell once again works for the head and arm triangle, but switches to another Americana on the right arm of McGeary. McGeary scrambles out of the hold, but Vassell keeps him grounded. Vassell finds the full mount and lands a big punch to the face of McGeary. Vassell returns to the Americana, but gives it up as the round expires. 10-9 Vassell
Rd.3- McGeary presses forward behind his jab, then leaps in with a left hook. Vassell changes levels and puts McGeary on his back with 4:30 left in the round. Vassell moves to full mount right away, but McGeary is able to recover half guard. Vassell moves back to full mount, and lands a right elbow upon arrival. McGeary lands some insignificant punches from his back, and Vassell throws a few rib shots in response. Vassell revisits the arm triangle, and this time it is tight. McGeary had no choice but to tap out.
Linton Vassell def. Liam McGeary by Submission (Arm-Triangle) at 2:28 of round 3
Cheick Kongo vs. Augusto Sakai: Heavyweight
Rd.1- Kongo takes the center of the cage, with Sakai playing to the outside, hesitant to engage. Sakai thinks about throwing a leg kick, but pulls it back. Kongo paws his jab out to keep Sakai at distance. Sakai lands a leg kick, making Kongo back up. Sakai lands another heavy leg kick as Kongo circles with his back to the cage. The crowd is letting them hear it. Another low kick cracks for Sakai. Sakai throws a head kick, but Kongo blocks, and returns a kick of his own. Kongo catches Sakai against the cage, and enters the clinch. Sakai reverses Kongo on the cage, looking for a trip. Kongo lands a knee to the gut as the round ends, and the crowd boo’s. 10-9 Sakai
Rd.2- Kongo presses forward, backing Sakai up to the fence. Kongo engages in the clinch where he finds the takedown. Sakai works to get back to his feet, but Kongo continues to smush him on the cage. Kongo scores another takedown, but this time Sakai isn’t in a hurry to stand back up. Sakai finds his opportunity, and springs back up to his feet, just to stay stuck on the fence. Kongo clasps his hands together, but Sakai is able to remain vertical. Sakai lands an elbow to the shoulder of Kongo, and the referee separates the fighters. Sakai backs himself up to the cage again, and Kongo re-enters the clinch as the round ends. 10-8 Kongo
Rd.3- Kongo takes the center, and Sakai launches a head kick that misses. Sakai backs himself up to the cage, yet again, and Kongo enters the clinch. Kongo breaks, and Sakai throws another naked head kick that misses. Sakai backs up to the fence, but this time reverses position to put Kongo’s back on the cage. Sakai looks for a trip, but Kongo ends up reversing position, to continue with his wall and stall. The referee breaks the fighters apart, and Kongo throws some Teep kicks to the gut of Sakai. Sakai lands a heavy leg kick, and Kongo returns one of his own. Sakai presses forward with a body kick, but slips and winds up on his back. Kongo controls Sakai from half guard for a bit, but Sakai explodes to his feet. The referee calls a timeout due to an eye poke from Sakai as he stood up to his feet. The action resumes, but the final bell sounds. 10-9 Kongo.
-Cheick Kongo def. Augusto Sakai by split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)
Alex Lohore vs. Dan Edwards: Welterweight
Rd.1- Lohore starts the match with a left-right combo to takedown. Edwards rolls for a leg lock, and Lohore looks to defend. Edwards grabs for a toe hold on the opposite leg from which he was attacking, but Lohore defends well. Lohore misses with an elbow from the top, but connects with the next one. Edwards is bleeding from the corner of his right eye. Edwards dives on another leg submission, but Lohore attacks a RNC. Edwards rolls to his back and escapes, but eats a right hand from Lohore. Edwards attacks the leg again, but eats some clean punches to the face for his troubles. Lohore transitions to the back, but Edwards reverses the position and ends up on top. Lohore scrambles back to top position, chipping away with short elbows. Lohore finishes the round on top. 10-9 Lohore
Rd.2- Lohore misses with a jab to start the second frame, and then another. Lohore changes levels and Edwards sort of just falls to the canvas. A monstrous right hand connects to the jaw of Edwards, flooring him. Lohore follows up with 2 heavy right hands to his downed opponent, and the referee has seen enough.
-Alex Lohore def. Dan Edwards by TKO at :56 of round 2
Kevin Ferguson Jr. vs. D.J. Griffin: Catchweight 165 pounds
Rd.1- Griffin opens up the bout with a leg kick. Slice throws a right cross and looks for a takedown. Griffin presses Ferguson against the cage, but Slice pushes off. Ferguson gets the takedown, and lands in half guard. Ferguson opens up with punches in bunches that seemed to be damaging Griffin. Griffin throws his legs up for a Triangle attempt, but Ferguson shucks it off and allows his opponent to return to his feet. A spinning backfist misses for Griffin. A jab-cross-hook lands for Ferguson. Ferguson lands again with the left, sending Griffin crashing to the canvas. Baby Slice follows his foe to the ground and rains down an unanswered barrage, forcing the referee to stop the fight.
-Kevin Ferguson Jr. def. D.J. Griffin by TKO at 3:40 of round 1