Bellator MMA
Bellator 243: “Chandler vs. Henderson 2” is set to air tonight (Fri., Aug. 7, 2020) from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. In a rematch that has been LONG anticipated, Michael Chandler (20-5) and Benson Henderson (28-8) will look to settle a war that started with a split decision title defense in 2016. This time with no title on the line they’ll have three rounds to get it on.
Bellator 243’s main card will start at 10 p.m. ET on Paramount and DAZN (watch it here) with “Prelims” undercard bouts via YouTube at 7:15 p.m. ET. MMAmania.com will deliver results for the full card and comprehensive play-by-play for the televised portion of Bellator 243’s 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 243) about the bouts and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it’s always a lot of fun!
BELLATOR 243 QUICK RESULTS:
Michael Chandler vs. Benson Henderson — Chandler KO 2:09 R1.
Matt Mitrione vs. Timothy Johnson — Johnson TKO 3:14 R1.
Myles Jury vs. Georgi Karakhanyan — Jury SD 27-30, 30-27, 29-28.
Curtis Millender vs. Sabah Homasi — Homasi UD 29-28 X3.
Adam Borics vs. Mike Hamel — Borics SD 29-28 X2, 28-29.
AJ Agazarm vs. Cris Lencioni — Lencioni UD 30-26, 30-27, 29-28.
Nainoa Dung vs. Charlie Campbell — Campbell TKO 1:42 R2.
Dalton Rosta vs. Mark Gardner — Rosta TKO (doctor) 5:00 R1.
Grant Neal vs. Hamza Salim — Neal UD 30-26, 30-27, 30-24.
Valerie Loureda vs. Tara Graff — Loureda KO 5:00 R2.
BELLATOR 243 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
Michael Chandler vs. Benson Henderson
Black/white trunks with blue gloves for Henderson. 28-8. Silver/green trunks red gloves for Chandler, 20-5. Henderson fights out of Phoenix, Arizona. Chandler fights out of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Our referee for tonight’s main event is Dan Miragliotta.
Round 1: Quick glove tap. Chandler catches the first kick that Henderson throws. Henderson knocks him off balance with another. Big left hand followed by a body kick from Henderson. Chandler gets the right arm up to check a head kick. Chandler tries to swing his way into range. Henderson pops him with a one-two. Chandler catches a kick and wings a wild over hand right that misses. Two minutes gone. One-two for Chandler. He drops Henderson with a left hand and IT IS ALL OVER at 2:09. Chandler grazed his head with a right hand as Henderson dropped to his knees, but he was already going out at that point and Miragliotta’s stoppage was on point.
Final result: Michael Chandler wins by knockout at 2:09 of round one.
Matt Mitrione vs. Timothy Johnson
Mitrione is 13-7 and Johnson is 13-6. Johnson sports the white trunks and blue gloves for this fight. Mitrione has the red trunks and gloves on. I hope he remembered his mouthpiece too. Johnson fights out of Las Vegas, Nevada. Mitrione fights out of West Lafayette, Indiana. Our referee for the co-main event is Mike Beltran.
Round 1: Johnson seemed prepared for a glove tap but Mitrione didn’t oblige, so he shrugged it off. They spend the first 25 seconds circling until Johnson knocks him down and McCarthy believes it was a headbutt that did it. Either way he’s quickly got side control and is moving up toward the head. Replay shows that a head did indeed come up under Mitrione’s chin unintentionally. Mitrione can’t shake Johnson off and he’s eating knees to the body as the position wears on. Johnson pours on heavy left hands and takes Mitrione’s back to continue to unload with big rights. Mitrione gets to his knees but he can’t get out of danger and Beltran waves it off at 3:14.
Final result: Tim Johnson wins by technical knockout at 3:14 of round one.
Myles Jury vs. Georgi Karakhanyan
Karakhanyan sports the silver trunks and blue gloves with a pro record of 29-10-1, 1 NC. Jury has the black trunks and red gloves, 18-5 overall. Karakhanyan fights out of Riverside, California. Jury fights out of San Diego, California. Our referee in charge is Mike Beltran.
Round 1: Tap of gloves to start. Both men are feeling out the range early. Karakhanyan pushes forward landing kicks to Jury’s lead left leg. Jury responds with a body kick and a right cross. Karakhanyan is mirroring Homasi in his desire to land an overhand right. Jury connects with the left jab and a right hook. Karakhanyan pushes forward for a leg kick and Jury responds in kind. Two minutes gone. Karakhanyan shoots and puts Jury against the cage. He fires knees as Jury widens his stance. They break clean at 3:13. Karakhanyan throws the overhand right and shoots again. Jury turns him around for some shoulder shrugs. Jury has opened up a trickle of blood on Karakhanyan’s face. They break and Jury clinches to throw a knee. Karakhanyan with the overhand right and an uppercut. He has Jury against the fence at the bell. 10-9 Karakhanyan.
Round 2: Karakhanyan is providing the forward pressure and continues to find a home for the overhand right. Jury answers again with the left jab and the teep kicks to the body. Karakhanyan gets Jury against the fence but he breaks away at 2:18 and lands another teep kick. Karakhanyan with the overhand right and leg kick. Jury with the left jab. Karakhanyan with the body kick. Jury with a knee to the body and more teep kicks. Karakhanyan nearly gets the single leg but instead lands the overhand right as Jury scrambles away. Karakhanyan gets a takedown at 3:18. Jury is back up seven seconds later. Karakhanyan stays around the waist from behind. Jury reverses the position at 3:40. Short right hands and elbows from Jury against the cage. Karakhanyan turns him back around and drops levels. He backs up and lets his hands go before getting another takedown at 4:25, even with Jury blatantly grabbing the fence. Jury gets back up and Georgi stays around the waist looking for another takedown. 10-9 Karakhanyan.
Round 3: Commentary has it one round apiece. Perhaps the second round can be argued for the shots that Jury landed at close quarters. Karakhanyan is staring at the ref looking for a stoppage, possibly for an eye poke, but he didn’t see it and he isn’t giving it to him. Jury presses Karakhanyan into the fence. He reverses and drops levels at 1:40. Jury spreads his legs very wide to block it and Karakhanyan still gets it at 1:59, although Jury gets right back up. Suddenly it looks more like a bar fight with both men just standing and drunkenly throwing shots at each other, then Karakhanyan jumps guard for a guillotine choke and can’t finish it, letting Jury on top with 2:09 left in the fight. Karakhanyan goes for a triangle and Jury sees it coming. Jury goes for the back. He’s got one hook in but winds up back in the full guard instead looking to posture up. Elbows are connecting. Right hands to the body. Jury is pouring out the gas tank. Karakhanyan springs back up at 4:47. 10-9 Jury. Did he win one of the other rounds as well?
Final result: 30-27 Karakhanyan, 30-27 Jury and 29-28 Jury by split decision.
Curtis Millender vs. Sabah Homasi
Tonight’s bout is contracted at 175 lbs. White trunks and blue gloves for Millender, 18-5. Red trunks and red gloves for Homasi, 13-8. Millender fights out of Fullerton by way of San Bernardino, California. Homasi fights out of Coconut Creek, Florida. Our referee in charge of the fight is Dan Miragliotta.
Round 1: No glove touch to open the bout. In fact Homasi ran up and got in Millender’s face before the bout could officially get underway. Homasi is loading up the right hand trying to connect with a single hard shot. Millender has him circling on the outside. 90 seconds gone. Homasi finally gets a right over the top at 1:45. Both men trade leg kicks. Homasi fires the left and misses with a spinning shot. Millender blocks a high kick. Homasi shoots and gets a takedown to full guard with two minutes left. Millender has Homasi’s right arm trapped and he’s attacking Homasi with his heels. Homasi finally breaks the arm free with 20 seconds left but Millender traps the head and keeps it chest to chest. 10-9 Homasi.
Round 2: Homasi lands the right hand at 22 seconds. He throws the left high kick twice. They trade power shots and Homasi pushes Millender into the fence. As Millender pushes back Homasi looks for a leg trip. They go to the cage again and Homasi drops levels, getting the takedown at 1:18. All Millender can do is hold on and try to avoid major damage. Homasi keeps trying to peel him away and posture up from half guard. Millender tries to push off the fence with his feet to buck Homasi to no avail. Millender gets him back to full guard at 3:20. Homasi moves to take the back at 3:42. Millender counters and gets on top looking for a d’arce but Homasi rolls free and gets another takedown at 4:35. 10-9 Homasi.
Round 3: Millender drives Homasi into the fence but Homasi spins free at 44 seconds. Millender touches him with the left jab. Homasi swings the big overhand right. Millender gives chase and punishes him with jabs. He lands the right hand and charges in. Homasi takes him down but Millender goes for a guillotine. He can’t hang onto it though and Homasi drives him to the mat, once again in half guard. 2:30 remains. Shoulder strikes by Homasi. Millender muscles him off at 2:35. He comes forward throwing jabs and uppercuts at Homasi. Homasi clinches and trips Millender to the ground at 3:13. Millender tries to buck Homasi and he takes the back. Both hooks in at 3:59. Homasi goes for an armbar with 22 seconds left and lets Millender on top, but he can’t land enough damage to get the stoppage. 10-9 Millender.
Final result: Sabah Homasi wins a 29-28 X3 unanimous decision.