Bloody Elbow is the place to be for live results and full play-by-play of Bellator 224: Budd vs. Rubin in Thackerville.
Join us tonight (Friday, July, 12) on Bloody Elbow for live results and detailed play-by-play as Bellator 224 comes to the the Winstar World Casino & Resort in Thackerville, Oklahoma.
The headliner features Bellator women’s featherweight champion, and Canada’s own, Julia Budd (12-2) defending her title against Israel’s Olga Rubin. A number of notable homegrown Bellator stars litter the main card. In the co-main event, former middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho (15-3) meets dynamic striker Chidi Njokuani (18-6). Ed Ruth (6-1) looks to bounce back from his first professional loss by the far more experienced Kiichi Kunimoto (20-7-2).
Also on the card, women’s flyweight prospect Juliana Velasquez (8-0) fights Kristina Williams (3-1). Former UFC fighter Leslie Smith makes her Bellator debut on the preliminary card opposite Sinead Kavanagh.
The prelims can be watched right here on Bloody Elbow, starting at 6:45 p.m. ET/3:45 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)
Julia Budd (c) vs. Olga Rubin
Round 1 – The fighters start with a good ole’ fashion double fist bump to start things. The two women meet in the center of the cage. A early head kick attempt from Budd. A nice inside leg kick tot he thigh from Budd who stands in the orthodox position. Rubin catches a body kick from the southpaw stance and fires off a punch. Rubin tries and counters a leg kick with a straight punch. Budd is doing a great job of hopping in-and-out of range. Budd’s body kick lands with a thud and she follows it with a snapping jab. Rubin blocks a head kick but it messes with her balance. Budd lands a great front kick to the body and her opponent immediately clutches to her mid section. Budd blitzes Rubin. The Canadian fires off lefts and rights to the face as Rubin backs up to the cage. Budd is firing SHOTS and Rubin crumbles to the floor. Game over.
Julia Budd def. Olga Rubin via TKO (strikes) at 2:14 of round 1.
Rafael Carvalho vs. Chidi Njokuani
Round 1 – The fight starts and both fighters look to establish their striking range. Both men throw kicks before Carvalho gets Njokuani to the fence. He has Njokuani’s back as the two are up against the cage. Carvalho scores a quick take down but Njokuani is back to his feet. The two end up in the center. Carvalho with some showboating, pointing to the ground and asking Njokuani to fight in the phone booth. It’s not too long, however, before Carvalho has Njokuani against the fence again. Carvalho throws some light strikes to his opponent’s body. A nice knee to Njokuani’s midsection and a nice trip take down to end round one. 10-9 Carvalho.
Round 2 – Carvalho with lots of dynamic hand movement. Njokuani throws a kick but its blocked. A couple nice body kicks Carvalho and Njokuani fires back with a pair of his own. Carvalho slides out of the way of two successive head kicks. Njokuani lands a body kick but Carvalho uses it to get in close. The two fire off multiple strikes, but nothing lands clean. Carvalho partially connects with a spinning elbow. Njokuani grabs on to his opponent’s torso and drives Carvalho against the cage. They move off the fence and Carvalho pushes Njokuani against a different cage wall. The former Bellator middleweight champion looks from another leg sweep take down, but nothing on it. Carvalho comments to a double leg — catching an elbow for his efforts — and scores the take down. Lots of shots to the body by Carvalho. Njokuani is just olding on from guard. A quick stand-up from the referee. Two lightning fast head kicks by Njokuani. Carvalho blocked them but you can bet his forearms are sore. Carvalho is keeping his hands low and the round ends with the two men staring each other down. 10-9 Carvalho.
Round 3 – Round three starts with a fast pace. Both fighters looking to land big shots. They get clinch and Carvalho drives Njokuani to the cage. Njokuani locks his arms underneath his opponent’s butt and lifts Njokuani up high. A BIG slam from Carvalho. He lands in Njokuani’s guard and goes right back to punching the body. The referee is giving Carvalho more time to work. Njokuani gets his feet on Carvalho’s hips and pushes him off briefly, but the former champ quickly regains top position. Two minutes left in the final round. One minute left and Njokuani scrambles back to his feet. Carvalho immedately back to the wrestling but Njokuani grabs onto a kimura. The two men go out and Carvalho expertly lands in side control to eleviate the pressure. Carvalho has Njokuani’s back but he is high. Njokuani slides out from underneath and lands on top. The two scramble and Njokuani lands a knee to the body to close out the fight. 10-9 Carvalho.
Rafael Carvalho def. Chidi Njokuani via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Juliana Velasquez vs. Kristina Williams
Round 1 – A touch of the gloves to get us started. The fighters are still feeling each other out 30-seconds in. Williams goes wide with a high kick. One minute in and still nothing. Velasquez continues to slide out of range of these telegraphed head kicks. A snapping leg kick from Velasquez. Velasquez presses forward with a combo but gets hit with a counter. Velasquez presses forward with another exchange and both fighters eat punches. Williams is doing a good job of making Velasquez pay for pressing the action. Velasquez lands a blistering combination that backs Williams up to the cage. She is hurt! Williams regains her composure and the fighters circle to the center, but Velasquez immediately has Williams on the back foot. The women exchange body kicks. Velasquez throws the jab and then lands with the straight right. 30-seconds left in round one. Williams is only throwing one shot at a time and finding little success. Velasquez blitz with one last combination and lands a left hook. 10-9 Velasquez.
Round 2 – We begin round two with a much faster pace than how the first round stared. Velasquez immediately with a combination that ends up in a clinch. Williams starts peppering her opponent with strikes up close. A crisp double jab from Velasquez. A leg kick lands for Williams. Velasquez lands her own leg kick a short while later. A flurry by Velasquez partially lands. Williams’ nose is busted up. Another low leg kick by Williams. A one-two from the south paw position catches Williams clean! Williams is backed up against the fence and Velasquez is opening up. That nose is really getting touched up now. Williams tries to back Velasquez up with some body kicks but it’s not happening. Velasquez is swarming Williams with punches all over. Williams turns her back to her opponent and covers up. The referee steps in just as Williams falls on her butt.
Juliana Velasquez def. Kristina Williams via TKO (strikes) at 4:03 of round 2
Ed Ruth vs. Kiichi Kunimoto
Round 1 – Kunimoto is all about the leg kicks early on. At least a couple of them looked to bother Ruth. The American fires back with a long straight that humbles Kunimoto. The two initiate in a clinch and Ruth back his opponent to the fence. A nice knee to the body by Ruth. Kunimoto throws his own knee but it doesn’t have the same impact. Ruth through a nice right hook to the body and scores an easy double leg take down. Kunimoto back to his feet and works to circle off the fence. Ruth does a good job of keeping it there. Ruth with some nice shoulder strikes that pop back Kunimoto’s head. The two separate and started trading in the center. Ruth catch a kick and lands a big right overhand at the same time. Kunimoto is on the floor as Ruth looks to establish top position. They land in guard and Kunimoto throws up a rubber guard. 40-seconds left. The round ends with Ruth on top. 10-9 Ruth.
Round 2 – A touch of the gloves to start round two. Ruth is lighting Kunimoto with a variety of dynamic strikes. A big right, a straight jab and more land for the American. Kunimoto lands a big straight that backs up Ruth. Kunimoto initiates a deep single leg and backs Ruth against the cage, but he can’t take him down. The two are back in the center, trading shots at a slower pace. Halfway through round two. Both men exchange leg kicks, but Ruth throws up a thudding body kick. A nice front kick to the body by Ruth. Kunimoto is starting to give ground to his opponent. Ruth lands a perfect counter knee as Kunimoto shoots for a single leg. Kunimoto is down and Ruth is firing off ground-and-pound shots. The fight is over.
Ed Ruth def. Kiichi Kunimoto via TKO (strikes) at 3:49 of round 2
Preliminary Card (6:45 p.m. ET)
*Nainoa Dung vs. Brad Robison via unanimous decision (28-27, 28-27, 28-27)
Gabriel Varga def. Jamese Taylor via TKO (strikes) at 3:23 of round 2
Mike Jackson def. Kiefer Crosbie via disqualification (illegal knee) in round 1
Leslie Smith def. Sinead Kavanagh via majority decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Jordan Young def. Joel Bauman via submission (triangle choke) at 3:20 of round 1
Arlene Blencowe def. Amanda Bell via KO (punches) at 0:22 of round 1
Will Fleury def. Antonio Jones via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
AJ Agazarm def. Jacob Landin via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:21 of round 1
Christian Edwards def. Justin Vargas via TKO (strikes) at 0:54 of round 1
*Dung was deducted two points for an illegal kick to a grounded opponent
The following preliminary fights took place after the main card:
Lucas Brennan def. Thomas Lopez via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:02 of round 1
Joseph Holmes def. Kona Oliveira via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:41 of round 2
Bruna Ellen def. Elina Kallionidou via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)