Bloody Elbow is the place to be for live results and full play-by-play of Bellator 218 in Thackerville.
Join us tonight (Friday, March 22) on Bloody Elbow for live results and detailed play-by-play as Bellator 218 comes to the the Winstar World Casino & Resort in Thackerville, Oklahoma.
The headliner features a 145-pound clash between recent Bellator Featherweight championship challenger Emmanuel Sanchez and the always game Georgi Karakhanyan. Other notable names on the card include Linton Vassell, Gerald Harris, and John Teixeira.
The prelims can be watched right here on Bloody Elbow, starting at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT. The main card can be viewed on Paramount Network (formerly Spike TV) and DAZN at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Join us and let us know what you think of tonight’s fights.
Main Card (9 p.m. ET)
Emmanuel Sanchez vs. Georgi Karakhanyan
Round 1 – The fighters meet in the center of the cage. A nice left hook from Karakhanyan. Inside kick from Sanchez. Karakhanyan lands a crisp left jab. Karakhanyan ties up Sanchez and the two quickly scramble to the floor. Karakhanyan achieves top position but Sanchez is staying active in the guard. Sanchez cleverly ties up Karakhanyan’s left arm by wrapping an underhook and tying it to his leg over Karakhanyan’s shoulder. Sanchez throws the occasional elbow from the bottom. Sanchez sets up the omoplata and almost uses it to sweep. Karakhanyan hugs his opponent’s hips and maintains top control. Karakhanyan gets to half-guard, but Sanchez gets back to guard and immediately isolates that shoulder. Sanchez throws another elbow from the bottom and Karakhanyan returns fire with multiple shots to the head and body. 10-9 Karakhanyan.
Round 2 – Karakhanyan immediately returns to his wrestling and takes down Sanchez against the fence. Sanchez manages to get on top in a sprawl-position and the referee calls for a stand-up. Karakhanyan moves in on the feet and Sanchez counters with a takedown of his own. Sanchez fires off shots from the back while Karakhanyan is turtled. Sanchez improves position and gets both hooks in. He starts isolating Karakhanyan’s hands so they can’t defend a rear-naked choke. Karakhanyan does a good job of keeping his chin tucked and his near his face. Sanchez gets an angle and stars firing off punches. An angry Karakhanyan starts throwing weak shots behidn him. Sanchez slaps Karakhanyan’s ribs full force, looking to draw a reaction out of his opponent. That is it for round number two. 10-9 Sanchez (19-19 overall).
Round 3 – Just like in round two, Karakhanyan presses forward and looks for the takedown against the fence. He has Sanchez down to one knee and eventually gets his butt to the mat. Sanchez scoots his back to the fence to avoid Karakhanyan from settling in a strong position. Sanchez throws shots to the the back and ribs of Karakhanyan. Karakhanyan stays committed to the takedown attempt. Referee Jason Herzog separates the fighters and we return to standing. Sanchez throws an axe kick, Karakhanyan ducks and looks for an ankle pick. Sanchez almost gets top position but Karakhanyan completes the takedown and lands in side control. Sanchez tries to roll out but gives up his back. Karakhanyan is low on the back and Sanchez looks to scoot out of his opponent’s clutches. Sanchez succeeds and lands in top position with 1:30 left in the final round. Sanchez lands a nice left hand from half-guard. Sanchez tries to mount, Karakhanyan counters with a leg lock attempt. Sanchez steps out of danger and jumps right back into top position. What on earth. Sanchez drops big hammer fist, but Karakhanyan sticks his tongue out and rams his head into Sanchez’s fists. By sheer crazieness, he almost secures top position but Sanchez works for a kimura and ends the fight on Karakhanyan’s back. 10-9 Sanchez (29-28 overall for Sanchez).
Emmanuel Sanchez def. Georgi Karakhanyan via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Valentin Moldavsky vs. Linton Vassell
Round 1 – Linton Vassell looks yolked in his move up to heavyweight. A leg kick lands for Vassell, who is using a lot of leg feints and stance switches. Moldavsky bouncing on his toes. Moldavsky lands a counter punch as Vassell tries to get in close. Vassell clearly looking for the takedown but the Russian is keeping him at bay for now. Vassell finally gets a good entry, pushes Moldavsky against the cage, clasps his hands together and gets the takedown. Moldavsky tries to use the butteflies to sweep but Vassell secures the position. Vassell looks for a knee slice passed the guard and Moldavsky times a perfect sweep. The two end up standing with Moldavsky pressing his opponent against the cage. Moldavsky throws a punch and separates. The two exchange on the outside for a bit before Vassell gets another good entry and takes his opponent down near the cage. Vassell secures half-guard and stars looking to pin Moldavsky’s wrist. An elbow cuts Moldavsky over the right eyebrow. Vassell pins the wrist with his left hand, wraps his right arm around the back of Moldavsky’s neck and starts hunting an Americana. Time runs out. 10-9 for Vassell.
Round 2 – Vassell immediately takes the center. Moldavsky circles on the outside. They run into each other and Vassell falls over. I don’t know if it was a punch, a clash of heads or if Vassell lost his balance. Either way, Moldavsky looks to settle in top turtle. Vassell tries to face Moldavsky but the Russian keeps circling to the back. Moldavsky gets overzealous with the grappling and falls to his back, giving Vassell top posiiton and a much-needed break. Moldavsky manages to muscle Vassell off and grab the neck briefly before standing up. Vassell almost immediately shoots and lands a double leg takedown. Vassell passes from guard to half-guard. Moldavsky with another great sweep to land on top. Moldavsky’s defensive wrestling is not up to par in this fight, but he is making up for it with his half-guard bottom sweeps. Moldavsky has Vassell turtled and tries to stay behind him. Vassell tries to turn into Moldavsky but Moldavsky clamps down on an arm-triangle choke! Vassell extends his arm out, trying to make space between his carotid artery and shoulder. He manages to escape the choke but can’t shake Moldavsky off him. The round ends with Moldavsky throwing punches at a turtled Vassell against the fence. 10-9 for Moldavsky (19-19 overall)
Round 3 – Moldavsky surprises Vassell by shooting for the double leg early. Vassell sprawls and starts looking for the choke, but Moldavsky turns the corner and completes the takedown. Moldavsky settles into half-guard and starts peppering Vassell with shots. Moldavsky is riding heavy on Vassell, somewhere between half-guard and turtle. Vassell turns over and gives up the turtle. Moldavsky plants Vassell on his butt and starts throwing shots from behind. Vassell looks worn out. Carrying his opponent’s weight probably isn’t helping. Moldavsky comfortably works from half-guard top with 1:30 left in round three. Moldavsky makes space and opens up with looping shots. Vassell turns over and eats more right hands. The referee threatens to stop the fight and Vassell starts moving his head. 20 seconds left and he still can’t get out from underneath Moldavsky. The round ends with Moldavsky on top. 10-9 for Moldavsky (29-29 overall for Moldavsky)
Valentin Moldavsky def. Linton Vassell via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
Anatoly Tokov vs. Gerald Harris
Round 1 – Things start slow with both fighters looking to make reads. Harris with unorthodox feints, trying to draw a reaction from Tokov. Tokov enters with a lighting quick combination but Harris blocks most of the shots. A loud body kick from Tokov lands flush. You can see Harris keeping that elbow against his ribs, hoping to avoid a repeat. Woah! Harris feints the takedown and lands with a huge overhand left that knocks Tokov down! He follows Tokov to the floor, circles to the back and lands a barrage of ground-and-pound rights. Tokov is just eating these punches as he tries to stand up. Tokov drops for a moment but plants on his hands before the referee calls it off. Harris with countless shots to the dome but Tokov is still with it. Tokov gets back to his feet, Harris looks to wrestle his opponent against the cage. Tokov manages to reverse the position and get Harris to the floor, but doesn’t do a whole lot with it. Back to the feet, Tokov presses Harris against the cage. Tokov lands some uppercuts in the clinch and just avoids a return knee from Harris. Tokov presses Harris to the cage with 25-seconds left. A nice trip takedown sees Tokov on top and landing some ground strikes. The round ends with Tokov on-top, firing off shots. 10-9 for Harris.
Round 2 – Tokov immediately presses forward. Lands a three punch combination that forces Harris back. Tokov starts attacking the neck with a front headlock. Harris tries to sprawl back but it isn’t going to be enough. Tokov squats, hips in and increases the pressure on that 10-finger guillotine. Harris forcefully taps.
Anatoly Tokov def. Gerald Harris via submission (guillotine) at 0:37 of round 2
Nobert Novenyi Jr. vs. Will Lavine
Round 1 – A high-five to get us started. Novenyi Jr. hops back and forth with a karate stance. He quickly gets a wrap around Lavine’s waist, circles to the back and gets his opponent to the floor. Novenyi Jr. gets the hooks in and takes completely takes the back. Novenyi Jr. has one of Lavine’s wrists trapped and starts hunting the choke. Lavine manages to hip his way out of danger and Novenyi Jr. settles for an open half-guard. Novenyi Jr. opens up with ground-and-pound and uses a scramble to take the back again. Lavine to his feet, but he still has Novenyi Jr. on his back. Lavine turns in and hunts a single leg. Novenyi Jr. wraps up a standing guillotine choke. It looks deep and Novenyi Jr. is wrenching on it hard, but Lavine rides it out. Novenyi Jr. snaps Lavine back to the floor. He takes the back briefly but Lavine manages to stand up. Ooooh, Novenyi Jr. tosses Lavine with a German suplex and takes the back. He gets too eager for the back and loses position. Levine standing over his opponent and eats an up-kick. Novenyi Jr. hunts a leg lock and uses the position to sweep. Novenyi Jr. works towards a nice Von Flue choke at the end of the round, but the clock saves Lavine. 10-9 Novenyi Jr.
Round 2 – Novenyi Jr. back to the karate stance. Fun fact, he is only 19-years-old. A nice right hand from Lavine, 36, backs Novenyi Jr. up. Lavine clinches up against the cage and works for a takedown. Novenyi Jr. with a nice counter-throw to end up in top position. Novenyi Jr. opens up the guard and lands stiff shots, forcing his opponent to turtle. Novenyi Jr. again takes the back. Novenyi Jr. smartly transitions from a neck crank to mount and quickly slips into an arm-triangle choke. Lavine is offering very little defense, simply trying to punch from the bottom. Lavine tries to tough it out but is eventually forced to tap.
Nobert Novenyi Jr. def. Will Lavine via submission (head-and-arm choke) at 4:05 of round 2
Preliminary Card (6:30 p.m. ET)
Deborah Kouzmin def. Ky Bennett via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Johnny Eblen def. Chauncey Foxworth via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
John Teixeira def. Kevin Croom via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-27, 30-26)
Jordan Newman def. Joseph Holmes via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Vladimir Tokov def. Ryan Walker via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Victoria Leonardo def. Malin Hermansson via submission (armbar) at 4:49 of round 1
These three bouts will take place after the main card:
Nation Gibrick def. Nick Page via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:14 of round 1
Isaiah Gutierrez def. Aaron Vickers via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
Luis Erives def. Craig Fairley via TKO at 2:40 of round 2