Bellator 289 is primed and ready to go down later TONIGHT (Fri., Dec. 9, 2022) from inside Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., featuring the continuation of the Bantamweight Grand Prix as interim champion, Raufeon Stots, defends his belt against Danny Sabatello. The winner of the fight will go on to face the victor of the other semifinal fight between Magomeod Magomedov and Patchy Mix.
Many readers check in before, during, and after the fights to share their thoughts on all of the action, which will begin at 5:25 p.m. ET with YouTube “Prelims” and then transition to Showtime at 9 p.m. ET for main card action. Feel free to leave a comment (or 289) about the bouts and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it’s always a lot of fun!
Bellator 289 Quick Results:
135 lbs.: Interim champion Raufeon Stots vs. Danny Sabatello – Stots via split decision
125 lbs.: Champion Liz Carmouche vs. Juliana Velasquez – Carmouche via second-round submission (armbar)
135 lbs.: Patchy Mix vs. Magomed Magomedov – Mix via second-round submission (guillotine choke)
185 lbs.: Dalton Rosta vs. Anthony Adams – Rosta via unanimous decision
125 lbs.: Denise Kielholtz vs. Ilara Joanne – Joanne via split decision
145 lbs.: Cody Law vs. Cris Lencioni – Lencioni via split-decision
170 lbs.: Kyle Crutchmer vs. Jaleel Willis – Willis via unanimous decision
145 lbs.: Kai Kamaka vs. Kevin Boehm – Kamaka via third-round TKO
170 lbs.: Mark Lemminger vs. Michael Lombardo – Lombardo via first-round technical knockout (TKO)
185 lbs.: Pat Downey vs. Christian Echols – Echols via first-round knockout
135 lbs.: Cass Bell vs. Jared Scoggins – Bell via split decision
Bellator 289 Play-By-Play:
135 lbs.: Interim champion Raufeon Stots vs. Danny Sabatello
Round 1: Stots opens as the aggressor as he chases Sabatello down. Sabatello attacks the body with a strong kick. First shot by Sabatello stuffed by Stots, who begins to talk trash. Sabatello eventually finds his way to a takedown and threatens to take the back. Almost two minutes away and Stots still fighting Sabatello off his back along the cage. Stots grabbing an arm to try and reverse into top position. Sabatello won’t be denied. He keeps working and stays pinned to Stots’ back. Stots is able to scramble and nearly takes the back of Sabatello. One minute left. Sabatello staying busy along the cage with hard knees inside. 10-9 Sabatello
Round 2: Stots opens up the second with a whipping leg kick. Sabatello tries to enter with punches but Stots is too quick on his feet. Hard body kick lands for Stots before he stuffs a Sabatello takedown. Solid punch lands for Sabatello. Stiff jab by Stots followed by a low blow, which Sabatello shook off and kept fighting. Stots lands a nice left as Sabatello rushes in and then scores a uppercut as Sabatello scrambles to his feet. Under three minutes left. Stots defending more takedowns. Sabatello fires back with hard knees inside and then he gets his takedown. Top position for Sabatello as he works towards the back. Stots able to escape and get back to his feet. One minute remaining. Sabatello mashes Stots against the fence again. Stots rolls and ends up giving up his back. Stots is able to transition and almost locks up a kneebar submission. 10-9 Stots
Round 3: Stots scores a stiff right to start the third. He then lands a two-punch combination that backs Sabatello up. Sabatello tries for another takedown and has Stots on one knee. Sabatello then landed an illegal knee that barely touched Stots’ chin, but the referee issues a warning nonetheless. Sabatello lands a nice up kick as the action continues. Sabatello going back to his wrestling, but Stots able to defend. Stots almost lands his patented head kick. Halfway through the round. Stots shoots in for a takedown along the cage. He gets it. Stots working Sabatello in side control. Sabatello able to get back to his feet after a Stots failed submission attempt. Sabatello then takes Stots’ back on the feet and takes him down. Stots defends. One minute left. Sabatello now up to 14 takedown attempts as he works Stots to a knee. 10-9 Stots
Round 4: Sabatello lands a front kick to the body. Stots returns with a jab. Failed takedown by Sabatello. He tries again and gets it, but Stots quickly reserves back to one knee. Sabatello threatens the neck and drags Stots back to the canvas. Stots scrambles, but Sabatello working on an anaconda choke. Past the midway point of the round. Sabatello scrambling again to gain side control. Stots working to free himself and finds himself in full guard. Stots is able to reverse and brings the fight back to the feet. He lands a few strong punches along the cage. One minute left. Stots scores a powerful left hand. Stots with a jab. Sabatello with a knee inside. 10-9 Sabatello
Round 5: Stiff jab lands by Stots to being the round. Sabatello backing up. Right hand lands by Sabatello. Hard right by Stots. Sabatello launches in for a takedown but Stots sprawls. One minute down. Stots stalking Sabatello. Front kick lands by Stots as he presses the action with more body work. Sabatello looks to be slowing. Straight left by Stots, but Sabatello works hard for a timely takedown. Both fighters are tied up on the ground. Stots lands short elbows as Sabatello clings to his back. Under two minutes left. Sabatello maintaining back control. Stots looking for a way out. Sabatello keeps Stots grounded with an arm-triangle attempt. Stots scrambling, but Sabatello takes him down again. Stots is able to break free with 20 seconds on the clock. Stots launches a flying knee as both bantamweights unload punches in bunches as the clock winds down. 10-9 Stots
Final result: Stots def. Sabatello via Split Decision
125 lbs.: Champion Liz Carmouche vs. Juliana Velasquez
Round 1: Carmouche comes firing out and looks for a quick takedown. Juliana defends nicely along the cage. Foot stomps by Carmouche. Not much action in the clinch. Carmouche lands some short knees to the leg. Two minutes off the clock. Carmouche still working for the takedown, but Velasquez fighting hard to defend. Referee issues a warning for more action. Just over a minute left. Juliana maintaining control along the cage, but she isn’t landing much of anything, forcing the referee to break it up. Carmouche enters again and secures a timely takedown into full mount. 10-9 Carmouche
Round 2: Big punch lands by Juliana to start the second. Carmouche returns with a quick takedown. Velasquez gets back to her feet right away. Inside knees by Carmouche land along the cage before Velasquez reverses position. Big knee inside by Juliana. Carmouche shoots and scores another takedown with just over two minutes off the clock. Not much action from the champ before moving into full mount. Carmouche postures up to land some short punches with 70 seconds left on the clock. Velasquez using her legs to subdue Carmouche, but the champion threatens with an armbar. Velasquez has nothing left to do but tap.
Final result: Carmouche def. Velasquez via second-round submission (armbar)
135 lbs.: Patchy Mix vs. Magomed Magomedov
Round 1: Slow start for both bantamweights. Mix misses on a one-two and then connects with a jab. Leg kick by Magomedov. Few punches land by the Russian. Stiff jab by Mix. Two minutes down. Two more lead jabs by Mix as Magomedov enters. Magomedov catches a kick and scores a takedown. Mix immediately goes for a guillotine choke. Magomedov fights the hands and survives, but Mix uses the position to gain top control. The action returns to the feet with 90 seconds left. Magomedov attempts another takedown and gets stuffed. Solid knee inside by Mix. 10-9 Mix
Round 2: More jabs by Mix to start the round. Good body kick by Magomedov as he looks to clinch. Mix returns with his own sharp leg kick. Magomedov stuck again as he tries to get inside. Head kick lands by Mix. Another knee inside by Mix. Magomedov shoots in for a takedown with two minutes off the clock, but Mix uses the guillotine again to reverse. Mix then tightens it up and puts Magomedov to sleep.
Final result: Mix def. Magomedov via second-round submission (guillotine choke)
185 lbs.: Dalton Rosta vs. Anthony Adams
Round 1: Rosta opens with a hard low kick. Adams not landing much, but throwing out multiple feints. Right hand over the top by Rosta. Adams returns with a hard leg kick. Two minutes down. More punches come from Rosta. Adams misses on a looping power right. Big left hand scores by Rosta and Adams backs up. Body kick fired by Adams. Rosta fires back a combination but Adams controlling the distance well to avoid any damage. Rosta keeps him honest with a crisp body punch. One minute left. Both men exchange in the middle of the cage. Rosta got the most of it. 10-9 Rosta
Round 2: Rosta pushing the pace as Adams circles away. Rosta finds a home for a combination and then scores the first takedown of the fight. Full mount for Rosta. Adams fighting the hands as he tries to wall climb. Rosta finds his way to the back, but Adams defending nicely. Two minutes away. Short punches being landed by Rosta. Adams eventually reverses position and lands a sharp elbow when the fight returns to the feet. Inadvertent low blow by Adams temporarily stops the action. Adams controlling distance a little better. Rosta slips on a kick attempt. Under one minute left. Rosta misses on a few superman punches but scores a nice body kick. 10-9 Rosta
Round 3: Rosta accidentally lands a low blow to start the round. Adams lands a nice lead uppercut with a right hand. Jumping kick by Rosta misses. Solid body kick by Adams. Rosta tries to unload along the cage but Adams avoids any damage. Two minutes down. Rosta lands a big uppercut in the clinch. Another body kick by Adams. Rosta comes over the top with a powerful one-two combo and backs Adams up. Adams back to the well with another kick. Less than 90 seconds left and Adams catches Rosta with a counter right. Rosta recovers and blasts an overhand right of his own along the cage which forces a failed takedown attempt by Adams. With moments remaining Rosta lands a big right hand that nearly finishes the show. 10-9 Rosta
Final result: Rosta def. Adams via Unanimous Decision
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