Bellator 262: “Velasquez vs Kielholtz” is set to air TONIGHT (Fri., July 16, 2021) from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., broadcasting via Showtime. Headlining the event will be a women’s Flyweight title fight between division champion Juliana Velasquez and kickboxing champion Denise Kielholtz. In the Heavyweight co-main event, Matt Mitrione will face off against Tyrell Fortune.
Bellator 262’s main card will air on Showtime at 9 p.m. ET. MMAmania.com will deliver results for the full card and comprehensive play-by-play for the televised portion of Bellator 262 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 262) about the bouts and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it’s always a lot of fun!
BELLATOR 262 QUICK RESULTS:
125 lbs.: Juliana Velasquez vs. Denise Kielholtz – Kielholtz via split decision (HIGHLIGHTS)
265 lbs.: Matt Mitrione vs. Tyrell Fortune – Fortune via first round TKO (HIGHLIGHTS)
145 lbs.: Arlene Blencowe vs. Dayana Silva – Blencowe via third round TKO
185 lbs.: Johnny Eblen vs. Travis Davis – Eblen via unanimous decision
135 lbs.: Matheus Mattos vs. Cee Jay Hamilton – Mattos vis second round TKO
145 lbs.: Cody Law vs. Theodore Macuka – Law via first round KO
145 lbs.: Johnny Soto vs Adil Benjilany – Benjilany via unanimous decision
265 lbs.: Said Sowma vs Ronny Markes – Sowma via first round KO
125 lbs.: Diana Avsaragova vs. Gabriella Gulfin – Avsaragova via split decision
155 lbs.: Charlie Campbell vs. Nick Giulietti – Campbell via first round TKO
BELLATOR 262 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
Juliana Velasquez vs. Denise Kielholtz
Round 1: Kielholtz attacks early but she hits nothing but air. Velasquez taking her time, studying her foe, who whiffs on a huge right hand. Left hand nearly clips Velasquez. Velasquez yet to fire off some offense. Inside leg kick from Kielholtz, who is way more active in the opening round. Velasquez attacks with her jab, then follows it up with a left hook. Three punch combo from Kielholtz. Velasquez eats it up. Kielholtz is really comfortable in the opening round. 10-9 Kielholtz
Round 2: Nice stiff jab from Kielholtz. Inside leg kick from Velasquez, then a jab to the body. Stiff left hand lands for the champion. Kielholtz still walking her down, but Velasquez is a bit more relaxed now, putting in some work. Kielholtz rocks Velasquez, but she is quick to recover. Velasquez goes in for the takedown but Kielholtz was like a wall, she didn’t even budge. Not good for the champion. Kielholtz really controlling the action in the center of the cage. Velasquez’s nose is red from the constant damage she’s getting. 10-9 Kielholtz
Round 3: Kielholtz is still coming out aggressive. She snaps her punches very well. Nice counter right from Velasquez. Kielholtz is having a field day in the standup department. Looping overhand right from Kielholtz. Velasquez hasn’t really shown much tonight. Her right eye, though, is starting to swell up thanks to her foe’s constant jabs. Spinning back fist fails for Kielholtz. Left hand lands for Kielholtz. Velasquez goes in for the takedown and she gets it as the round comes to an end. 10-9 Velasquez
Round 4: Velasquez really needs to pick up the pace here. She tags the challenger with a huge right hand. Kielholtz goes in aggressive and lands a nice three punch combination. Right hand from the champion connects. Now Kielholtz is bleeding from her nose. Another spinning back fist miss for Kielholtz. Juliana picking up the pace, winning the striking exchanges in the last two rounds. Kielholtz lands another huge shot. She goes in for the takedown and Velasquez stuffs it. Velasquez lands another right hand to close out the round. 10-9 Velasquez
Round 5: Kielholtz tags the champ with a huge right hand to open the round. Velasquez is rocked but she seems to be composed now. Nice jab from Velasquez and Kielholtz’s face is starting to show the damage. Looping hook from Kielholtz catches nothing but air. Nice right hand from Velasquez backs up the challenger. Surprisingly, Velasquez hasn’t gone for a takedown. Nice jab from the champion, who looks way more comfortable now. Kielholtz is still attacking but Velasquez is evading well. 30 seconds left. Inside leg kick from the challenger, then a huge left hand snaps the champ’s head back. Very close round, close fight. 10-9 Velasquez.
Final Result: Velasquez def. Kielholtz via split decision
Matt Mitrione vs. Tyrell Fortune
Round 1: Fortune goes in for an early takedown and he starts unloading some ground and pound. It looks like Fortune clipped Mitrione with a headbutt on the initial takedown. Mitrione just playing defense as Fortune goes in for the kill. More ground and pound and the referee puts an end to the fight after Mittrione taps. This was a good win for Fortune. Mitrione is livid and screaming and Dan Miragliota for not calling the inadvertent clash of heads.
Final Result: Fortune def. Mitrione via first round TKO (tapped to strikes)
Matheus Mattos vs. Cee Jay Hamilton
Round 1: Spinning kick attack from Hamilton. Mattos drops Hamilton but he bounces back up. Mattos goes in for a guillotine. Hamilton escapes. Clinch from Hamilton and attacks with Muay Thai. Leg kick from Mattos and he presses Hamilton up against cage. Mattos with some damaging shots to the body. Hamilton tries some more spinning stuff, doesn’t land but expends some energy. Mattos lets his hands fly again, clean shots to the body as well. 10-9
Round 2: Hamilton sizing up his opponent. High kick from Hamilton, then a spinning kick. Mattos with a kick to the midsection and Hamilton counters with a right hand. Mattos walking down his opponent and lands a huge left hand that drop Hamilton. Mattos goes in for the kill and unloads big shots on the ground to seal the deal.
Final Result: Mattos def. Hamilton via second round technical knockout
Arlene Blencowe vs. Dayana Silva
Round 1: Inside leg kick from Silva lands. Blencowe trying to close the distance to get her striking attack going. Silva really letting her hands go while Blencowe has yet to land much damage. As I say that she lands a nice left hand. Silva goes in for the takedown, doesn’t get it. Action up against the cage and Silva landing some good knees to the thighs. Blencowe with some shots to the side of the head, but they won’t do much. Not a ton of action here. 10-9 Silva
Round 2: Blencowe comes out a bit more aggressive in round two. Nice body shot from Blencowe, follows it up with a right hand. One-two from Blencowe, then a right hand. Blencowe is starting to get comfortable and letting her hands work. Overhand right lands for Blencowe as Silva goes in for the takedown. Silva with a nice right hand but Blencowe reacts and counters. Silva goes in and lands a huge takedown at the end of the round, though I don’t know if it will be enough to win the round. 10-9 Blencowe
Round 3: Tied at one piece on my scorecard going into the final round. Silva starts off with a lead jab that lands clean. Blencowe with a nice inside leg kick. Another jab from Silva. They trade blows in the center of the cage. Silva with a clean left hook, counter right from Blencowe. Inside leg kick from Blencowe and she blasts Silva with a huge right hand then a left hook that drops her. She’s stunned and Blencowe goes in for the finish and she gets it with ground-and-pound.
Final Result: Blencowe defeats Silva via third round technical knockout
Johnny Eblen vs. Travis Davis
Round 1: Inside leg kick from Eblen to start things off here. who is looking like a mini version of Dan Henderson from afar. Nice jab from Eblen. Davis doing well evading Eblen’s punches. They trade leg kicks. Eblen drills Davis with a huge right hand and goes in for a takedown, he gets it but Davis pops up quickly. Eblen separates and drills Davis with a three punch combination before he takes Davis down. This time he keeps him down. Davis eventually gets back up before the round ends and fires off some strikes at the horn. 10-9 Eblen
Round 2: Davis lands a good kick to the shin to start things off in round two. Eblen goes in for the clinch and pushes the action up against the cage and eventually lands a takedown. Davis trying his hardest to get back up but Eblen has great control at the moment. Davis back up and gets warned for grabbing the fence as Eblen tries to take him down again, which he eventually does. Eblen in full control here and Davis has no answer for the wrestling. Eblen tags Davis with HUGE shots up against the cage before he lands another takedown and Davis is cut above his eye. 10-9 Eblen
Round 3: Eblen with a huge over right hand but Davis eats it. Eblen once again drives Davis to the cage, looking to set him for another takedown. He gets it. This isn’t good for Davis because Eblen is in full control on the ground. Big suplex from Eblen as soon as Davis gets up. Davis is back to his feet and Eblen is driving knees to his legs. Eblen drags his foe to the ground once again, simply dominant. Eblen now battering Davis with punches to the ribs, he will feel those in the morning. Davis fights his way up to his feet before he he’s taken down one more time. Dominant performance from Eblen. 10-9 Eblen.
Final Result: Eblen def. Davis via unanimous decision
For more Bellator MMA-related news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive archive right here.