Filed under: Bellator
Bellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad beat his most accomplished opponent to date on Saturday night, defeating former UFC heavyweight contender Paul Buentello by unanimous decision. But the fight did nothing to change Konrad’s reputation as a dull fighter more interested in winning decisions than finishing fights.
The fans at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, booed loudly during much of the fight, which didn’t have a lot of action. Buentello, who declined to engage in the stand-up, deserves more of the blame for the lack of action than Konrad. But Konrad is Bellator’s heavyweight champion, and he’s the one who was hearing the boos afterward.
The judges cored the fight 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28, and there’s no question that Konrad deserved to win. But there are major questions about whether the fans will want to watch Konrad.
“I took a lot of criticism for just wrestling,” Konrad said after the fight, which was mostly a stand-up battle. “I wanted to come out and show against a great striker that I can stand up. I think I proved that to some people tonight.”
But Konrad, who improved his professional MMA record to 8-0, didn’t prove that he can be an exciting headliner for a major fight card. Konrad is an outstanding wrestler and a solid young MMA fighter, but Bellator has a problem on its hands when its heavyweight champion leaves the crowd booing.