Bellator 233: “Salter vs. van Steenis” airs TONIGHT (Nov. 8, 2019) from WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Oklahoma via Paramount Network and DAZN. The 185-pound main event will see John Salter (16-4) face the almost unblemished Costello van Steenis (12-1).
Bellator 233’s main card will start at 9 p.m. ET on Paramount Network with “Prelims” undercard bouts at 7 p.m. ET on DAZN (watch it). MMAmania.com will deliver results and play-by-play for the entirety of the Bellator MMA card below.
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 233) about the bouts and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it’s always a lot of fun!
BELLATOR 233 QUICK RESULTS:
John Salter vs. Costello van Steenis — Salter UD 29-28 X3.
Muhammed Lawal vs. Andrew Kapel — Kapel KO 1:22 R1.
Leslie Smith vs. Arlene Blencowe — Blencowe UD 30-27 X3.
Tyrell Fortune vs. Azunna Anyanwu — Fortune TKO 1:56 R2.
Kyle Crutchmer vs. Robert Gidron — Crutchmer UD 30-27 X3.
Christian Edwards vs. Cesar Bennett — Edwards KO 0:16 R1.
Jordan Young vs. Julius Anglickas — Anglickas UD 30-27 X3.
Romero Cotton vs. Jason Perrotta — Cotton TKO (injury) 2:16 R1.
Janay Harding vs. Amanda Bell — Bell TKO 4:44 R3.
Aaron McKenzie vs. Sean Clements — unaired before Paramount.
Lucas Brennan vs. Jacob Landin — unaired before Paramount.
Grant Neal vs. Jimmy Lugo — Neal UD 30-26 X2, 29-28.
Tyree Fortune vs. Chuck Campbell — Fortune SD 29-28 X2, 28-29.
Logan Storley vs. E.J. Brooks — Storley TKO (injury) 5:00 R1.
BELLATOR 233 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
John Salter vs. Costello van Steenis
Salter is 16-4 in the red gloves and blue trunks for this main event, fighting out of Wilmington, North Carolina. Van Steenis comes in 12-1 in the blue gloves and black trunks, fighting out of Rotterdam, Netherlands. The referee in charge is Jason Herzog.
Round 1: Van Steenis teases flying across the cage but then stops and stands in the middle. Van Steenis lands a hard left and a head kick and comes forward but Salter hurts him with a short strike in return and takes him down at 1:03 with the outside leg trip. He hits left hands to the head and body as van Steenis tries to sit up on the fence. Two minutes gone. Van Steenis tries to posture up on his left hand to no avail. He takes a right to the chin and more lefts to the body. More right hands to the head as Salter gets one hook in and looks to take the back. Van Steenis explodes out and stands up at 3:14. Van Steenis widens his stance trying to avoid the takedown and has a front guillotine for a split second before he winds up back on his knees. Salter gets the first hook in again and looks for the back, throwing rights from behind. 10-9 Salter.
Round 2: Van Steenis goes for the head kick and flying knee early. He tries to take Salter down against the fence and that backfires with a reversal that puts Salter on top at 1:05. Salter jumps to the back at 1:28. Knees from behind. One hook in. He’s fishing for a rear naked choke right away. Left hands from behind. Second hook in. Left arm is getting close to being under the chin. He’s got it at 2:56 but loses it. He’s got it again at 3:14. Palm to palm. Van Steenis escapes. Salter considers a Suloev stretch, Van Steenis ends up on top and then forces Salter to stand back up at 4:08. Salter gets another takedown and has full mount with 15 seconds left. 10-9 Salter.
Round 3: Van Steenis lands a stiff overhand right and goes for a head kick. He throws a body kick just before the minute mark. Salter’s arms may be full of lactic acid from all the squeezing he did in R2. His stance is not upright and fully offensive. He clinches with van Steenis looking for the takedown. Van Steenis breaks away at 1:57 and goes for a flying knee. The body kick hurts Salter and he clinches again. Van Steenis winds up on top as Salter pulls guard. Salter starts working his way toward a triangle and van Steenis backs out and stands in front of Salter throwing kicks at his legs. Salter is stood up with two minutes left. Body kick from van Steenis. Right hand from Salter. Big jab from van Steenis. Salter gets the single leg takedown with 90 seconds to go. Salter’s blood is getting on van Steenis’ chest as he looks to pass to half and possibly side control. Van Steenis gets back up just before the bell. 10-9 van Steenis.
Final result: The judges score it 29-28 X3 for John Salter by unanimous decision.
Muhammed Lawal vs. Andrew Kapel
Lawal comes in 21-9 (1 NC) for what may be his last ever fight, taking place at a catchweight of 195 lbs. Andrew Kapel comes in 14-6 on a four fight winning streak for this bout. Kapel sports the black trunks and blue gloves tonight. The King comes out with his crown on but no entourage tonight as it’s all business. He sports the red gloves and Venum trunks. Kapel fights out of Denver, Colorado. Lawal fights out of Coconut Creek, Florida. The referee for the co-main event is Jerin Valel. Both men touch gloves during final instructions.
Round 1: Another glove tap opens the round. Front kick from Kapel. Leg kick. Mo goes to the body before taking another leg kick. Left jab for Kapel. Lawal touches him with the overhand right. Kapel kicks the leg. Lawal misses with the left hook then goes body head. Lawal catches a kick but gets rocked with a right hand and face plants a second time when trying to get back up. IT IS ALL OVER.
Final result: Andrew Kapel via first round knockout at 1:22.
Leslie Smith vs. Arlene Blencowe
Smith has the red gloves and black top for this fight with a record of 11-7-1 and fights out of Oakland, California. Blencowe wears the blue gloves, silver trunks and top with a record of 12-7 out of Sydney, Australia. The ref is Michael Bell.
Round 1: Glove tap opens the fight. Blencowe jabs and throws a leg kick. They briefly tie up at 35 seconds and break. Blencowe to the body after a Smith leg kick. Smith presses forward with a left kick to the body and overhand right. Leg kick for Blencowe. Multiple overhand rights for Smith as she pushes Blencowe into the cage and looks for a takedown. 2:30 gone. Bell calls for work. Knees from Smith. Bell warns the fighters to not grab the fence. Smith backs up and resets at 3:12. Two kicks from Blencowe. Smith pushes Blencowe to the fence at 3:49. More knees. Another call for work from Bell. Smith backs up at 4:25. They stand and trade at 4:47. Spinning elbow from Smith. 10-9 Smith.
Round 2: Blencowe attacks the left leg with more kicks. Each one sounds like wooden planks being dropped on each other – a SLAP and a SNAP. Smith keeps coming forward and Blencowe responds with a straight right jab again and again. Right to the body by Blencowe. Overhand right by Smith. Kick by Smith. Kick and a stiff right. Kick for Smith. Body kick. Right hand. Inside leg kick. The jab is continuing to land for Blencowe and is causing some swelling on Smith’s face. Combo and a kick from Smith. Straight right jab for Blencowe. One minute to go. Smith misses wildly with the overhand right but lands the left head kick. Left jab from Blencowe, then the right, another leg kick. Smith hears 30 seconds to go and comes forward with flurries. Body kick. 10-9 Blencowe.
Round 3: Both women are trading jabs this frame but it’s the left that Blencowe throws that is snapping Smith’s head back, while many of Smith’s shots are missing wide. They clinch up against the cage at 1:16. Blencowe nicely avoids a leg trip. Knees from Smith. Two minutes have expired as Bell calls for work. Smith backs up and throws a left. Blencowe with a combo. High kick from Blencowe. Right hook from Smith. Body kick. Smith wades in and lands a nice left before dropping levels. Blencowe has fended off every takedown so far and this one is no different. Bell calls for action and Smith steps back at 3:25. Combo for Blencowe. Head kick from Smith. Jabs traded both ways. Push kick from Blencowe. Looping right hand misses for Smith. Left high kick grazes Blencowe. They trade to the bell. You can argue a 10-9 either way which tells me it will be a split decision for whoever wins the fight. 10-9 Blencowe.
Final result: The judges score it 30-27 X3 for Arlene Blencowe by unanimous decision.
Tyrell Fortune vs. Azunna Anyanwu
Fortune is 7-0 in the red gloves and trunks out of Tempe, Arizona. Anyanwu is 15-5 in the blue gloves and black trunks with white trim out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The referee in charge of this fight is Kerry Hatley.
Round 1: The stocky Anyanwu takes the center and pushes forward as Fortune circles around him sizing him up. Nothing happens for the first minute as a result. Anyanwu finally throws a right hand at 1:23. He didn’t land it, but he threw it. McCarthy: “I know not a lot is happening here.” Do tell Big John, do tell. Fortune pushes out the left hand in a jab-like motion. He didn’t land it, but he pushed it. 2:30 gone and finally Fortune lands a counter right hand. Now Anyanwu is on the outside circling. He throws an overhand right. Fortune with the left jab. Combo by Fortune at 3:21. Anyanwu misses wide with a right. Fortune shaves the top of Anyanwu’s head with his own. Leg kick from Fortune. 10-9 Fortune.
Round 2: Tap of gloves to start. Anyanwu tries the looping right. They trade at 0:17. Fortune circles and jabs. Fortune dances in front of Anyanwu looking for his moment. Stiff right from Fortune at 1:35. Another hurts Anyanwu five seconds later. Fortune turns it on with a knee to the body, a kick to the body, another right hand, and the fight is waved off at 1:56. Hatley admonishes Fortune afterward for not stopping IMMEDIATELY when he stepped in.
Final result: Tyrell Fortune wins via technical knockout at 1:56 of the second round.
Kyle Crutchmer vs. Robert Gidron
Crutchmer is 4-0 in the red gloves and black trunks out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Gidron is 4-3 in the blue gloves and gray trunks out of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The ref is Michael Bell.
Round 1: Glove tap to start. Gidron throws the first kick. It’s worth noting Gidron took this fight on four days notice and was unable to make weight as a result. The collegiate wrestling stud Crutchmer (surprise surprise) shoots for a takedown. Gidron widens his stance trying to block it. Crutchmer’s coaches are yelling at him to “drag it out to the open mat” and to “lock your hands behind his butt” as we stall on the fence. He finally gets the takedown at 1:38. Gidron gets back up at 2:11 but he’s still on the cage. The same takedown as before works again at 3:02. Crutchmer stays on top of him and moves to half guard with 20 seconds left but that’s about it. 10-9 Crutchmer.
Round 2: Crutchmer lands a leg kick as Gidron chases him around the cage and rushes him into the fence, but Crutchmer looks to turn it into a takedown and does at 35 seconds, taking the back in the process. Gidron gets to his knees at 49 seconds and draws a warning to not grab the cage. Knees to the right thigh from Crutchmer. Gidron turns around to face Crutchmer but that makes it easier to take him down. He gets back up again at 1:34 after taking a bit of a pounding and gets another cage grab warning. Gidron blatantly grabbed the cage but got another warning where it should have actually been stopped for a one point deduction. He clearly stopped a takedown by doing so. Bell calls for action and resets them at 2:50. Crutchmer cracks Gidron with a spinning backfist and grabs a front headlock on the ground, then transitions to a full mount from it. Gidron gives up his back but is able to get back up at 4:20. 10-9 Crutchmer.
Round 3: Gidron opens R3 with a leg kick and Crutchmer shoots him into the cage. Gidron tries to throw heel kicks but is taken down at 52 seconds. He gets right back up. Crutchmer takes him down again at 1:15. Gidron gets up again. Bell calls for more work at 2:00 and at 2:20 as Crutchmer looks for a takedown. He gets it at 2:41. Gidron is back up at 3:35. Bell calls for action. He resets them at 3:56. Gidron misses with an overhand right. Crutchmer shoots again. Gidron nails him with a couple of elbows to the head. Crutchmer takes him down at 4:33 and Gidron is right back up. 10-9 Crutchmer.
Final result: Kyle Crutchmer via unanimous decision of 30-27 X3.
Christian Edwards vs. Cesar Bennett
Edwards is 1-0 in the red gloves, fighting out of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Bennett is 0-0 in the blue gloves, fighting out of National City, California. The ref is Jason Herzog.
Round 1: Glove tap to start. Edwards lands a flush left head kick 16 seconds into the round and there’s no follow up — the fight is OVER.
Final result: Christian Edwards via knockout 16 seconds into round one.
Jordan Young vs. Julius Anglickas
7-1, blue trunks and gloves for Anglickas out of St. Louis, Missouri. 11-0, red trunks and gloves for Young out of Coconut Creek, Florida. The referee is Jason Herzog.
Round 1: Young lands the leg kicks as Anglickas looks to back him up to the fence. He was born in Lithuania but moved to the U.S. at 14 years old. Clinch goes to the cage and Anglickas fires off the knee. Young turns him around, Anglickas turns him right back. Young moves free at 1:36. Anglickas pops him with a straight right. Young with a left hook. Anglickas grazes Young with a head kick. Left jab for Anglickas. Young with a left. Body kick just under the arm. Leg kick. Anglickas with a leg kick of his own. Left jab for Young. Straight right for Anglickas. Anglickas keeps walking Young down and popping the jab. Kick and jab combo from Anglickas. Right hook from Young. Leg kick Anglickas. Head kick attempt by Young. Leg kick Anglickas. Young’s kick is checked. Right jab Anglickas. 10-9 for Anglickas in the first.
Round 2: Anglickas continues to control the cage as Young fishes for overhand rights, but Anglickas is too close to him for them to connect. Young with a leg kick, Anglickas with a jab and a kick. Young slips throwing a kick and Anglickas lets him back up. Kick jab kick Anglickas. Leg kick Young. Jab jab right cross Anglickas. Jab jab jab. Straight left. Right hook. Left left, straight right. Anglickas continues to pour it on as three minutes are gone. None of these blows are wobbling Young but he’s snapping Young’s head back with some of the rights. Young misses badly with the overhand right. Every left jab lands for Anglickas . Young shoots, Anglickas sprawls and then walks away to force a stand up. Leg kick, jab, jab, ducking the right, Anglickas eats a leg kick then goes head body with rights. 10-9 Anglickas.
Round 3: Anglickas immediately has Young backing up. Left jab flush. Left hook. Right hook, Left jab. Leg kick. Jab. Jab. Leg kick. Right hand hurts Young and a body shot follows. 90 seconds gone. Leg kick. Jab jab right. Leg kick Young. Anglickas follows Young as he circles to his right. Right hand to the body. Multiple head shots as Young tries to cover up. Right hook Anglickas. Leg kick Anglickas. Right. Right. Left jab. Left hook. Right. Jab. Right. Jab, jab. Jab. Jab. Young has to just keep his hands up to defend and the jabs are getting through, plus the body shots WHILE his hands are up. Four minutes gone. Right hook. Left, right. Left, right right. Young is bleeding from the nose with short time to go. 10-8 Anglickas as Young had nothing but defense and even that didn’t work.
Final result: Julius Anglickas via unanimous decision of 30-27 X3.
Romero Cotton vs. Jason Perrotta
Cotton is 3-0 in the red gloves and white trunks out of San Jose, California. Perrotta is 3-3 in the blue gloves and black/red trunks out of Dallas, Texas. The referee is Kerry Hatley.
Round 1: Perrotta throws a front kick early. Cotton dances back and forth in front of him and circles to the left before shooting at 32 seconds. Perrotta breaks free of the takedown attempt at 0:46. Perrotta lands a leg kick and Cotton takes him down into full guard. Cotton backs out at 1:47 and then shoots immediately, putting Perrotta against the fence and throwing some right hands. Perrotta blows out his knee and the fight is waved off via verbal submission to the referee.
Final result: Romero Cotton wins via TKO (injury) at 2:16 of round one.
Janay Harding vs. Amanda Bell
Harding is 5-3 in the red gloves, solid black top and trunks out of Sydney, Australia. Bell is 6-6 in the blue gloves, black top and flag trunks out of Spokane, Washington. The referee in charge is Jerin Valel.
Round 1: Glove tap to start. Bell is coming forward with jabs and uppercuts. Harding is using her height and length to work at distance. Bell trips her to the ground at 58 seconds. Harding gets back up and they jockey against the fence. Harding backs away at 1:23 to reset. Harding lands a combo. Bell with a body kick. Harding with a combo of hands and kicks. Bell kicks the arm and throws a head kick. Combo by Harding. Leg kick by Bell. Clinch against the fence. Harding spins free at 2:44 and lands two right hands, eating a head kick and a left hook in return. Harding jabs with the left. Bell throws to the body. Upkick by Harding. Left flush by Bell. Valel calls time. Harding has a tear in her shorts so they had to replace it and Harding knocked Bell down with a head kick after the restart. She’s on top in guard throwing lefts and rights. Big right hands as Bell tries to get to the fence to get back up. Harding backs up at 4:48 and then jumps back on top, getting the back late. 10-9 Harding.
Round 2: Harding quickly goes for the left high kick again she knocked Bell down with in R1. Bell comes forward throwing wild shots and Harding doubles her to the ground then drags her down to keep her from getting back up. She gets up at 1:20 in the end but eats a few left hands doing so. Bell and Harding dance back and forth along the cage. Harding spins her around, ducks an elbow and gets another takedown. Bell sweeps on top firing off some nasty left elbows. Harding gets to her knees trying to get back up and finally stands at 3:10. They trade knees. Bell takes her down throwing heavy left hands and elbows. Full mount at 4:03. Bell goes knee on belly and then spins to the opposite side to do more damage as the ref warns Harding to defend herself. 10-9 Bell.
Round 3: Double glove tap starts R3. Bell comes forward with strikes and a body kick. Harding with the left jab but she eats the knee to the midsection. Right hook by Bell. Bell pushes her into the fence. Harding breaks free at 1:15 but eats a spinning elbow. Combo by Harding. Bell tries to walk through it and go for a throw but Harding gets a takedown to full mount and takes the back. Two minutes gone. Right hands from behind. Bell spins her way on top at 2:32. Left hands and elbows from Bell. North-South for Bell. Bell goes for full mount and has it at 3:16. Harding comes out the back door but Bell gets back on top in another full mount. Harding is warned to defend. Bell sits on her back with 40 seconds left and lands more elbows and rights and double hammers. It’s waved off with short time.
Final result: Amanda Bell wins by technical knockout at 4:44 of round three.
Aaron McKenzie vs. Sean Clements
Round 1: Unaired before Paramount.
Final result: To be determined.
Lucas Brennan vs. Jacob Landin
Round 1: Unaired before Paramount.
Final result: To be determined.
Grant Neal vs. Jimmy Lugo
Neal is 1-0 in the red gloves and white trunks fighting out of Denver, Colorado. Lugo is 1-0 in the blue gloves and black trunks, fighting out of Corpus Christi, Texas. Our referee for this fight is Jerin Valel.
Round 1: Lugo seems uninterested in a glove tap and tried to push Neal toward the outside, but Neal quickly closes the distance and puts him on the fence until Lugo shoves his way free at 0:33. Neal closes the distance again but Lugo puts him on the fence and throws a knee to the ribs. Neal breaks at 1:06. Leg kick for Neal. Lugo with a body kick. Two minutes gone. Neal misses with a couple of shots. Lugo lands a leg kick. Neal clinches up against the cage. They break, Neal hits an overhand right, Neal takes Lugo down and he pops right up. Neal throws a knee on the break and gets another takedown at 3:53, quickly moving to full mount. Valel shouts “Watch the fingers!” Neal tries to posture up but loses the mount and is in full guard. 10-9 Neal.
Round 2: Neal tags Lugo with a right hand almost immediately. Lugo tries to push Neal into the cage and drop levels. Valel yells at Lugo to get his fingers out of the cage and comes over to break his hand from it. Neal turns Lugo around as a result. Both men trade knees to the midsection as they momentarily break. They go back into the fence and Neal takes a low blow forcing Valel to call time. Valel tells the camera to turn away and turn off while Neal’s cup is adjusted, gives Lugo a stern warning to control his strikes, and restarts the bout with just over three minutes left in R2. Neal ducks down under Lugo’s strikes and bulls him into the fence. They spin free at 3:35 and Neal pops Lugo with a left. Lugo paws at the range with a left hand and a kick. Neal grabs Lugo from behind with his hands around the waist with short time and almost throws him to the ground. 10-9 Neal.
Round 3: Neal and Lugo trade strikes immediately. Neal lands a right hook and left jab that are both flush. He throws a solid right to the body at 0:31 and Lugo tried a Superman punch in response. Neal grabs a kick, throws an overhand right and takes Lugo to the ground in one fell swoop. He starts landing uncontested lefts to the head and goes for the mounted crucifix to make it even worse. Elbows, right hand hammerfists, and more pour down. Neal draws a “back of the head” warning. Lugo pushes off the fence with his feet and is able to get back up at 2:48. Neal keeps his hands locked around the waist and takes Lugo back down at 3:20. Right hands to the body. Two more warnings to “watch the fingers” for the fighters. Lugo gets back up at 4:41. One more throw at the bell. 10-9 Neal.
Final result: Grant Neal wins a unanimous decision of 30-26 X2, 29-28.
Tyree Fortune vs. Chuck Campbell
Fortune is 4-0 in the red gloves and black trunks out of Portland, Oregon. Campbell is 2-0 in the blue gloves and black trunks out of San Jose, California. The ref is Michael Bell.
Round 1: Glove tap to start. High kick by Campbell. Fortune follows Campbell around the cage with both hands up. Left jab by Campbell. Fortune throws a few wild shots and Campbell quickly backs away. Every time Fortune throws the left Campbell backpedals. 2:30 gone and neither man has landed a significant volume of strikes. Fortune’s kick strays toward the groin but Campbell says he’s good and indicates to continue. Right jab for Campbell. Leg kick for Fortune. Leg kick Campbell. Kick. Left jab and body kick for Campbell. Leg kick Fortune. Campbell returns the favor. Left hook for Fortune. Right jab for Campbell. High kick for Campbell is checked. 10-9 Campbell.
Round 2: Fortune comes forward with his left hand high, pawing with the right. Campbell with the leg kick. Leg kick. Kick from Fortune. Clinch at 1:37. Campbell lands a blow to the groin with the right knee, Fortune doubles over in pain, and Bell calls time. Campbell gets a warning and Bell is quickly ready to go again. Campbell immediately drives Tyree into the cage. Bell calls for work. He resets them at 3:10. Right hook by Campbell. Body kick from Fortune. Leg kick as well. Clinch and a knee for Campbell. Leg kick and 1-2 combo for Campbell. Leg kick Fortune. Campbell clinches and goes to the fence. 10-9 Campbell.
Round 3: Fortune comes forward looking to change his fortune in the third frame. Campbell avoids the big shots, patiently circles on the outside, and throws a leg kick. Fortune clinches up but Campbell gets the dominant position and puts him on the cage. The fight stalls there. Bell finally calls for work at the two minute mark. “Let’s go guys, action.” Fortune backs up at 2:27 and lets his hands go. Fortune keeps his high and covers up before they both reset. They end up in clinch on fence again with Bell looking for work at 3:32. They break, they clinch, Bell calls for work with 17 seconds left. He resets them just before the clapper and Bell shoots to get a takedown. 10-9 Campbell.
Final result: Tyree Fortune via split decision 29-28 X2, 28-29.
Logan Storley vs. E.J. Brooks
Brooks is 11-5 in the blue gloves out of Cahokia, Illinois. Storley is 10-0 in the red gloves out of Webster, South Dakota. Kerry Hatley is the ref for this 175 lb. catchweight fight.
Round 1: Glove tap to start. Body kick for Storley. Storley goes for a single leg and lands a right to the head while Brooks is off balance. Brooks pushes free at 42 seconds. Another body kick followed by a takedown. He works to take the back as Brooks tries and tries to defend. He gets up at 2:07 and Storley drags him right back down. Up, down. Storley had one hook in, let it go, got it, let it go. Lefts to the body from Storley. Half guard with a heavy right elbow on top for Storley. Right arms, right hands, one way traffic. 10-9 Storley.
Round 2: The fight is waved off due to Brooks injuring his right arm in round one.
Final result: Logan Storley wins via technical knockout (injury) at 5:00 of R1.