Bellator 273: “Bader vs Moldavsky” is set to air TONIGHT (Sat., Jan 29, 2022) from inside Footprint Center in Phoenix, Ariz., which will be headlined by a heavyweight title fight between division champion, Ryan Bader, taking on the interim champ, Valentin Moldavsky. Also, Darrion Caldwell will face Enrique Barzola in a pivotal bout in the bantamweight division.
Bellator 273 main card will air on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET. MMAmania.com will deliver results for the full card and comprehensive play-by-play for the televised portion of Bellator 273 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 273) about the bouts and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it’s always a lot of fun!
BELLATOR 273 QUICK RESULTS:
265 lbs.: Ryan Bader vs. Interim champion Valentin Moldavsky – Bader via unanimous decision (HIGHLIGHTS)
155 lbs.: Benson Henderson vs. Islam Mamedov – Henderson via split-decision (HIGHLIGHTS)
145 lbs.: Henry Corrales vs Aiden Lee – Corrales via unanimous technical decision
170 lbs.: Sabah Homasi vs. Jaleel Willis – Homasi, first-round arm triangle submission (HIGHLIGHTS)
135 lbs.: Darrion Caldwell vs. Enrique Barzola – Barzola via third-round TKO
185 lbs.: Dalton Rosta vs. Daune Johnson – Rosta via unanimous decision
155 lbs.: Chris Gonzalez vs. Saad Awad – Gonzalez via first round KO (HIGHLIGHTS)
205 lbs.: Ben Parrish vs. Sullivan Cauley – Cauley via first round TKO
145 lbs.: Lucas Brennan vs. Benjamin Lugo – Brennan via first round submission
135 lbs.: Nikita Mikhailov vs. Blaine Shutt – Mikhailov via third round TKO
BELLATOR 273 PLAY-BY-PLAY
Ryan Bader vs. Valentin Moldavsky
Round 1: They trade in the center of the cage and Bader rocks Moldavsky early! He pushes him up against the cage and he tags Moldavsky again and drops him, he is in trouble! Moldavsky somehow shakes off the cobwebs and pushes Bader up against the cage. He takes him down. WOW! Moldavsky seems to have gained his composure as he takes Bader’s back. Moldavsky postures up against the cage and smother Bader up against it. Body shots from Moldavsky as Bader looks for a way out of position. Overhand right from Bader as he explodes. They trade in the center of the cage and Bader now backs Moldavsky up against the fence. What a round. Bader looking for the double leg and he takes him down with a single. They tussle for position as the round comes to an end. 10-9 Bader
Round 2: Moldavsky throws a right hand, then a double jab. Moldavsky tags Bader with a left hook. Bader grabs a hold of Moldavsky and pushes him up against the fence again. Bader lands an illegal knee south of the border and Moldavsky drops to his knees. Break in action. They resume and Moldavsky scores an early takedown. Moldavsky takes Bader’s back. Bader in a bad position as he tries to escape. Moldavsky putting all of his weight on Bader which will wear out the powerhouse wrestler. Moldavsky lands shots to the side of the head. 10-9 Moldavsky
Round 3: Nice jab from Bader. Moldavsky pressing forward and he goes for another takedown. Action up against the fence. Moldavsky takes Bader down, but “Darth” gets back up to his feet rather quickly. Bader is still in a bad spot because Moldavsky has him in a vice grip and refuses to give him room to breathe. Bader breathing heavy as Moldavsky continues to press up against him, though not really landing a ton of punishment. Moldavsky with short knees to the thigh to score points. Not a ton of offense but Moldavsky is controlling the pace and the fight. 10-9 Moldavsky
Round 4: Bader moves forward and tries for a takedown but Moldavsky defends well. Right hand from Bader lands, but he is breathing heavy while Moldavsky looks the fresher fighter. They both swing for the fences but nothing lands. Moldavsky goes in for the takedown and it’s stuffed by Bader. One-two by Moldavsky lands and he pushes the champion up against the cage…again. Knees to the thigh for Moldavsky. Bader secures the takedown and that is huge! Shots to the side of the body for Bader. Bader has top position now and is landing short elbows. He takes Moldavsky’s back. Moldavsky holding on to the fence and has his hand slapped away by the referee. Moldavsky back to his feet but Bader takes him down again with a single leg. He ends the round in top position. Great fight. 10-9 Bader
Round 5: We could be dead-locked going into the final round. Moldavsky with a left hook that lands. Bader goes in for a takedown, but didn’t really commit. Moldavsky now shoots for his own takedown but Bader defends that well. Bader slips and eats a right hand. Bader returns fire with two clean shots. Bader goes for another takedown and there’s a scramble and Moldavsky ends up with the best position. He now has Bader’s back. Bader trying to work his way back up. Short knees from Moldavsky aren’t really causing damage and Moldavsky takes Bader down again. They are back up to their feet but Moldavsky still has a tight hold of Bader. “Darth” dropping elbows but Moldavsky is eating them. Moldavsky picks Bader up and slams him to the canvas as time runs out 10-9 Moldavsky
Final Result: Bader def. Moldavsky via unanimous decision
Ben Henderson vs Islam Mamedov
Round 1: Big kick to the body from Mamedov. Henderson whiffs on a huge right hand. Double jab from Henderson catches nothing but air. Low kick from Mamedov. Nice inside low kick from Henderson finds its mark. A calf kick from Henderson, Mamedov stalking. Another kick to the body from Mamedov. Mamedov grabs a hold of “Smooth,” pushes him up against the fence. Knees to the body from Mamedov. Henderson fires back with a knee of his own and reverses position, pushes Mamedov against the cage. They scramble and they fall to the ground and Henderson has a guillotine. He has it tight. Henderson isn’t letting go, Mamedov is hanging on for dear life. Mamedov pops his head out, WOW! Mamedov now has Benson’s back and is landing shots. Close, entertaining round. 10-9 Henderson
Round 2: They both whiff on kicks to begin the round. High kick from Mamedov is blocked. A lot of feints from both men. Right hand lands form Mamedov who shoots in for the takedown and he gets it. They roll and Henderson somehow once again gets the guillotine in but Mamedov escapes. Mamedov now has the rear-naked choke. It’s tight. Henderson escapes. They are back to the feet but Mamedov isn’t letting go of Henderson. “Smooth” rolls nicely into a knee bar. He has a heel hook now. Mamedov rains down strikes from the top. Side control now for Mamedov. He takes Henderson’s back. He’s got one hook in. Mamedov looking for a rear-naked choke, Henderson fighting the hands. Henderson carrying Mamedov and Mamedov now has a rear-naked choke in. Time runs out for Mamedov. 10-9 Mamedov
Round 3:Low kick from Henderson, and another, Henderson lands another kick and that one hurt Mamedov. They trade kicks. Henderson with a left hand down the middle. Nice right hook from Henderson and he is now the one doing the stalking. Mamedov yet to fire any offense here. High kick from Henderson, Mamedov looking for an opening. Mamedov goes in for the takedown, he gets it. The tussle for position and Henderson once again rolls into a knee bar. Mamedov escapes. Hammer fists to the body from Mamedov. Henderson telling Mamedov to hit him in the body but the Dagestani fighter lands a huge blow to the face. Henderson trying hard to get up but Mamedov has great top control. Great fight, a tough one to call. Mamedov 10-9
Final Result: Henderson def. Mamedov via split-decision
Henry Corrales vs Aiden Lee
Round 1: Corrales takes the center of the cage and they exchange leg kicks. Front kick from Lee lands. Nice jab from Lee and Corrales tags Lee with a strong left hook that drops him. Corrales, though, lets him back up. Lee working his jab thanks to his reach advantage. Strong right hand from Lee. Lee really using great foot movement. Low kick from Corrales lands, trying to slow his movement. A calf kick from lee for returned fire. Corrales with a nice shot to the body, then to the head. Front kick from Lee lands to the chest. A lot of lateral movement from Lee. Corrales with a left body kick, then a straight right hand. Nice calf kick from Corrales buckles Lee. 10-9 Corrales
Round 2: Lee working his kicking game, continue to move well, Corrales in search of an opening, trying to close the distance. Corrales with a great calf kick again, starting to take a toll on Lee. Corrales closes the distance and pushes Lee up to the fence. Lee separates a and goes for a single leg. Corrales defends well and Lee goes for another takedown, no-go. Corrales turns Lee around and pushes him up against the fence. Corrales has a guillotine in, Lee is struggling to get out, he eventually does. Lee now pushing Corrales up against the cage and they roll, leaving Corrales on top fighting for a submission for the remainder of the round. 10-9 Corrales
Round 3: They meet in the center of the cage and there is an in inadvertent eye poke after a brief exchange. Lee in visible pain as he paces around the cage. After more than five minutes of letting Lee recuperate, Mike Beltran calls an end to the fight.
Final Result: Corrales def. Lee via unanimous technical decision
Sabah Homasi vs. Jaleel Willis
Round 1: Right hand from Homasi. Left from Willis. Homasi takes Willis’ back and he slams him to the canvas and he has his back. They’re tussling for position on the ground. Willis showing good defense while Homasi is searching for an opening. Homasi turns his body and he now is searching for an arm triangle, and he has it. Willis is fighting it but Homasi has it tight and Willis is forced to tap. Wow, what a performance from the “Sleek Sheik.”
Final Result: Homasi def. Willis via first-round submission (arm triangle)
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