Bellator 199: “Bader vs. King Mo” takes place TONIGHT (May 12, 2018) at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., featuring yet another Heavyweight Grand Prix main event. In tonight’s bracket, Light Heavyweight champion Ryan “Darth” Bader (24-5) will meet former Strikeforce champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (21-6, 1 NC). Tonight’s card also features the Bellator debut of former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight star Jon Fitch (30-7-1, 1 NC) taking on the extremely heavy handed Paul “Semtex” Daley (40-15-2) as both men look to nudge their way into contention to fight Rory MacDonald. Aaron Pico (2-1) has also been scheduled for his fourth fight against the much more experienced Lee Morrison (19-8).
Bellator 199’s main card will start at 9 p.m. ET on Paramount Network. MMAmania.com will deliver results and play-by-play for the entirety of the Bellator MMA card, which begins at 7 p.m. ET with the “Prelims” undercard action online.
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 199) about the bouts and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it’s always a lot of fun!
BELLATOR 199 QUICK RESULTS:
Ryan Bader vs. Muhammed Lawal —
Jon Fitch vs. Paul Daley — in progress.
Cheick Kongo vs. Javy Ayala — Kongo KO 2:29 R1.
Carrington Banks vs. Adam Piccolotti — Piccolotti sub (RNC) 4:41 R3.
Aaron Pico vs. Lee Morrison — Pico TKO 1:10 R1.
Janay Harding vs. Amber Leibrock — Leibrock UD 30-27, 30-26 X2.
James Terry vs. Danasabe Mohammed — Terry UD 30-26 X3.
Brandon Hester vs. Jordan Williams — Williams TKO 1:11 R2.
Mark Climaco vs. Daniel Oseguera — unaired before Paramount.
Elias Anderson vs. Hyder Amil — unaired before Paramount.
Josh San Diego vs. Nohelin Hernandez — unaired before Paramount.
Dominic Sumner vs. Tom Oswald — unaired before Paramount.
Khai Wu vs. Cass Bell — unaired before Paramount.
Josh Paiva vs. Adam Antolin — unaired before Paramount.
Justin Tenedora vs. David Rivera-Cruz — Tenedora sub (triangle) 4:27 R1.
Ignacio Ortiz vs. Matt Aragoni — unaired before Paramount.
Ahmed White vs. Deron Winn — Winn KO 2:32 R1.
J.J. Okanovich vs. Hugo Lujan — unaired before Paramount.
Gaston Bolanos vs. Malcolm Hill — Bolanos TKO (injury) 2:54 R1.
BELLATOR 199 PLAY-BY-PLAY UPDATES:
Ryan Bader vs. Muhammed Lawal
Bader enters this fight 24-5 as the reigning 205 lb. champion of Bellator, looking to run the table in the Heavyweight Grand Prix and earn a second belt. Lawal comes in 21-6 (1) looking to win another tournament after already running the Rizin Heavyweight Grand Prix in 2015.
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Final result:
Jon Fitch vs. Paul Daley
Fitch comes in tonight 30-7-1 (1 NC) on a four fight win streak as the former champion of whatever “Sugar” Ray Sefo calls his organization these days. Daley comes in 40-15-2 with 30 career knockouts in his 40 MMA wins. Will “Semtex” unload with his dynamite or will he get “Fitch’d” to the ground? We’re about to find out. Fitch has the black trunks and blue gloves. Daley has red trunks and gloves.
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Final result:
Cheick Kongo vs. Javy Ayala
Ayala has on the blue gloves and black/red trunks for this Heavyweight tilt. Kongo sports solid black trunks and red gloves. Kongo is 27-10-2 and Ayala is 10-6. Ayala fights out of Porterville, CA and Kongo fights out of Paris, France. Our referee in charge is Josh Rosenthal.
Round 1: Tap of gloves to start. Ayala wades in and forces Kongo to backpedal and clinch up. They break at 28 seconds. Ayala shoots and ends up clinched with Kongo again. Knees to the body from Kongo as he pushes Ayala away. Ayala throws knees to the legs as he pushes Kongo back into the fence. Ayala is looking for a takedown but it’s not there as Kongo widens his stance. He turns Ayala around and they break and move back to the center at 2:18. Kongo unloads a kick and DROPS Ayala with a right hand. This one is OVER.
Final result: Cheick Kongo wins via knockout at 2:29 in the first round.
Carrington Banks vs. Adam Piccolotti
9-2, red gloves, red trunks for Piccolotti fighting out of Half Moon Bay, California. 7-0, blue gloves, gray trunks for Banks fighting out of Arvada, Colorado. Our referee is Frank Trigg.
Round 1: Piccolotti pushes forward to start. Banks circles and connects with a leg kick then drops levels for a single leg takedown attempt. Piccolotti widens his stance and Banks throws a knee then goes back to the single then tries a double. Trigg gives a warning for grabbing the cage as Banks finally gets him down but Piccolotti pops back up. Banks trips him to the ground again. Piccolotti is back up again at 1:53. Left hands to the head by Banks as he pushes Piccolotti into the cage and gets the takedown at 2:40, and Piccolotti is up immediately. Trigg resets them back to the center and Piccolotti throws an immediate kick. Banks stings Piccolotti with a right hook. Banks hurts him again at 3:44 and now Piccolotti drops levels for a takedown and quickly gets a full mount. Piccolotti takes the back twice as they scramble and goes for the arm but Banks escapes and is on top in control as R1 ends. 10-9 Banks.
Round 2: Banks is swinging wildly with his right hand as Piccolotti comes forward. Piccolotti drops levels and Banks stuffs it. Piccolotti shoots again and throws knees against the fence. He gets the takedown and jumps on the back of Banks quickly, getting both hooks in with a lot of time left. Piccolotti flattens him out and goes under the neck but Banks wriggles his head free. He goes for a neck crank and squeezes hard but Banks pushes his arm away. Piccolotti cinches up a tight body triangle and looks to throw strikes from behind. Unchecked right hands land and then Piccolotti tries again and fails to get the neck, so he goes back to ground and pound. Banks is covering up and trying to survive. Lefts and rights smack the head with under a minute left and Trigg is warning him to fight back. 10-8 round for Piccolotti.
Round 3: Piccolotti’s takedown attempt is fought off at 42 seconds of this round. Banks is once again trying to land the right hand but he’s coming up short. Banks charges for a double and gets Piccolotti on his back in the open guard. Piccolotti scrambles escapes takes the back and has the body triangle again he had last round, once again looking to crank on Banks’ head. Piccolotti adjusts his position and pounds away at the ribs and chin with his left hand. Banks keeps trying to roll but Piccolotti moves whichever way his foe does and refuses to give up control. Piccolotti gets the rear naked choke tap with under 20 seconds left to hand Banks his first loss!
Final result: Adam Piccolotti via submission (rear naked choke) 4:41 of the third round.
Aaron Pico vs. Lee Morrison
Morrison is out first in the black/blue trunks and blue gloves, and even though he is the more experienced fighter at 19-8 tonight his entrance song is “Cinderella Man.” Pico is 2-1 in the white trunks and red gloves, entering to “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang.” Pico is 21, Morrison 32. Pico’s reach is 70.5”, Morrison’s is 64.5”. Morrison fights out of Okinawa, Washington. Pico fights out of Whittier, California. Our referee in charge is Blake Grice.
Round 1: No glove tap as Pico rushes to the center and both men throw down. Morrison keeps diving for the legs and then gets clocked by a big right hand at 41 seconds. Pico lets him stand back up so he can throw some more heavy leather. He throws a spinning back kick and then makes Morrison roll backward with a hard shot to the body. He’s so stunned and woozy that Pico barely needs to follow up before Grice steps in and waves off the fight.
Final result: Aaron Pico wins via first round technical knockout at 1:10.
Janay Harding vs. Amber Leibrock
Leibrock is 2-1 in the red gloves, gray top and red trim trunks, fighting out of Hayward, CA. Harding is 3-3 in the blue gloves, black trunks and black top, fighting out of Sydney, Australia. Our referee is Black Grice.
Round 1: Both fighters rush to the center but don’t stay there for long as they clinch up and head to the fence, where Leibrock unloads on Harding with multiple knees. They keep turning around and around and Leibrock keeps hitting hard knees to the body. Harding opens up with her hands and resets as Leibrock responds in kind. Leibrock wings several right hands and a left jab. Harding throws a left kick high. Leibrock backs up Harding with a hard left. The left hook lands again and Leibrock keeps pushing toward her foe. Harding presses Leibrock into the fence and they trade knees. Leibrock snaps her head back with a right hand. Harding and Leibrock trade shots and Harding stumbles to a knee but gets back up. Leibrock tests her chin with 10 seconds left. 10-9 Leibrock in a rock ‘em sock ‘em round.
Round 2: Both women are quick to exchange to open R2. Leibrock is throwing leg and liver kicks along with her fists. Harding tries to back her up to the fence but eats a shot so hard it makes her back up. Harding comes forward throwing kicks and trying to come over the top with right elbows. Leibrock clinches up. Fighters are warned to keep their fingers out of the cage. Another big liver kick from Leibrock. Harding responds with a right and some leg kicks. Harding is now landing a furious series of right hands and elbows and forcing Leibrock to change levels and clinch. Head kicks by Leibrock when they break. Right hand from Leibrock. Front kick by Leibrock. Two head kicks from Leibrock are checked. 10-9 Harding.
Round 3: Furious fisticuffs open the final frame. Leibrock continues to throw out the kicks including an axe kick. Leibrock’s shots continue to cause swelling around Harding’s left eye. Liver kick for Leibrock. Harding is knocked down and quickly pops back up. The announcers debate whether Harding was off balance on one leg or genuinely got rocked. Right hook and left hand by Leibrock. Head kick by Leibrock. Right head kick Leibrock. Harding tries a reverse spin kick. Big right hook by Leibrock. Harding is getting in occasional strikes, prompting a warning to watch the fingers, but she’s being out struck 4 or 5-to-1 in this round. The crowd cheers them both on as Leibrock grabs a thai plum for another knee. Head kick lands clean for Leibrock in the closing seconds before they hug. 10-9 for Leibrock and for the win.
Final result: The judges score it 30-27, 30-26 X2 all for Amber Leibrock.
James Terry vs. Danasabe Mohammed
Terry is 19-9 out of San Jose, CA in the red gloves and black trunks, Mohammed is 5-1 in the blue gloves out of Napa, CA and trunks with red trim. Mike Beltran is our referee.
Round 1: No glove tap to start. Mohammed just comes right forward with his right hand. Terry responds with a takedown at 18 seconds. He nearly passes to side control at 45 seconds but Mohammed blocks it effectively and keeps Terry’s right leg trapped in half guard. Terry keeps on scooting and trying to bust free but Mohammed still has the foot trapped. He finally gets through at 2:35 to the side. Terry could either be going for a submission or looking to put a knee on belly and get a full mount. Mohammed just spins around in a circle with Terry on top. Terry lets Mohammed stand right before the bell to unload a few hands. 10-9 Terry.
Round 2: Terry rushes in for a left high kick, drops levels for a takedown, and has it at eight seconds. Terry is able to get side control at 1:12. Once again everybody is moving in a circle on the ground. Mauro Ranallo even jokes that you might think this is round one if your stream was buffering. Terry gets the mounted crucifix and Mohammed is in big trouble as he’s eating unchecked left hands. Mohammed is being warned to fight back. Elbows are landing as well as hands. Blowout 10-8 round for Terry.
Round 3: Both men tap gloves as we go to a third and final frame. Terry throws the left high kick and chases Mohammed around the cage. Mohammed has his right hand cocked and left around his waist. Terry with a kick to the left leg. Mohammed lands a jab. Terry shoots for the single leg and gets it at 1:18 and gets quick side control to land some shoulder strikes. Knees to the body make Ranallo reference Kevin Randleman. McCarthy is criticizing Terry for not trying harder to get the finish by putting knee on belly or going for a North-South choke. The San Jose crowd seems to be a little impatient too. Terry is pushed back to full guard. Mohammed had one chance for a triangle and couldn’t cinch it up, and Terry rides out side triangle for what should be a unanimous decision.
Final result: The judges score it 30-26 X3 all for James Terry.
Brandon Hester vs. Jordan Williams
Hester is 4-0 in the red gloves and white trunks, fighting out of San Jose, CA. Williams is 6-2 in the blue gloves and trunks, fighting out of Santa Rosa, CA. Our referee is Jason Herzog.
Round 1: No glove tap. Williams wrestles Hester to the ground 18 seconds into the round and Hester is able to spring back to his feet at 35. Both men fight for underhooks against the fence. Herzog looks in to make sure both men are staying active. Williams takes him back down and his corner screams for elbows. He gets full mount and momentarily has the back before Hester escapes again. Hester drops levels at 2:42. Hester gets the takedown at 3:05 and a back mount. Williams gets a back door escape into side control to nullify it. He’s able to bust Hester with left elbows and the blood is flowing. Hester is trying to push off the fence with his feet. Hester gives up his back to stand up and escape. He tries to get a double but Williams spreads his stance wide. Williams is cautioned about elbows to the back of the head. 10-9 Williams.
Round 2: Hester starts with leg kicks and then loses a slugfest exchange and gets momentarily dropped, then Williams gets on top on the ground for hard elbows and fists to the body. Williams takes the back but Hester escapes. Hester is now cut on both sides of his face and he gets clipped again, and he’s not fighting back so the referee steps in to save him. It was a short right hand that clipped Hester and caused him to lose his equilibrium on the replay.
Final result: Jordan Williams wins via TKO at 1:11 of the second round.
Mark Climaco vs. Daniel Oseguera
Round 1: Unaired before Paramount.
Final result: To be determined.
Elias Anderson vs. Hyder Amil
Round 1: Unaired before Paramount.
Final result: To be determined.
Josh San Diego vs. Nohelin Hernandez
Round 1: Unaired before Paramount.
Final result: To be determined.
Dominic Sumner vs. Tom Oswald
Round 1: Unaired before Paramount.
Final result: To be determined.
Khai Wu vs. Cass Bell
Round 1: Unaired before Paramount.
Final result: To be determined.
Josh Paiva vs. Adam Antolin
Round 1: Unaired before Paramount.
Final result: To be determined.
Justin Tenedora vs. David Rivera-Cruz
Rivera is 0-2 in the red gloves, Tenedora is 1-1 in the blue. Tenedora has on red trunks and fights out of San Jose, CA. Rivera has on black/red trunks and fights out of Turlock, California. Our ref is Ed Collantes.
Round 1: Rivera takes the center to start and Tenedora responds by going for a takedown and giving up a full mount in the process. He tries to scramble and Rivera goes for a guillotine choke. Tenedora gets a full mount as we move past the one minute mark. Wild ground and pound and some elbows from Tenedora. Rivera is just covering up as Collantes looks on. Rivera keeps moving backward toward the fence and trying to find a way to escape. Tenedora gets moved back to full guard but he’s happy to hammer shots to the head from there. Rivera wall walks the fence and reverses Tenedora’s back into the cage. Tenedora and Rivera start swinging at the center when they break. Tenedora grabs a plum to throw knees and Rivera tries and is unable to get a takedown. Tenedora with a right knee on the break. Rivera comes forward missing a whole series of shots. Rivera shoots for a takedown and gets it but Tenedora locks up a triangle choke in the process and taps his foe out!
Final result: Justin Tenedora wins via submission (triangle choke) at 4:27 of round one.
Ignacio Ortiz vs. Matt Aragoni
Round 1: Unaired before Paramount.
Final result: To be determined.
Ahmed White vs. Deron Winn
White in the red gloves, Winn in the blue gloves. Winn is 3-0 and fights out of Fresno, CA in the black trunks. White is making his pro debut and fights out of Berkley, California also in black trunks. Our referee is Mike Beltran.
Round 1: Tap of gloves and we’re underway. Outside leg kick almost immediately. Winn is providing constant pressure moving forward and forcing White to circle on the outside. Winn lands some nasty shots and staggers White with a left hook. He tries to spin to take the back, ends up in guard, and backs away to make Mike Beltran force a stand-up. Winn is clearly stalking and White pops him with a jab and lands a leg kick. White’s hands are down low around his waist and that’s bad defense because Winn cleans his clock with a right and Beltran jumps on top to save him.
Final result: Devon Winn finishes via knockout at 2:32 in round one.
J.J. Okanovich vs. Hugo Lujan
Round 1: Unaired before Paramount.
Final result: To be determined.
Gaston Bolanos vs. Malcolm Hill
Bolanos is 2-1 in the red gloves and black trunks, fighting out of Dublin, CA. Hill is 4-4 in the blue gloves and purple trunks, fighting out of Oklahoma City, OK. Bolanos is 12 years younger at 25 to 37. Our referee in charge is Frank Trigg.
Round 1: Tap of gloves and Bolanos lands a leg kick and a hook quick. Another outside leg kick and a body kick follow. Right hook lands flush. Hill is doing nothing to check or avoid multiple leg kicks. He throws a leg kick of his own and gets thrown to the ground when the second one is caught. Hill’s left leg is getting brutalized. Bolanos covers up for some strikes and then two more leg kicks put Hill down on the ground as he can’t stand any more. Bolanos continues to kick the leg standing then jumps on top into guard. The action grinds to a halt as Hill hangs on for dear life. Trigg stands them up at 2:51, or rather he tries to, but since Hill can’t stand and walk toward him Trigg waves the fight off for a TKO.
Final result: Gaston Bolanos wins via technical knockout (injury) at 2:54 of round one.