Johnny Eblen pulled off one of the biggest upsets in recent MMA memory last night (Fri., June 24, 2022) at Bellator 282 live on Showtime from inside Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., when the undefeated fighter shutout reigning Bellator MMA middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi with a main event unanimous decision win. As a result, Eblen is now Bellator’s undisputed 185-pound king.
Despite coming into this main event a massive betting favorite and having successfully defended his middleweight strap two-straight times Mousasi never really got going. Eblen was able to drop him early into the first round and then commanded the action from there on out. Eblen utilized a strong wrestling attack, non-stop motor, and powerful right hands to keep the champ at bay. Whenever Mousasi got going Eblen switched up levels and put him on his butt.
In the end, Eblen captured all five rounds on each scorecard. It was an absolute one-sided victory for the challenger from American Top Team and one of the more disappointing performances in the career of Mousasi.
Check out the full fight video highlights below:
Can Johnny Eblen shock the world?
He takes on Gegard Mousasi for the middleweight title NEXT on @Showtime #Bellator282 | @BellatorMMA pic.twitter.com/vO4NC5ZXH6
— SHOWTIME SPORTS (@SHOsports) June 25, 2022
Can Gegard Mousasi defend the castle?
Mousasi vs. Eblen for the middleweight championship NOW on @Showtime #Bellator282 | @BellatorMMA pic.twitter.com/vQgqs4QkSZ
— SHOWTIME SPORTS (@SHOsports) June 25, 2022
.@JohnnyEblen drops the champ! #Bellator282
We are live on @SHOsports. pic.twitter.com/VKrXi7abHr
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) June 25, 2022
Johnny Eblen is FEELING himself after the opening round #Bellator282 | @BellatorMMA pic.twitter.com/cs2iC8fErM
— SHOWTIME SPORTS (@SHOsports) June 25, 2022
@JohnnyEblen lands clean on @Mousasi_MMA in round 2.#Bellator282 live NOW on @SHOsports
https://t.co/Zg0a3DUrFs pic.twitter.com/96E6wniBlb— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) June 25, 2022
@JohnnyEblen just won’t let up on @Mousasi_MMA.#Bellator282 live NOW on @SHOsports
https://t.co/Zg0a3DUrFs pic.twitter.com/WwghHMKv0o— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) June 25, 2022
WHAT A PERFORMANCE!
Johnny Eblen snatches the middleweight title away from Gegard Mousasi in a stellar upset #Bellator282 | @BellatorMMA pic.twitter.com/xF3tfJO14p
— SHOWTIME SPORTS (@SHOsports) June 25, 2022
@JohnnyEblen: I almost didn’t believe in myself#Bellator282 live NOW on @SHOsports
https://t.co/Zg0a3DUrFs pic.twitter.com/FODORIGIg5— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) June 25, 2022
Eblen, 30, is now 12-0 in his professional MMA career and 8-0 inside of the Bellator MMA cage. The young middleweight champion was never really in trouble against one of the best finishers the sport has to offer and looked more than comfortable fighting for five hard rounds. It makes sense to run things back with a rematch with Mousasi, but it’s unknown at this time what Scott Coker and company plan on doing.
For complete Bellator 282 results and coverage click here.