Bellator Dublin is set to go down later TODAY (Sat., Sept. 23, 2023) live from inside 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland featuring a Middleweight title fight between division king, Johnny Eblen, taking on top contender, Fabian Edwards. In the co-main event of the evening, Aaron Pico collides with Pedro Carvalho in a pivotal Featherweight matchup to see who takes a closer step to the title.
Many readers check in before, during and after the fights to share their thoughts on all of the action, which will begin at 11:00 a.m. ET with YouTube “Prelims” (watch them here) and then transition to Showtime at 4:00 p.m. ET for main card action. Feel free to leave a comment (or several) about the bouts and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it’s always a lot of fun!
BELLATOR DUBLIN QUICK RESULTS:
185 lbs: Champion Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards – Eblen via third-round knockout (HIGHLIGHTS)
145 lbs.: Aaron Pico vs. Pedro Carvalho – Pico via first-round technical knockout (TKO)
145 lbs.: Sinead Kavanagh vs Sara Collins – Collins via split-decision
145 lbs.: Mads Burnell vs. Daniel Weichel – Burnell via unanimous decision
170 lbs.: Sabah Homasi vs. Levan Chokheli – Homasi via first-round knockout
(HIGHLIGHTS)
170 lbs.: Peter Queally vs. Daniele Miceli – no contest (NC) illegal kick from Miceli
155 lbs.: Mansour Barnaoui vs. Jay Jay Wilson – Wilson via unanimous decision
185 lbs.: Charlie Ward vs. Gregory Babene – Babene via first-round submission (guillotine choke)
135 lbs.: Ciaran Clarke vs. Przemys?aw Górny – Clarke via second-round submission (arm-triangle choke)
170 lbs. Luca Poclit vs. Roman Faraldo – Poclit via first-round submission (d’arce choke)
145 lbs.: Khasan Magomedsharipov vs. Piotr Niedzielski – Magomedsharipov via second-round submission (arm triangle choke)
145 lbs: Darragh Kelly vs. Jelle Zeegers – Kelly via third-round technical knockout (TKO)
145 lbs.: Brian Moore vs. Otto Rodrigues – Rodrigues via second-round submission (arm triangle choke)
155 lbs.: Davy Gallon vs. Attila Korkmaz – Korkmaz via third-round technical knockout (TKO)
145 lbs. Asael Adjoudj vs. Ibrahim Al-Faqih Hassan – Adjoudj via unanimous decision
145 lbs.: Kenny Mokhonoana vs. Josh O’Connor – O’Connor via unanimous decision
170 lbs.: Nicolo Solli vs. Romain Debienne – Debienne via first-round knockout (KO)
265 lbs.: Sergei Bilostenniy vs. Kasim Aras – Bilostenniy via first-round technical knockout TKO
155 lbs.: Mark Ewen vs. Noah Gugno – Ewen via second-round technical knockout TKO
115 lbs.: Chiara Penco vs. Mackenzie Stiller – Stiller via unanimous decision
BELLATOR DUBLIN PLAY-BY-PLAY:
Champion Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards
Round 1: Eblen opens things up with a high kick, blocked by Edwards. Kick to the body from Eblen, then a low kick. Edwards returns fire with a lightning-quick kick of his own. Eblen rushes in with one-two punch. Edwards staying in the center of the cage Eblen trying to circle around and eats a high kick from Edwards. Eblen throws a right hand and transitions into a takedown attempt. Eblen pushes his foe up against the cage and lands a knee to the face. Eblen with a kick to the the body. Edwards isn’t backing down, but isn’t throwing a ton, being patient. Nice kick to the body lands for Edwards and then an overhand right barely misses. Eblen circles away in what was a very close first round. 10-9 Eblen
Round 2: Eblen had more volume in round one, Edwards need to pick up the pace. Eblen with a straight right to the body. Edwards slips but he pops right back up. Edwards lands a nice elbow off the break, Eblen continues to utilize his low kicks. Straight right hook from Elben finds its mark. Edwards with a low kick, They exchange kicks and Edwards sneaks a laser right hand down the middle. Eblen shoots and scores a nice takedown but Edwards jumps right back to his feet. Eblen still has a hold the Englishmen, but Edwards doesn’t like this position. Eblen lands a nice combination off the break and Edwards gets some much-needed space. One-two from Eblen, none get through. Eblen is bleeding from the bridge of his nose thanks to a well-placed elbow from Edwards. 10-9 Eblen
Round 3: Edwards lands a left hand as soon as the round starts and Eblen returns fire with his own right hand that drops the challenger. Eblen rushes in and wastes no time in landing some vicious ground and pound, landing a bevy of elbows and right hands that put Edwards out cold. WOW, talk about an exclamation point!
Final result: Eblen def. Edwards via knockout
Aaron Pico vs. Pedro Carvalho
Round 1: Both men rush to the center of the cage and they start swinging. High kick from Carvalho. Pico goes in scores his first takedown. They get back to their feet and Pico takes him right back down. Pico working some ground strikes as Carvalho gets his way back up. Pico lands a big right uppercut that drops Carvalho. Pico goes in but Carvalho stops him with up kicks. Pico taking his time and he dives in with a punch and is now in half guard. Pico goes in and takes Carvalho’s back. Carvalho defending. Pico starts to flatten him out and starts unloading vicious shots to the side of the head. Carvalho is not defending, the referee keeping a close eye on it and he steps in, Carvalho was taking too much damage.
Final result: Pico def. Carvalho via first round TKO
Sinead Kavanagh vs Sara Collins
Round 1: Both ladies a bit tentative to start. A lot of feinting from both. A minute into the fight and neither has landed a clean shot or taken a risk. Kavanagh throws two wild punches that miss everything. Almost three minutes into the fight and still not a ton of action, very slow start from both. They trade low kicks with 90 seconds remaining in the first round. Kavanagh lands an overhand right hand. Collins trying to close the distance, but not doing enough to get inside. 10-9 Kavanagh
Round 2: Both ladies need to pick up the pace. Collins firing off her jabs, trying to use them to close the distance. Kavanagh has to do more, as well, despite winning the first round, barely. Two minutes down and still nothing but hand-battling. Collins is trying to put the pressure on, but isn’t doing anything with it. Kavanagh with a shot to the body. Collins still hasn’t done much of anything, pretty frustrating to see, actually. Kavanagh with a left hand that grazes her foes chin. Nice jab lands for Collins and then fires of an inside low kick to the lead leg. Her best strike of the fight. Still didn’t do enough to win the round. 10-9 Kavanagh
Round 3: Kavanagh opens things up with a left hook. Collins is being very light on her feet, but she hasn’t been letting her hands go enough. Collins whiffs on an overhand right and tries a front kick. Nice low kick from Collins, which has been her go to of the fight. Kavanagh’s lead leg is red, she will be hurting in the morning. Nice shot to the body lands for Kavanagh, and she follows it up with an overhand right. Collins needs to pick up the pace, down two rounds. Not enough volume so far. Kavanagh has slowed tremendously, probably due to the damage her lead leg has absorbed. Outside leg kick from Collins with 30 seconds left in the fight. 10-9 Collins
Final result: Collins def. Kavanagh via split-decision
Mads Burnell vs. Daniel Weichel
Round 1: Low kick from Burnell. Weichel with a double jab trying to close the distance. Burnell lands a short right uppercut. Weichel goes in for the takedown and he gets it. Looking for a guillotine, Burnell defending well. Nice scramble on the mat from both men. Burnell is out of danger. Top position now for Weichel, who is in half guard. Weichel raining down short punches, no effect on his foe. He switches to side control, and back to half guard. They get back to their feet and Burnell is now stalking with strikes. He is swinging hard trying to make up some ground as the round comes to an end. 10-9 Weichel
Round 2: Burnell goes in early and starts working the body. Nice combination from Burnell, who is really keeping a great pace to this fight once on the feet. Weichel lands a lower kick, and another. Burnell lands an impressive three-fight combo but Weichel eats it. Nice shot to the body lands for Burnell, Weichel with a high kick that lands. Burnell whiffs on a left hook, but comes back around with a nice right hand. Burnell isn’t letting up on the pressure. Weichel tries a spinning back elbow, blocked. Weichel is hanging tough, but Burnell isn’t letting up, pushing the pace, stalking him down. Burnell with another left hook that barely misses, Weichel has slowed his pace in the second round and Burnell with another wild left hook attempt. 10-9 Burnell
Round 3: Burnell once again rushes to the center of the cage and starts things off with a low kick. Another nice shot to the body, Weichel has nothing for him on the feet, surprisingly hasn’t gone for the takedown. Burnell avoids a spinning elbow from Weichel, who is trying to find a Hail Mary shot. Burnell with a one-two, follows it up with an elbow to the nose. Another low kick from Weichel, Burnell brushes it off and keeps pushing forward. Double jab from Burnell, who then stuffs Weichel weak takedown attempt. Half guard now for Burnell. Not a lot of action on the ground, both men look a little spent and Burnell is more than content with letting the time run out on the fight in this position. 10-9 Burnell
Final result: Burnell def. Weichel via unanimous decision
Sabah Homasi vs. Levan Chokheli
Round 1: They meet in the center of the cage. Chokheli starts things off with a low kick. Homasi whiffs on an over right hand, follows it up with a low kick of his own. High kick from Chokheli, blocked. Homasi returns fire with his own high kick, then a straight right hand. Chokhelo clobbers Homasi with a right hand, rattles him a bit. Nice jab from Chokheli. Steps back and fires a devastating front kick to the face that puts Homasi out cold! WOW.
Final result: Chokheli def. Homasi via first-round knockout
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