Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images
Bellator 249: “Cyborg vs. Blencowe” is set to air tonight (Thurs., Oct. 15, 2020) from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Featherweight champion Cris Cyborg (22-2, 1 NC) makes her first title defense in the promotion against “Angerfist” Arlene Blencowe (13-7).
Bellator 249’s main card will air on CBS Sports Network at 10 p.m. ET. MMAmania.com will deliver results for the full card and comprehensive play-by-play for the televised portion of Bellator 249 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 249) about the bouts and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it’s always a lot of fun!
BELLATOR 249 QUICK RESULTS:
Cris Cyborg vs. Arlene Blencowe — Cyborg sub (RNC) 2:36 R2.
Ricky Bandejas vs. Leandro Higo — Higo sub (RNC) 2:32 R2.
Steve Mowry vs. Shawn Teed — Mowry TKO 4:22 R1.
Saad Awad vs. Mandel Nallo — NO CONTEST 1:41 R1.
Albert Gonzales vs. Kastriot Xhema — Gonzales TKO (retirement) 5:00 R2.
Christian Edwards vs. Hamza Salim — Edwards sub (RNC) 1:28 R2.
Kyle Crutchmer vs. Kemran Lachinov — Lachinov UD 29-28 X3.
Andrew Kapel vs. Joseph Creer — Kapel TKO (doctor) 5:00 R2.
Mike Kimbel vs. Da’mon Blackshear — Blackshear sub (RNC) 4:14 R2.
Aviv Gozali vs. Logan Neal — Gozali sub (kimura) 3:22 R1.
BELLATOR 249 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
Cris Cyborg vs. Arlene Blencowe
Cyborg is 22-2, 1 NC tonight, sporting the red gloves, pink trunks, and pink top. Her opponent Blencowe is 13-7, wearing the blue gloves, black trunks and black “Angerfist” top. Cyborg weighs 145 even, Blencowe 144.5. Cyborg is 35, Blencowe 37. Cyborg has a 69” reach, Blencowe 64.5”. Blencowe stands 5’6” and fights out of Sydney, Australia. Cyborg stands 5’8” and fights out of San Diego, CA by way of Curitiba, Brazil. The referee for our main event is Kevin MacDonald.
Round 1: Blencowe charges forward after the opening bell. Cyborg lets her come forward and answers with leg kicks. Cyborg eventually makes her back up and go the other direction. She lands a couple of overhand rights and puts Blencowe against the fence. Elbows and right hands find a home as they stay tied up. Cyborg sweeps her leg and gets Blencowe to the ground at 2:02. She’s in side control and she’s IN control. More elbows. She passes to full mount and Blencowe is in a deep deep hole right now. She gives up her back as Cyborg pours it on. Cyborg is jacking her up with shots through the armpit to the chin. Blencowe gets to her feet with 30 seconds left. Cyborg finishes strong with strikes for an overwhelming 10-8 R1.
Round 2: Blencowe is again trying to pressure early. Cyborg responds with lefts and rights and Blencowe is hurt. She’s against the fence getting her face mashed in. Cyborg takes her down at 1:14. Blencowe’s face is a bloody mess. Cyborg gets full mount at 1:46. Heavy lefts and rights on top. Kevin MacDonald is taking a close look. He’s ready to stop this. Cyborg pauses for a second to catch her breath and then smashes Blencowe with an elbow that makes her give up her back. Cyborg gets the rear naked choke and it’s over at 2:36 at the end of round two for her FIRST ever submission. She climbs the cage to celebrate!
Final result: Cris Cyborg wins by submission (rear naked choke) at 2:36 of round two.
Ricky Bandejas vs. Leandro Higo
Higo is out first in the black trunks and blue gloves, 19-5, and he came in three pounds over at 139 for this fight. Bandejas made the official one pound allowance and weighed in 136. He sports the red trunks and gloves and walks out to “Ready or Not” by The Fugees. His pro record to date is 13-4. Higo fights out of Natal, Brazil. Bandejas fights out of Coconut Creek, Florida. The referee in charge is Kevin MacDonald.
Round 1: A quick tap gets the action underway. Bandejas throws out a kick and Higo steps away. Bandejas circles his hands and lets another kick go. Both men are cautiously feeling out the range between them. Bandejas finally lands a kick a minute in. They exchange leg kicks. Higo crowds him toward the fence. Higo drops for a double at 1:57 and has Bandejas on his butt. He’s crushing Bandejas into the cage while looking for a way to pass. Bandejas tries to backward roll to get out of danger but Higo is on top of him throwing rights. Higo grapevines the leg and moves up to full mount at 4:04. He goes for the neck but lets it go. Bandejas tries to push off the fence with his feet but can’t do it. Higo tries to get a late submission but Bandejas makes it to the bell. 10-9 Higo.
Round 2: Bandejas opens round two with leg kicks. Higo continues to crowd Bandejas toward the fence. Bandejas connects with a right hand and a left jab. Higo shoots in and picks up Bandejas to carry him around the cage like a trophy before finally slamming him down. He takes the back and looks to get the hooks in. At 2:12 he has the butterfly and is in full control. He’s fishing for the neck and gets it at 2:32 for the submission.
Final result: Leandro Higo via submission (rear naked) at 2:32 of round two.
Steve Mowry vs. Shawn Teed
Shawn Teed (6-2-1) is out first in the black trunks and blue gloves to the strains of M.O.P.’s “Ante Up.” BROWNSVILLE! HOME OF THE BRAVE. Steve Mowry (7-0) enters with the blue trunks and red gloves to the strains of P.O.D.’s “Alive.” Both men are 28 years old. Mowry is 6’8” with a 79” reach, Teed is 6’5” with a 77” reach. Teed fights out of Toms River, NJ. Mowry fights out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The referee is Kerry Hatley.
Round 1: Tap of gloves between the big boys to start. Mowry tries to crowd Teed early. He keeps backing him up toward the fence and Teed tries to jab and shift off to the left. Mowry stays with him and unloads with a knee. The left and right hooks are also connecting. Teed tries to charge in and clinch to no avail. 90 seconds gone. Mowry stalks his opponent and unloads with another knee. Teed eats a left hook as he tries to charge in again. Teed lands a couple of left jabs. Mowry kicks the legs. Mowry clinches and lands a knee up the middle. Teed is pressed into the fence. He circles off at 3:06. Jab from Mowry. Right hand. Jab right repeat. Leg kick. Mowry is dominating the offensive output of this round. Teed misses wildly with a right hook and eats one in return. A crushing knee up the middle drops Teed and Hatley waves off the fight seconds later.
Final result: Steve Mowry wins by technical knockout at 4:22 in the first round.
Saad Awad vs. Mandel Nallo
Awad is 37 years old, 23-13, sporting gray trunks and red gloves, fighting out of San Bernardino, California. Nallo is 7-1 and 31 years old, sporting the black trunks and blue gloves, fighting out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Our referee is Kerry Hatley.
Round 1: Four seconds in they tap gloves. Nallo immediately kicks Awad in the knee. He keeps attacking the same leg and shaves Awad’s head with a kick. Nallo drops him for a split second at 0:59 — Awad is immediately back up and driven into the fence. Nallo gets him to the ground for a second at 1:31 and again Awad is right back up. Awad crumples from a left knee to the groin and Hatley calls time. Awad is taking so long to recover that CBS Sports Network went to a commercial break, and he’s still doubled over in pain on his knees coughing up a lung when we come back. Awad tries and fails to get back to his feet and Hatley waves off the bout.
Final result: NO CONTEST due to accidental groin strike at 1:41 of round one.