Bellator 228 | Bellator MMA
Bellator 228: “Pitbull vs. Archuleta” airs TONIGHT (Sept. 29, 2019) from The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., streaming online exclusively via DAZN. The “champ-champ” Patricio Freire (29-4) puts his Featherweight title up for grabs against “The Spaniard” Juan Archuleta (23-1). The co-featured fight sees legends rematch as Lyoto Machida (26-8) faces Gegard Mousasi (45-7-2) in Middleweight action.
Bellator 228’s main card will start at 9 p.m. ET with “Prelims” undercard bouts kicking off at 7 p.m. ET (also on DAZN — watch it). MMAmania.com will deliver results and play-by-play for the entirety of the Bellator MMA card.
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 228) about the bouts and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it’s always a lot of fun!
BELLATOR 228 QUICK RESULTS:
Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi — Mousasi SD 28-29, 29-28, 30-27.
Patricio Freire vs. Juan Archuleta — Freire UD 49-46 X2, 50-45.
A.J. McKee vs. Georgi Karakhanyan — McKee KO 0:08 R1.
Darrion Caldwell vs. Henry Corrales — Caldwell UD 29-27, 30-27 X2.
Daniel Weichel vs. Saul Rogers — Weichel UD 29-28 X2, 30-27.
Michael Jasper vs. Johnny Cisneros — Cisneros TKO (injury) 4:28 R2.
Joshua Jones vs. Dominic Clark — Jones sub (guillotine) 2:39 R1.
Weber Almeida vs. Castle Williams — Almeida TKO 0:20 R2.
Antonio McKee vs. William Sriyapai — McKee TKO 1:17 R2.
AJ Agazarm vs. Jonathan Quiroz — Agazarm UD 29-28 X3.
Ava Knight vs. Shannon Goughary — Knight TKO 1:46 R3.
James Barnes vs. David Duran — Barnes sub (RNC) 1:51 R2.
Shawn Bunch vs. Leandro Higo — Higo sub (guillotine) 4:34 R2.
Benji Gomez vs. Jonathan Santa Maria — postliminary.
Jason Edwards vs. Adrian Najera — postliminary.
Emilio Williams vs. Ian Butler — postliminary.
Andre Walker vs. Osman Diaz — postliminary
BELLATOR 228 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi
Blue gloves and black trunks for Mousasi, bringing a career record of 45-7-2 into the fight. Red gloves and green trunks for Machida, bringing a 26-8 record that includes a previous victory over Mousasi. Mousasi fights out of Amsterdam, Netherlands and Machida fights out of Belem, Brazil. The referee for this fight is Mike Beltran.
Round 1: Tap of gloves. Machida is slowly inching toward Mousasi. Mousasi is slowly circling and inching to the right. Mousasi with a kick to the right knee. Machida gets clipped with a right hand and has to back up and reset. Machida with a leg kick and Mousasi with a combo. Machida goes for a knee and gets knocked back. Body kick for Machida. Mousasi with another combo. Machida’s head kick is checked but his straight left connects as does a leg kick. One minute left in the round. Leg kick for Mousasi. 10-9 Mousasi.
Round 2: Mousasi is quickly moving forward toward Machida, but senses it’s a trap and throws a leg kick instead. Straight left hand from Mousasi. Five to six punch barrage backs Machida up. Machida keeps switching up his stance but he gets clipped with a right hand. Left kick to the body from Machida. Mousasi presses forward and Machida throws a kick that hits the arm. Leg kick by Machida. Leg kick by Mousasi. Mousasi wins the striking exchanges in the last minute and the round 10-9.
Round 3: Machida continues to use his kicks and Mousasi continues to use his hands through the first 90 seconds. Machida may be landing more often this round. Mousasi finally pastes him with a left hook at 2:45. Machida tags Mousasi and he responds with two rights. Machida trips and Mousasi fires rights, then knocks him Machida down after he resets with a right and gets on top in guard with 90 seconds to go. Machida inches his way backward toward the fence and then traps Mousasi’s head in a guillotine choke attempt. Mousasi survives to the bell but I give that round 10-9 to Machida.
Final result: The judges score it 29-28 Machida, 29-28 Mousasi, 30-27 for Mousasi by split decision.
Patricio Freire vs. Juan Archuleta
Archuleta comes out first in the white trunks and blue gloves, 23-1, currently on an 18 fight winning streak out of Sultana, California. The champion “Pitbull” Freire comes in 29-4 in the red gloves and black/gold trunks out of Natal, Brazil. The referee is Jason Herzog.
Round 1: Archuleta is spending a whole lot of time circling and not striking. Freire is just standing there waiting for him to come into range. The boo birds are starting to sing a minute in. Archuleta kicks him in the cup and they get even louder. He gives two thumbs up after the stoppage and we’re quickly underway again. Archuleta goes for a head kick and falls down, throws an upkick that nearly connects, Freire goes for the guillotine choke. Herzog warns Freire not to knee Archuleta in the head. Freire finally lets the choke go at 3:22. Knee to the body. Knee to the chest. Right hands. Hammerfists. Mount. 10-9 Freire.
Round 2: Right hand from Freire. Archuleta pokes Freire in the eye and the ref calls time. Herzog gives him a stern warning not to do it again. Freire tells Herzog he can see clearly and that he’s good to continue. 90 seconds gone. Archuleta shoots and presses Freire into the fence. They go back and forth jockeying for position and not achieving much. Herzog circles from side to side and calls for work with 90 seconds left. He calls for it again at 4:18 as the crowd starts booing. They break with seconds left and Archuleta misses throwing a flying kick, landing on his back. If you have to pick a winner… it’s 10-9 Freire. In my view though it’s a 10-10 round since nobody did any damage or came close to a finish.
Round 3: Archuleta swings and misses, kicks and misses, and he seems almost desperate to land a strike. Pitbull drops him from a right hand at near the minute mark and gets on top to attempt to throw elbows and go for another guillotine choke. Blood is pouring from Archuleta’s head. He gives the ref a thumbs up to say he’s okay. Archuleta gets back to his feet. Two minutes gone. Archuleta misses with a head kick. He misses again. He’s having problems with his right eye. Right uppercut misses too. Freire continues to score with his right hand. A takedown fails. Archuleta drops levels and Freire goes for the guillotine again. Archuleta is saved by the bell. 10-9 Freire.
Round 4: Freire continues to wait for Archuleta to come toward him in the center, kicking him in the leg and easily avoiding an axe kick, then knocking Archuleta to the canvas with a left hook while he’s off balance. Freire takes his back at 1:20. Archuleta stands back up after eating some knees from behind. Archuleta hits reverse elbows to the ribs while Freire fires off knees. Archuleta has a guillotine on Freire for a split second but lets it go to try a flying knee — and misses. Freire gets kicked in the cup and we get another time out. Herzog says no more mistakes like that. Freire is landing counter shots whenever Archuleta steps forward. Freire blocks a shot, sprawls, and he’s looking for another guillotine. 10-9 Freire.
Round 5: Freire hurts Archuleta with two rights and a jumping knee in the first minute. Archuleta drops levels but they end up on the fence and Freire easily turns him around with his underhooks. They reverse each other back and forth to The Forum’s frustration. They finally break when Archuleta realizes he needs to go for broke with time running out. Freire lands the left. Archuleta draws a warning for an accidental headbutt. Freire with a right. 1:15 remains. Freire gets a single leg takedown but Archuleta gets right back up. We’re on the cage again. 30 seconds. Freire pushes Archuleta across the cage and drops levels. Archuleta tries to elbow him in the head. Pitbull slams him to the ground before the bell. 10-9 Freire.
Final result: The judges score it 49-46, 50-45 and 49-46 all for Patricio Freire.
A.J. McKee vs. Georgi Karakhanyan
McKee brings a perfect 14-0 record into this fight and sports the black/yellow PUBG trunks with red gloves fighting out of Long Beach, California. Former No. 1 contender Karakhanyan brings a record of 28-9-1, 1 NC sporting neon green trunks and blue gloves fighting out of Riverside, California.
Round 1: McKee drops Karakhanyan with a left and pounds it out quickly for the stoppage in under ten seconds.
Final result: A.J. McKee via knockout at 0:08 in round one.
Darrion Caldwell vs. Henry Corrales
Corrales has on black trunks and blue gloves for this bout, bringing in a record of 17-3 with seven knockouts and six submissions. Silver trunks and red gloves for former Bantamweight champion Darrion Caldwell, 13-3 overall going into tonight’s fight. Corrales fights out of La Mirada, California. Caldwell fights out of Redlands, California. Our referee is Blake Grice.
Round 1: Caldwell attempts a head kick at 35 seconds. Corrales circles around him cautiously leading with his left hand and keeping the right cocked. Single leg takedown to side control at 1:14 for Caldwell. Caldwell spins and inches his way up. His corner is calling for a crucifix. I’d be calling for an arm triangle or a kimura. 2:30 gone as he tries to go to full mount and Corrales blocks it to keep him in half guard. Corrales moves him to full guard and a call for more work sounds with 80 seconds remaining. Corrales opens his guard and Caldwell throws some elbows. Corrales has been split open over his left eye. 10-9 Caldwell.
Round 2: A stern warning about fingers to the eyes comes in the first 15 seconds. Caldwell throws a left head kick and then hits a takedown at 56 seconds. Corrales gets back up at 1:15 and Caldwell tries to drag him down from behind. Caldwell sticks to Corrales like glue but the fights’s not going much of anywhere. They finally break at 2:45. Front kick to the face for Caldwell. Corrales is taken down at 3:55 but pops up immediately. They break with 12 seconds left. Corrales swings and misses and Caldwell gets another takedown at the bell. 10-9 Caldwell.
Round 3: Caldwell with an uppercut early in R3. Caldwell circles to the left and Corrales follows him with his eyes and his feet. The crowd is getting restless 75 seconds in. Caldwell gets a takedown at 1:47 and Corrales is right back up again. Grice warns the fighters not to put their fingers in the gloves. They separate at 2:05. The crowd is roundly booing at 2:47. Corrales is not able to close the distance and both men are told to engage with under two minutes to go. He stops the fight with 90 seconds left and gives Caldwell a warning for timidity. Corrales tries to get a guillotine as Caldwell goes for a takedown in the last minute. Time ticks away. The bell sounds and he doesn’t get it. 10-9 Caldwell.
Final result: The judges score this contest 29-27, 30-27 and 30-27 all for Darrion Caldwell.
Daniel Weichel vs. Saul Rogers
Rogers has the black trunks, blue gloves, and a 13-2 record for tonight’s tournament bout. “Drake” Weichel has the dark trunks with gray trim, red gloves, and an experienced record of 39-11 going into this bout.
I’m unable to tell you what happened in the first round and second round due to a total outage of phone and internet service before the start of the fight. I’ve joined this bout in progress and will start the recap with round three. John McCarthy gave the first round to Daniel Weichel and the second to Saul Rogers.
Round 3: Weichel stuffs a takedown attempt 30 seconds into this round. Weichel lands a right cross. Rogers throws a kick and Weichel checks it. Left jabs and leg kicks by Weichel. Rogers lands a body kick as we pass the two minute mark. Right hand to the face from Rogers. Weichel dips and weaves and pops the left jab. The crowd starts booing at how selective the striking has been. Weichel lands a power shot but Rogers eats it. 1-2 by Weichel and a counter shot right back. Left jab continues to find a home and Weichel trips Rogers to the ground with a minute left. Weichel kicks away at the legs until referee Milan Ayers forces Rogers to stand up. It appears Weichel will win this round 10-9. He stuffs one last takedown. If McCarthy scored this correctly Weichel wins this fight.
Final result: The judges score this contest 29-28, 30-27 and 29-28 all for Daniel Weichel.
Michael Jasper vs. Johnny Cisneros
Jasper is 13-5 in the red gloves and “Manscaped” trunks out of Camarillo, California. Cisneros is 12-7 in the blue gloves and black trunks, fighting out of Riverside, California. The referee is Frank Trigg.
Round 1: Cisneros is dropped 12 seconds into the fight and Jasper quickly gets side control. Cisneros is trying to buck him off and Jasper is trying to inch up to a mounted crucifix. Knee to the body from Jasper. Cisneros tries to hold onto Jasper’s head and Jasper tries to peel him off. More knees to the body. Two minutes have elapsed. Cisneros tries and fails to buck again. Right hands by Jasper. Cisneros gives up the back attempting to escape. Jasper with left hands and elbows from behind. Cisneros is covering up with his left arm but not doing much else. Cisneros stands up at 4:12. Jasper throws him back down and is right in side control again. Full mount late for Jasper. 10-8 Jasper.
Round 2: Jasper is on the attack early and landing leg kicks while easily avoiding the lumbering strikes of Cisneros. He’s also breathing hard. Cisneros with a couple body shots before he eats another hard leg kick. Jasper rolls his ankle, Cisneros pops Jasper and drops levels against the fence. Trigg calls for improvement as Cisneros fails to complete the takedown. All he’s done in this position is foot stomps. Jasper turns him around at 3:03. Cisneros’ corner sees the injury and they are calling for him to attack it. Jasper pushes Cisneroes into the fence and hits a slashing right elbow. Cisneros comes forward attacking the left leg and Jasper covers up, causing Trigg to stop the fight.
Final result: Johnny Cisneros wins via technical knockout at 4:28 of round two.
Joshua Jones vs. Dominic Clark
Black trunks and blue gloves for Dominic Clark, 14-8 out of Los Angeles, California. Red gloves and navy trunks with white trim for Jones, 8-4 out of Long Beach, California. The referee is Jason Herzog.
Round 1: Heavy leg kick by Clark early. Jones tries to push him into the fence but gets nothing there. Body kick by Clark. High kick from Clark is checked. Jones pulls guard looking for a guillotine choke. Clark taps at 2:39 after trying and failing to pop out.
Final result: Joshua Jones via submission (guillotine) at 2:39 of round one.
Weber Almeida vs. Castle Williams
Blue gloves and trunks, 4-2, fighting out of Arroyo Grande, California is Castle Williams. Red gloves and black trunks, 2-0, fighting out of Brazil is Weber Almeida. Referee is Milan Ayers.
Round 1: Williams charges forward looking for a fast start. Almeida picks him up and slams him to the ground HARD. Williams lunges at Almeida and crashes into the fence. Williams tries a spin kick and gets dropped, but recovers and goes for a single leg. They both scramble back to the feet at 1:08. Overhand left that Almeida dropped him with moments ago misses on the next attempt. Knee lands. Left is blocked. Williams tries the spinning back kick again and clinches with Almeida. Williams gets hurt and drops to a knee but recovers and comes forward again. Knee to the body but he keeps coming. Blood is streaming down the middle of Williams face as Almeida presses him into the fence then backs away at 2:56. Kick to the body. Williams and Almeida trade knees. Spinning back fist knocks Williams down. Body and overhand left combo by Almeida. Almeida comes forward throwing bombs and Williams just stands there absorbing them until he pushes Almeida into the fence. Almeida comes forward with three straight overhand lefts and finally drops Williams. Williams recovers to guard and nearly has a gogoplata attempt. 10-8 Almeida who ends the round with a violent flurry in another scramble.
Round 2: Williams right eye is swollen shut as round two gets underway. Almeida comes out immediately throwing violent shots and it’s waved off after Williams gets knocked down one last time and at 20 seconds in. John Hackleman apparently also threw in the towel.
Final result: Weber Almeida via technical knockout at 0:20 of round two.
Antonio McKee vs. William Sriyapai
McKee sprints down to the cage with red gloves and black trunks with white trim. Sriyapai has on yellow/green trunks and blue gloves. A.J. McKee is cornering his dad for this fight even though he fights later tonight. McKee is 29-6-2 and Sriyapai is 14-8. Sriyapai fights out of Rancho Cucamonga, California and McKee out of Long Beach, California. Our referee for this fight is Mike Beltran.
Round 1: Tap of gloves to start. McKee circles around his opponent feeling out the range. Leg kick by Sriyapai. McKee returns the favor. Beltran warns them to watch the fingers. Body kick for The Body Shop trainer McKee. McKee misses with a head kick. Two minutes have elapsed. Right hand for Sriyapai. McKee misses with the left and throws the right. Body kick and right hand from Sriyapai. Side kick from McKee. Another leg kick from McKee and a hook kick as well. McKee shoots and gets the takedown at 3:36. Slashing right elbow as he passes to side and then North-South at 4:10. He momentarily considers a kimura but instead gets on top in half guard. More nasty elbows. 10-9 McKee.
Round 2: Glove tap starts R2. Body kick from Sriyapai. High kick from McKee. Beltran warns them about the fingers again. Sriyapai stumbles throwing a shot and McKee takes him down at 44 seconds. McKee is firing away with left hands from behind and Beltran stops it at 1:17.
Final result: Antonio McKee wins via technical knockout at 1:17 of round two.
AJ Agazarm vs. Jonathan Quiroz
Agazarm is 1-1 in the red gloves and red trunks, fighting out of Stockton, California. Quiroz is 3-3 in the blue gloves and black trunks, fighting out of Zacatecas, Mexico. Our referee for this fight is Milan Ayers.
Round 1: It takes 56 seconds before a strike lands, and it’s Agazarm who connects with his kicks. He shoots for a takedown at 1:11 and gets it. He gets half guard and Quiroz gets his back against the fence. Quiroz gets back up at 2:04. Agazarm with a series of strikes until Quiroz lands a right to make him reset. Agazarm is taking more kicks and overhand rights as the round progresses. Body kick by Agazarm. Another, and another, and a knee to the body hard in response by Quiroz. Two more body kicks by Agazarm. Agazarm shoots and Quiroz wriggles free at 4:14. Combos by Quiroz. Jumping knee by Quiroz. Body kick Agazarm. 10-9 Quiroz.
Round 2: Body kick by Agazarm at 0:12. Leg kicks by Quiroz. Agazarm shoots at 41 seconds but Quiroz gets back up at 0:55 and is free seconds later. Agazarm has a takedown at 1:34 and takes the back looking for a rear naked choke. Agazarm with right hands to the face. Quiroz with a backhand to the nose. Three minutes gone. Quiroz peels away a neck crank with 90 seconds to go. Quiroz spins out on top and backs up forcing Agazarm to stand. Agazarm shoots for the the single leg and takes the back again. 10-9 Agazarm.
Round 3: Body kicks by Agazarm. Quiroz stumbled trying to throw a short left hand. Agazarm shoots and Quiroz sprawls to block it at 0:50. Body kick by Agazarm. Takedown off the single leg at 1:22. Agazarm works knees to the body against the fence. He’s warned to “watch where they land” i.e. to the head. Quiroz is unable to get back up so he’s trying to complain to the ref about illegal strikes to no avail. The crowd is impatient but Agazarm is dominating. Quiroz gets back up at 3:51. Quiroz makes Agazarm stumble with a kick. Agazarm shoots and has the back with 40 seconds remaining. 10-9 Agazarm.
Final result: The judges all score it 29-28 in favor of AJ Agazarm.
Ava Knight vs. Shannon Goughary
Pink top, blue gloves and black trunks for Goughary. White trunks and white top for Knight in the red gloves. Goughary is 4-3 and Knight is 0-0 making her MMA debut tonight although she’s a ferociously experienced boxer. Goughary fights out of Nashville and Knight out of Los Angeles. Our referee is Jason Herzog.
Round 1: Glove tap to start. Knight unloads with a flurry off the top. Goughary throws a leg kick and takes a right hand to the face. Knight keeps pushing her foe backward and unloading with her hands whenever Goughary steps into range. Her right eye may already be swollen shut. Goughary shoots for a takedown and Knights gets her back to the fence. She turns it around and Herzog warns Knight not to grab the fence. Goughary gets a takedown to side control and moves up to full mount at 1:58. Knight tries to escape but Goughary moves to side control. Right elbows on top from Goughary. Knight gets up at 3:03 and is on top in guard. Goughary goes for a triangle/armbar. They are tried up in a ball in the middle with time ticking away. Knight defended the triangle well so Goughary tries to cinch the armbar up instead but it’s not there. 10-9 Goughary.
Round 2: Knight hurts Goughary with a body shot in the early action of this round. She gets back up wearing the damage to her right eye from Knight’s power strikes. Left hook stuns Goughary for a second. A right hand staggers Goughary and causes her to cover her left eye. Knight pours on the uppercuts. Goughary tries to reset on her feet but now she’s fighting with diminished vision on both sides of her face. Hard right from Knight at 1:51. 1-2 from Knight. Knight drops her with a right hand at 2:11. Goughary shoots and Knight sprawls. Goughary gets up and is tagged with another right. 90 seconds of Knight using her like a punching bag remain. If she survives the doctor may want to stop it. If the doctor doesn’t her corner might want to stop it. Right cross hurts Goughary at 4:10. Right from Knight again. Goughary keeps throwing kicks. It’s all she has left. Straight right flush. Right left right for Knight. 10-8 Knight.
Round 3: Somehow Goughary is allowed to continue and she gets crunched five seconds in for her efforts. Left hook for Knight. Body shot. 1-2. Right hand. Goughary is wobbly and shoots trying to save herself. Knight takes side control and stands back up. Goughary gets up slowly. Left hand for Knight. 1-2. Uppercut. Body shot folds Goughary. Herzog is asking her if she wants to continue and she stands up very slowly. One more body shot and she folds like origami. This is over.
Final result: Ava Knight via technical knockout in the third round at 1:46.
James Barnes vs. David Duran
Barnes is 11-4 in the red gloves and red trunks out of Los Angeles, California. Duran is in the blue gloves and black trunks with a record of 8-5 out of Whittier, California. The referee for this fight is Mike Beltran.
Round 1: No glove tap. Duran lands a left hook but not cleanly. Barnes keeps the center and forces Duran to circle on the outside left and right. Duran throws a straight left hand that momentarily stuns Barnes. Barnes seems a bit more hesitant now. Barnes keeps on attacking with his left. Barnes throws a leg kick. 2:00 gone. Duran with the left again. Beltran warns the fighters about their fingers. Barnes gets a takedown and gets Duran’s back. 10-9 Barnes.
Round 2: Glove tap this time. Barnes gets a takedown to side control at 36 seconds. He takes the back with one hook in before the one minute mark. Right hands to the body and head from behind. All Duran can do is cover up. Duran blocks a rear naked choke attempt once but the second time it’s applied he taps out.
Final result: James Barnes via rear naked choke at 1:51 in round two.
Shawn Bunch vs. Leandro Higo
Bunch is 9-3 in the red gloves and black trunks out of San Jose, California. Higo is 18-5 in the blue gloves and black trunks out of Brazil. The referee is Blake Grice.
Round 1: Bunch lands the first leg kick. Higo misses with his. Another leg kick for Bunch. They are pawing with their hands until Higo finally lands a shot and a calf kick. Higo misses with a left hook. Bunch with another kick. Bunch loads up a right hook and misses. Big right from Bunch. Body kick from Higo. Higo telegraphs a shot and doesn’t take it. Higo lands a right. Counter right for Bunch. Flying knee misses and Higo eats another counter right. Bunch takes the back standing as they go to the fence. Higo reverses it. They push their way away from the fence and Bunch lands another right. Leg kick for Higo. 10-9 Bunch.
Round 2: Bunch double taps the jab to open round two. Bunch misses a head kick. The right hand connects twice. Left jab and more rights from Bunch. Higo with a right. Leg kick from Higo. Left jab to the chin. Right from Higo. Bunch answers in kind. Body kick from Higo. Overhand right from Bunch. Another from Bunch. Leg kick from Higo. Higo is over eager for a takedown and Bunch easily gets a backdoor escape and puts Higo on the fence. Three minutes gone. Higo turns Bunch around but the action stalls. Bunch turns back at 3:38 and breaks away at 3:48. Bunch with the right again. Bunch trades power shots and momentarily gets a takedown at 4:13. Higo goes for a guillotine choke and Bunch taps!
Final result: Leandro Higo via submission (guillotine) at 4:34 of round two.
Benji Gomez vs. Jonathan Santa Maria
Final result: To be determined.
Jason Edwards vs. Adrian Najera
Final result: To be determined.
Emilio Williams vs. Ian Butler
Final result: To be determined.
Andre Walker vs. Osman Diaz
Final result: To be determined.