Benson Henderson Announced His Retirement After Bellator 292.
Bellator 292 is set to go down later TONIGHT (Fri., March 10, 2023) inside SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., which will mark the opening of the highly-anticipated Lightweight World Grand Prix featuring eight of the promotion’s best fighters at 155 pounds. Usman Nurmagomedov will defend his Lightweight title against Benson Henderson in the headlining act, while the co-main event will see Alexander Shabliy face Tofiq Musayev in another quarterfinal matchup to see who gets closer to the $1 million prize. The event will also feature the returns of Michael Page and Valentin Moldavsky.
Many readers check in before, during, and after the fights to share their thoughts on all of the action, which will begin at 7:25p.m. ET with YouTube “Prelims” (watch them here) and then transition to Showtime at 10 p.m. ET for main card action. Feel free to leave a comment (or 292) about the bouts and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it’s always a lot of fun!
BELLATOR 292 QUICK RESULTS:
155 lbs.: Champion Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Benson Henderson – Nurmagomedov via first-round submission, rear-naked choke — HIGHLIGHTS!
155 lbs.: Tofiq Musayev vs. Alexander Shabliy – Shabliy via third-round TKO
265 lbs.: Valentin Moldavsky vs. Linton Vassell – Vassell via first-round knockout — HIGHLIGHTS!
170 lbs.: Michael Page vs. Goiti Yamauchi – Page via first round knockout — HIGHLIGHTS!
135 lbs.: Enrique Barzola vs. Erik Perez – Barzola via unanimous decision
135 lbs.: Cass Bell vs. Josh Hill – Hill via split decision
185 lbs.: Khalid Murtazaliev vs. Tony Johnson –Murtazaliev via unanimous decision
205 lbs.: Julius Anglickas vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov – Yagshimuradov via unanimous decision
185 lbs. Theo Haig vs. Adam Wamsley – Haig via first-round submission (guillotine)
145 lbs.: Laird Anderson vs. Rogelio Luna – Anderson via first-round technical submission
BELLATOR 292 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
Champion Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Benson Henderson
Round 1: Inside leg kick lands for Henderson. Body kick from Nurmagomedov. Henderson lands a huge question mark kick to the head and “Smooth” is down! Nurmagomedov dives in and starts raining down the punishment. He takes Henderson’s back and is now looking for the rear-naked choke. Henderson is fighting to get out of it. He is out for now. Nurmagomedov isn’t letting go of this position. He still has the hooks in. Nurmagomedov sinks in the rear-naked choke once again and Henderson taps! WOW! Nurmagomedov takes care of business in his first-ever title defense, and he is a problem!
Final result: Nurmagomedov def. Henderson via first-round submission — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
Tofiq Musayev vs. Alexander Shabliy
Round 1: Both men coming out patient. Boo birds raining down because no man has thrown a strike of note two minutes into the fight. It’s okay to be patient, but this is a bit much. Low kick for Shabliy. Musayev throws a right hand from a mile away, misses everything. One-two from Musayev is blocked. Perhaps the fans were expecting another quick knockout given the result of the first two main card fights. Musayev throws a huge overhand right, it’s blocked. Shabliy with a nice inside leg kick. Body kick by Musayev. Nice exchange in the center of the cage, Musayev now stalking and he lands an overhand right and Shabliy fires back with an uppercut. Tough round to call. 10-9 Musayev
Round 2: It didn’t take long for the boo birds to begin, the fans are pretty restless. Shabliy fires off a low kick. Musayev doubles up on the jab. Musayev changes levels and shoots for the takedown and it is stuffed. Shabliy reverses position and pushes Musayev up against the cage. They separate. Musayev with a nice left hook. Shabliy fires back with a right hand that grazes his foe’s forehead. Another stuffed takedown from Shabliy. 10-9 Musayev
Round 3: They come out for the the third frame and Shabliy lands a low blow on Musayev, who is taking the time to recuperate. He has five minutes. Musayev is in pain. The referee calls an end to the fight because Musayev is unable to continue. Upon further review, it was not a low blow, but rather a kick to the solar plexus that took Musayev out. It was confusing at first, but the strike was clean.
Final result: Shabliy def. Musayev via third-round TKO
Valentin Moldavsky vs. Linton Vassell
Round 1: Calf kick from Vassell to open things up. Moldavsky closes the distance and lands his first takedown of the fight. Vassell trying to fight his way back up but Moldavsky has such a strong base. Vassell eventually gets back to his feet. Vassell firing off the jab, countered with a left hook from Moldavsky. Calf kick lands for Moldavsky. Vassell tags Moldavsky with a huge right hand and he is rocked. Vassell jumps in and starts unloading and Moldavsky is out cold! WOW!
Final result: Vassell via first-round knockout — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
Michael Page vs Goiti Yamauchi
Round 1: Page comes out light on his feet as usual. Stalking, Yamauchi being patient. Page lands a kick to the knee and down goes Yamauchi. He screams in pain and the referee goes in and puts and end to the fight. Yamauchi obviously suffered an injury, but Page caused it with a perfectly-placed kick.
Final result: Page def. Yamauchi via first round knockout — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
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