Bellator 181 ‘Girtz vs Campos 3’ takes place Fri. July 14, 2017 at WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Okla. MMA Mania will bring you full coverage of all of tonight’s action!
Bellator 181 “Girtz vs. Campos 3” takes place TONIGHT (July 14, 2017) at WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Okla. An originally scheduled rematch for Derek Campos and Patricky Pitbull fell to the wayside, but that opened the way for Girtz to step in and possible take the lead in a series currently tied at one win each.
Also scheduled for Spike TV is Thackerville fan favorite Joe Warren against rising Bantamweight Steve Garcia, and the always popular Kendall “Da Spyder” Grove in a key match-up with John Salter, winner of five straight including a submission of former champion Brandon Halsey.
Bellator 181 will start at 9 p.m. ET on Spike TV with “Prelims” bouts on Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET. MMAmania.com will deliver results and play-by-play for the entirety of the Bellator card.
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 181) about the bouts and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it’s always a lot of fun!
BELLATOR 181 QUICK RESULTS:
Brandon Girtz vs. Derek Campos — Campos TKO (doctor) 5:00 R2.
Jessica Middleton vs. Emily Ducote — Ducote UD 29-27, 29-28 X2.
Joe Warren vs. Steve Garcia — Warren UD 30-27 X3.
Kendall Grove vs. John Salter — Salter via sub (RNC) 4:37 R1.
Justin Lawrence vs. Treston Thomison — Lawrence TKO (doctor) 3:34 R1.
A.J. Matthews vs. Andre Fialho — Fialho SD 28-29, 29-28 X2.
Amanda Bell vs. Brittney Elkin — unaired before Spike.
Valentin Moldavsky vs. Carl Seumanutafa — Moldavsky UD 30-26 X2, 30-27.
Jordan Howard vs. Johnny Marigo — unaired before Spike.
Rafael Lovato Jr. vs. Mike Rhodes — Lovato Jr. via sub (RNC) 1:59 R1.
Logan Storley vs. Kemmyelle Haley — Storley TKO 1:44 R1.
Will Florentino vs. Jonathan Gary — unaired before Spike.
E.J. Brooks vs. Guilherme Vasconcelos — Brooks UD 29-28 X2, 30-27.
Katy Collins vs. Bruna Vargas — Collins UD 30-27 X3.
Guillermo Gomez vs. Fernando Trevino — unaired before Spike.
Aaron Rodriguez vs. Romero Cotton — Cotton SD 30-27, 27-30, 29-28.
BELLATOR 181 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
Brandon Girtz vs. Derek Campos
Tonight’s main event is being contested at a catchweight of 158 lbs. Girtz is out first with blue gloves and black trunks. His career record thus far is 14-6. Campos sports the red gloves and matching trunks for this main event with a career record of 18-6. Girtz fights out of Denver, Colorado and Campos fights out of Lubbock, Texas. Our referee is John McCarthy.
Round 1: A tap of gloves starts the round. Campos takes the center and eats a body kick from Girtz. Girtz lands a knee to the body as well. He throws a hard left hook and nearly throws himself off balance. Campos is warned to not extend his fingers. He comes forward with a combo and Girtz evades. McCarthy compliments him on closing his fist. Another hard kick by Girtz but Campos lands a big right hook. Both men are winging in their punches in the first two minutes of this main event. A left kick to the body from Girtz. Both men are dipping their stances trying to fake the other out. Campos is not faked out and lands a big series of shots. Girtz targets the liver again with his foot. Campos goes for a head kick but eats three right hooks, the third which makes him go backward. Girtz is now spraying blood everywhere from a knee to the head as he gets a takedown. They get back up. Girtz with a liver punch. Ranallo calls what we see from Girtz the “crimson mask” as you might expect him to do on Girtz and declares it “more blood than an episode of Dexter.” 10-9 Girtz.
Round 2: The cut man were unable to stem the blood from Girtz’ cut between rounds but they let the bout continue. Campos comes forward swinging wildly at 1:04. McCarthy calls time for a perceived foul but the two tap gloves and continue the bout right away. Girtz rocks Campos with a hard right at 1:55 and a couple more lefts right after it, but Campos responds a right that wobbles Girtz at 2:04. They go to the fence and Campos tries to finish it but he can’t put the lights out even as he drives a knee up the middle. 2:30 left in R2. Knee to the body by Girtz. The loquacious Ranallo declares the canvas a Jackson Pollock painting and the two trade wild hands at 3:16. McCarthy calls time to have the doctor check the gash on Girtz’ forehead and even though there’s no better attempt to stem the bleeding than his cutman did between rounds the fight continues. Girtz with an overhand left and a body kick. Campos charges in. Girtz with an uppercut and a left hand. Campos with a right. Campos lands a knee to the chin but is thrown down as he’s off balance. 10-9 Campos.
Round 3: THIS ONE IS OVER. The doctor decided Girtz could not continue with the gusher coming out of his head and I really can’t argue with that call.
Final result: Derek Campos wins via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) at 5:00 of the second round.
Jessica Middleton vs. Emily Ducote
Ducote brings a 5-2 record into this 125 lb. bout, while her late replacement Middleton comes in 2-1. Middleton sports the blue gloves with purple trunks and top. Ducote is all red everything. Middleton fights out of Wichita, Kansas. Ducote fights out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Our referee in charge is Jason Herzog.
Round 1: A respectful tap of gloves starts the fight before Middleton starts throwing right hooks. Ducote pushes her into the fence as Middleton throws a knee. Middleton responds with knees of her own with her back against the wall. Ducote takes her down at 1:05 but Middleton responds with a guillotine choke attempt and lets go as Ducote stands back up. A loud crowd chant of O-K-C breaks out. Ducote looks for a leg trip and Middleton slips out of her reach to throw more knees. Ducote digs deeper and tries to lift a leg but Middleton stays standing. Three minutes gone in R1. A single leg attempt brings Middleton to her knees at 3:12. Ducote tries to pull her legs out but Middleton stands up at 3:33. Ducote goes for another takedown and gets it when Herzog slaps Middleton’s hand away from the fence. Ducote is stood up to a chorus of boos with 15 seconds left. She drives Middleton right back into the fence at the bell. 10-9 Ducote.
Round 2: Ducote lands a left hook as Middleton tries to push her toward the fence, which undermines her defense as Ducote is easily able to power through a double leg at 0:35. Ducote is in a much better position to control her position on top right in the middle of the Bellator cage. She’s also looking for full mount and gets it at 1:41 but Middleton sweeps and puts Ducote on her back. Middleton tries to pin down Ducote’s left arm with a knee and throw unchecked right hands. Ducote is keeping it chest to chest and Herzog calls for more work. He does so again at the three minute mark. Ducote is going for an armbar and simultaneously sweeping her way off the bottom. Ducote is cranking hard. Middleton gets out of it but she’s still tied up in knots. Middleton doesn’t get back on top until 10 seconds are left. Depending on what a judge looks for there’s potential to score this round either way. Ducote had more “chances to win” but failed submission attempts aren’t as good as an actual submission.
Round 3: A glove tap opens this third and final round. Ducote gets a trip takedown 11 seconds into the round and goes for mount again but gets stuck in half guard. Middleton tries to hang on but Ducote passes to side at 1:29. Full mount at 1:50. This is the kind of dominance Ducote needs in R3 to secure a result with the judges. Middleton traps a foot for a “technical” half guard as Smith says on commentary but she’s fully back in mount at 2:54 and Middleton gives up her back. Ducote goes for the rear naked choke right away. It’s not all the way under the chin so Middleton is able to weather the storm even though it can’t feel good. Middleton defends another attempt at 4:19, keeping a hand in the way, so Ducote switches to an armbar attempt with short time left. Middleton survives to the bell. 10-9 Ducote. She should take the decision.
Final result: 29-27, 29-28 and 29-28 all for Emily Ducote by unanimous decision.
Joe Warren vs. Steve Garcia
Warren has the black American flag trunks and red gloves and is 14-6 out of Monument, Colorado. Garcia has the red trunks and blue gloves and is 7-1 out of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Our referee in charge is Kerry Hatley.
Round 1: Warren shoots immediately and eats a left hook, but his second takedown attempt succeeds at 13 seconds. He’s in the full guard with Garcia inching his way backward to the fence. Garcia gets his hand slapped away by Hatley at 1:51 when he tries to grab the cage. Warren pounds some right hands into the ribs. Garcia gets back to a knee at 2:44 while Warren looks to take the back. Garcia is able to stand with Warren stuck to his back like glue looking to get his hooks in. Warren drags him back to the ground for just a second. Garcia tries to elbow Warren’s forearm to make him break the grip. Warren has one hook in for almost all of the last 15 seconds — Garcia breaks free right before the bell. 10-9 Warren.
Round 2: Warren gets Garcia off his feet 22 seconds into R1 and immediately looks to take his back when he stands back up. Garcia gets another warning for grabbing the cage. Warren has a cut on the bridge of his nose. Warren hits a trip takedown at 1:25 and Garcia is stacked up against the fence. Warren peppers Garcia with right hands. Garcia gets to his feet at 2:22. Knees to the thighs from Warren. Reverse left elbow from Garcia, who gets warned again not to grab the cage. Reverse right elbow from Garcia. Garcia tries to run but Warren just won’t let the arms around the waist go. Garcia gets ANOTHER warning for grabbing the cage. The crowd is beginning to hate what they’re seeing. Garcia tries to go for a standing kimura and lets Warren take him down, where he escapes easily. 10-9 Warren.
Round 3: Garcia tries to open R3 with a headkick and knees but Warren drives him across the canvas, takes him down at 23 seconds, then drags him down again at 46 seconds. Garcia has now drawn the millionth warning of this fight for grabbing the fence. Warren is on top in full guard and throwing whichever arm he can free up to the body and head. Garcia throws pillows from off his back and since this isn’t pillow fighting he’s not winning anything. Warren puts a hard elbow on his chin at 2:18. Garcia is running out of time and options. Even though he looked totally outmatched in the rematch with Dantas, Garcia looks totally outmatched in this match with Warren. Hatley was ready to kick Garcia’s hand away with 1:40 left. I would have stopped the fight and taken a point instead. Hatley shows no sign of wanting to stand them up and there’d be no point in doing so at this late moment anyway. Warren continues to maul Garcia on top. Now Garcia gets his FOOT slapped away for linking toes in the cage. 10-9 Warren. Clean sweep.
Final result: The judges all score it 30-27 for Joe Warren by unanimous decision.
Kendall Grove vs. John Salter
Salter is out first in the black trunks and blue gloves, sporting a 13-3 record and undefeated thus far in Bellator. Grove has on the white trunks and red gloves with a career record of 23-16 (1 NC) coming into the night. Salter fights out of Wilmington, North Carolina and Grove fights out of Maui, Hawaii. Our referee is John McCarthy.
Round 1: Both men feel each other out for the first half minute. Leg kicks clash at 48 seconds. Grove is trying to find the range with his long legs and arms as he pushes Salter backward. Grove whistles by his head with a kick at 1:58. Salter is having trouble putting his hands on Grove. So far only the leg kicks have found a home. Grove tags him with a couple of short rights with two minutes left in the round. Salter finally gets a counter left as he blocks a right hook. Salter drops levels for a double at 3:50 and completes it as Salter takes side control then jumps on Grove’s back. Salter applies the rear naked as he drags Grove down and taps him out with under 30 seconds left in the round. Before the fight Grove asked “What names has he beat?” Salter now has the answer to that question — a former Bellator champion AND a former TUF champion. That’s plenty of names to put him into title contention in this cage.
Final result: John Salter wins via rear naked choke at 4:37 of the first round.
Justin Lawrence vs. Treston Thomison
Round 1: Unaired before Spike.
Final result: Justin Lawrence defeats Treston Thomison at 3:34 of round one (doctor’s stoppage).
A.J. Matthews vs. Andre Fialho
Matthews is 8-6 in the red gloves and black trunks. He fights out of Carlsbad, California. Fialho is 8-1 in the blue gloves and black/red/green trunks. He fights out of Cascais, Portugal. Our ref is Jason Herzog.
Round 1: Matthews pushes forward at the opening bell and Fialho dances on the outside. Matthews pushes forward looking to cut an angle. Fialho postures on his hand and throws a spin kick that misses. Matthews tests the range with a left jab. Fialho throws a leg kick. Leg kick by Matthews. He lands a couple of left hooks then throws a right leg kick. Matthews is getting more aggressive with his striking up high. Fialho tries another spinning kick. Matthews is going body head. Matthews throws a head kick that’s checked. Fialho teases a jumping knee. Fialho shoots and gets a takedown at 3:50, taking back mount 20 seconds later. Matthews stands up and gives Fialho an opportunity to get the right arm under the chin but Matthews survives to the bell.
Round 2: Matthews aggressively moves forward and lands a left kick to the liver. Both men trade left hooks to the head. Fialho takes the center and Matthews circles then resets to the center. Fialho tags him with some right uppercuts. Matthews attacks with leg kicks. Hard left jab by Fialho. Matthews shoots for a takedown and drives Fialho to the cage. Fialho breaks free at 2:15. Fialho with a couple of left hooks and then a right that hurts Matthews, and a jump knee to follow up. Matthews takes another right hook but then Fialho falls down off a botched kick and lets Matthews on top. 90 seconds left. If he had stayed standing he was hurting Matthews enough to potentially finish. Now Matthews is making him miserable with right hands to the body and head. 10-9 Fialho.
Round 3: Both men tap gloves to open R3. Matthews drops Fialho with a right hand 14 seconds into the round but Fialho recovers and gets back up and both men are swinging for a knockout shot now. Fialho hurts Matthews with a left but doesn’t drop him. Matthews pushes Fialho into the fence and both men have a chance to recover. Matthews drops levels and Fialho spreads his legs wide to block the takedown. Matthews peppers him with left hands instead and throws a knee. Matthews drops levels again and gets the takedown at 2:10. Fialho gives up his back to get back up and the two separate to throw hands at 2:35. Both men are tagging the chin. Matthews sprawls to block a shoot and drives a hard knee into Fialho’s ribs. Fialho tries to roll and Matthews takes side control. 90 seconds remain. Fialho blocks a kimura attempt. Matthews takes the back briefly but Fialho gets up at 4:18. Matthews takes him back down as Fialho tries a desperation submission attempt. Fialho gets up at 4:40 and Matthews drops levels looking for one more takedown. 10-9 Matthews this round but this fight could go either way.
Final result: The judges score it 29-28 Matthews, 29-28 Fialho, 29-28 for Fialho by split decision.
Amanda Bell vs. Brittney Elkin
Round 1: Unaired before Spike.
Final result: To be determined.
Valentin Moldavsky vs. Carl Seumanutafa
Black trunks and blue gloves for Moldavsky, 5-1, fighting out of Stary Oskol, Russia. Black trunks and red gloves for Seumanutafa, 10-7, fighting out of San Francisco, California. Our ref is John McCarthy.
Round 1: Seumanutafa is taken down 16 seconds into R1. Moldavsky is held chest to chest in half guard so he can’t land any power, but Moldavsky would be just as happy to look for a submission. Moldavsky drives some hard right hands into the body – you can hear each land with a resounding thud. Moldavsky gets in some left hooks to the head as Seumanutafa motions like he’s going to try and scramble. Each time he does Moldavsky pushes him back down and punishes him some more. Moldavsky takes the back but Seumanutafa stands up with under 90 seconds left. Moldavsky gets him back down and looks for an americana. More left hooks to the head. This round was one-sided enough to consider it a 10-8 for Moldavsky.
Round 2: Seumanutafa takes the center to start R2. He blocks the first takedown attempt of Moldavsky as it moves to the fence. Moldavsky tests the chin with a knee. McCarthy warns him not to grab the cage and the cameraman clearly shows him doing it right after he was warned. McCarthy breaks them up for inactivity anyway. Both men tie up and Moldavsky puts Seumanutafa right back on the fence. He’s content to throw short lefts to the head and knees to the leg and not do much else. McCarthy is going to call for more work at any second. He does so at 3:03. Moldavsky drops levels but Seumanutafa blocks the attempt. McCarthy resets them at 3:35. Seumanutafa and Moldavsky measure each other standing. Seumanutafa either gets clipped or slips but either way Moldavsky winds up on top with under a minute to go. He smothers Seumanutafa on top in half guard and throws left hands to finish a 10-9 round.
Round 3: Seumanutafa takes the center to open the third and final round. Moldavsky hits a couple of left hooks, looks for a throw, it’s blocked and McCarthy calls time as Seumanutafa takes a knee to the cup. McCarthy makes Seumanutafa wait and take a couple of deep breaths then restarts the fight at 36 seconds. Moldavsky takes him down twice in the next 30 seconds but can’t keep him down. Finally the third attempt at 1:19 lands him in side control and he moves to take the back. Moldavsky moves from one side to the other throwing hands and knees. Seumanutafa gets back up, gets thrown down, gets back up, Moldavsky blocks a standing armbar attempt, McCarthy calls for more work at 2:54. Moldavsky teases a level change but doesn’t complete it. McCarthy is impatient. He calls for work at 3:30. He breaks them up at 3:54. Moldavsky clinches him right away and Seumanutafa backs right up into the fence. That should ice it for Moldavsky. Seumanutafa does not break free before the bell. 10-9 Moldavsky.
Final result: The judges score it 30-26, 30-26 and 30-27 all for Moldavsky.
Jordan Howard vs. Johnny Marigo
Round 1: Unaired before Spike.
Final result: To be determined.
Rafael Lovato Jr. vs. Mike Rhodes
Black trunks and red gloves for Lovato. Blue gloves and black trunks for Rhodes. Lovato is 5-0, Rhodes is 10-4. Rhodes hails from Waterloo, Iowa. Lovato hails from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Our referee is John McCarthy.
Round 1: 15 seconds and this fight has already lasted longer than Lovato’s last stunning Bellator win. Rhodes is on a four fight winning streak coming in though. Rhodes has Lovato backing up and he feints a jump knee as he does. Lovato misses wild with a right hand. Lovato goes for a single leg, Rhodes briefly ends up on top, Lovato sweeps, they scramble and go to the fence and Lovato has a deep rear naked choke in once it goes to the ground again. Rhodes taps out at 1:59.
Final result: Rafael Lovato Jr. wins via rear naked choke at 1:59 of R1.
Logan Storley vs. Kemmyelle Haley
Storley is 5-0 in the black trunks and red gloves. He fights out of Webster, South Dakota. Haley is 7-4 in the black trunks and blue gloves. He fights out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Our ref is Jason Herzog.
Round 1: Storley goes for a single leg and gets it 15 seconds into the round. Storley drives his right elbow into the side of Haley’s head repeatedly from half guard and Haley starts fading fast. Herzog waves it off at 1:44. It was a good stoppage. Haley was slow to get up afterward.
Final result: Logan Storley wins by technical knockout at 1:44 of the first round.
Will Florentino vs. Jonathan Gary
Round 1: Unaired before Spike.
Final result: To be determined.
E.J. Brooks vs. Guilherme Vasconcelos
Round 1: Unaired before Spike.
Final result: E.J. Brooks defeats Guilherme Vasconcelos via unanimous decision 29-28 X2 and 30-27.
Katy Collins vs. Bruna Vargas
Vargas is in the red trunks, top and gloves, 2-1 out of Porto Alegre, Brazil. Collins is in the black top and blue gloves, 6-2 out of Branson, Missouri. Our referee is Don Turnage.
Round 1: Collins rushes Vargas to the fence immediately after the opening bell. Things quickly stall there as the two clinch and look for openings, with Collins trying to break Vargas’ grip to elbow her in the head or throw a left hook. Turnage has not yet called for more work 90 seconds into the round. Collins throws knees at her foe and muscles Vargas to the ground twice, finally getting on top at 2:10. Full mount is briefly attained at 2:25 and then lost. Collins is trying to have it both ways – she wants to keep Vargas grounded but she also wants to posture up for power. Finally she lets Vargas stand as she goes for a guillotine choke. Vargas gives the ref a thumbs up to show she’s okay and pops out at 3:37. Vargas almost had her own guillotine attempt as Collins dipped her head looking to take Vargas back down. Collins slaps her with a muay thai style knee and continues to grind Vargas against the cage. 10-9 Collins.
Round 2: Vargas rushes to the center to open R2. Collins bops her with a right. Vargas responds with lefts and rights. Collins tires of the stand-up exchange and presses Vargas into the fence. Vargas spins away momentarily but Collins presses her right back into the cage on the opposite side. Mauro Ranallo quips that Collins is “on her like Velcro.” Vargas briefly turns out at 1:40 and Collins puts her right back on the cage again. She turns out a second time at 2:01 and again is pushes into the cage 8 seconds later. Collins takes her down at 2:25. Collins has her left leg trapped but doesn’t seem in any furry to get it free and get a full mount. Turnage warns them to get busy at 3:44. He keeps inching closer to them as though he’ll stand them up. He finally does at 4:20 and Collins gets the better of a quick exchange before pinning Vargas on the fence. 10-9 Collins.
Round 3: Once more Vargas runs forward to take the center of the Bellator cage, and Collins pushes her right back to the fence and throws knees. Collins is working to win the positioning war and looking for a leg trip, while Turnage is calling for them to work off the cage. Vargas gets her back off the cage but just gets pushed across to another part. Turnage has had enough and breaks them up at 1:24. Collins pressures and Vargas dances away to throw left hooks. Vargas seems to be smirking now like she knows Collins is spent from the grappling and she now has her opportunity. Unfortunately for her she’s put back on the fence again at 3:10. Collins looks to take Vargas down and jumps on her back at 3:38 looking to get hooks in. She might not get the right hook since they’re pinned to the fence but she could get the left. Vargas is keeping her knee up to block. Collins tries to reverse heel kick the ankle to knock that leg away. She finally gets her hooks in and Vargas stands up as time expires with Collins on her back looking for a choke.
Final result: All three judges score it 30-27 for Katy Collins by unanimous decision.
Guillermo Gomez vs. Fernando Trevino
Round 1: Unaired before Spike.
Final result: To be determined.
Aaron Rodriguez vs. Romero Cotton
Cotton has the black trunks and red gloves, Rodriguez the black and blue, and both are 0-0 making their pro debut. Rodriguez hails from Lawton, Oklahoma. Cotton hails from Hutchinson, Kansas. Our referee in charge of this fight is Don Turnage.
Round 1: Both men take the center and Cotton goes for the takedown 12 seconds in but Rodriguez sweeps on top and tries to take the back when they stand, but Cotton takes him back down again at 28 seconds. Rodriguez is trying to look for a submission off his back but he can’t keep Cotton there to play his game as he stands back up at 1:20. Cotton pushes Rodriguez to the fence to throw hands, drops levels and gets a single leg at 1:54. Cotton blasts him with left forearms, elbows, and punches. Rodriguez kicks him away and goes to take the back but gets too high and lets Cotton through the back door to get back on top. Rodriguez goes for a triangle choke but doesn’t have the arm across so he can’t cinch it up. Cotton is fully clear at 3:54. Cotton backs up at 4:18, then rushes forward with a knee. Rodriguez tries to walk Cotton down in the last 30 seconds. Turnage warns Cotton to keep his fingers closed. Cotton gets a takedown at 4:45 and ends the round on top. Close round but I would edge it narrowly in favor of Cotton for achieving more of what he attempted to do.
Round 2: Cotton walks slowly toward the center and lets Rodriguez come toward him throwing kicks, then single legs his opponent to the ground. Rodriguez is again trying to throw his legs up to look for a submission. Cotton is trying to stand and throw left hands. Rodriguez single-mindedly searches for a triangle but if he’d look for something else maybe he’d catch Cotton sleeping. Cotton gets the left hand free for a couple of quick hammerfists. Turnage tells both men to get busy at 2:54. He stands them up at 3:14 although Cotton gets up very slowly and reluctantly. Cotton doubles Rodriguez down at 3:39. Rodriguez is looking for a kimura but Cotton escapes with 57 seconds left. He gets off some hammerfists as Rodriguez is unable to shake him off. 10-9 Cotton.
Round 3: Cotton makes his way out of his corner even more slowly than he did in R2. Rodriguez looks pretty gassed too though. He comes forward swinging like he’s in a vat of molasses. Cotton turns him into the fence and slashes his nose with an elbow. Rodriguez hurts him with a right but Cotton immediately responds with a takedown. Turnage warns the fighters about fingers to the eyes. Never has it been so clear you’re watching two men have their first pro fight ever. The saving grace for Cotton is he was such a great collegiate wrestler he can get takedowns over and over. Rodriguez sweeps though and goes hard for a kimura but can’t get it and Cotton pushes his way on top, pushing Rodriguez into the fence and throwing right hooks. He postures up and adds some hard left hands to the mix. Both of these men will be very happen to get a drink of water and a half dozen bags of ice on them when this is through. Cotton tries to sit up to throw shots in the last 15 seconds but is so tired he can just barely posture up. Rodriguez is even more spent though at the final bell, unable to immediately get off his knees. Cotton stands but then has to lean on the fence to stay upright. G-A-S-S-E-D.
Final result: The judges score this contest 30-27 Cotton, 30-27 Rodriguez, 29-28 Cotton by split decision.