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Bloody Elbow is the place to be for live results and full play-by-play of Bellator 244 from Mohegan Sun.
Join us tonight (August 21st) on Bloody Elbow for live results and detailed play-by-play as Bellator 244 goes down in the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in Uncasville, CT.
The headliner for the card is a light heavyweight championship bout between dual-champion Ryan Bader and the hard-hitting Vadim Nemkov. The co-main is Julia Budd against Jessica Miele in a women’s featherweight contest.
The prelims will be streamed live here on Bloody Elbow, starting at 7:15pm ET. The show will then move over to DAZN at 10pm ET for the main card. The event will also air on the Paramount network.
Join us and let us know what you think of tonight’s fights.
Main Card
Ryan Bader vs. Vadim Nemkov
Round 1
Nemkov tries to find a home for his jab, but it’s a combo from Bader that lands clean first. Bader swings wildly and misses. They begin trading kicks. Nemkov being more aggressive, pushing Bader back, but struggling to land anything cleanly. Nemkov pushes Bader back with a nice combination to the face. Bader quickly recovers and they’re back in the center. Nemkov misses on another combo, but he’s the clear aggressor. Left hook from Bader. Nemkov answers. Jab from Bader. Another answer from Nemkov. Single leg from Bader scores. Nemkov achieves guard and goes for Bader’s arm. He doesn’t get it, but his active guard is preventing Bader from doing any damage before letting Nemkov up. Nemkov lands a few jabs. Heavy right from Bader, but Nemkov unaffected. A couple of kicks from Nemkov partially blocked. Entertaining round. Nemkov 10-9
Round 2
Bader lands the first punch as he presses forward. Nemkov returns the pressure, lands a few punches. Bader returns the pressure and Nemkov counters. Bader gets hurt from a hard Nemkov shot. Nemkov looking to attack and unintentionally grazes Bader’s eye with his glove for a brief pause. They return to action and Nemkov is pressuring HEAVILY. He’s landing a lot of volume, pressing Bader back. A head kick from Nemkov FLOORS Bader. Nemkov swarms with punches. Bader fights back to his feet. Nemkov stays on him and Bader is again on the mat. The ref could stop this. Bader again fights to his feet despite Nemkov’s swarming punches. Bader staggering away and Nemkov sends him to the mat again with a single punch. The ref FINALLY calls for mercy and we have a NEW Bellator Light Heavyweight champion!
Vadim Nemkov defeated Ryan Bader via TKO (punches) at 3:03 of RD2
Julia Budd vs. Jessy Miele
Round 1
Miele opens as the aggressor, landing a punch-kick combo. A nice straight left from Miele. Budd continues to look to counter. Miele with a back-kick to Budd’s gut. Miele teasing a jab. Miele throws a power shot and Budd effectively counters. Another nice counter from Budd. Budd beginning to pressure. Miele begins pushing back with a jab, but Budd pushes her back with a powerful right hand. Miele losing confidence as Budd pushes forward again. Budd clinches up and begins landing knees as Miele is pushed against the fence. Dirty boxing from Budd. Budd pushes Miele to the mat and Budd lands in half guard. Doesn’t get much done before the bell rings. Budd 10-9
Round 2
Miele flashing the jab hoping to back up Budd, but one Budd counter has Budd back in the pressuring role. Miele keeps trying to establish her jab, but Budd keeps finding a home for her counter right. Miele finally finds a hard shot and follows with a couple more. Budd lands another hard right and they move back to the center of the cage. Body kick from Budd. Another kick from Budd. Another to kick to Miele’s body. Budd finding a tactic that’s working. Miele caught by Budd in the clinch and Budd lands some heavy knees into Miele’s gut. Budd presses her head into Miele’s and utilizes a body-lock takedown. Budd gets into half guard and lands some HEAVY elbows before the bell rings. Budd 10-9
Round 3
Miele launches a hopeless combo as she isn’t committing to her strikes anymore. Budd lands a hard counter. Miele comes back only for Budd to counter again. Budd pressures, clinches up, and gets a takedown, once again into half guard. Miele trying to keep Budd from posturing up. Budd landing short shots, eventually breaking Miele’s hold and looking for an arm-triangle choke. Budd working on getting her leg out of Miele’s guard, but Miele keeps it in there so Budd can’t get full leverage on the choke. Budd gets the mount, but losses it and is again in half guard. Budd applying massive pressure with her shoulder to Miele’s face. Miele achieves full guard. Budd peppering her with punches. Miele pushes up with her hips, kicks Budd off and gets to her feet. Nothing of significance before the bell rings. Budd 10-9 and Budd 30-27 overall
Julia Budd defeated Jessy Miele via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Roy Nelson vs. Valentin Moldavsky
Round 1
Nelson keeping his right hand cocked. Leading with a jab to push Moldavsky against the cage. Double leg attempt from Nelson, but Moldavsky reverses position and pushes Nelson against the cage. Lots of jockeying for position, some knees traded, but no major developments for about a minute. They start trading short punches, but the status quo remains Moldavsky pushing Nelson against the fence. Nelson finally pushes him off and Nelson tries leading with the jab again. Modlavsky is largely avoiding it and countering with punching combos. He unloads a lengthy one, again pushing Nelson against the fence. Nelson looking tired already and Moldavsky is able to unload punching combinations. Nelson finally swings back and they move to the center of the cage. Moldavsky counters a Nelson power shot that misses with more combinations. Nelson is looking old. Moldavsky 10-9
Round 2
Moldavsky easily avoids a heavy Nelson right hand. Nelson whiffs on an uppercut and Moldavsky lights him up with another combo. Nelson backs up and Moldavsky clinches him up and pushes Nelson against the cage. Nelson looks for a takedown and briefly reverses position, but Moldavsky soon has Nelson’s back against the fence. Moldavsky has his head low and Nelson threatens a guillotine that goes nowhere as Moldavsky easily removes his head. Dirty boxing from both, Moldavsky’s punches having more oomph to them. A couple of knees from Nelson and they’re back to trading the short punches. Nice uppercut from Moldavsky. Nelson makes an attempt at a single leg that is easily thwarted. A four-punch combo from Moldavsky as they break to end the round. Moldavsky 10-9
Round 3
Nelson loads up on a heavy right anyone could see coming from a mile away and Moldavsky easily avoids. Moldavsky dancing on the outside, picking his shots to land short and quick combinations. Nelson’s movement is incredibly labored. Moldavsky lands a low kick. More outside movement from Moldavsky. They clinch up again and Nelson is again with his back against the fence. Moldovsky landing more offense. Nelson swings out and around and is back to stalking the smaller Moldavsky. Moldavsky circling again, picking spots to land his combos. Nelson leaps at him to tie him up and they end up… well, you know where. Moldavsky lets Nelson off and Nelson throws a desperate overhand right that doesn’t stand a snowballs chance in hell at landing. Moldavsky ends the fight with another combo as the bell rings. Moldavsky 10-9 and Moldavsky 30-27 overall.
Valentin Moldovsky defeated Roy Nelson via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
John Salter vs. Andrew Kapel
Round 1
Feeling out process to start. Kapel throws the first real punch. Kapel launches a couple of kicks. Salter shoots for a takedown, finishing it when they hit the cage. Kapel does an excellent job of preventing Salter from advancing position. Kapel pushes Salter off and they’re back on their feet. More feeling out before Salter goes for single leg and gets another takedown. Small punches to Kapel’s body as Salter settles in Kapel’s guard. Salter advances to half guard. Salter looks for the kimura, but uses Kapel’s defense of it to get the mount. Kapel ties up Salter’s arms before rolling out and settling in Salter’s guard. Salter makes an attempt at a triangle choke. It isn’t going to stick, but works to regain top position for Salter. The round ends with Salter looking to advance to side control. Salter 10-9
Round 2
Once again, these guys not exchanging much on the feet. Salter again shoots for a takedown and gets it just over a minute in. Salter again looks to advance position and it isn’t long before he’s in the mount. Salter looks for an arm-triangle choke. Kapel fights out, but Salter still has the mount and is making Kapel work to defend. Small punches to the body from Salter. Salter goes back to working for the arm-triangle. Kapel answering the phone to defend as Salter goes back to body shots while maintaining the choke. Nothing from Kapel for the round, but Salter didn’t do a lot of damage, nor did his chokes come close to ending the fight. Salter 10-9
Round 3
Kapel comes out launching kicks to the head and body, but it’s all in vain as Salter gets another takedown into half guard. Kapel defends Salter from advancing for a while, but we end up right back where we spent most of the second round: Salter in the mount with the arm-triangle while landing light shots to the body. Kapel looking tired and Salter, recognizing this, starts making an earnest effort to put the squeeze on the choke. Kapel doesn’t have the energy to fight back and taps out. Nice win for Salter.
John Salter defeated Andrew Kapel via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 3:11 of RD3
Preliminary Card
Yaroslav Amosov defeated Mark Lemminger via TKO (doctor stoppage) at 5:00 of RD1
Sidney Outlaw defeated Adam Piccolotti via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Joshua Hill defeated Erik Perez via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Weber Almeida defeated Salim Mukhidinov via KO (punches) at 3:57 of RD1
John de Jesus defeated Vladyslav Parubchenko via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
Chris Gonzalez defeated Vladimir Tokov via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Lucas Brennan defeated Will Smith via TKO (punches) at 4:14 of RD2