Bellator 206 results: Aaron Pico annihilates Leandro Higo

Aaron Pico completely destroyed Leandro Higo on the Bellator 206 main card.

The Bellator 206 main card is underway, and Aaron Pico just mopped the floor with former Bellator title challenger Leandro Higo. Pico dropped Higo multiple times, and landed several damaging ground strikes, but the referee allowed the onslaught to continue. Despite tons of heart on display from Higo, the tidal wave that was Aaron Pico proved to be too much and the bout was finally stopped three minutes and nineteen seconds into the opening round. Pico is scary good and at just 4-1 and he more than likely is only going to get better.

Before that, Keri Melendez and Dakota Zimmerman went the distance, mixing it up back and forth on the feet and on the ground. The judges had it split, but two of the three scorecards were in favor of Melendez, who remains undefeated at 3-0. Opening up the main card, Gaston Bolanos picked up another finish in his young career, dropping Ysidro Gutierrez on the feet, and then finishing off on the floor in the second round. Bolanos now sits at 4-1, with all professional bouts occurring under the Bellator banner, and all fights ending before the third round.

Main card:

Aaron Pico def. Leandro Higo by TKO at 3:19 of round 1: Featherweight

Pico was aggressive right out of the gate, pressing forward and backing Higo up to the fence. A flurry of hands landed flush for Pico, but HIgo remained calm and returned fire. Pico dropped Higo briefly, and followed up with a ferocious flurry. A major bomb landed for Pico, and a series of unblocked strikes came crashing down. Despite the eyes of Higo rolling back into his head multiple times, the referee allowed the beating to continue. Big John McCarthy was calling for the fight to be stopped on the broadcast, and after a bit more unnecessary punishment, the fight was finally stopped.

Keri Melendez def. Dakota Zimmerman by split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29): Strawweight

Melendez opened up the bout with a front kick right to the face, followed by a flinging Zimmerman to the floor. Zimmerman stayed tight from the closed guard, even after getting picked up and slammed back down, and was able to lock up a triangle. Melendez hung tough and even survived the armbar transition, waiting it out until the round expired.

Zimmerman closed the distance early in the second frame where she smothered Melendez up against the fence. Melendez was able to remain vertical after the multiple takedown attempts from her opponent, resulting in Zimmerman trying to pull guard at one point just to get the fight to the ground. Several strong knees to the gut scored for Melendez from the clinch, especially towards the end of the round.

Melendez came out working her hands in the final round, but gave up a takedown in the process. Zimmerman gave up a sweep, but used her up-kicks to get back to her feet. The strawweights went toe to toe, trading punches back and forth before Zimmerman closed the distance up against the cage. Zimmerman pulled guard, successfully this time, but was unable to make anything happen.

Gaston Bolanos def. Ysidro Gutierrez by TKO at 1:37 of round 2: Featherweight

The featherweights went right to work, with Bolanos landing fluid techniques as Gutierrez looked to clinch up. Gutierrez popped off with a set of punches that landed clean, but Bolanos was able to stifle Gutierrez up against the cage to slow down the momentum. Come round two, Bolanos cracked his foe with a counter left hand that dropped Gutierrez, and followed up with a barrage of brutal ground strikes to get the finish.

Prelims:

• Adam Piccolotti def. James Terry by unanimous decision: 160 pounds
• Cass Bell def. Ty Costa by submission (Armbar) at 3:06 of round 2: Bantamweight
• Arlene Blencowe def. Amber Leibrock by KO (Slam) at 1:23 of of round 3: (W) Featherweight

• Jeremiah Labiano def. Justin Smitley by TKO at 3:41 of round 1: Featherweight

• Josh San Diego def. Joe Neal by split decision: 140 pounds
• Chuck Campbell def. Joseph Ramirez by unanimous decision: Light Heavyweight
• Anthony Figueroa def. Samuel Romero by unanimous decision: Lightweight

Darklims:

• Ignacio Ortiz vs. Jacob Ycaro: Featherweight
• Isaiah Batin-Gonzalez vs. Khai Wu: Bantamweight
• Ricky Abdelaziz vs. Laird Anderson: Featherweight